After the youngest of her four daughters reached the age of two, stay-at-home mom Sherry Kelly thought she might like to go back to work. She was casting around for something to do but deep in her heart, she knew she preferred spending time with children.
Sherry says that’s when she had “a bit of an epiphany”.
“I had always spent time with my daughters and their friends on creative projects and soon friends of friends wanted to join in too. “So we bought a garden shed, put an air conditioning unit in it and soon my own creative thinking kicked in,” she said.
As the popularity of her creative sessions grew, Sherry moved from the garden shed, to a unit in Southgate Plaza on Linden Drive in Spring Hill and that’s where demand for more art workshops really took off.
“I was at Linden Drive for about a year but then had to start looking for larger premises,” she said.
Her search brought her to her current location at 12501 Spring Hill Drive, very close to the junction of Linden Drive.
“I wanted to do the best for my family, to ildren, a sense of where creativity and imagination can lead,” said Sherry. “Children absolutely love making stuff and the sense of collaboration and self pride in what they are doing is very rewarding.” said Sherry.
Sherry’s business is called Sherry’s Craftastic Cottage. The window dressing is bright and colorful and sure to stimulate the youngsters imagination as they come to attend workshops.
Her new larger, open-plan premises is bright and cheery and has 4 distinct areas carefully designed to accommodate different age groups doing distinctly different projects.
“I want children to come and be creative, play, make, and not worry about making a mess,” she said. “My floor is deliberately splashed with bright paint colors so a few more drops won’t do any harm.”
Sherry has also provided a private Parents Room” where moms and dads can wait, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, while their children are in the workshop.
“Some of the really young children like to know their mom or dad is nearby,” said Sherry. “And sometimes, parents may have a newborn that they bring along.”
The walls display canvasses of artwork created by the children and each child also has their own personal art book that they use at each session they attend.
Children can belong to a variety of different clubs — all for different age groups and topics — and all in a fun and safe environment. Clubs include Mommy and Me; Mini Monets, Pint-Sized Picassos; Teeny Tots; Sensory Club; Teen Club; Little Scientists and many more. Each club workshop lasts 45 minutes and most parents like to enroll their children for back-to-back classes.
Fees start from $15 per class. During Spring Break and Summer vacations, Sherry also organizes craft camps.
“There’s also a Gardening Club where kids can explore gardening techniques and growing vegetables,” said Sherry pointing to a shelf unit where dozens of egg trays were full of sprouting radishes and other vegetables.
Sherry says that young children are just bursting with ideas and it’s very satisfying and fulfilling for them to be able to express themselves openly and without judgement from an adult.
“Nurturing children’s creativity is vital preparation for their future too,” she said.
“I gently steer the kids,” said Sherry. “And allow them to explore their own ways of finding ingenious solutions to make something entirely new and original.
“I think letting them use their imagination in their own way on projects helps them develop their self expression,” she said.
Sherry’s Craftastics Cottage also caters for After School Clubs, Private Art Parties, Itty Bitty Classes, Playdates and Birthday Parties.
One grandmother and mother enthusing about Sherry’s Craftastic are Christina and Amanda Hayes. They said Sherry’s is the only place they’ve found that caters for 1 year olds.
“After looking for activities for my grandson Greyson, I came upon Sherry’s Craftastic,” said Christina Hayes. “We arrived a few minutes late and were greeted by a genuinely cheerful woman who was thrilled to help Greyson put his apron on and gave him some paintbrushes and a place to sit with the other toddlers.”
Hayes said the craft for that day was a Valentine’s plate and she and her daughter Amanda decided on the hand print design. Despite having several young ones around, Hayes said Sherry was able to devote time and attention to every child.
“We were so pleased to see someone who loves art taking her time to share her love for crafts with children,” said Hayes. “We truly enjoyed our time and will definitely be back again.
“Getting to know all the children and all their parents too is like having a big family,” said Sherry. “I truly believe creativity allows children to mould their future with confidence.”
Sue Quigley can be reched at suequigley@hernandosun.com. If you know of a business to spotlight, please contact her either by email or by phone at 727.808.9587.
