The Eckville Municipal Library joined the growing trend of hosting arts and crafts workshops.
The library welcomed artist Lucy Tranmer from Made by You Brush Decor to host a build your own Garden Lighthouse Event on March 30th.
“I just came to do a workshop where we create lighthouses out of clay pots,” Tranmer said. “There are so many variations you can do. You build it, you paint it and you can even make it into a bird feeder or a decoration for the yard. We have solar lights on top and it is something cute for the garden.”
The library found Tranmer after seeing some of her postings on facebook of her recent paint nights.
“I do paint nights and I posted it on facebook - the library contacted me to see what kind of projects we could do down here,” she said.
Being able to bring art to others is a joy for Tranmer.
“I have been doing art all my life,” she said. “I was 12 when I sold my first painting and I have been involved with arts and crafts forever.”
Being able to share her love for art with the community is something that Tranmer treasures.
“It is extremely important,” she said. “I love to come out to different places and do things for kids and adults - anyone.”
Tranmer attributes the boom in art workshops to the current economy.
“I think a lot has to do with the economy,” she said. “It can be cheaper to do things for yourself, rather then buy it and the Internet has a lot to do with it. People see all these ideas and say, ‘I’d love to do that’.
“Sometimes people don’t have the equipment, or know how or something else like that to do these projects. When you have someone like myself who goes into the community and offers workshops to do them - there is the opening.”
Tranmer believes that art is something that is within everyone.
“Everyone has some artistic talent,” she said.
“Just about every paint night or session I go to, I always here, ‘I can’t even draw a stick man’.
“My response to that is it is a good thing that tonight we aren’t doing stick men. I hear all the time, ‘I cant do it,’ and then every time they leave happy with their work. Everyone has a talent hidden.”
Tranmer will be returning to the library soon for another art event.
“I have another one on Mother’s Day at the library. It will be something that kids can build for mom for Mother’s Day,” she said.
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com