Local Etsy Seller in the News

While reading my local paper, I found this article about an local artist doing amazing things for the community through her art. I was really impressed by her projects and willingness to help others. I was trying to find a way to incorporate it into a post for our "Etsy" themed blog, but then I noticed that she's on Etsy too and knew that I had to do it!

I sent the artist, Christy Thompson, an email and she was very helpful and willing to let me share her projects with you. She provided the pictures I've included below from a recent class.

One quick message from her and then the article that caught my attention... "The tiles are our way of raising funds so we can continue to provide art therapy to the chronic and terminally ill. It takes allot of my time to run this program so the sales from my own art work helps me to keep Soul's Palette running."


Imprinted in love
Written by Doug Clark, The Sampson Independent

Most of us look up at a ceiling tile and don’t see much but a plain, stark, nothing out of the ordinary, white piece of tile. For the most part, the tiles sit on a steel grid and, depending on the tile selected, may provide thermal insulation, sound absorption, fire protection, or even improve indoor air quality.

But what about having the power to brighten up someone’s day?

That is exactly what volunteers from the Clinton Garden Club were doing on a quiet Tuesday morning at Grove Park Baptist Church — they were working to change those plain, white ceiling tiles into mini masterpieces of art.

Along with Grove Park church members, the group came together for “The Art of Hope and Love Day” Tuesday to paint large ceiling tiles that will eventually hang above someone’s bed at the Mary Gran Nursing Center in Clinton.

“The Art of Hope and Love Day” is the brainchild of Goldsboro artist Christy Thompson. Thompson, along with her assistant Linda Clark, teaches art classes to members of Soul’s Palette, a group of people with chronic or terminal illnesses or members of their families who meet weekly in Goldsboro and on Fridays at the Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville. What is created in the classes are installed in the ceiling to be enjoyed by all patients as they take their treatment.

“The Art of Hope and Love Day” works as a major fund-raising for Soul’s Palette, a non-profit organization. How it works is Soul’s Palette (Thompson and Clark) works with a group or organization in the community that will sponsor the day — there is a small charge to participate to cover paint and supplies for the tiles — and a organization, hospital, etc. is selected in the community to recieve the art work, for no charge.

“It was something that started back in 2001,” said Thompson about the group. “I was working with a lady named Peggy Bill, who had cancer, and the doctors told her that she should do something with her time. She decided she wanted to take up painting and called me — that is how it started.”

Soul’s Palette has been going on ever since.

“We take any patient, free of charge, to come in and learn to paint,” said Thompson. “It is a very personal thing for me, because everybody benefits from it, and it is a program that spreads goodwill throughout the communities.”

Thompson was in Clinton Tuesday to help the Clinton Garden Club and members from Grove Park Baptist Church to host the “Art of Hope and Love Day”. Over 20 volunteers showed up Tuesday to help paint tiles that will later be placed in nine rooms at Mary Gran.

“I am very, very happy about it,” said Roberta B. Grady, Mary Gran Nursing Center administrator. “The residents and the staff are just enthralled about it.”

Grady first heard of Thompson’s work when Mary Gran’s medical director mentioned it to her.

“His daughter recently graduated nursing school at Duke and as an art project, the nursing class decided that they would do this for us last fall,” said Grady. “We just loved it. And when the Clinton Garden Club decided to host a ‘Art Of Hope And Love Day’ here, and we were all very excited about continuing the project. We want to have them (the tiles) everywhere here at Mary Gran ... just anywhere where our residents could benefit from it. Because that is what it is all about, making their days better.”

Volunteers paint the tiles that Thompson has already sketched out. “I make the drawing on the tile and put the correct color of paint on them,” she said. “It mimics paint by color, so it makes it very easy. You don’t have to be an artist; you just need a little time and effort, and it is going to make someone happy. Everyone benefits and it is a great way to give back to the community.”

Thompson, along with Clark, estimate they have donated over 10,000 hours of their own time to the project, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“When I am really having a bad day,” Thompson said, “I see those tiles and realize what a difference it is going to make in someone’s life ...”

It is very clear from walking around Grove Park Baptist Church that each volunteer is more than happy to be involved.

“We are very excited to be part of it,” said Gaynelle Shipp, who was on hand with her daughter, Windy Schulte, painting colorful butterflies on tiles. “We hope the word gets out because it is a good way to give back to the community and to someone else.”

“We just thought it was really inspiring,” said Clinton Garden Club’s Beth Smith. “I think this is a really good project to be involved in ... The tiles will be part of Mary Gran and it is good for the members of the Clinton Garden Club. I am hoping that other groups will read this and get involved with what Christy is doing, because it is a great thing.”

The budding artists worked for hours with hands-on instruction by Thompson and Clark creating works of art that will leave a lasting impression and hopefully turn someone’s frown upside down.

“For us it is just really great, that the community and outside individuals took the time to think about our elderly patients,” said Grady, “because it really makes a big difference. It really does — It is a great thing.”

For inquiries or donation information call Thompson at 919-221-2810 during regular business hours. To see Thompson’s work click on to inkbrights.etsy.com.

For more information about the Clinton Garden Club, see a member or attend a meeting each first Tuesday of the month.


You can learn more about Christy and her work on inkbrights, MySpace.