Beth N. Gray
SPRING HILL — Sherry’s Craftastic Cottage was at the threshold of closing. The last craft class and party for kiddies had ended. Paints were stowed, aprons hung, pizza sauce licked from fingers.
“Kids were crying. Moms were disappointed,” studio art assistant Autumn Brown said last fall.
But the people-pleaser with a creative bent and a can-do attitude couldn’t let it go. After her year-and-a-half drawing creativity from eager tots and ambitious 16-year-olds, Brown couldn’t walk away from pressing toddler-splotchy handprints into refrigerator art or coaching aspiring artists applying acrylics to canvas.
So she bought the five-year-old business that is helping to fill a void left as public schools cut art classes from elementary and middle school curriculums.
Brown’s own design career sprouted at age 11, when she toured a Publix supermarket bakery operation.
“And I said I wanted to be a cake decorator,” the 28-year-old tells people. “I wanted to make somebody’s day.”
While cakes aren’t her medium currently, Brown said, “it’s still decorating. It’s having imagination.”
Dawn Young, whose primary art is theater, and Madison Lue, a budding painter, teach alongside Brown and help to stage on-site parties.
“I’m a true believer that we’re a team,” said Brown. “We work together." The shop’s name changed to The Craftastic Cottage on Jan. 1, but it remains at Lincoln Center, 12501 Spring Hill Drive.
Classes for preschoolers include colors and shapes, sensory textures, and mommy and me. For ages 7 to 14, intro to painting includes directed works with portfolio beginnings. More accomplished students go on to drawing, watercolors and acrylics on canvas. All classes are 45 minutes, once-a-week, $38 per month.
The Cottage also hosts private parties: a children’s birthday for 10 attendees, craft and party set-up, $195; or a ladies’ night out, two hours, bring-your-own refreshments, $30-$35 per person, depending on complexity of canvas.
Brown uses Facebook to advertise classes and special events, and to post student news. “Word of mouth is our biggest advertisement,” she said.
Her biggest challenge as a business owner?
“Keeping the parents and students happy in what they’re doing," Brown said. "We want them to keep learning and enjoying it.”
For reservations and more information, dial (352) 346-4859 weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact the writer at graybethn@earthlink.net.
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“Kids were crying”: Children cry, craft shop reopens - Tampa Bay Times
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