Joy and solace through art…

Volunteering at Ronald Mcdonald House Wagga Wagga.

Over the last 6 months (Jan-June 2021) I have had the pleasure of creating and donating Art Kits for sick kids and their siblings to enjoy. They include a range of stationery, pencils, pens, crayons, gel pens, stickers, paper craft and scrapbooking/art journal materials. The also have an original illustrated Spoonfuls of Whimsy colouring book and most importantly a Visual Arts Journal- with each pack having a unique illustrated whimsical and fun hand painted design on the cover. Finally each pack is encased in a lined, illustrated tote bag that can be used to store the art supplies or repurposed at school or at home. Each is unique and each is owned and kept by the child who receives it- children who often have limited access to art supplies otherwise.

You may be asking why I made these packs? In a nutshell the story goes a bit like this... For the past six years I have suffered from several serious chronic health conditions and profound chronic pain. In 2019 I discovered visual arts for the first time. At probably my lowest point, unexpectedly in hospital in September 2019, and in the worst mental shape of my life, I wrote a note across the top of a sketchpad saying “leave beauty in the broken places”. Since then art for me has become my peace and solace. Those quiet moments of creative achievement have helped guide me through many mental and physical battles.

Art has incredible abilities to bring joy into people's lives, bring people together, allow people to express themselves and explore feelings, emotions and thoughts and most importantly inspire HOPE! These packs were created in the hope that others lives too may be enriched with the same opportunities for whimsical joy, play and hope through art as they face their own challenging circumstances. Working alongside the kids each session creating art together is a wonderful reward, and a perfect culmination of a labour of love!

Attached is a range of photos from my first visit to Ronald Mcdonald House Wagga Wagga to give out some of the Art Kits and work with the kids to explore and discover together. I would just like to say thank you so much for this opportunity! I absolutely loved my time there!. It was an absolute pleasure (and so exciting) to see the months long labour of love that was these art packs finally being used and the kids were all very enthusiastic to engage with the activities and enjoy creative, artistic play. It was also a pleasure to meet their families and learn more about them too!

For anyone who's curious what's IN the art packs there are videos documenting the process now up on the Spoonfuls of Whimsy Page!

Thanks again to everyone who made the possible (you know who you are!)

I can’t wait to come back and do these workshops again soon!