Two of Creston’s creative geniuses have teamed to publish a book they call A Grateful Heart, and are donating all proceeds to a program that helps support new mothers.
It all started in the summer, when Brandy Dyer began to mull over contest ideas to create awareness for her new store, Creative Fix (on 10th Avenue north, across from the fire hall).
“I wondered who I could partner with who is good at marketing and is also creative,” Dyer said on Friday. “Of course I thought of Natalie.”
Natalie Santano is a photographer, specializing in weddings and portraits. She also has a huge following on social media like Facebook.
“I wanted to have a contest that would have a really awesome prize,” said Dyer, whose Imagine Ink graphic arts business is at the back of Creative Fix. “I’m very grateful that I’ve been in business here for 12 years, so gratitude became a theme early in our discussions.”
Dyer was so impressed with submissions from the public, mostly via Facebook, that she concluded a book was warranted. She went back to Santano with the suggestion that she pair short pieces about gratitude with Santano’s photographs (eventually Dyer used a few of her own pics, too). An artist who typically combines graphics with her paintings, Dyer set to work using her trademark style and A Grateful Heart was born.
Dyer credits her partner, schoolteacher Grady Hunt, for the decision to direct the proceeds to the Pregnancy Outreach Program (POP). Hunt has worked for the Creston and District Community Resource Centre (CRC), the umbrella organization that operates POP.
“I told him that I didn’t want to make money from the gratitude project, that it just didn’t seem right,” Dyer said. “He suggested POP and Natalie and I thought that gratitude and a program that supports new mothers was a perfect match.”
“It is very gratifying to be offered a donation without having to ask,” said CRC executive director Serena Naeve. “This is the kind of people that Brandy and Natalie are — thoughtful and generous.”
More than 100 people jammed into Creative Fix on Oct. 25 for the evening book launch, and the initial printing of 75 copies quickly sold out. One customer purchased 10 books for gifts.
Dyer said she is placing another order immediately and is taking pre-orders for them now. For information, drop into Creative Fix or call 250-402-6071.