Save the Messy Arts Pavilion Brick Fundraiser

Friends of the Spanish Peacock, Cedar Springs Fiber Arts Center, and fiber artists everywhere—

As many of you may know, over two years ago we launched an adventure to create the Cedar Springs Fiber Arts Center.  The adventure thus far has been fraught with peril and disappointment. Yet, here we are.  Currently, we are waiting for the bank to do bank things and set a date for closing on the construction loan.  (Cue ominous music…)

We’ll spare you the gory details of all our setbacks over the past two years.  The only issues that matter now are interest rates and material costs.  We finally had a construction plan for Phase One, including the woodshop, store, and Messy Arts Pavilion. Unfortunately, the bank—unsure what to do with a business plan like ours—will only loan two-thirds of the amount we need, forcing us to cut costs wherever we could. The Messy Arts Pavilion was the biggest casualty.

This is not okay. How do we inspire and teach and grow the fiber arts community without the Messy Arts Pavilion? Many classes were planned for this venue: natural dyeing, wet-felting and fleece skirting, to name a few.  We could host small fiber and farmers markets, and seasonal festivals. So, it falls to us to fight to keep the Messy Arts Pavilion in Phase One by raising the necessary funds in any (legal) way possible… and we have a cunning plan!

Come be a part of what we are building!  No, literally. Be a part of it, for everyone to witness.  Your support will be carved in stone for generations to see… or in this case, in bricks.  These commemorative bricks—laser engraved and guaranteed for life—will pave the walkway from the store to the pavilion.  As time goes on, additional bricks will skirt the pavilion. Eventually, they will encase the lower third of each of the uprights.  Anyone who ever walks to or steps in the pavilion will see the names of those responsible for making this happen in a timely fashion.

Now is the time.  We hope to break ground this fall, and the first batch of bricks will be set after the spring thaw in 2023. Each brick purchased comes with a printable certificate to commemorate the role you played in making this dream a reality. Visit https://spanishpeacock.com/products/brick-fundraiser to be part of the legacy.

You can learn more about one of our future classes—wildcrafting and dyeing with local plants—in our latest YouTube video.