Our CK Business Spotlight features outstanding local businesses who have made a positive impact on our community!
Let us know if you would like to be featured in one of our future issues… Our choice for this issue’s ‘Spotlight’ business is Lesli Jeffrey and Sandy Moon who are opening an amazing new concept for kids in our community who have a passion for the fine arts!
Lesli Jeffrey originally opened Ella Minnow Pea Toy Shop six years ago on King Street then in 2012 moved into the Downtown Chatham Centre and later passed it on to new owners. Sandy, a lifetime friend, helped Lesli run the retail store from it’s opening and was an integral part of Ella Minnow Pea. The synergy they shared working together made them realize it was time for them to move on to a dream the two have had for many years.
SMART Studios is located in the Blair Bootcamp block on Forest Street between Victoria Ave and St. Clair. ‘The Block’ is a newly restored century schoolhouse waiting to be filled this autumn with creative and artistic minds of children and adults. SMART Studios is the newest art studio in Chatham-Kent providing fine art classes for children and adults. ‘Picasso’ workshops are available for wee ones that allow them to create their own unique versions of classic pieces while learning fun facts about art history and the artists who have shaped history. There will also be open studio times throughout the week. Local artists will cycle through monthly offering classes of their specialty (ie watercolour classes). Students will be exposed to many different mediums and styles through SMART Studios in such a way that it will open up the artistic mind to the many different techniques and philosophies.
Sandy attended both Sheridan College and St. Clair College where she earned her diploma in Graphic Design and Lesli compliments her skills with a diploma in Business and Marketing. This new venture is their passion and they want to encourage and share it with others. The response from local parents with artistic children has been absolutely overwhelming and they look forward to sharing their love for the fine arts with so many others in our community.
They will celebrate their Grand Opening with an open house mid October. Check out their website and Facebook page for exact dates and details. They will also post their schedule for class times and workshops online or you can call to inquire about any questions you might have at 519-365- 2472.
What a fantastic addition this will be
to the Chatham-Kent community!
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For more information on Lesli and Sandy’s brand new fine arts school call them at 519.365.2472 or visit their page on Facebook. Or you can stop in at their NEW studio at 55 Forest Street (old McKeough Elementary School and current location of Blair’s Bootcamp).
