Sandy McKellar has taken her passion for sewing and turned it into a small business for a terrific cause.
Her impressive three-layer and reversible “Tree Frog” masks are now available for purchase at South Delta Heels in Ladner Village for $20 with $5 of the proceeds going to the Delta Community Animal Shelter.
“I call them tree frog masks because like a tree frog they glom onto your face to keep you safe,” laughed McKellar. “The animal shelter is close to my heart. I love the work that they do there and their staff is amazing.”
McKellar’s mask-making started when she learned there were none for the volunteers that worked at her father’s care home. She donated 25 of them and posted the finished product on her Facebook page. The rave reviews resulted in her making 250 more and sending them throughout North America, including Alabama and Washington State.
“My work has diminished a little bit since the virus outbreak, so I found myself with a little bit of free time on my hands,” she explained. “I’m a collector of antique sewing machines, so it gives me an opportunity to play and tinker with them. It’s actually been really fun for me. Then the opportunity to have them here and knowing there will be people in the local community wearing them and donating to the animal shelter.”
Besides McKellar’s work, masks are readily available throughout the village.
“We are moving into the next season and people are going to be wearing their masks more and more,” said South Delta Heels owner Carol Miles. “In our community we need to make them readily accessible to the residents of Ladner and other people who come in.
“It’s important to have masks available and the fact she is raising money for an importance cause makes it a win, win situation.”
Miles was quick to point out many other businesses within the village selling masks including South Coast Casuals, Angela’s Boutique, Buttercups, Muddy River Landing, The Flower Shop in the Village, Brass Eagle Tattoo Company, Camilles, Localz, Fancy This and Hygge.
