Meet Fancy Eldredge | Therapeutic Art Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fancy Eldredge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fancy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I became a Therapeutic Art Coach completely by accident. In 2019, my mother ended her cancer journey after two and a half years of battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It was a long, hard, traumatic journey for our family. I also lost my dad in 2019. Within 18 months I experienced 12 major life events that collectively rocked my world. In addition to losing my parents, my nest emptied, I married the wrong man and got a divorce, I was in full blown menopause in my mid-forties, I had to leave a dream job to care for my family and my faith community completely fell apart. We also had COVID and all of the isolation to deal with during this season. My mental health was in the tank.

My mom was a hospice patient at the end. When you lose a family member while in hospice care, they offer a few free grief counseling sessions to help you work through the loss. I was assigned an Art Therapist. She was incredible and helped me to rediscover the artist inside. I had always been an artist, but I had set it aside for a long time. Reigniting that fire was life changing and I wanted more. The problem was that it was EXPENSIVE and not covered by my insurance. I decided to find a program or something that would allow me to continue doing the work at a more affordable rate. After a lot of searching, I found a program online for a certified Therapeutic Art Coach.

As I engaged in the program, I did some amazing work that allowed me to heal and adopt the practice of using creativity for self-care. It was exciting and I couldn’t help but share with friends and family. I started having dinner parties where we would do projects that I designed. We did release work, attacked limiting beliefs and worked on our self-talk. Several friends stopped me to ask why I was not offering this to others who needed help. I didn’t have an answer.

In late 2021, I attended a weekend retreat with some very good friends. We call it Unicorn Weekend because all the women who attend are top performers in their field and bring amazing skills and energy to the group. We stayed in a beach house for 4 days and experienced an incredible assortment of workshops and exercises that expanded our visions for our personal lives and careers. I had to bring something for the group, so I designed a workshop using cookies, frosting and sprinkles to release limiting beliefs that drive bad self-talk and hold us back. It was a hit, and the unicorns would not allow me to sit on this incredible opportunity to minister to people who need my help. Fancy Practices LLC launched officially by the end of the year. I got a Group Coaching certification and a Life Coaching certification to bolster the education I’d already had. It has been the most fulfilling and healing endeavor I have experienced in my life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Fancy Practices was birth from a core belief that what we practice drives our life. If we practice a sport or a musical instrument, we are building a life around that activity. Practicing yoga and meditation, can significantly impact our quality of life. Being diligent in cultivating and nurturing good relationships is practicing community in a way that actually helps us live longer. As a coach, I help clients curate practices that serve them in their self-care and mental health journey. It starts with creativity that blossoms into good practices around self-talk, gratitude, overcoming barriers and walking in confidence, among others.

Being intentional about practicing creativity has incredible power. I personally believe that we were made by a Creator and that creativity is in us as a tool and a gift. When we tap into that basic element of ourselves, there is a unique opportunity to engage multiple brain centers in processing and healing and shifting thought patterns. As a Therapeutic Art Coach, I compliment the work clients are doing with their mental health professionals by facilitating sessions aligned with their goals. I do workshops with small groups, families and even host some sip and create events. I also do larger group events where I design a project that aligns with the theme by providing the space and time to dig into the teaching and have a unique, unforgettable experience. My favorite projects are blessing and creative commitment ceremonies. There is nothing like a custom art piece created by your tribe. It’s a treasure that can last a lifetime.

For example, I recently did a workshop at Eastern Hills Community Church for over 200 women. The theme of their annual women’s conference was freedom. The keynote speaker was discussing the cages that hold women back from leaning into their unique strengths, gifts and talents. Those cages are made of the words spoken to and about us, especial the ones we say to ourselves. Because this was a Christian conference, the keys to unlocking those cages were found in truths spoken by the Creator about His creation in the Bible. There is a verse that says, “Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” (Message Bible, Psalms 139:14) That is a very different message from those we often here about not being special or good enough.

The message was very powerful, but the breakout workshops gave the women the space and time to put some of what they learned into practice. I designed a special project that involved drawing a representation of the cage that was holding each woman on canvas and adding words like too much, too emotional, self-centered, lazy and the like to the walls of the cage. Many of the women were in tears as they read the words and realized how trapped they had been feeling. Next, we did a pour painting with colors representing specific verses from the Bible that the women would replace those limiting thoughts with next time they come up. It was a powerful break through and paradigm shift for many of the women. They went home with something beautiful that represented the journey and serves as a conscious and subconscious reminder of their new weapons in the fight to shine and be the very best version of themselves.

The commitment and blessing ceremonies are amazing! As each participant speaks their blessing or commitment, they pour out paint on a canvas. After everyone has added their paint, we use fluid art techniques to manipulate the paint and create gorgeous art pieces. Every time you see the painting, you are reminded of the beauty and deep connection you feel during the exercise. These make incredible gifts for a wedding, new home or launching a brand. Imagine your team speaking about the commitment they are making to the new vision as they pour out their paint and then seeing the team’s creation hanging in the conference room when you meet. What an inspiration!

If you are looking for an activity that will take your team training, girls’ night, wedding, party or conference to the next level, some therapeutic art is just what you need. I honor all faith traditions and seek to connect in spirit and intellectually with each person I encounter. I’ll be doing some live Fancy Friday Night events later this summer that will allow you to engage in a live workshop from home. There are also some really exciting collaborations with local business in the works. Please connect on social to see all the fun things we have coming up.

By the way…I just released my first ever collection of paintings called Precious Pollinators. I’ve dedicated the collection to my mother and released it on her birthday. There are so many lovely memories tied to her and enjoying outdoor spaces with plenty of pollinators around. As I approached our birthday month this year, I wanted to remember her in a different way. Creating beautiful artwork is at the top of the menu when choosing how to process the ongoing grief of losing my mother. It forces me to get out of my head and set my emotions aside so that I can focus on color, texture and composition. Releasing my first collection was a huge act of courage that my mom would have applauded, so I did it on her birthday. You can find all 12 paintings and handmade notecards in Fancys Gallery on Etsy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love a good local restaurant or coffee shop. I have 3 favorite places – Sonder Coffee & Tea on East Iliff, Jubilee Roasting Co. on East Colfax and the Quince Coffee House. The rest of the visit would be outside. We have such good trails and parks. I even have a pretty sweet waterfall near my house!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My children, Kahlil and Bianca Thomas, have taught me so much about taking care of myself and seeking the healing support I need to live the life I want to live. I’m eternally grateful that you see me, love me and push me forward. You are beautiful examples of the best your generation has to offer. Thank you for encouraging and supporting Fancy Practices!! I love you both so very much. XO

Website: https://fancypractices.com

Instagram: @FancyPractices

Facebook: Fancy Practices

Youtube: @FancyPractices1396

Other: Call or text 303-588-5932
email FancyPractices@gmail.com
Etsy – Fancys Gallery