GLEN ELLYN – Lucy Dallman hopes that people walking into her heARTfelt Create studio and gallery will feel the desire to create.

The Glen Ellyn resident and Ben Franklin Elementary School teacher recently opened the studio and gallery in the Banyan Tree Mall at 485 Main St. in downtown Glen Ellyn. The business focuses on the artistic mediums of paper, paint and fabric.

"The idea is for people to come in and explore these mediums," said Dallman, who is a fiber artist. "Anybody can create and find that creative passion."

Open studio hours are from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Private classes and workshops also can be arranged for groups of six or more by appointment.

Dallman believes going through the creative process is more important than the end product.

"My main focus is promoting the creative process and how the creative process allows people to let go," Dallman said. "I encourage people to experiment. There's no wrong answer."

The space also is a working studio for Dallman. On display are some of her projects, such as her Peace Birds. Each bird is made from hand-dyed fabric and carries the message, "Create Peace."

"My project for 2015 was to create 100 of these birds, to be sent out to the world and be placed in public places," Dallman said. "It's a little something to brighten someone's day."

Local artists also can display and sell their works in the space. Giving them that opportunity was a priority for Dallman.

"It's sort of a starting point for them," she said.

Dallman had been toying the last several years with the idea of opening her own business. With her children now grown, she decided to go ahead and do it.

"I decided it was my time to explore what I really wanted to do," she said. "And I always pictured a space somewhere in Glen Ellyn."

And just like she hopes people coming into her studio and gallery will let their creative juices flow, she is exploring uncharted territory in opening the shop.

"I have no business background," Dallman said. "This is a whole new adventure for me."

---

Know more

Information about heARTfelt Create is available by visiting its website, heartfeltcreate.com, or by calling the business at 630-666-0251.

---

See more

Go to videos.mysuburbanlife.com/mysuburbanlife to watch a video interview with Lucy Dallman.