Tracey Bright and her sons have been giving Shildon residents some overdue joy. Decorating and hiding rocks throughout the town for people to find, Tracey spoke to the Crier about how she got started and the response she has received from the community.
“I have always enjoyed doing arts and crafts,” she said.
“My job is handmade clothing and memory bears. After the first lockdown, I came across a group on Facebook doing random acts of kindness. I was making little crocheted flowers, hearts and small toys and I would put them into little bags with a tag.”
Referencing the reaction of the community, she said, “People would share posts saying they had been found.”
The activity is a family affair with Tracey’s sons joining in on the fun. “After we came out of the second lockdown, we found a decorated rock on a seaside trip” she said. “We joined the Facebook group written on the back of the rocks and that’s where it all started. We found some pebbles at the river and used some white paint to cover the rocks, then we used permanent markers to decorate. We then coated them with a thin layer of varnish and once all had dried, the fun part came in hiding them!
“The boys and I have fun making them, but Lincoln especially enjoys hiding the rocks, creeping around town, trying not to get spotted.”
Lincoln also enjoys taking the rocks they’ve painted into school for his friends and teachers. Discussing the most popular hiding spots, Tracey said: “We put them in bus stops, plant beds, benches, around parks, trees and supermarkets. It’s even better when we see the rocks shared on Facebook and they’ve been re-hidden. People have told me that it brightened their day to find a pretty rock. They can keep the rock for themselves, or they can choose to hide it again in a new location.
“My boys love to sit and paint the rocks with me. I even managed to get the hubby to decorate a couple. We find inspiration on Google Images, and local rock groups have step-by-step guides that are easy for anyone to follow. You don’t have to be an amazing artist, even a rainbow, or a scribble on the rock can bring joy to the person who finds it.
“Thank you to the people of Shildon who look out for the rocks and share when they are found. I’d also like to say another round of thanks to those that are kind enough to re-hide them for someone else to find.”
Tracey posts to two different Facebook groups: Shildon Rocks and Love on the Rocks UK.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
