As a hobby, Niles’ Heather Pletcher has been creating wooden ornaments of Niles’ historic landmarks.

Pletcher, a member of the Niles Art Association, said she done about 20 so far, and sells them at the Fort St. Joseph Museum.

She’s always wanted to make an ornament of the Four Flags Hotel, but never had the opportunity until Saturday’s Sketch Crawl.

At around 10 a.m., Pletcher sat under a tree on the corner of North Fourth Street and Main and began sketching.

“Sitting here sketching and knowing it is part of the day — you don’t stand out as much,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher was one of several artists taking part in the Niles Art Association’s first Sketch Crawl, held in conjunction with Niles Main Street’s Arts in Motion.

Ten sites around Niles were designated for the sketch crawl, including the Chapin Museum, Four Flags Hotel and Riverfront Park.

Sandy Whitmyer, president of the Niles Art Association, said sketch crawls are performed all over the world as a way for artists to sketch, paint or photograph alongside other artists.

“I know some people want to go out and sketch, but they don’t feel comfortable by themselves … this way they are all out there together,” Whitmyer said.

Sandy Williams, another Niles Art Association member, was busy sketching period costumes used in a production of “The Elephant Man” supplied by the South Bend Civic Theatre. The costumes were set up inside the Four Flags Hotel.

“You don’t always have opportunities to sketch costumes like these,” Williams said. “I just love it.”

Whitmyer said she hopes in the future to expand the sketch crawl to other sites, such as the train depot.