Saturday, April 28, 2012

One More Vendor Preview Before Tomorrow's Show!

Meet Karen Bush from Aviron Jewelry... 

I am largely self-taught in the arts. I come from a background of science and healthcare but have always had a keen interest in the arts. My interest in jewelry has been longstanding and my education varied. I have always been one to seek out knowledge in every nook and cranny that I can and this is what I have done to further my education in the art of jewelry.

I have a very eclectic personality and truly enjoy challenging myself and seeking knowledge. My professional career for the last 20 years has been in medical speech pathology primarily in hospital setting. My interests outside of work include traveling, rowing, running, biking, xc skiing, attending lectures and art shows. I’m also quite a foodie and love to cook. I told you I was eclectic! A shorter answer would have been what do I not like to do!
My creativity comes from somewhere deep in my soul I am certain. No one else in my family really “creates” but my brother was a budding artist in his late teens and early 20’s. I think for me, a part of my need to create comes from the challenge. I have always been driven to achieve something, such as creating a new design, to gain the knowledge and conquer the challenge. The challenge of getting something from my head to a piece of wearable art… fascinating.

“What got me into actually selling my work?” I would be out and about, literally, anywhere (the grocery, work, dining out), wearing one of my necklaces, earrings, or rings and inevitably more than one person would comment on how unique it was and ask where I had purchased it from. What followed was something like this…. “you made it? Are you selling your work anywhere?” Me:  “No, I just make it for myself” Admirer: “Oh, no, you should really be selling it!”… and Aviron Jewelry was born about 2 years ago. I chose the name Aviron because it means, “rowing or oar” in French which is my second biggest passion next to jewelry design, rowing!
My creative process….It’s really an iterative process. I am really a self-taught jewelry designer and very instinctual with my designs. I have been drawn to jewelry ever since I was a young child at my great grandmothers house, rooting around her drawers of jewelry from Bohemia, her native country. I am a gypsy at heart.

I always think that I should be one of those artists’s who sketches out designs as I’m sitting by the fire or enjoying a day at the beach but it just doesn’t happen that way for me. I go down into my studio, I start with either copper, silver, brass or stones and it just happens. My pieces are very earthy and raw, so glittery and perfectly shaped does not typically come out of my studio. My dog Jackson usually accompanies me as well, which makes my studio space very homey.  Some music, the dog and sunshine make for a creative day.
It is extremely hard for me to pick my favorite item. It seems like the latest design is always my favorite!  I tend to make each piece slightly different than the next, which means each item is really one of a kind. I’m easily bored and crave new and different.

My goal with Aviron Jewelry is to inspire and create pieces that people love to wear. In the process of doing that I would love to eventually have my designs in small, independent boutiques all over the country and the world some day. Aviron jewelry is new endeavor for me over the last 2 years but my interest in jewelry and dabbling in creating has been a lifetime interest.

Meet Nicole Bloch from Erra Creations...
It all re-started from a few funky antique shop finds that re-sparked Nicole Y. Bloch’s love of visual art. Growing up in an artistic family was a huge inspiration for creativity from the beginning. Bloch's family owned an art and craft store in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Fittingly, her father was a master framer, her grandmother was a nationally known decoupage artist, and her grandfather was a high school art teacher and amateur architect. Bloch pursued schooling as a classical flutist, and for a while her passion for visual art was set aside. Today, both audio and visual art are share the spotlight in her life. Erra Creations was born with the belief that almost anything that might ordinarily be discarded could be transformed into beautiful and wearable works of art. Everything from used bicycle parts to broken vintage jewelry to machine shop scraps is given new life as fun and funky household accessories and jewelry. 
A personal insight:
I love to keep busy with good things: Destructing and reconstructing!

I get my creativity from my father and his family. Architects, visual art, and my family owned an art and craft supply store- so that helped a bunch!

I presume that fate got me into my business craft. I grew up with it. But as an adult, it was a mixture of thrifting and antiquing, a friend pushing me to open a vintage storefront, and my best friend moving to Vermont- purging his old bicycle components.

How I officially got started.. I made a bet with a friend, who makes beautiful, wire wrapped gold and gemstone jewelry, to open an Etsy shop.  She was in a creative slump and I thought if opening a shop could help her out of it- yea! We were going to each list 20 things by Labor Day (it was Memorial Day) and have a girl’s night out on the town with our earnings. Alas, she never opened a shop, but I did!!!
My favorite items- well, that would be a triple tie between my bicycle chain and soda can tea light holders, vintage papered light switch plates, and the original Bicycle Gear Necklace. I guess my favorite would be my gear necklaces!

In five years from now, I would love to do everything I am now - I actually like my accounting job too. However if I could do part time "real job" and full time Erra Creations, that would be good for me.
My advice for those looking to start a business, take it slow. It is really exciting and lots of work. The worst thing you can do is get overwhelmed. 

My newest projects… I've been having a lot of fun with custom orders lately. Half of them using parts I already have in my workshop, the other half I have been using customer's prized bicycle parts from the loved bike and making whole collections for them: clocks, trivets, coasters, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, cuff links, frames, etc etc... It's a fantastic way for any enthusiast to keep their memories of great rides and be green at the same time.

Meet Shannon Dennis from The Nina Line...
I'm now a work at home mom after over 5 years of traveling for the sewing industry teaching sewing around the country. I've written and had published three books on sewing including: 
Make It You: Sew Hip
Make It You: Your Space
The Basics and Beyond: Sewing Home Decor. 

I currently write regularly for some very fun sewing publications like Sew News, Creative Machine Embroidery and Sew It All. Since my son was born in 2010, I've had the amazing opportunity to stay home with him and continue my creative career with Nina, my own company. While I make things to sell I also enjoy sharing my passion for sewing by helping others learn "how-to" DIY!
Where I get my creativity.. I got my skills from my mom and I think my creativity too. She was always a pattern and directions sewer, but when I started showing signs of cutting out my own designs and changing patterns around. she always encouraged me. She never made me feel bad if it didn't work out the way I thought it would. I think sometimes my creativity comes out of necessity too. I have to make a living at what I do now so sometimes you just have to buckle down (mostly during that wonderful two hour nap time!) and create!

I got into my craft through my mom. It was part of our homeschooling curriculum to learn basic sewing skills. She was always amazing about crafting for other people, making handmade cards for birthdays, it was just in our blood as a family!

My creative process is through visual inspiration. This can come from anywhere. Then finding the fabrics to create and making it happen. Sometimes this takes trial and error, but I also set up an inspiration board for bigger projects so they don't get too far away from my original intent. This allows me to take out some of the possibility of error.

Some of my favorite items... A custom made toddler quilt and a bib necklace. Totally fun to make and working with my client on the quilt made her feel like part of the creation for her daughter even though she doesn't sew!

My goals.. I'm about to launch a new website for my business www.theninaline.com and it includes a shop! I'm hoping this will be profitable and allow me to make more the how-to videos people have come to love. I hope that 5 years from now I can be teaching sewing again on a regular basis and creating more one-of-a-kind items that people will love!

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 135 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Project Night Night, an organization that provide care packages and support for children during times of home displacement.
2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 10:00am-5:00pm
Wagner's Country Inn
30855 Center Ridge Rd. 
Westlake, OH 44145
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.







Thursday, April 26, 2012

It's Show Week.. More Vendor Features!



Meet Terri Heuser-Wolters from Savvy Seconds…
My name is Terri Heuser-Wolters. I am a wife and a mother of 2 beautiful children; Hannah-19, and Ben-14. I’m also a “Mom” to 2 labradors; Chelsea is the yellow and Khloe is the chocolate.

I am a graphic designer by trade. My 25+ year career has placed me into the magazine publishing industry, where I have been both an Art Director and Production Manager. Right now I am currently freelancing.
When it comes to my creativity, I would have to say I was born with it. Even as a child, I was always drawing, painting, and creating things.

Although my career took over most of my time, there where always other ways to express my creativity, like gardening and interior decorating. In 2010 I was laid off from my job and found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I purchased an antique chest at a garage sale to refinish. Once that project was complete, I had to have more.....and more. The next thing I knew, my 2 car garage had turned into an art studio.  And I thought, what the heck, maybe I can actually make some money doing this.
How I describe my creative process… When I see a piece of furniture or household item that has “seen its days”, I can envision how it will look new again after it has been refinished or repurposed. I plan a piece out in my mind, like what colors I want to use and what materials I would like to see and than usually it just happens during the process.

My goal is to continue to experiment with new materials and make sure the quality of my work remains professional for my buyers.

My message is simple.....reuse! I take great pleasure in turning something old and unwanted into new and creative. My art is purposeful....reuse, recycle, repurpose, reimagine! You can view some of my items at my website; www.savvyseconds1-com.webs.com

Meet Stacy Coleman from Blue Bay Cottage…
My name is Stacy and I am a wife and new mama who enjoys making things!  I married my high school sweetheart in 2005 and we just had our first baby, Charlotte, in June of 2011. In addition to sewing, I love photography, cooking, baking, traveling, and animals (especially my Corgi, Howard).  

Apart from my creative hobbies, I am an independent HR Consultant.  I left my full-time job as an HR Director for a local non-profit after my daughter was born.  My consulting work allows me the flexibility to work when I want to, where I want to, so I can be home with my baby.

Ever since I was a little girl I've loved making things and most of my family is the same way. My mom and grandma have sewn since they were young and my dad restores antiques and can build pretty much anything with little more than an idea and some tools. Some of my creativity comes from a lack of patience and a desire to want things right now. Case in point: when I was little I really wanted a house for my Barbies but knew that saving my money for one would take a long time. Instead, I gathered a bunch of my dad's shoe boxes (size 12 men's shoe boxes are the perfect height for Barbie), connected them and decorated and had my own Barbie mansion within hours.

Getting into the crafting hobby wasn't really a conscious decision--it just happened. Making things is a part of who I am! In the past several years, fabric designers and pattern makers have been designing lines aimed at a younger demographic, and from seeing all these new possibilities I decided I wanted to sew. My mom taught me to sew a few years ago and I constantly want to make new things!  My mom will be joining me at the show and has helped to make items for it as part of my shop.

I don't really have a specific creative process; I just make what I like. I love redecorating my house, so a lot of ideas come about that way. I also have an addiction to home decor magazines and get a lot of ideas from those. Often I'll see a new line of fabric that I have to have, so I'll hunt for cute patterns that will work with it.  

My favorite item that I've produced is my first quilt--it was my first sewing project that I did completely on my own without any help or guidance. When I ran into problems, I figured out how to fix them myself since that's the only way to really learn!


My goal is simple--to keep making things that I enjoy making and hopefully other people will get to enjoy them as well or be inspired to get creative. My goal was never to turn this into a money-making entity. I simply love to make things and can't possibly keep all of them, so selling my goods is a way to make what I want and earn back enough money for more projects! Also, sewing is a huge part of my blog (bluebaycottage.blogspot.com) so consistently having new projects to work on and photograph gives me a lot of new material to blog about.

My work is made of mostly bright, colorful, fun fabrics so I suppose my message is to be happy and have fun. My goal with what I make is to brighten up spaces and accessorize in a fun way. On a deeper level, I hope to help encourage people, especially the younger generation, that making things is possible and serves far more purpose than just a hobby; it's a way of life.


Meet Deb Csikos-Vandrasik from North Coast Beach Glass...
My name is Deb Csikos-Vandrasik. I am married with two teenage sons. I love to work with my hands, whether it's in my garden, crocheting, or making my sea glass jewelry. After practicing law for 15 years, I changed careers and am now a substitute teacher hoping to find a permanent position teaching science and social studies to middle school students.


Growing up, my mother has always been creative. When I was a child she was always doing some sort of craft - crochet, macrame, quilt making, sewing, wire art. My grandmother is a china painter.


I started to sell my art very quickly after I started making it, because ironically enough I'm not much of a jewelry wearer, so I don't need much of what I make.
I started by picking up, and mostly throwing back, beach glass my sons and I would find at the beach when they were little. My older son told me a few years ago that one of his teachers made jewelry from the beach glass, so I thought I could learn to do that too. And here I am today!

My creative process.. First I have to find the beach glass, which is a zen-like experience. I go out to the beach when it's quiet and just look for the glitter of an unnaturally bright color. When I find one piece, often more are buried, and I will dig beneath the pebbles to find the hidden treasures. Once I get home, I sort the pieces and clean them, then choose a number of them to sit on my desk until the talk to me. All of a sudden I will have a mental image of what the final piece of jewelry will look like, and I start the creation process.

My favorite piece.. I found this spectacular piece of natural heart-shaped aqua beach glass on one of my trips to Lake Erie. It just cried out for a special wrap, so I frame-wrapped it in half-round sterling silver wire to accent the heart shape, and hung it from a sterling chain.

My advice to others looking to start a business, would be to find a way to make your work unique. It is hard to stand out, especially in the jewelry market. Make your work as precise and professional looking as possible, while maintaining that handmade charm. And always, always make what you love, not what you think will sell.


Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 135 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Project Night Night, an organization that provide care packages and support for children during times of home displacement.


2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 10:00am-5:00pm
Wagner's Country Inn
30855 Center Ridge Rd. 
Westlake, OH 44145
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Less than 2 Weeks Away.. More Featured Vendors!

Meet Kara Hohn from Sew Appealing...
I am a stay-at-home mom to three children, ages 4 months, 4 years and 6 years old. I grew up in Pittsburgh, went to Clarion University as a marketing major and worked an awesome job as a retail buyer before we started a family. I have always been crafty, my mom and aunt taught me how to sew when I was young and I started Sew Appealing in November 2008. After using store bought items for my children, and talking with many other moms, I realized there were many products that could use some extra style and better features.
Where I get my creativity.. My mom was a preschool teacher and creative in so many ways. She always sewed, but more out of necessity than enjoyment, and she still never gives herself credit for being any good. My aunt and grandma were also quilters and someday I hope to learn that art too.

Nearly all of my items originated from a need that was not met by items found in stores. I don’t just want to replicate something, I want to make it better… more helpful… prettier… more durable… In my “past life”, as I refer to my career, I worked in the fashion world and I use those experiences when comparing and selecting fabric, quality and style. I know I have done my job well when I hear a customer say, “You just have so many great fabrics, I can’t decide!” 

I got started selling my items when several friends kept urging me to sell the bibs I was making.  With my husband and family helping and supporting me, I have turned my hobby into a business.

My favorite item is one of the first I created for my own children, the toddler bib. Meal times had become so messy because my 8 month old wouldn’t keep a bib on, or when she did, the bib was too small to catch her mess. I created a bib that covers a toddler from waist to neck and shoulder to shoulder. To conquer the issue of pulling off the bib, I fastened it with a snap at the neck. No Velcro® to itch their neck, get stuck to everything else in the washer and then after a few washings lose its stickiness anyway! My 4 yr old and 6 yr old still wear the bibs when we are having a messy meal. I love that I can use fabrics to reflect each child’s taste and interests; it makes it easier to convince them to wear a bib!

My overall goal is that I want to give customers great quality products that they enjoy giving as gifts or using themselves. I hope everyone can find something that is just perfect! I love to see babies & children in colors and patterns that are trendy and reflect their parents’ style.

Meet Kat Glazewski from Kat's Jewelry Design...
My name is Kat, and I am a college grad who dreams of being back in school, and a perpetual crafter.Today I make wire and chainmaille jewelry, but hopefully tomorrow I will be making art jewelry in cast silver again. I am an optimist, a busy-body, a book worm, and a casual
non-conformist.

Tedious is my middle name!My job is data-entry, my crafts are all small-scale and detail oriented. I like to cook and clean, read, work at medieval reenactment. I am also studying for a certificate in gemology, the study of gemstones.

My creative skills come from my mom, and from being curious enough to wonder and smart enough to learn. Amusingly, my math skills come from my dad, and had it been the other way around I'd have been at a loss in life!

My favorite art forms are three dimensional, touchable, and can be adjusted and altered in-progress. I started with an interest in jewelry design and a decision to go to college for something interesting, instead of for a degree that 'makes money.' By the time I graduated, I'd become fond of the creation process, of material studies, and of resurrecting ancient techniques for use in modern aesthetics. Crafting is just the most enjoyable way I know to fill in my free time.
I have a visual creative process. I see to color together and think about how they'd look intertwined or overlayed. I like to make models, to line the pieces up and see what it might look like before I fasted everything together. I love to do variations, and see how little difference change the whole vibe of a piece.

One piece I adore is the silver and red necklace from my Senior Project at college, a part of my SeaDragon Collection of cast-silver and cast-bronze jewelry. It is big and heavy, and far from appropriate for every-day wear, but it is also lovely and shiny and full of fluid
motion.
I'd been crafting jewelry for the fun of it since starting college. After graduating I moved in with long-time friends and found myself with a support system to make sure I mailed things promptly. With that, I started selling items on Etsy.com, and began looking for a great craft fair to work at face-to-face.

My wire and chainmaille jewelry is a hobby first and business second, and so long as I make enough back from sales to keep buying more materials I am content. I do hope, however, to raise enough money to someday continue work on the SeaDragon Collection, and this little business will play a roll in that as well.

I aim only to make things that are nice to look at and nice to wear. If there is a bigger picture, it may be that the proverbial book and choose its cover; how you dress and accessorize affects how you view yourself and are viewed by others. If you dress with beautiful things, you will feel beautiful, act beautiful, and then other people are more likely to see you beautiful also.

Meet Rachel and Kathy from Twirly Girl Boutique...
We are a mother daughter team driven by creativity, passion, and a love for homemade beautiful things. I, Rachel am a stay at home mother of 4 and am constantly trying to fulfill my creative desires and hobbies amidst my busy, wonderful family. I have teamed up with my mother Kathy; we are two of a kind and usually inseparable. She is the one who has taught and fostered all my creative ventures in life and now we are thrilled to be in business together. 

It started when I Kathy was a little girl; I got my first sewing machine when I was twelve and I then did the same for my daughter. I have used my creative talents my whole life from doing wedding flowers, sewing clothes, curtains, and upholstery, drawing, and teaching art class for about 10 years. I did many of these things with my daughter Rachel as she grew up and here we are still today making hair bows, sewing, and scrap-booking!

We are both inspired by antiques and I, Rachel am inspired by my daughter who I LOVE to dress up and adorn with ribbons and ruffles.
We want to create and sell our homemade items because I, Rachel find myself wanting specific girly accessories for my daughter and are unable to just drive to the nearest store and purchase them. So, I thought that if I am searching for these specialized items there must be many other moms like myself also searching. Recently, my daughter Ella was dedicated at our church and we were unable to find the right accessories to match her vintage dress her grandmother once wore in 1960, so we decided we would make them. We made her ruffled lace panties, lace socks and a lace bonnet to match her vintage dress This was our most recent and favorite item we produced.

We believe we have an inherited gift of creativity. God has blessed us with a talent that we continually encourage and inspire within each other.



Meet Diana Keller from Design By Di Blankets n More...
I worked over 20 yrs in health care with the largest portion in critical care nursing. As my children grew so did their activities  I chose to leave nursing and work in our home office so that I would be available to the kids. 

I have always had an interest in fabrics and texture. At a very early age I was designing doll clothes and making blankets and crafts. As the years went by my daughter became involved in competitive dance. I was designing or embellishing costumes for these events for over 11 yrs.
My children are off to college now but I have 2 new inspirations. My nieces have a special need. They loved to cuddle and every time their feet came out of the blankets and  they would wake up. I decided they needed a size fit just right for their individual needs ...thus the beginnings of Designsbydiblankets.com. 

I create blankets for all ages in all sizes. I do special orders and have made many for that special animal in your life. They love to cuddle too! I use the softest fabrics that just cuddle you into comfort. I expanded to crib sheets and can do nursery sets . I make comforters with that soft cuddly feel in mind. My receiving blankets are all reversible and bigger than the standard sizes you find in the stores. I have cloth books that are "pillow "like so they travel well in car seats and strollers. 

After my baby toddler items were seen, many adults requested one in their size. I now do blankets and throws for everyone (even furry pets) with my motto of, "Bringing a soft comfort into everyone lives."

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 135 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Project Night Night, an organization that provide care packages and support for children during times of home displacement.


2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 10:00am-5:00pm
Wagner's Country Inn
30855 Center Ridge Rd. 
Westlake, OH 44145
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Creations Through Colors- Some of our Bright and Bold Vendors!



Meet Sara Wood and Julie Ickes-Jefferson from Twinklefly Boutique...
Welcome to Twinklefly Boutique! We are Sara Wood and Julie Ickes-Jefferson - crafters, entrepreneurs, artists, spirited, creative, owners. We are a mother-daughter crafting duo. Our main focus at TFB (Twinklefly Boutique) is to create unique handcrafted baby gifts, but often, as our creative personalities take over, we get bored and stray towards something different for a while.
We have been attending art and craft shows for as long as I can remember. We have also been creating for as long as I can remember. One day we just decided to open an etsy shop with the jewelry we create. From there, we got into selling at shows. We have been selling the baby gifts for just over a year, but we were selling our jewelry about a year prior to that. Creating? We have been crafting our entire lives. 

Sara: I am a new mommy and in my free time I like to spend as much time with my son and husband as I possibly can. I couldn't ask for anything better than the experience of becoming a mom! I absolutely love it! Aside from that, I work full-time for a prescription drug insurance provider. 

Julie: I am enjoying my role as a new grandma and look forward to my family growing with a second grandchild on the way! I also love my dog as if she were my child (she's my big baby! Black lab/rot mix) and take her everywhere with me (except to shows, but I would if I could!). I also work full-time for a non-profit organization.

We are always creating. We gain inspiration from eachother as well as those around us, the wonderful babies in our lives, nature, our animals and many other places. 
 
Sara: I’m creative by nature, I've been crafting with my mom since I was born. Everything I do has to have some sort of my own spin on it to make it unique. I created all of my wedding jewelry and centerpieces, numerous cards and invites, gifts, Halloween costumes, home decor, organizing solutions, etc. I have a wonderful baby and a wonderful husband who makes every attempt to support and foster my creativity.

Julie: We have always done some sort of creating/crafting in my family. I have been making things since I was born. Crafting was handed down from generation to generation. 
 
Sara: My creative process is scattered. I am very random and tend to be all over the board (yes, annoying at times to my family and friends. . . You should see me on a cleaning day! I'm on to the next task before the first is complete. It's amazing my house gets clean in the end!) 

Julie: My creative process is spirited and creative. I am fascinated by the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of life, natural healing, nature and always looking for new things to create. 
 
Our goal we hope, is to one day be able to quit our day jobs and work for ourselves full-time and be able to make a living.
The message behind our work: A fun and unique way of presenting a gift, creativity is not a dying breed and share your talents with others. We also like to encourage buying local to help stimulate our local economies and support artists like ourselves..
   
We love to create custom items so you have the perfect gift that reflects the recipient's (or your) personality. Colors, themes, sizes, etc. Please let us know if you'd like us to create something just for you! Our website is www.Twinklefly.etsy.com You can email us at TwinkleflyBoutique@gmail.com or give us a call at 440-708-4469 or 216-469-5532

You can also check out our handcrafted jewelry at www.LedgewoodDesigns.etsy.com Each piece is unique. 

Love us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at:
Twinklefly Boutique Facebook:http://on.fb.me/HpUsUm
Ledgewood Designs Facebook:http://on.fb.me/bjKM62
Twitter:@LedgewoodDesign http://bit.ly/b5fXfh 



Meet Christina Woo from Vintage Postcard Pendants  ... 
I live in the country, Wellington, Ohio, and work in the city, Cleveland. I am a mild-mannered HR Manager by day and a fun-loving arts & craft freak by night (and weekend). Unlike many creative people, I have NOT been into arts and crafts my whole life. I only discovered my love of crafting (and sewing) about 15 years ago when I took a quilting class on a whim. One thing led to another and now I cannot stop creating!! Like many creative people, I have many, many hobbies and I'll try just about anything! 

How I got started.. About 15 years ago I watched a Sewing with Nancy episode and said, I CAN DO THAT!! I signed up for a quilting class within a week and I have been creating ever since!
  
I definitely get my creativity from my late dad, Charlie Drake. He painted wolves and country scenes on just about every surface he could get his hands on, and he played guitar and banjo. 
A couple of years ago I made my family and friends little wooden pendants for Christmas. The pendants had vintage postcard images decoupaged on them. I was seriously amazed at the overwhelming reaction that I got. You would have thought I gave them gold! They were begging me to make more for their family and friends. I absolutely LOVE LOVE my little pendants. I have been making these little decoupaged pendants for almost 3 years now.

My creative process is spontaneous, fast, and intense. I don't choose to do anything that takes too long. I’m fast and furious! I guess I need instant gratification.  However, when I'm "in the zone" nothing else matters. I will sit down at my creative table early one Saturday morning and when I finally look at the clock and stretch my creaking bones, I realize I have been sitting there for 6 hours!!  I absolutely LOVE creating things. 
I have to say I am the most proud of the art quilt I made for my banjo teacher.  I needed to express to him how much it meant to me that he was helping me to make one of my dreams come true.  It was hard to give it away, but he absolutely adores it.

My goal and hope with my artwork is that I hope to make people happy. I have only made one thing for myself because I seem to get so much more from my work when I see someone else smiling and walking away with it. 

My favorite time of year is Halloween. One day my goal is to make all Halloween-themed arts and crafts. I want to continue making my pendants, but I also plan on incorporating fiber art into my jewelry. I'm learning to use a felting machine right now and will be expanding my pendant line soon!

Meet Maudy Paden from Sewing by Maudy...
I have 20+ years of sewing experience, been trained as a religious lay professional and chaplian, and owned a franchise business. I have professionaly sewn in theatre cosutme shops, as well as bridal, and alterations workrooms. For fun, I enjoy mixing contemporary quilting techniques with upcycled garment embellishment.

Sewing was taught to me as an early teen by my mother. Both parents always had some kind of hobby or craft project in the works as an example to me. We were a "do it yourself" family. My father built all of our homes. If we wanted something special, we usually created it ourselves.

At present, I am a professional seamstress. I sew for a living; taking in side seams, replacing zippers and hemming pants. I mainly focus on alterations for private clients.
How I got into selling my work.. My daughter started selling small collage pins at craft shows last year, as a way to earn some money. I was helping her find ways to fund her dream of becoming a foreign exchange student. As a result, I could not stop thinking of more products to vend at crafts shows. She didn't have the skill to create these crafts, but I did, and I couldn't stop myself. The ideas were exploding in my head.  
.  
My creativity comes from my surroundings and even my dreams. Whatever I see and experience, is somehow bent to relate to a current project. My mind always has a back burner on, cooking an idea. 

My creative process is very organic. I have the ability to see what something could look like in my mind's eye. I also can allow something to progress without a complete attachment to an end product. I expect mistakes to happen and am ready to adapt and reshape my project as I go. My supplies are adapted from what I have on hand. Also, I often will have a couple different projects going on at the same time. I experiment and constantly try to fine tune my ideas. I think about my creations all the time.

My goal is to achieve self expression, mastery, reward, and the joy of sharing beauty. The message behind my work is transformation. Everything can be remade and transformed into something new. This idea especially shows up in my zipper rosettes and my wedding dress creations.  

Much of my work can be seen on my blog, www.cuttingcloth.blogspot.com and my website www.sewingbymaudy.com.  The best way to contact me is by email, maudy.paden@yahoo.com or by phone 440-967-8799.

Meet Daniela Fodor from Cecille Creations ...
My name is Daniela Fodor. I was born in Romania and I lived there 40 years. I moved to Ohio five years ago and have been doing my craft for about five years as well.
My creativity starts from the need to express my moods and feelings... Also nature, rural life and human feelings are what stimulates my creativity. Everything that has an impact on me is transformed into art.
How I got started.. I was talking with a friend who has her own business with fabric bags and she suggested using a sewing machine to create things. From there I bought the first sewing machine and that's how it began :) Every new technique fascinated me and prompted me to search, discover and learn new styles and techniques. I believe that I'm involved in a lifelong learning process. So far I have learned to create textile art and how to draw and use color, color schemes and design principles. As you can see from my work, I love using color.
At one point I found myself surrounded by quilts created by me. Also my work was noticed by colleagues and friends, whom I am grateful for their support. Many suggested me to start selling my work.
When creating a piece, I do not plan what steps need to happen in a particular order. Instead, I let it flow on its own or spontaneously. I always rely on my intuition. Most of the time I ask myself "What if ...?" My creative process actually begins with this question each time I sit down to create something.

Apart from the creating process of an art quilt, I have an hour each day that I spend drawing. I do this and draw to exercise my creativity. In terms of learning process, I impose myself discipline because I have to learn fast and I need to accumulate a lot of information to foster my creative process.
My goal is to reach artistic maturity at which point I could then say I have a personal style. For now I prefer abstract themes. I find that abstract painting stimulates my creativity. It forces me to focus more and look for connections where they do not seem to exist. I also want to achieve a large customer base. I feel that customers are the ones who spur me to create continuously. The satisfaction and delight of a buyer before an art quilt is a huge boost for me.
The message behind my work is: Allow your inner child to speak to the world.
Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 135 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Project Night Night, an organization that provide care packages and support for children during times of home displacement.


2012 Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 10:00am-5:00pm
Wagner's Country Inn
30855 Center Ridge Rd. 
Westlake, OH 44145
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.