Cyndi Brunnet from Crafting Memories...
I am a divorced mother of two who always loved to fiddle with crafts ever since childhood. I used to enter my crafts (mostly cross stitch and paper twist back then) in the county fair and have won numerous ribbons. Back in 2008 a friend and I decided to take a jewelry making class and we had so much fun, we decided to try and do a craft show with our new-found talent. I haven't looked back since!
I have been doing craft shows since 2008 and in 2014 started promoting my Etsy shop to broaden my reach. I also love Pinterest! I get so many ideas from there. I also get inspiration from my children-it is amazing how a simple conversation can all of a sudden get your creative juices flowing. I love seeing the look on someone's face when they "zoom" in on one of my items, knowing that I put a smile on someone's face-that is inspiration in itself.
I originally started out making jewelry, but there were so many jewelers, I decided to broaden my horizons and started making French Memory Boards. I have added to my line with other craft items such as key fob/zipper pulls, cupcake onsies, diaper babies, pinback buttons, some upcycled crafts but still stay true to my memory boards. I always loved to tinker with crafts ever since I was a kid...so I always knew I had it in me, I just had to find what I liked to do best.
My creative process... I look to see what is trending, then I see how I can incorporate that into my crafts. For instance, gray is supposed to be popular this fall, so I am looking for fabric with grays to make memory boards. Owls and nautical are still very popular, so I search for themed fabrics/ribbon for the boards and key fobs. My pinback buttons are a variety of sayings-something catching my eyes, and next thing you know, it is a button. As for my upcycled crafts, I look at ways an item can be used again.
My goal in five years.. I am trying to build up my Etsy following and hope the shop takes off to where I have a steady income stream. I love doing shows, but want to cut back to only doing the ones I truly love to do and not be forced to try and fill up my calendar with a show every week-end.
The message behind my work.. Memories, the majority of my items relate to memories. You purchase the item because it triggers a memory, whether it is a favorite pattern, character, being purchased as a gift or being used to display memories (photos).
Meet Richard Gullet from Dark Designs...
I am a retired teacher, I taught Anthropology, Ancient History and World History as well as being a life long doodler - I call my drawings "Doodles on Steroids". I have been doodling since my days in the lecture halls of the university - when the lectures got boring, my pen started moving - creating unique little drawings in the margins of my notes - then as a teacher, I continued to produce interesting little designs in the margins of my staff agendas. Eventually I began to actually attempt to draw my designs in and of themselves and not as a response to a boring situation.
As the years progressed, so did my drawings, becoming larger and more intricate. None the less, I drew these designs for my own personal entertainment keeping them tucked away in my note books till friends and family urged me to finally display them in 2012
I am inspired by the mythologies of native and ancient peoples and I am fascinated by the artistic styles of M.C. Escher and the Native American artists of the North West Coast Native American Indians.
How I got started.. A good friend of mine - Charlie Hall - was the woodshop teacher at the school where I taught and I would help him prepare for his shows and sometimes go to the shows and help out. So when it was suggested that I too get involved I had a bit of experience and encouragement which helped.
I discovered my talent by accident - to me I was just "filling space and time" with my silly little designs till I was pushed into the art fair scene and found that other people than relatives and friends liked my work.
I base my work on the mythologies of Greeks - Romans - Egyptians - Celts and Native Americans. I then base my drawings on a creature from their mythology and then hide numerous other animals within the body of the image - I call the hidden designs my Dark Designs - designs hidden in the dark - most don't see them at first glance.
My five year plan... I have no grand plans - I enjoy going to the fairs and talking to people - however, one project I am considering is the production of a book - one that would include my most popular drawings and their corresponding myth. It is basically written/drawn - I just need to get the cash together to have it published - don't know if there would be any demand but I would be fun to try.
I am not sure there is a deep message to my work however, I would hope it would encourage people to take the time to appreciate the artistic styles and mythologies of other cultures - to ovoid the superficial glance and to look deeper into the drawings to gain a greater understanding as well as to have fun.
Meet Kari Gall from Sugar Bear Gourmet Popcorn..
My husband and I are the
owners of Sugar Bear Gourmet Popcorn LLC, a home based business located in
North Olmsted, Ohio. We have two children. We have been serving up
gourmet popcorn for almost two years now.
We find inspiration in
flavors and spices to create new products to delight the palate. We got into the business when my husband was a cook. Around that time we decided we wanted to create fun and unique snacks
for people to enjoy! We did this by experimenting with
spices, flavors, and colors. We have always loved popcorn and it was the
perfect medium to showcase it on!
Flavor ideas come to us
through experiences with food and events that happen through our day to day
routine or a customer will request a flavor for us to develop for them for a
special person or event they are having. We make gourmet popcorn in custom
flavors and colors. We can create over 200 flavors!
Our goal in five years... We want to focus on custom
orders, events (baby/wedding showers and parties), and fundraising for schools
and organizations.
The message behind our work is to allow people to
experience something new and fun in popcorn. The sky is the limit with flavors
and colors with Sugar Bear Gourmet Popcorn LLC. Sweet, savory, cheesy, salty,
or spicy…we can make it happen.
2014 Rocky River Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
