Friday, April 20, 2018

Dont Miss it! Rocky River Show is this Weekend!

Meet David Spigiel from Transfigure Trees...
My name is David Spigiel, and I have lived in Northern Northeast Ohio all my life. I am married, with three grown children. I retired some years ago after working for 32 years. 
I've been wood turning since September 2017. This will be my first Avant Garde art and craft show! Inspiration for my work comes from the outcome of the transfiguration of dead trees into exquisite pieces of art. The unexpectedness of how the wood grains and natural blemishes reveal themselves, and help me to create a unique piece every time. I got into this hobby because we live on a larger tree lot and I had an older lathe. I wanted to use the word for something other than the fire pit. I was amazed at the outcomes, and how I so naturally took to it. That is how I discovered my talent.

My family and friends greatly encouraged me to sell my pieces, which had been only given as wedding, birthday, thank you gifts, and the like. My creative process involves choosing a piece of wood for the size and length for what I wish to make (bowl, candlestick, vase, lamp, etc.). I create based on the unique natural shape of the wood. If the bark is interesting, I leave it. If the grains are spectacular, I'll showcase those. The wood guides me, as much as I guide the wood. I will continue wood turning as long as I am able, as I enjoy this. I hope my pieces make people happy and give them a better appreciation of nature.

Meet Kili from My Turquoise Kitten...
Ive always been a creative child, with a passion for color and design. No matter where i ended up in life, art was always a constant. I opened My Turquoise Kitten a year and a half ago, but crafting... since FOREVER! This will be my second Avant-Garde show. Life inspires me. What makes us happy? How can my pieces be conversation starters? I got into my hobby from a woman who made beaded bracelets and I was inspired. I knew I had the creative aptitude just didn't know that I could share it with others! 
My entire inventory is based from fun and function. Whats cute but still functional. I am inspired by real life things and situations.  I like comics but I'm always toting something around. Comic page inspired tote bags. Fun foods... wear em! I'm always observing and pitting something together. 
Within the next five years I hope to expand. Expansion! Being an amazon seller has allowed me to reach people all over the country with my amazing products. I would love to open a small retail space in the future. My message behind my work is, "accessorize better, laugh and have fun!"

Meet Edy Seaman from Long Way Home Studios...
Hi there! My name is Edy Seaman and I am a native of Canton, Ohio. I am fortunate enough to call myself the proud parent of four incredible children ranging in age from 16 to 31. My handsome and sweet husband and I have been married for 33 amazing years. 
I have been a maker of things for as long as I can remember. From scrap paper pompoms in the back of my parents printing shop to the lovely glass and metal jewelry I create now. My hands have to always be making something. My creative journey has led me in many directions but I always seem to end up back at personal adornment. After owning Edybeady’s Bead Shoppe and Terra Potta Pottery Studio for seven years, I have returned to full time work in my studio, Long Way Home Studios. Not only am I producing new and exciting things there but am using it as a place to teach, share and inspire other creative souls.
My work is comprised of ideas, techniques and skills acquired over the past 35 years of creative exploration. My approach to jewelry at this point in my creative life is simple yet beautiful and easy to wear. Jewelry should not be high maintenance. The products shown in the photos are made using the techniques of lampworking, enameling and metal-smithing. I combine different materials and techniques in much of my work. This Will be my second Avant-Garde Arts and Crafts show and I am really excited to participate.

Meet Miriam Hall from Emme's Zanny Plants...
My name is Miriam Hall and I absolutely love succulents! Science and nature have always fascinated me but plants are especially dear to me. Growing up in Latin America and having lived in several states in the US has allowed me to experience such a variety of plant life; going from the tropics of the Amazon and the Rainforest in Costa Rica to the desert areas of California and the beauty of the four seasons in the Midwest. The thing about succulents that is so amazing to me is their ability to stay alive through the harshest conditions. Recently my mom and dad were working in Brazil in the Sertão, a semi-arid region about 1.5 times larger than the state of Texas, and my dad sent me a picture of a cactus flower growing right out of the ground.
This is my first Avant-Garde Show, in fact, its my first art and craft show ever. I’ve always enjoyed doing crafts, painting, drawing, crocheting, woodworking, etc. In 2017 my mother-in- law was given a succulent garden arrangement that was so unique and creative and that was when I got hooked! Shopping at thrift stores throughout the central Ohio area looking for containers that will highlight succulent arrangements has become quite an adventure that has become a whole family affair. I have no idea how long this journey will last but I look forward to every minute of it.





2018 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sat. April 21 (10am-5pm) & Sun. April 22 (11am-5pm)
Rocky River Memorial Hall (Next to Rec)
21016 Hilliard Blvd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:
LINKEDIN



Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Avant-Garde Show Returns to Rocky River!

Meet Bonnie Rubin from Butterfly Bean Studio...
I am Bonnie Rubin, better known as Butterfly Bean and I love to live with wild abandon!! My life is filled with family and good friends and sharing creativity is a passion of mine. I have been told that I am free-spirited and adventurous. I love to dance, laugh, travel and sleep under the stars. My clothes are colorful and so is my artwork. Color makes me happy and I never can pick a favorite. I have always loved to doodle and mix patterns. Being an artist is truly my authentic self.
I have been in and out of crafting and craft shows all my life. I started selling hand-painted t-shirts in college. Craft shows have always been my passion and go to in times of transition but it is now going to be my primary source of income.

I am inspired by colorful papers, nature, life reflections and making people happy. I have always been artistic, loved to doodle and do art in school. Really, I discovered my talent from my doodles! To describe my creative process, sometimes I am frenetic; I see something I like and I scramble to make it! Other times I am methodic, other times it is purely organic and it just happens! In five years I'd like to be traveling around the country in my camper, doing craft shows.
BB Studio offers functional layered mixed media collage and repurposed vintage finds. BB Studio transforms, re-invents and re-imagines. The goal is to give new life to regular everyday items, turning them into practical pieces of useable art. Free spirited as the butterfly, each piece evolves into something unique and individual like the person waiting to find it. Reflective and spontaneous, Butterfly Bean Studio creations are happy and playful. They will take you on a personal journey and make you smile! Special projects are encouraged. If you can imagine it, I will find a way to create it!


Meet Katherine Baker from Catch a Dream...
Hello! My name is Katie, I'm a free spirit and hippie at heart! I always look at the brighter side of things-my motto is-"it could always be worse." I live to adventure outside and travel-taking photographs is another huge passion of mine. I'm super blessed with an amazing family, boyfriend and friends-life is good. I'm also a proud cat Mom.
I've been making my dreamcatchers for about 4-5 years now, but this will be my first craft show EVER. I'm so excited to share them with other people-and I hope they make everyone as happy as they make me. Each one I make is unique and one of a kind-the Halloween ones are my favorite though. The next step for my little business is an Etsy shop-can't wait to see you all! Never stop dreaming!

Meet Sonja Jones from The Pup Artist...
Hi, I'm Sonja Jones, and I'm primarily a wildlife artist.  Currently I live in the Cleveland area, but I've lived all over Ohio and the Midwest.  We in the Midwest are so blessed with beautiful parks and nature areas, especially here in Cleveland. I love to draw inspiration from the wildlife that surrounds me here, often right in my backyard.  I think nature is a place we can all go for solace and peace; and not just wildlife, but even our pets bring us that special kind of comfort.  As a wildlife and pet portrait artist, I try capture and bring home for my clients some of nature's comfort.  
I've been a painter for most my life, but in my earlier days it was houses that were my canvas - I started working in my parent's paint contracting business at age 14!  So I guess that's where I developed my sense of color and fine line work. It was the Christmas gift of an art sampler set a few years back, however, that shrunk my canvas; and now the days feel empty if I'm not engaged in some sort of artistic project! I work in acrylic, watercolor, and ink, and am experimenting with a variety of substrates. 'm excited to be showing my work, and I hope you'll stop by my booth to visit!

Meet Monica Horner from Triple C Sweets...
Our names are Sandy and Monica. We are a Mother-Daughter duo with a love for sweets. Sandy is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 6, who has been retired for 8 years. Monica is a mother of a 5 year old, as well as a Step-Mother to 12 & 13 year olds., who also has a full-time office job. We have both been baking in the kitchen and creating goodies from love with our mom and aunt's recipes since we were young.
This will be our 11th Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! Whether it is the design on a Bride’s dress, school colors for the Graduate going off to college or even an edible image of the Birthday person, we love to incorporate a special item for an event into treats.
We have always loved to be in the kitchen creating sweet treats. In her 20’s, Sandy took a candy making class. Monica has also taken cake decorating classes through the years. After our classes, we were hooked. We discovered our talent by feedback from friends & family. We are creative by trying something new, i.e. a new recipe or design. We have tried many different ideas that sounded perfect in our heads. But, did not quite workout how we expected in real life. Luckily, we have great taste testers around us. 

In five years, we would like to be doing this as our full-time job. Let us make something sweet for your next event or to satisfy your sweet tooth!


2018 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sat. April 21 (10am-5pm) & Sun. April 22 (11am-5pm)
Rocky River Memorial Hall (Next to Rec)
21016 Hilliard Blvd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:
LINKEDIN