My name is Linda Fugate and I have lived in Northeast Ohio all my life. I have a wonderful husband named Bill, who has his own photography business; “Fugate Photography”. I am the mother of three adult children, the last one left the nest last year to marry his high school and college sweetheart. I have “Buddy” a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and “Eko” an American Shorthair that complete my family. I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hiram College. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Apart from repurposing vintage items, I am a Staff Accountant at Hitachi Medical System America. I also assist my husband with the photography business.
My creativity has always been a part of my life. Sometimes out of necessity and sometimes out of imagination. My mother and father were both musically creative, but the gene skipped me. My creativity chose other avenues such as sewing, decorating and any new craft that came along. I have dabbled in many arts and crafts and find myself now repurposing vintage jewelry.
What got you into the craft/hobby?
I have crafted since I was a teenager, making clothes at first. I quilted for a while, and have tried various other crafts. Since my son married last year I have searched for a new creative outlet and discovered that my love of antique anything could be put to use. I love antiques, jewelry and bracelets. What better way to combine those three loves than to create new jewelry pieces with the antique earrings into bracelets. I chose bracelets because I can admire them without a mirror, and I can put them on without help.
How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process is “hit and miss”. Sometimes I am spot on and the next “no that doesn’t work”. Just looking at various vintage earrings and combining them is inspiration. Sometimes at my day job I envision what a certain project would look like and I rush to get home and start on it. Observing what my colleagues wear helps me determine new projects also. Magazines are also an inspiration to my creative process.
What is your favorite item that you have ever produced?
My favorite item is a baby blue bracelet centered with a 1940’s Bakelite earring. I was attending an Art Show at West Woods Park in Geauga County, when I met a wonderful woman in her 80’s and she told me the story of the beautiful earrings she had for sale. “When I was in high school, I purchased these beautiful floral Bakelite earrings to wear to my first prom,” she said, “I have kept and cherished them all these years.” I promised her I would put them to good use and someone else would cherish them for years to come. I love this bracelet, I will have a hard time parting with it!
How did you get your business off the ground?
My business is not yet “off the ground”. Hopefully this craft show season will get me started on the right road. I also have pieces on consignment in gift shops in the area. By helping my husband establish his photography business and my education I knew you had to have the right set of marketing skills. A product, my repurposed jewelry, a person interested in purchasing that product, customer base, the right price point, $15 -$70, and a place to distribute your product, craft shows. Now that I have all of these things I am ready to get my business off the proverbial ground!
What are your goals with your business?
My goals are to incorporate vintage findings of various sorts to repurposed items of use. I just repurposed a vintage octagon end table into a dog bed for “Buddy”. I am constantly on the lookout for these wonderful vintage items. I want to grow my business and attend Art Fairs and Craft Shows around Ohio and beyond. I want to be able to pick-up and take my business, plus my husband’s photography business to any location in the nation to retire.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I follow my granddaughters’ athletic and scholarly activities. I have attended USA Basketball in Colorado Springs for the last two years. I am an avid reader and love my “kindle”, a present from my son Will. In addition, I help my husband with sport team and high school seniors’ photography. I constantly redecorate my home, and have one project after another in the works. Landscaping our lawn for photography is another thing I do in my spare time.
What's the message behind your work?
My message is that vintage is beautiful and cannot be reproduced. We must save it by repurposing vintage to become a part of our new life. Insert a little flair and it is modern. Because my jewelry is repurposed it may have minor flaws or be delicate, but that is what makes it one of a kind!
Check out Linda's Vintage Findings this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 67 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 10:00am-5:00pm
Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church
5500 West 54th St.
Parma, OH 44129.
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.
