Are you ready, Rocky River?!

Meet Andrew & Cassy Quillin of Home Slice Pies…

Hi there! We are Andrew & Cassy Quillin. We live in a cabin in the woods and bake pies! We specialize in four-inch mini pies that are baked fresh daily. We also bake up full-size pies for the holidays and special orders. We focus on seasonal flavors and use local and organic ingredients to the highest degree possible. From our all-butter crusts to our fresh fillings, every piece of the pie is made from scratch, with love. Launching in October 2018, Home Slice Pies is a roaming pie shop, which means you can find us at local farmers’ markets, craft shows, breweries, and other Cleveland area events. We love to cater weddings and parties too! We are brand new to Avant-Garde, but we are excited to be participating in 3 shows this year! 

What inspires us? We love pie! In fact, we believe pie has special powers - it can heal, comfort, say thank you, apologize, and congratulate. It is such a cozy and nostalgic treat! We also believe that pie is meant to be shared. And that's what really inspires us: sharing our pies with our community! We have a large collection of pie cookbooks that we read for inspiration. We also love to brainstorm ideas for new pies based on the seasons and holidays. We have a lot of fun coming up with seasonal flavors and spending a weekend testing them out.

We wanted to find something that we could do together and really enjoy. Since cooking and baking has always been our number one shared passion/hobby, we knew that was the direction we wanted to go in. The idea for Home Slice Pies came up in one of our brainstorming sessions and we just fell in love with the idea and ran with it. We cook together every night and we love to bake up new treats on the weekends. After Cassy was in a bad car accident 2 years ago, we got really into pie making - it's very therapeutic and healing! It really became a passion for both of us and the feedback we got from friends, coworkers, and family who sampled our pies made us realize that we could be onto something! In five years, we would love to have a food truck. A larger commercial kitchen space and savory pies are also on the wish list! Overall, our message is that pie is a simple (and delicious!) pleasure in today's chaotic and complicated world - share it with those you love! 

Meet Denise Sutak of Designs by Denise, Just Beads…

I am retired from corporate America and am completely content with my life. My schedule is mine and I am volunteering to keep busy. As a child, I went to summer camps where crafts were the "big thing."  I remember enjoying crafting but then school and life moved in and took over. I began making jewelry about one-and-a-half years ago and have found I enjoy the design process the most. My inspirations just seem to come to me as I am sitting at my work desk.  I have a very creative mother and I guess it took this long for me to realize I inherited some of her talents.

I believe I should have tapped into this craft years ago as it has been hiding inside me.  I have a sister-in-law who began working in metal once she retired. That really pushed me to give it a go. My creative process beings by choosing my beads, then I work a design, walk away from it for a while, and then go back to tweak it. I don't believe jewelry should match, it should be an extension of the way you are feeling. For example, a red dress and purple jewelry or a blue dress and yellow jewelry, why not? If it speaks to you, wear it and wear it often. This will be my first Avant-Garde Show and I am excited to be able to participate.

Meet Rachel Town of Beach Glass Treasure...

I’m Rachel Town owner of Beach Glass Treasure. I started this company because of my son who has autism. For three years now, when Lake Erie isn’t frozen we walk the shore every day hunting for beach glass and it has been the most inspiring journey for both of us. Over the past year, I’ve created beach glass necklaces, charm bracelets, earrings, rosaries, and purse charms for women (in sterling silver), along with men’s beach glass necklaces, bracelets, and keychains, made using leather and stainless steel. We’ve participated in one Avant-Garde show, and more in the future.

The beach, my soon to be husband and my son inspire me the most to keep creating. I discovered this hobby when I just kept trying and figured it out along the way.  I create with an essence of the shore. If I have an idea when I begin my hunt for the beach glass it finds me in a way I cannot explain. Beach glass turned my hobby into a career and I love it. 

I plan to open a physical shop on Bridge Street in Ashtabula, Ohio by 2020. My jewelry is also in the Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA at the Le Petit Jewelry And Antique store until the end of 2019. By 2024 I plan to have the physical shop booming while continuing to branch out into other markets, keeping the website up and doing shows still. My message is this: be a rare treasure amongst the waves. Just like every human every piece of beach glass created into my jewelry is unique, one of a kind and has an extraordinary history. 

                                                  

2019 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, 2019

10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday

11:00am-5:00pm on Sunday

Rocky River Memorial Hall

21016 Hilliard Blvd.

Rocky River, OH 44116

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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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.

A Little Creative Inspiration Goes a Long Way...

Meet Beverly Vinch and Laurie Vinch from Washed Ashore Jewelry...
The duo are a sister and sister-in-law both living in Avon Lake, Ohio. Beverly has been creating jewelry pieces for years and her sister-in-law, Laurie, has been collecting beach glass for years. Their family went on vacation one year to Emerald Island, and of course Laurie brought several boxes of beach glass and that's when it hit both of them. How beautiful would it be to incorporate Laurie's beach glass into Beverly's designs? That's when Washed Ashore was born. Laurie learned to drill the glass, and Beverly taught her how to create jewelry and the rest is history. The company has officially been in business since September 2010.

Beverly got into selling our art/craft when she wore one of the pieces that the ladies created. Immediately there was a response and they had an order to produce bracelets for an entire wedding party and also design the bride's jewelry. 


Beverly and Laurie generally both like to get together and design (usually on a Sunday afternoon). Beverly tends to design pieces that are a bit more elegant and mainstream, where Laurie tends to design the pieces that are more eclectic and outside of the box (that's the artist in her).

Their creative process is a long process that starts with combing the shoreline for beach glass, whether it's in the beautiful summertime or with the cold biting wind coming off of Lake Erie in the winter. Every piece of beach glass that they use in their designs has been personally picked from the shores of Lake Erie. Once the glass is collected, it's cleaned, dried, separated and then Laurie gets to work drilling. They usually get together on Sundays to look at the pieces and start their design process, which may or may not involve a cocktail from time-to-time! :)


The ladies favorite pieces are their Beach Glass Blossoms, which they both love. They also are fond of their Beach Glass Lanterns, which are spectacular when lit at night.

Beverly and Laurie have really enjoyed all of the art and craft shows they have done and the chance to meet other people who love collecting beach glass. They have set up their website to allow them to continually show their pieces at all times throughout the year and stay in front of their clients that are repeat customers. Their goal is to be able to continue this business well into retirement when they can comb beaches all over the world, in particular England and Bermuda.


The message behind their work is that their pieces are the ultimate recycling. Not only are they cleaning up the beaches, they are creating something that is beautiful, sustainable, and can be passed down through generations as heirloom pieces.

Meet Carey Starkey from Designs By Carey...
I am a 27 year old student studying to be a history teacher. I also work at a local grocery chain store. I also teach 5th and 6th grade Sunday school at my Church.


My mom always liked to do crafts like making Christmas ornaments and my grandmother could crochet beautiful blankets. This is my outlet. When I come home from a long day at work, I sit down with my bead supplies or a scarf I'm working on, and I can relax.

How I got started- I've been beading since I was about 10. I began selling my items in July 2011 on Etsy. A friend of mine began making items to sell at a convention and got me thinking about doing the same. She showed me some new techniques and someone at work told me about Etsy. I also have a few friends who do craft shows and they gave me some advice.

I've enjoyed beading since I was a kid. It began as making little friendship bracelets for my friends and progressed into what I do today. I started crocheting just after high school. That's when the ponchos started coming into style. My mom showed me how to crochet and I've been doing mostly scarves and shawls ever since, with the occasional poncho in between. Depending on how ambitious I am.

I don't know really how to describe my creative process. I'll usually have a basic idea for a design, either from something I saw on TV or online in a store. Then I start to play around with my supplies to combine colors and see what works best. I usually ask my sister for an opinion on whether something is too gaudy. We're very close so I know I can trust her opinion.

One of my favorite things I've ever made was a 12 ft long black and white scarf. It was a recent Christmas gift for my sister. It almost had this really cool zebra print effect on it. I had to take it to work with me or work on it on the weekends while she was not home so she would not see it.

When it comes to goals, I just enjoy being creative and sharing what I create with people. Sometimes my parents and I talk about opening a coffee shop/boutique some day.

Meet Jen Buchana from Jenbuza Bags...

I am married (11 yrs.) and a dog mom of 2, living in Bay Village. I have a design background and work in a tile showroom. I have been creating purses/bags for almost 2 years. I love to work in my garden, hang out with my dogs and hubby, do yoga, work on my house and read on my Nook.

I come from a very creative family. I got started in my craft when I became unemployed and needed something to do while job hunting, so I sewed a purse as a gift! I also took a few items to Bayarts in Bay Village to see how they would sell. They did well, so I started going to shows, etc.

I am constantly thinking about new things and always looking at things to inspire me. I write ideas down.

My favorite item- I created a purse for a little girl that was very pink, sweet and girly. That has been my favorite so far.

My goal and hope is to eventually have my own consignment/gift shop with some friends. 

Meet Christy Ziemianski from Tummy Totes...

My name is Christy Ziemianski. I am a proud mother of two, and I have taught high school for the last 13 years. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University’s Scripps School, and I hold a master’s degree in Spanish from Kent State University. I am a native of Cleveland’s west side, and I currently reside in North Royalton.

I have been creative for as long as I can remember. I am the daughter of two gifted writers, and my parents fostered my love of artistic expression from a very early age. My mom gave me a sewing machine after college, and I’ve put it to good use in recent years.

Most recently, I was inspired to create Tummy Totes for my children. I was looking for a child-sized tote where my kids could easily access all their “little treasures” from the front, and when I couldn’t find one, I knew I could make one. The outcome far exceeded my expectations, but most importantly, they were a big hit with my kids! The Tummy Tote venture began in the summer of 2011, so it has only just begun!

After I saw how successful the Tummy Totes were for my kids, I began making them for friends and family. I received a great deal of positive feedback and thought other kids might like them, too.

My ideas come to me quickly, and the process unfolds easily. Once I get creating, though, I spend a great deal of time working out the details and making revisions, as I am a bit of a perfectionist.

My favorite item is my flower headband. Although the Tummy Totes are my proudest achievement, the headbands came to me by surprise. I was looking for a way to use fabric remnants, and a new creation was born.

My goal? I hope that other children will benefit from and enjoy wearing my creations, while looking bright and adorable at the same time! I also hope this is the beginning of a successful business venture. You can view tummy totes at tummytotes.com.

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.