A Few of Our Repeat Avant-Garde Vendors- A Look at Some of our Veteran Vendors!

Meet Maureen Koopman from All Spelled Out...

I am an Interior Designer by education and sort of happened into the world of wall words, a little by accident. (A VERY happy accident though!) As a interior designer, there was a little bit of pressure to create a unique nursery for my son (mainly self-inflicted, mind you!) I came up with the idea for these letters when designing my son's nursery a couple years ago. I wasn't thrilled with the options for wall words out there and felt I needed to put my own stamp on his nursery anyway.

I created his letters and of course showed off the nursery whenever I could- Little did I know that would be the one that started it all...I made another set for a good friend's baby shower. I found people telling me over and over, "You really should sell those!" So after a lot of convincing- Here I am!! And the rest is history.

I work part time at an architecture firm but this is truly my passion. I love the opportunity to be a part of people's homes, lives and celebrations. The rest of my time is spent with my adorable son who is a source of joy every day!

My favorite creation to date is absolutely be the letters I made for my son, Robby. Little did I know that those letters would turn into! 

I got into my craft through A lot of "little birdies" in my life. My family and friends are my biggest cheerleaders and have encouraged me every step of the way. I cannot thank them enough, especially my husband, my Mom and my sister!

 

Meet Tanya Knapp from Snowflake Avenue Jewelry...

Snowflake Avenue Jewelry is a mother daughter collaboration, located in the beautiful High Sierras. Our jewelry is inspired by nature, making each design one-of-a-kind, just like a snowflake! Each of our pieces are unique and handmade with genuine gemstones, handcrafted beads, sterling silver and/or imagination.

How we got started... My mother has always been into making jewelry and I got employed at a jewelry shop. The combination of technique I learned from the jewelry shop and previous knowledge with the passion my mom had, was a perfect way to become involved in the jewelry making craft. My mom and I couldn't ignore the requests for our jewelry, so we decided to create a website. We also host parties, and have sold at other craft shows.

We are inspired by our surroundings. Looking outside and seeing all the color combinations helps create a colorful dramatic variety.  Nature is always changing and keeps our creative process fresh and exciting.

The message behind our work is to enjoy what you do and what you're creating and the outcome will always be successful.  Also that nature is a beautiful wonderful thing and inspiration can come from a wild and natural place.

Meet Shannon Dennis from The Nina Line...

I'm now a work at home mom after over 5 years of travelling 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 and 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!

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, 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!

My creativity comes from 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 and I can take out some of the possibilty of error.

Some exciting news, 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 on-of-a-kind items that people will love!

Check out these vendors this winter at the 2012 Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 100 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Stewart's Caring Place, an organization that supports families touched by cancer.

2012 Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, January 29, 2012, 10:00am-5:00pm

Wagner's Country Inn

30855 Center Ridge Rd. 

Westlake, OH 44145

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Recreating Beauty Through Color & Pattern- Allyson Meier

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Allyson Meier and I was born and raised in Cleveland. I received my education from the University of Dayton, a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art, with a concentration in painting and printmaking. I recently got engaged to a wonderful man and my favorite person, Carlos, who is a graphic designer and co-owner of the Cleveland clothing brand, ILTHY (I Love the Hype.)

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Currently I work for a printing company in their pre-press department, which basically means I take clients’ orders and prepare them for printing. It’s a lot of numbers and digital files, so not too challanging in the creative department. But I recently finished a certificate program in Graphic Design, so I’m looking to expand my career soon.

Where do you get your creativity from?

I definitely get my artistic ability from my dad - he’s the one who taught me how to draw. Being in school and receiving a formal education in art really helped to refine and nurture the creative process for me. You’re forced to be creative even when you’re not feeling “creative.”

What got you into the craft hobby?

When I started working full time after school, I found that I didn’t have as much energy and time to devote to my painting as I would have liked. The smaller crafts I do (the ink drawings, the cards) allow me to still create and get involved in the artistic process, without as much of a commitment, time-wise and emotionally. 

How would you describe your creative process?

My creative process is kind of sporatic. Inspiration will hit at the oddest times - driving in the car, before I go to bed, while I’m supposed to be working! I always try to jot down the idea or sketch it out, so I can return to it when I have the time. Then, it’s just a matter of bringing that idea to life. Some days, I’ll really feel like working, and I’ll paint, draw and do some other craft all in one evening. Other days, I’m not in the mood and not much gets done. I’ve found I really have to listen to what I feel like doing, and act as soon as the urge arrives. 

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?

I would have to say this painting is my most favorite piece I’ve ever made. It was made for my friend Gina, who is a ceramic artist, so we did a trade. She loves the color purple as much as I do, and being artistically minded like me, she gave me free reign. Some paintings I really struggle  with, but I remember how organically this one evolved. I’m so happy with the result. 

How did you get your business off the ground?

Well I don’t know if I would say it’s off the ground yet! But the business I do have now has come to me mainly through personal connections that have resulted in commission pieces, as well as from online marketing. I sell my work on Etsy, and I am always looking for more opportunities to promote my work. This is the first show I’ll be participating in in a while, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to showcasing my work to a new audience and meeting some new people. 

What are your goals with your business?

As with almost every artist, designer, crafter or creative person, to be able to support myself solely through my work is my main goal. I’m always looking to create more, to make more time for the creative process, and push my work to new levels. I really feel that if there is enough passion, time, and energy put into something, the success will come. 

What do you do in your free time?

I find I take interest in all the arts, even if I’m not good at them myself! I like listening to music and going to concerts, watching good movies, reading, both books and magazines. I do spend much more time on the internet than I should, looking at websites and blogs for inspirations. And shopping :)

What’s the message behind your work?

While some artists use their work to make strong statements about issues of importance to them, the message behind my work is more about “art, for art’s sake.” There is so much visual beauty in the world around us. I like to try to recreate some of this beauty through color and pattern, both observed from my surroundings and created from my own mind. I do use text in many of my pieces, which are often my own words and thoughts about things, but they are abstracted so that the words can’t be read, only so that the pattern can observed. 


Check out Allyson Meier this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 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. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows

Influences From Around the World- Ana Diaz Arte

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Ana, I am the owner of Ana Diaz Arte (anadiazarte on Etsy), a crochet and felt jewelry ONE OF A KIND BOUTIQUE. 

I was born in a beautiful caribbean island, where I grew up in a family of artisans, my great grandfathers, grandfathers, my father, and also some of the ladies in the family worked as jewelry designers. I was always there as a child, observing attentively and carefully, their work. I'd help them and try to create my own designs :). I especially loved my grandmother's designs, she taught me how to crochet (the basics), since I was about 6 or 7 years old. Around this time, it was the first time I remember holding a crochet hook in my hands... I was in high school when I asked my mother to buy some "How to Crochet" magazines for me. I remember the magazines were from Spain and I was able to get the whole collection!, so I decided to make some pretty crochet doilies. I spent lot of afternoons learning to read crochet diagrams and making a big crochet tablecloth that I still keep. It's one of my most precious belongings.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am a SAHM (Stay @ home mom), I love to spend quality time with my daughter and son, but I also love to create!

Where do you get your creativity from?

I think it's a blend of the different countries and places I have lived in my life. I was born in Cuba so I have a little bit of Caribbean sun inside me. Also I have some latin flavor. I grew up in Venezuela with beautiful and warm people around. Both countries have had an amazing impact on my life, and of course in my creations. I also am sometimes inspired by nature and people from those countries.

What got you into the craft hobby?

I had always loved to create handmade gifts of beautiful jewelry and accessories for my family, friends, and of course for myself! I decided to open Ana Diaz Arte as a hobby. When I opened my account on Etsy, I particularly enjoyed the design process since each of my pieces are unique. I try to give every piece a special touch. I enjoy working with embroidery floss because the color pallete is amazing!, I can play with the colors :), I recently learned wet felting, needle felting, and nuno felting techniques that I also combine with the crochet now.

How would you describe your creative process?

I start by choosing the color pallete, based on a concept. This can range from being a flower I saw, a texture, or a thought of mine. I then start to create around that. I am trying to not use metal parts in my new creations, so most of the pieces are 100% cotton embroidery floss and wool.

What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced? 

I love each piece because they are unique and special. But I do remember two pieces that I created with handmade lampwork beads made by Jodi of BeadworxAZ.etsy.com. I love the combination of lampwork and crochet!
One was a Freeform crochet bracelet called RUGOSA BRIZIX. It featured a pattern of plunged bubbles in an ocean of Aquamarine, Turquoise and Emerald Green. The focal point was a wonderful handmade piece of art from the prestigious Arizonian artist Jodi Price. The other was AMULETO, a Convertible Freeform Cotton Crochet Cuff Bracelet and Necklace in blue, gray and beige, also with a lampwork bead as focal point.

How did you get your business off the ground?

I found a link to Etsy somewhere online. I remember that I loved the concept inmediately of being able to have my own personalized shop and show my designs to the world. I was very excited!

What are your goals with your business?

I am always working with old and new customers. When I receive a new order, I try to communicate immediately with the customer. I think that an excellent customer service is essential to my shop. I always keep the store fresh and only work with the best quality supplies.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to read a lot, but sometimes I have no free time!

What's the message behind your work?

My pieces are for the modern woman who loves to be unique and practical.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anadiazarte/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ana-Diaz-Arte/97904437242
http://anadiazarte.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/anadiazarte

Check Ana Diaz Arte out this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church at 5500 West 54th St. Parma, OH 44129. Show time runs from 10:00am-5:00pm. This eclectic show will feature 65 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. For more information or to become a vendor, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com.

Twitter: @AvantGardeShows

Facebook: Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows