Peepal Tree- 100% Natural Materials, When Architecture Meets India

Tell us a bit about yourself..

I am a part time designer and a full time mom! I love designing, creating and spending time with my 2 little boys. I am also an 'ex'-architect by profession and training. I say that because I have a bachelors in architecture from India and a masters from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have also worked 8 years in various cities like New Delhi, Ann Arbor, Chicago and Cleveland. I decided to be a stay at home mom when I had my older son 4 yrs ago and then my younger son 2 years later. Recently i decided to start work again and felt architecture was not exciting for me anymore, so I've decided to do something smaller scale. Also, born and brought up in India but living now in USA, I like to bring something unique from India and make it work with contemporary styles, hence block printing which is a traditional art form of India, very popular even today.

Apart from creating things, what do you do? 

I look after my 2 little boys, we spend a lot of time on playgrounds, reading books and playdates.

Where do you get your creativity from? 

I'm not sure if I was born with it as neither of my parents are in the creative field! But since I can remember, I have always loved to draw, paint and create with my hands. Some of my favorite classes in school were art and crafts, I remember 8th grade we learned how to paint on fabric and do tie dye. I thought that was the most fascinating way to add color and design to a cloth. I remember making tons of handkerchiefs for anybody who was polite enough to take my 'creations'

What got you into the craft hobby? 

I have to credit my arts and crafts teacher in school in New Delhi, India and then architecture school further created the desire in me to create, irrespective of the medium. Buildings or Scarves, it's all design.

How would you describe your creative process?

I do block printing on various products like tshirts, tank tops, scarves baby clothes, cards. I love color and clothes myself. I take inspiration from nature, anything I see or get an idea, I love to come back home and test it out. I also use principles of architecture in creating my various products. It could be the color of leaves in a tree. For instance, I made a top with various colors of the leaves I had seen literally on a tree!

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

I recently made a full sleeved cotton tshirt inspired by the cape cod style of architecture, I picked the blues of water and the crisp white of sands. I loved how it came together. I also really love one of my wood blocks which is of an elephant and you will see a lot of products with that design. It's clearly my favorite block and now I have at least 30 in my collection of hand made blocks from India.

How did you get your business off the ground? 

I was in India early this year, picked up some wood blocks from an artist who carves them out by hand. I also picked up some beautiful cotton material for scarves.I came back to US and started making some designs. First, I showed a small sample of my designs to some friends and a very special neighbor Judy, who has excellent taste in everything especially clothes. She loved it and ordered many scarves with matching tank tops for herself, her daughters and some friends of hers, thats when I knew I had something good.I took part in a show in June and my work was well received. Since then, I have taken part in some more shows and now a lot of my business is through word of mouth.

What are your goals with your business? 

I hope to be able to support my family with my business in the next few years (not that I need to) but it's important to me to know that I can. I have always been self reliant and financially independent. Also, to have my own line out in some stores and have my work referred to as, " Is that a Peepal Tree scarf you are wearing ?"

What do you do in your free time? 

Free time? Whats that?? I feel I knew what it was at some point in my life a long, long time ago in a land far far away... :-)

Seriously, I do make time to dabble in my other passion besides design which is cooking. I love to cook all sorts of cuisines: Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican and have just started dabbling in vegan baking. I also love to read fiction and listen to Hindi music in the car.

What's the message behind your work?

From and Inspired by nature. I always use 100% natural materials like cotton, recyclable paper for my creations. The wood blocks are made by an artist for me in India. And the paper comes straight from a factory in India where the work force is mostly comprised of women. I feel in my own small way I am helping these old crafts stay alive where machines and factories cannot replace handmade, one-of-a-kind designs. Also, it supports the women and artists from whom I buy from in India.

Check out Peepal Tree 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.

Lisle & Locks- Vintage Inspired Hair Adornments and Fabric Wreaths

Tell us a bit about yourself..
My name is Michelle Koelliker. I am 32 years old. I was born and raised in Cleveland. I currently live in independence with my wonderful husband and my 2 and a half year old son. I love to create new things, as I continuously am trying to learn more and do more.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am a hair stylist in Twinsburg at the Nina/Michelle Salon. I have been there for 8 years now. I am so passionate about my career and I love to make all of my guests at the salon feel beautiful inside and out.

Where do you get your creativity from?
I can say that I truly think I get my creativity from my mom. As I was a child she was always very crafty. As far as making hair accessories, I have always been a love of any type of accessories. I am so inspired by anything that looks feminine, romantic, and has a vintage twist added to it.

What got you into the craft hobby?
I am just always at stores such as Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, and I have always noticed and loved their accessories. I have also always thought how easy it must be to make these accessories myself. I started to experiment with fabric and sewing and found that I had a talent for it. I also starting making wreaths out of fabric. I used different textures and colors to create a wreath that can go with any decor.

How would you describe your creative process?
I would say that I just always have new and different ideas in my mind all the time. By making my accessories, it gives me a chance to express my thoughts and ideas. To be honest, most of the time I just sit down at my desk, look at fabric and start to make a certain piece without even having an idea of what the finished product is going to look like. It just comes natural to me to give it a finished look. I use a lot of different fabrics, old buttons, old clothing I may come across and recycle it. It's amazing what you can make out of an old article of clothing that you never thought you would see or wear again!

What is your most favorite item you have ever produced? 
I absolutely love making the wreaths. I have had an overwhelming response towards these. Also, the accessories I make, can be worn as a hair clip on a headband, or as a pin on an item of clothing. All of my pieces are versatile.

How did you get your business off the ground?
I actually started selling my pieces at my salon in Twinsburg, the Nina/Michelle salon. I then noticed that people liked them and were requesting for me to start to make more. I then made and Etsy account and begun to sell them on Etsy.

What are your goals as a business?
my goals are to continue to make creative and different accessories as well as wreaths. I would like to present them to local boutiques in Cleveland as well. I would love for them to be available in stores to purchase.

What do you do in your free time? 
In my free time (the little that I have) I enjoy going to the gym. I also love to refinish furniture. I go to many second hand stores and flea markets and purchase pieces of wooden furniture and refinish them.

What is the message behind your work?
I want to make unique, feminine pieces that make people who wear them feel great about themselves. I love vintage inspired accessoreis. Each piece or wreath that I make, I absolutely love. I take so much time to hand sew and create them as individual looks. I want people to be able to express their individuality and their creative side, so that it reflects in the their everyday lives and how they feel about themselves!

Check out Lisle & Lcoks 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.

Miss Princess Tutus- Every Girl Deserves to Be a Princess!

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Christine Cook, I have been married for almost 3 years to my husband Chris. We have 3 beautiful daughters, Madilyn-8, Gabriella-3, and Alaina-1. We live in North Olmsted.  

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I work part time as an LPN at Fairview Hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit, my main job there is scrub nurse on the c-sections. And I am also going back to school to be an RN at Kent.

Where do you get your creativity from?

I love creating things and I definitely consider my 3 girls as my muses, they are the reason that I ended up even starting Miss Princess Tutus. Without them being so girly, I don't think I would have started making tutus!

What got you into the craft hobby?

Last year when we were pregnant with our last daughter we were roaming around a craft exhibit at Great Northern Mall, there was a girl there selling tutus and I was immediately drawn to them. I wanted the girls for Lainey's first birthday pictures to be dancing around in beautiful flowing tulle! So about 4 months before their birthday pictures I started researching them online and was going to purchase them...Then I got the idea that I could make them and it has led me to this point.

How would you describe your creative process?

I'm always thinking about different color combinations to put together on tutus. I also am always trying out new things on my tutus. When I made my first tutu, it was definitely lacking that "something." So after about a week of staring at it, I decided to attach a flower and a button in the middle of the flower. Then I found a little glue gun that glues "bling" and put some bling on it. It really made it pop out! Even though not every tutu I made has bling on it, every single tutu has a flower with a button to match the look they are trying to convey!

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

My favorite tutu so far has been the first one I did for my youngest daughter Lainey. Her 1st birthday party theme was Hot Pink and Lime Green ladybugs, because we have always called her Lainey Bug. So when I started thinking about making her tutu, I knew I wanted it to match her party! So her tutu was shimmer pink and lime green and it had a sparkly green and pink ladybug button. We got a lot of great pictures of her in that tutu! And even used a picture of her crawling away with all the tulle around her butt as the picture for my business cards!

How did you get your business off the ground?

I started my own website and blog, and I also have promoted my business on Facebook. This business is still a work in progress which is why I want to really get our name out by craft shows and other venues. I plan on doing a lot of shows in the upcoming months in hopes that people will be looking for a great tutu for their little princesses!

What are your goals with your business?

My main goal is to just have happy, beautiful princesses! About a month ago, I did a photoshoot with our photographer that does all our family work and had my 3 girls and 6 other girls. The looks on their faces when they saw all those tutus was awesome! I really hope this takes off and I can continue to stay part time after school is completed, but only time will tell.

What do you do in your free time?

I love spending time with my girls and my husband. I also love reading, and definitely get lost in books. I'm getting sad that winter is coming up, because Spring and Summer are my favorite and I like being outside enjoying the sunshine and warm weather!

What's the message behind your work?

Custom Made Tutus for that Special Princess in your Life. Just to provide beautiful handmade tutus that your princess will cherish and wear out! I love seeing the pictures of girls who are wearing their tutus and look amazingly happy!

Check out Miss Princess Tutus  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.

A Purse for Every Occasion- Handmade from Scratch!

Tell us a bit about yourself..

My name is Danielle, but I have always been called Dani. From the time I was a child I have always been interested in art and nature. I went to college to be a graphic designer and once I graduated I decided that is not what I want to do. I then got more interested into my craft, sewing. I recently moved to the Cleveland area, where I have had more time to do what I love!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I try to spend as much time with family and friends as I can. I love cooking out with those I'm close to, but it seems I spend most of my time working. I'm a server at the Winking Lizard, in Brunswick. Come by and see me!

Where do you get your creativity from?

Work can be pretty stressful sometimes. If its not too late when I get home, I will sit down at my sewing machine and try to come up with new designs.

What got you into the craft hobby?

I think I was always meant to be a crafter. As a kid I had my own room for crafting.

How would you describe your creative process?

I usually work on more than one project at a time. I pick out fabric and a pattern and go from there. If I get stuck or I'm not sure how to do something I will usually browse the internet until I get some good ideas.

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

I don't have one favorite item in particular. I basically taught myself how to sew and when I first started my bags weren't the best of quality, because I didn't know what I was doing. Now I am more experienced and take more time to learn new techniques so everything is better quality. I am happy with everything I make.

How did you get your business off the ground?

I'm still trying to get off the ground, but I started doing more craft shows, and I started selling online.www.facebook.com/pursesbydanimarie

What are your goals with your business?

I would really like to be able to quit my job and start selling in local shops and do more craft shows. Someday I would love to travel and buy fabric from all over the world. I wouldn't mind designing fabric either.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I like shopping for vintage and unique fabrics. I love going to thrift shops and getting great deals! 

What's the message behind your work?

I make fashionable and quality bags for a reasonable price.

Check out Dani Marie Purses  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.