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.

Luxury Jewelry, Tutus Galore, Emotive Paintings & Recycled T-shirts.. We got you covered!

Meet Francine Ruth from Jewelry By Francine...

While I have always loved making jewelry, it was about 5 years ago when I felt I needed a creative outlet to relieve stress from my corporate job.  I began taking classes - many classes, and whenever I wore the pieces I created, people asked me if they were for sale.  It was at that time, that I took the plunge and began selling my jewelry art. 

I love to sketch.  Whenever I see a pattern whether it be from a pattern on carpeting or outside I sketch it so that I can remember it, sit on it for a few days to see if this is something that will work in a piece of jewelry, and then I make it come to life.

I have a lot of favorite pieces but my favorite piece is called Tiny Bubbles.  It is a simple sterling silver cuff with 24k gold accents.  The technique is called Keum Boo which is an ancient Korean technique.  I love wearing and creating mixed metal pieces.  I find them so interesting and diverse. 

Meet Christine Cook from Miss Princess Tutus...
I started experimenting with tutus when my youngest daughter was turning 1, I thought it would make great pictures for her birthday and so I was going to purchase one, well as I was shopping I thought I could make them on my own, went out to the craft store, bought some tulle and here it has evolved.

I got into the business because of a few reasons! The fact that even though my girls love wearing them, having 30 tutus sitting around our house was cramping our style :) Plus I wanted to share the joy that I felt when I saw my girls twirling around in them for the first time.

I get my inspiration to create amazing tutus from my daughters. I also look a lot around to see what other color combinations would look good together. I love being creative and making new things!


Meet Sherry Arthur from Original Works by Sherry Arthur..
I am a full time artist I work 8-10 hours a day 5 days a week at least. I maintain my own website and do all my promotional work and everything else that goes along with it all. Other than that I am married and mother of two.


The creative process I use is very simple. I paint according to mood and emotions. Therefore it is always driven by these things. I sometimes decide on a color I feel at the time and that becomes the painting or my other way is I sit down at the easel and whatever happens… happens. I do not control my art it controls me.

I am not sure what my ultimate goal is as an artist. Some people would want fame. Me, not sure that sort of thing matters to me. I guess I would have to say still painting things people like. Being able to dig deeper within myself to reach more of an audience and ultimately continue to support my art career.

If I could have three wishes from a genie they would be: One, I would want a giant studio equipped with everything that I would ever need. Second, my own gallery so I would never have to be under someone else again. Third, to be able to paint forever. :)

Meet Linda Miles from Fashion GreenT Bags...
I'm a wife to the best husband in the world and a mother to two fantastic grown children. I'm passionate about many issues but the two I'm currently primarily working on are raising money for our local food bank and preventing bullying in our schools.

I was making bags to use at the grocery store so that I didn't need plastic or paper bags. My daughter suggested I sell them on Etsy so I opened my store and did just that. Ideas just come to me. I found out that the plastic bags at grocery stores are called t-shirt bags so that gave me the idea to create my bags. Other ideas just come to me. I decided that my craft would be a great away to raise money for one of my favorite charities, the local food bank, so I opened Fashion Green T Bags!

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.