Meet Vinny Tirpak from BlastMaster...
I've always loved working with my hands, building and creating things. My wife has been doing craft shows for about 5 yrs. I would go help her set up and created display stands for her products. She made dog treats and accessories and I started sandblasting glass treat jars to go with her crafts. I started getting requests for other items and the rest is history. We've been doing this for about 1 1/2 yrs.
Growing up, my mother did ceramics and painting. I also worked with my uncle refinishing cabinets when I was younger. I really feel that I get my creativity from my family.
My creative process is time consuming and very challenging. I built my first sand cabinet, then we upgraded. I used to make my own stencils out of roofing membrane until we purchased a vinyl cutting machine. We've expanded our equipment and have gained knowledge about the whole sandblasting process during the last year and a half.
My favorite item that I started sandblasting is the Cleveland skyline. It is definitely our best seller.
We love creating everlasting, unique gifts. We have had lot of repeat customers and enjoy meeting new people. We do a lot of custom orders and always make sure the customer is totally satisfied with their order. My wife, Cindy has put her craft making away and now manages BLASTMASTER. She does the purchasing of supplies, networks, and handles all the communication between me and the customer. We make a good team!
We also sell our class in area shops/galleries. You can find BLASTMASTER @ CLE CLOTHING CO. downtown, NATIVE CLEVELAND in Collinwood, LOCAL GIRL GALLERY in Lakewood, SALTY NOT SWEET on E25th Cleveland
Meet Martha Niehaus from MN Book Design...
Why make an ordinary photo book, when you can make a personal history book? Everyone has a story to tell, and those stories can be told with more than snapshots and portraits. My customized books incorporate pictures of people as well as pictures of things -- not the big house or the expensive car, but the little things we hang on to. Your letter jacket from high school. Your first pair of eyeglasses. The quilt that Grandma made. Including those items makes for a more complete, more authentic story. My goal is not to include anything that doesn't have some connection to the person whose story I'm telling. Why use a fake background for the covers when I can wrap an image of Grandma's quilt around the whole book?
About 18 months after my dad died, I exchanged a few emails with someone I didn't know well and had never met; she signed off on her emails the same way Dad used to, with "Cheers!" A little, insignificant thing, but it made me smile. When I was looking for a way to conclude the book I later did about Dad, I used a scan of his signature, preceded by "Cheers!" Anyone who'd ever received correspondence from him would instantly recognize that as his "signature." Perfect!
My mom liked that "Dad book" so much, she showed it to everyone who came to the house, and brought it whenever she visited friends. One day, Mom matter-of-factly suggested some places where I could advertise my custom-designed books. I thought, I'm not designing these for money…. What is she think… Hmmm…. But then again…. I was off and running!
Designing a book totally "from scratch" means no proprietary software, no standard layouts, no fake backgrounds. I like to compare it to making a fabulous meal with whatever fresh foods I happen to have in the kitchen (I'm a lousy cook, so this comparison often elicits chuckles from those who know me best). Once I've gathered all of the "ingredients" for a book project, I look for the story: How does it all fit together? How do all of these things, these images, complement one another? Themes emerge, personalities come out, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together. At some point, the story just flows, and the "meal" is ready to serve.
I've done my most creative work in the last 18 months, but I spent 20-plus years preparing for it, working on various print publications where I designed, edited, shot pictures, wrote copy and coordinated production. All of that experience is coming together now, and it's served me well since I've been on my own as a freelancer. Confucius said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." I couldn't agree more!
Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 West Side Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature over 170 of the most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, for animal rescue.
