Tell us a bit about yourself..
We love cats and love crafts and art. I love to sew, am retired, and work part time in retail. Fenna (my business partner) is a part time professional and creates a variety of art, including sewn novelties. We live in Highland Square, our favorite part of Akron.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I play golf, board games, mahjon. Fenna is an avid swing dancer, and we both love movies and road trips.
Where do you get your creativity from?
Everywhere - found objects, HGTV, books, craft shows, museums. We love fabric of all kinds and like to treasure hunt at the Good Will and vintage stores.
What got you into the craft hobby?
My mother taught me to sew in grade school, and she always made our clothes and home decor, including slipcovers and reupholstering furniture. I love color and texture and making my own creations. Fenna began creating serious art - photographs, fabric, canvasses, etc., in middle school. She created her art style, primarily focused on using recycled materials - cardboard rather than canvas; found objects, etc.
How would you describe your creative process?
When we see a fabric, or vintage dress or random object on a curb, we immediately think of how we could make it awesome and functional. We love looking for inspiration and "finds" in thrift stores, vintage stores, out-of-the-way boutiques.What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?
I think every new item we create becomes our new favorite.
How did you get your business off the ground?
We were living in Jacksonville, Florida, and the local neighborhood association started a weekly art market. We began creating handmade items for sale here - jewelry, hair ornaments, art, children's clothing, stuffed animals, pillows, bags. We just kept going and when we moved back to Ohio wanted to continue on the craft show path.
To have fun and make enough money to support our need to create.
What do you do in your free time?
We sew, watch Netflix, take road trips, and go to the movies.
What's the message behind your work?
Recycle, recycle, recycle and have fun!
Check Larry and Boo 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.
