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.

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.