Meet the Talent!

Meet Emily Adkins from Elemental Earth Magick... 
My name is Emily Adkins. Like many women, I've been infatuated with jewelry ever since I can remember. When I was 12, I got the opportunity to learn how to make hemp macramé bracelets and I took it seriously. I made bracelets for all my friends, my parents, and even my older brother. I eventually taught myself how to make necklaces and keychains, but I never really did anything with them. My brother mentioned trying to sell them, but I was too young and uneducated to know how to strive for such a big goal. So, I continued to gift jewelry to family and friends. I made it to a couple craft shows and taught a small class, but unfortunately, nothing ever came of it. Then one day, years and years later, after scrolling through my Instagram feed and seeing all these successful small businesses of handmade products a light bulb started to glow. "I can do this," I said to myself over and over. I made a decision to give it a shot. Now, I make copper and gemstone jewelry and I'm obsessed with it. 

I'm a night owl by nature. The moon must bring out my creativity because I have a difficult time making anything during the day. I don't have my own office or workbench so I create in my living room. I'll sit down with some snacks, binge watch Frasier, Friends, or The Office for the fifth time and the ideas just flow. It's nothing special, but it's the way I work. The inspiration comes from a multiplicity of things. I've always wanted to work for myself. I've always loved making jewelry. I see others living this way and it reaffirms my own endeavors. There's a freedom that comes with knowing how to create. No matter what it is you make, just knowing how can be incredibly empowering. 

In five years, I see myself needing to hire an assistant because I have an incredible amount of business. I see myself owning a workbench and a cute little office in my own home on my own land to work out of. I'll be heading into my fifth year of art and craft shows and making a living being my own boss. I want my business to show people they can do anything they set their mind to. If you want something bad enough and strive for it every single day it will happen. You gotta have faith. 

Meet Theresa Ferline-Carr from Tess' Tender Touch...

I have been an artist most of my life. When I was a little girl, the best gift for me was always a fresh box of crayons and a tablet of blank paper or a coloring book! For many years I enhanced walls, furniture, clothing, and many other inanimate objects. One day my mother asked me to create a set of wine glasses for her theater group. That was about 15 years ago and I have been painting glassware and growing my business ever since. Glass is not the only surface I beautify though. I still continue to paint children's rooms, furniture, clothing and much more! I absolutely love what I do! Alongside my glassware business, I am a full-time Executive Assistant to the SVP, Director of Key4Women at Key Bank. I was born and raised in Lakewood, OH and I am the proud mother of my 25-year-old son who is a Paramedic with Cleveland EMS and I spend my free time enjoying the life I have built with my fiancé, family, and friends.

Since a young age, my passion was always drawing/coloring and making things pretty. My mother got me into crafting. I have always been an artist, but at the time I was painting children’s room, furniture, clothing, and other mediums. My mom was having a group of ladies over for cocktails prior to going to the theater to see “CATS”. She asked me to create some hand painted wine glasses for the event. I had never painted on glass before so I was reluctant, but with her encouragement, I studied the process, practiced and was successful. I was hooked; I painted on every piece of clear glass I could find in my house, my mother’s and my grandmother’s until my mother asked, “What are you going to do with all of this?” We laughed but decided to take it to the St. Mary’s Craft Show. I came home with six pieces, everyone LOVED it! I’ve been doing it ever since! This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

I must be in the creative mood so to prepare, I sometimes look through Home and Garden magazine for inspiration and color; then I just get down to it. I can’t just create one piece; once I get started I get lost in it! I see myself still creating lasting gifts for my clients and their recipients. If it weren’t for health benefits I would just paint the rest of my life. My message is to be inspired to make others happy! Life is short; enjoy every moment and don’t wait for a special occasion to break out your beautiful glassware; drink from them every day!

Meet Meet Patrick Broughton from Pat Broughton Art...

For two years now, I have a full-time visual artist who lives and works in Lakewood, OH. I have always been a maker and interested in art, but when I found myself between jobs for the first time in my adult life, I decided to pursue art as a full-time profession. I am glad to be getting the chance to support myself doing what I love the most. My parents encouraged me to be creative and make things from a young age. As time went on and I became more serious about my art, I learned that experimenting, making lots of work, and learning how to filter that work is perhaps just as important as talent.

As an abstract artist, I enjoy building my own experimental worlds from scratch in a format that has an instant impact on the viewer. Unlike reading or listening to music, viewing art has an immediacy to it that makes it unlike any other experience. Of course, many pieces continue to reveal more to the viewer over days, months, and years.

My process relies heavily on experimentation. I create work through drawing, painting, and collage and leave many works visible around my studio. Often times seeing two different works next to each other inspires a new, more powerful work. In this way, I am constantly filtering, distilling, and curating my own creations. My process is highly selective and things do get left on the cutting room floor. I want only my most potent work to reach the viewer. I typically work in series, producing 3 or more works in each series.

In five years, I would love to be not only supporting myself with my art but growing my audience while doing so, including by showing my art internationally. Being in a position where I could hire an assistant or two, along with having a larger, better-lit studio would help take my art to the next level. An immediate goal is to have my first solo show at a gallery. The message behind my work is "Sooner or later, everything comes together."

                                                

2019 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, 2019

10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday

11:00am-5:00pm on Sunday

Rocky River Memorial Hall

21016 Hilliard Blvd.

Rocky River, OH 44116

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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Are you ready, Rocky River?!

Meet Andrew & Cassy Quillin of Home Slice Pies…

Hi there! We are Andrew & Cassy Quillin. We live in a cabin in the woods and bake pies! We specialize in four-inch mini pies that are baked fresh daily. We also bake up full-size pies for the holidays and special orders. We focus on seasonal flavors and use local and organic ingredients to the highest degree possible. From our all-butter crusts to our fresh fillings, every piece of the pie is made from scratch, with love. Launching in October 2018, Home Slice Pies is a roaming pie shop, which means you can find us at local farmers’ markets, craft shows, breweries, and other Cleveland area events. We love to cater weddings and parties too! We are brand new to Avant-Garde, but we are excited to be participating in 3 shows this year! 

What inspires us? We love pie! In fact, we believe pie has special powers - it can heal, comfort, say thank you, apologize, and congratulate. It is such a cozy and nostalgic treat! We also believe that pie is meant to be shared. And that's what really inspires us: sharing our pies with our community! We have a large collection of pie cookbooks that we read for inspiration. We also love to brainstorm ideas for new pies based on the seasons and holidays. We have a lot of fun coming up with seasonal flavors and spending a weekend testing them out.

We wanted to find something that we could do together and really enjoy. Since cooking and baking has always been our number one shared passion/hobby, we knew that was the direction we wanted to go in. The idea for Home Slice Pies came up in one of our brainstorming sessions and we just fell in love with the idea and ran with it. We cook together every night and we love to bake up new treats on the weekends. After Cassy was in a bad car accident 2 years ago, we got really into pie making - it's very therapeutic and healing! It really became a passion for both of us and the feedback we got from friends, coworkers, and family who sampled our pies made us realize that we could be onto something! In five years, we would love to have a food truck. A larger commercial kitchen space and savory pies are also on the wish list! Overall, our message is that pie is a simple (and delicious!) pleasure in today's chaotic and complicated world - share it with those you love! 

Meet Denise Sutak of Designs by Denise, Just Beads…

I am retired from corporate America and am completely content with my life. My schedule is mine and I am volunteering to keep busy. As a child, I went to summer camps where crafts were the "big thing."  I remember enjoying crafting but then school and life moved in and took over. I began making jewelry about one-and-a-half years ago and have found I enjoy the design process the most. My inspirations just seem to come to me as I am sitting at my work desk.  I have a very creative mother and I guess it took this long for me to realize I inherited some of her talents.

I believe I should have tapped into this craft years ago as it has been hiding inside me.  I have a sister-in-law who began working in metal once she retired. That really pushed me to give it a go. My creative process beings by choosing my beads, then I work a design, walk away from it for a while, and then go back to tweak it. I don't believe jewelry should match, it should be an extension of the way you are feeling. For example, a red dress and purple jewelry or a blue dress and yellow jewelry, why not? If it speaks to you, wear it and wear it often. This will be my first Avant-Garde Show and I am excited to be able to participate.

Meet Rachel Town of Beach Glass Treasure...

I’m Rachel Town owner of Beach Glass Treasure. I started this company because of my son who has autism. For three years now, when Lake Erie isn’t frozen we walk the shore every day hunting for beach glass and it has been the most inspiring journey for both of us. Over the past year, I’ve created beach glass necklaces, charm bracelets, earrings, rosaries, and purse charms for women (in sterling silver), along with men’s beach glass necklaces, bracelets, and keychains, made using leather and stainless steel. We’ve participated in one Avant-Garde show, and more in the future.

The beach, my soon to be husband and my son inspire me the most to keep creating. I discovered this hobby when I just kept trying and figured it out along the way.  I create with an essence of the shore. If I have an idea when I begin my hunt for the beach glass it finds me in a way I cannot explain. Beach glass turned my hobby into a career and I love it. 

I plan to open a physical shop on Bridge Street in Ashtabula, Ohio by 2020. My jewelry is also in the Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA at the Le Petit Jewelry And Antique store until the end of 2019. By 2024 I plan to have the physical shop booming while continuing to branch out into other markets, keeping the website up and doing shows still. My message is this: be a rare treasure amongst the waves. Just like every human every piece of beach glass created into my jewelry is unique, one of a kind and has an extraordinary history. 

                                                  

2019 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, 2019

10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday

11:00am-5:00pm on Sunday

Rocky River Memorial Hall

21016 Hilliard Blvd.

Rocky River, OH 44116

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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The Weekend Is Almost Here!

Meet Laura Keevan from Laughing Cat Fibers...
I have been a knitter, spinner and fiber artist for over 20 years. I learned to crochet and sew as a child and taught myself to knit in my 20’s during the long winters in Montana. It was there, in Montana that I first started selling my knitting. Appropriately, I made mostly hats and sold them out of a backpack in Yellowstone National park and in the local saloons in town.

I earned a small name for myself and supplemented the off-season by selling the hats and doing odds & ends sewing jobs for the local residents. I really began to invest in my craft once I moved back to the big city (Burlington Vermont) and was able to begin participating in craft shows and local shop events.

When I picked up my first drop spindle in 2015 I fell IN LOVE with spinning. A year later I purchase my first wheel and began spinning in earnest. I love color and texture and these qualities are evident in my yarns and my finished accessories. I owe the majority of my success to the local craft shows I have done now for the last 5 years in Cleveland Ohio. The Cleveland Bazaar and Avant-Garde Arts and Craft Shows helped me to establish a name for myself and have given me an amazing outlet to exhibit my works.

I cannot imagine a life not creating and my dream is to one day have my own storefront gallery and studio to be able to share and teach my craft to others and create a space for other creative souls to come and commune.

Meet Ken from Modern Viking Beard...

Hello, my name is Ken and I am the owner of Modern Viking Beard Co. As a company we are trying to education men and the importance of maintaining a healthy great looking mane! Modern Viking was founded in March of 2017. 

Since then we have helped many men achieve their desired beard. This will be our first show and hope to have many more in the future. The inspiration for Modern Viking comes from the desire to educate men on their beards. Also to supple all nature beard care production to them. I got into this hobby to stop the dreaded beard itch with all natural products made by hand. I have a beard, and I needed to find a  remedy for my own needs.

After many tries at making the perfect beard balm/oil. I found I have a talent at making hand made all natural beard products. My creative process comes from the determination to create a product that will live up it its Viking name and do justice for our brothers long ago. The message behind my work is treat your beard right!

Meet Sandy and Monica from Triple C Sweets...

Our names are Sandy and Monica. We are a Mother-Daughter duo with a love for sweets. Sandy is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 6. Who has been retired for 8 years. Monica is a mother of a 6 year old, as well as a Step-Mother to 12 & 13 year olds. Who also has a full-time office job.

We both have been in the kitchen baking, cooking & creating goodies from love with our Mom’s and Aunt’s since we were young. Whether it is the design on a Bride’s dress, school colors for the Graduate going off to college or even an edible image of the Birthday person, we love to incorporate a special item for an event into our treats. In addition to everything else, this will be our 12th Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! 

We have always loved to be in the kitchen creating sweet treats. In her 20’s, Sandy took a candy making class. Monica has also taken cake decorating classes through the years. After our classes, we were hooked. We discovered our talent by feedback from friends & family, and we are creative by trying something new, i.e. a new recipe or design. We have tried many different ideas that sounded perfect in our heads. But, did not quite workout how we expected in real life. Luckily, we have great taste testers around us. In about 5 years, we see ourselves doing this as a full-time business. And the message behind our work is let us make something sweet for your next event or to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Meet Laura Musarra from Guarino Olive Oil...

The Guarino Olive Oil represents family to me and family is very important to me.  So through olive oil sales I support and help my family in Italy who, as farmers, have unique challenges due to climate conditions and their economy.  I have worked for a variety of companies in new product development and marketing including Little Tikes, Fisher Price, American Greetings, British Petroleum and Summa Health.  Those are all big companies but I have an entrepreneurial spirit too.

For over 15 years I have also partnered in a fine art photography company with my son, starting when we was only 12 years old...allowing him to be the principal photographer. We have done well over 100 shows and events over the years.  Now, I have my youngest son who is 16 involved in the olive oil business going to shows with me.  It's a great experience for him.  Oh, and I have an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship. So, it's just something I have always loved. 

For the last 4 years we have worked with our cousins in Sicily to bring the Guarino Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the U.S.  The first time we tasted their olive oil during a visit to the farm in 2001 we fell in love with the flavor...we call it "the good stuff" and we couldn't find anything close to it in the U.S.   We wanted more at home.  Our cousins first shipped us a few bottles but soon others wanted a bottle.  So our family in the U.S. all played a role in getting the olive oil packaged and imported.  And it's here and we are sharing it others too. 

Fairlawn Nov. 3, 2018 was our first show with Avant-Garde. We have a passion to share our olive oil with others.  I get inspired to see the results of working on a project, for me the Guarino Olive Oil allowed me to create, not just sell... I created the packaging, website, flyers, business cards and did some product photography too. The message behind our work is family, health, great food and the importance of interactions with people!

Meet Mandy from Enchanted Cargo...

Enchanted Cargo is a mother and daughters (two of us) team working from our homes in Rocky River.  We are a new business and this will be our first craft show but we have been creating for a very long time, and this will be our first show with Avant-Garde!

We are inspired by the world around us— from nature to man made objects.  We find inspiration in daily living.  We all grew up exploring our artistic talents.  It was passed on for generations and we continue this tradition today, and we discovered our talent through the encouragement of our mothers, fathers and grandparents.

We enjoy getting together and bouncing ideas off of one another.  When we come together the process just flows. In five years we see ourselves coming up with fresh ideas to add to our eclectic collection and one day a brick and mortar shop. The message behind our work is to use your imagination and talents collectively to unlock creativity!

2017 Rocky River Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sat. Nov. 18 (10am-5pm) & Sun. Nov 19 (11am-5pm)

Rocky River Memorial Hall (Next to Rec)

21016 Hilliard Blvd.

Rocky River, OH 44116

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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Coming to You This Weekend Rocky River!

Meet Cindy Hudson from Cava Hockey...
I was born in Amish country – a place and time when all women learned how to sew along with many other handworks. I am also an artist, currently working for American Greetings. I’ve been drawing and crafting since I was a small girl.

This is my second Avant-Garde participation. Additional work can be found on Etsy if you search Cavahockey (Cavahockey is a mythical creature that my son created when in elementary school).

I am inspired by my surroundings, both in my personal life, nature and my “day job” work environment. I know that I will never live long enough to complete all the art and crafts I wish to, but I’m trying!

Meet Urvashi Sinha from The Paper Tales...

I am Software Engineer-turned-Paper Crafter!  I am a passionately curious person who believes in her dreams. The Paper Tales is 2 years old now and had an amazing growth journey as a small handmade business but I am into Paper Crafting for more than 3 years now. This will by my first time in an Avant-Garde show!

I truly love the idea of gifting handmade as its very personalize and handmade gifts lasts forever into the hearts of your loved ones. Creativity is in my blood, comes from my mother! I used to create handmade gifts for my loved ones but then I started getting orders from my friends & family so that gave birth to TPT. So my Family & Friends encouraged me!

Innovation & Inspiration defines creativity to me and this is what my heart follows! My work always brings the best version of me. Each of my craft creations has a part of my heart to it, which keeps me going! So my creativity is my STRENGTH. Down the line, I pursue to have a TPT studio where one can buy handmade Paper Craft stuffs as well as there will be a space for people to come and make something by themselves to gift. "Handmade is Awesome!" is the message because it truly is.

Meet Kayla Ross from The knittin Kitten...

My name is Kayla! I knit and crochet and when I do that I call myself The Knittin Kitten.  I have a big family with 8 siblings and my sisters are my best friends in the world. I appreciate the simple pleasures of life like sleeping in on a day off, making a perfect cup of coffee, using a towel from right out of the dryer, and doing something nice for someone just to see their smile.

 I've been knitting for several years, crocheting for 2 years, and selling my creations for almost 2 years and this will be my first Avant-Garde show! I'm inspired by many things but the biggest for me is comfort. I love making anything that will make somebody feel warm, cozy, and comforted. I'm inspired by a perfect fall day and seeing the snow falling in the winter.

It all really just started as wanting something to do because I couldn't paint or play an instrument so I thought I'd give knitting a try. And it quickly became a love for all things yarn, knitting needles, and hats hat hats!  It was less of a discovery and more trial and error. I love art and I love music but neither one was a talent I possessed and I knew I wanted to be able to create something with my hands and feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Knitting was one of the many things I worked down on my list and it was the one I loved and luckily really good at!

It really just starts with me trying to write out a pattern for an idea that may have come to me or maybe I saw something while out shopping that I want to re-create. Sometimes I'll end up trying to work it out on my needles and it usually gets undone and redone several times. I always work with a cup of coffee and at least one blanket.  I just want to always love creating. As long as the love is there I can see it growing and growing to become my full time job! My message is to always give time to yourself for self care. As humans we can all get burned out and stressed and not give ourselves enough time to relax. When I'm creating something I want people to be reminded that we all need time to slow down the fast paced parts of life. Sometimes you just need to wrap yourself up in something cozy and read that book you've been thinking about.

Meet Garry Regan from No Rulz Art...

We are No Rulz Art (or just No Rulz), a collaboration of artisans with and without special needs. We started as a summer art project when there wasn’t much to do for young adults and 12 years later we are working to make No Rulz everyone’s choice for socks, headbands, and accessories created with Dharma colors and our unique skills. TIE-DYE IS OUR FAVORITE COLOR!

Our focus is tie-dye socks and headbands, but we love to create baby wear, purses & handbags, beautiful neck ties, various styles of tops, and unbelievable leggings/YOGA pants. Our Dharma orders speak to what we do and what we have tried.

Tie-dye, like No Rulz, is “perfectly imperfect”!  Art and color are only part of our inspiration, as pride, happiness, self-worth, the belief that everyone can contribute something, making ourselves and others happy (our stuff is fun), and of course success, are what drive No Rulz.  We are all able and we DO!!! 

2017 Rocky River Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sat. Nov. 18 (10am-5pm) & Sun. Nov 19 (11am-5pm)

Rocky River Memorial Hall (Next to Rec)

21016 Hilliard Blvd.

Rocky River, OH 44116

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN