Soaps to Jewelry to Paper Collages, Avant-Garde Has It ALL!!

Meet Pat and Charlie Kramer from My Soaps...
Charlie is a retired Columbus Firefighter and a master cabinet maker. He owns Kramer Builders and does buidling when he is in the mood, and highly enjoys doing carpenty work in his workshop. Pat is a retired retailer who owned her own artistan consignment and gift shop.

Charlie and Pat got into making soaps about two years ago when Pat decided that she wanted a natural soap maker in her shop. That was when Charlie decided that he could make the soaps to possibly sell, and that he did. Thus, My Soaps was born. 

Starting off, Charlie did some research and came up with his own recipe. He decided on an unscented Jojoba lotion that might work. It did! He now does Rice Garden, Poison Ivy, and Jewel Weed scents that are a big hit.

His Problem Skin Soap is made with Neem Oil, which has been used on the skin for centuries. Charlie now makes ten different scented oil soaps, two lotions, problem skin soap, and Poison Ivy soap. In addition, he adds scents during different seasons of the year.

My Soaps began doing farmer markets last summer and art and craft shows in the fall and winter. Pat and Charlie found that they really enjoyed doing all of these shows. Talking to the customers is what kept them motivated to continue. They found that until you have used an all natural, chemical free, handmade, NOT melt and pour soap, your skin doesn't know what it's been missing. Plus, there's the added benefit of no soap scum to clean up.

Pat and Charlie found that they highly enjoy meeting people that used the soap from other shows. They also buy more because they love it!! My Soaps has recently designed a website that you can also buy their collection of soaps at: www.my-soaps.com

Meet Catherine Hickman and Susan McClanahan from CatsEye Creations...

Catherine has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She painted for a bit, loves to write, and now loves her jewelry. Crafting has always been a passion of hers. She believes that there is a great artistic drive to crafts. It just takes a special person to see it's depth. 

Susan is also a very creative person. She only recently began delving into the extent of her creativity. She loves to write and create tales of glory. She is just now starting her artistic attempts at jewelry creation, and it's amazing. Together, Catherine and Susan make up CatsEye Creations. A 'business' of arts and crafts, and a passion for both. 

Catherine has been creating unique jewelry pieces for several years now. It all started after she began getting better from a severe illness. Susan began her work with jewelry this past year by assisting Catherine with her work. As it turns out, she has a marvelous eye for form and color.

Both women have a distinct eye for taking something ordinary and turning it into something beautiful. Catherine gets her inspiration from day-to-day life. Susan likes to play with colors and shapes to see how they fit together to make pretty, sparkly things.

A message is what you make of it. It is what the buyer sees in the piece that matters more than anything. Perception is a massive part of artwork. Their jewelry is meant to put a smile on a person's face and joy in their hearts. Each stone and gem that they use has a purpose and meaning. In the end it's up to the wearer to make it work.

Meet Katie Chalk from The Beadjou Boutique...
Katie Chalk has recently moved to America from the United Kingdom, with her husband and two daughters. As a military wife, Katie was used to a life of constant upheaval, and moving. However, a year ago her husband and her family were given the exciting opportunity to move to Ohio. This is their longest tour yet; their chance for some stability, so they took it!

Katie has been making jewelry and accessories for approximately two years. With more stock than she could possibly give away to friends and family, she decided to 'dip her toe in the water'. Katie attended her first local craft show last summer. About two years ago, she attended a series of evening classes on the basics of jewelry making. From the first lesson, she was hooked! Katie started making pieces for herself, her friends and her family, and she began experimenting with new designs and techniques.

Having left her teaching job to move to America, Katie found she had time on her hands to indulge in her love of ‘antiquing’ and crafting. Rummaging through antique stores and flea markets for vintage finds, she combined them with contemporary materials. This resulted in unique pieces of jewelry, and became her new ‘day job’. Unsure whether her designs would appeal to an American audience, her friend asked if she could take some pieces into work to show/sell to her colleagues. She returned with an empty box and requests for more! From there, Katie decided to try her hand at some local craft fairs and establish a Facebook page, to display her latest designs.

As most of her jewelry and accessories contain vintage and upcycled elements, they are often difficult to replicate. This ‘uniqueness’, is the thing Katie enjoys most about her designs. After all, no one wants to be wearing the same accessories as the person standing next to them.

Meet Judi Young from Whoop Dee Doodle...

Judi Young is an artist out of Galloway, Ohio. She attended Capital University and received a degree in professional writing. She worked at The Columbus Dispatch in town for a number of years before discovering her true passion for making art. Judi left The Dispatch when her daughter was born. She is also an animal lover and this is a major influence in her artwork.

Judi has been making torn paper collage pieces for eight years now. She began when her daughter was a baby. Judi saw a print at a discount store that looked to her like ripped paper. After leaving the store, Judi went home and tried to replicate it herself by using scrapbook paper she had around the house. She now uses all sorts of new and recycled papers, including scrapbook, wrapping paper, wallpaper, magazine clippings, yellow/white pages, junk mail - you name it!

Judi started her own business because she simply loves making art and other people seem to like it too. It makes her happy when she sees someone walk up to her booth at an arts festival and smile. When it comes to her creative process, she basically sees something that puts an idea in her head. She then collects these ideas in a sketch book, and when she has the opportunity, she begins her collage.

Judi has a sense of satisfaction when she makes something that hasn't been done before, and she likes providing people with this original art. For everyone who comes up and says "I could buy this at Target cheaper", another comes by who says "Wow!". What she likes to show in her work is harmony between animals and people. Judi likes to envision a world where everyone gets along. A world full of joy.

2013 Columbus February Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, February 16th 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com

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