Hi, my name is Carrie Love. I am a southern belle at heart. I grew up in the great state of Georgia. I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. I am married to my awesome husband of 16 years and have 3 wonderful kids. I grew up drawing, coloring, and gluing things together. I've always been artsy and crafty for as long as I can remember.
In five years, I see myself being in more art and craft shows. I would love to have more of an online presence such as Etsy and social media. One of my goals is to write articles for art and craft magazines.
The message behind my work is that everything I do is to the glory of God. Also, that we are God's workmanship, loving each other, and loving the life that he has given to each one of us.
Meet Melinda Wagner from LindySue Sews...
I’ve been sewing since I was little. It is a skill I learned from my mom, who learned from hers. As a teenager, it was just fun – pajama pants, tying quilts, I think I attempted a skirt once. But I didn’t know then that sewing would become a huge passion in my life. It acts as my form of therapy. It helps me retain my sense of self as I make motherhood my main priority. And ultimately, it has become my business.
When my daughter was born in 2013, I gave up my job in journalism to stay home with her. That’s when I started my Etsy shop, selling handmade purses and wristlets. As my friends’ families grew, I made each new baby a quilt and realized how much I truly loved it. I practically bounced all the way to the fabric store ready for the challenge to find the perfect fabrics. When they thanked me for the gift, I would thank them for having a baby so I’d have an excuse to make a quilt. I had quickly gotten tired of making purses, but realized I would never get bored creating quilts. And every baby deserves something handmade! Enter some rebranding for my Etsy shop and my new tagline “handmade, heartmade.” I put my heart into everything I make with a giddy excitement to see it all come together.
I love craft shows, and I’ve always sought them out as a shopper. I feared I wouldn’t be able to make enough inventory to ever fill my own booth, but I made it a priority to sew every day. Nap time is sew time at my house, and I’ve amazed myself at how much I can make in two hours. I also have an amazing and super supportive husband who allows me lots of time in my home studio. I even created my own pinafore pattern in two different sizes, and it has become my best seller at shows.
Meet Rhonda Robinson from BellaValora Jewelry Design...
I am a Registered Nurse who turned in her scrubs to pursue the life of metalsmithing. I love to read, bike, hike, go to the Farmer's Market, and most of all - spend time in my studio working on new creations! I have been creating for about three years, and this will be my very first Avant-Garde Show! 
I had actually taken a couple of week long classes in metal smithing and enameling that the John C. Campbell Folk Art School prior to joining the professional crafts program years later. The folk art school is a craft school which is like summer camp for adults! I enjoyed the classes and experience there but never dreamed of where it would eventually lead me.
In the next five years, I would like to be doing more shows and have a thriving online business. Most of all, I just want to keep continuing to improve in my craft. Five years from now, I want to be at least five times more knowledgeable than I am now! I want to continue to push myself by learning more and more techniques and trying things that I have never done before.
I just want people to feel that the jewelry they purchase from me expresses their own unique personalities. I know how personal jewelry is to people and I want people to feel that the pieces they buy have something to say about themselves.
Meet Marianne O’Neil from Soul Sidekick Studio...
Kathy Klein and Marianne O’Neil have been best friends for years and started their business together about 5 years ago. Kathy Klein has always been an avid treasurer hunter and has been collecting rocks, beads and precious stones since her early twenties. Kathy’s interest in crystals took her to Arizona to study with a local teacher knowledgeable in the healing properties of crystals. Once she returned home and filling up her entire dining room with cabinets brimming with every conceivable rock, stone, chain and charm, she started making jewelry for people and passing on what she knew concerning the healing properties to friends and family.
This
is our first Avant-Grade show. We are looking forward to participating in a
show that celebrates the innovative,
unconventional and modern works of creatives! I know we are not just going as an artist but as a shopper, and that’s
exciting! Being in nature and surrounding ourselves with
positivity always refreshes and restores
our creative spirit. Owning a storefront Retail Store/Gallery/Studio (and I
would like to add community) that we can
invite other artists across a variety of media to work and share their work
with the community we create
together. We are exploring locations throughout Ohio.
We both have a strong faith and belief that God lives
in every atom of everything. Since everything
is made up of atoms we believe with faith in God as our ultimate creator we are
just adding our good intentions to share
our gifts. Each stone Kathy selects for our jewelry or each image Marianne creates in her artwork is done so with
the intention of sharing the healing
energies it radiates.
