Meet Mel Preston from Diane's Seeds For Hope...
Hello, my name is Mel. I retired as a manufacturing process improvement trainer in 2018. Five months later, my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She passed away 18 months later. My kids and I wanted to do something to help fight this cancer, and decided to start a non-profit with the purpose to raise awareness and raise money for the prevention and cure of pancreatic cancer. My wife loved to feed birds, and I learned how to make bird seed cylinders and some feeders for our back yard.
We wanted to do something to raise money so we have started making the feeders from Melamine plates and bowls. 100% of the money donated and 100% of the profit from seed and feeder sales goes to either the “Pancreatic Cancer Action Network” or the Lustgarten foundation.
We got our venders license and have applied to the IRS with form 1023 August 3rd 2021
This is the first of hopefully many shows with Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows.
Our inspiration stems from the experience that our family had as a doctor told my wife and three kids that she had stage four pancreatic cancer and six months to a year to live. We want to do what we can so that someday none of the 60,000 people a year will have to hear how long they have from this cancer.
We wanted to create a bird feeder that was different than the standard feeders. Something to hold the bird seed cylinders but more colorful than the old wooden feeders. My wife was an artist and my kids thought their mother would approve of more color in the garden.
In five years, we hope that we can grow the non-profit into a major contributor to Pancreatic Cancer research and especially early detection. Current 5-year survival for people with early detection and able to have surgery is 40% compared to most who are stage 4 at detection with 5-year survival at 3%. We want to see survival rates skyrocket.
Meet Miranda O'Dell from Ditch The Mix...
My name is Miranda O’Dell and I am the owner, founder, and baker of Ditch The Mix, a home bakery located in Columbus, Ohio that specializes in decadent brownies and cookies in classic and gluten free varieties. I’m also a full time nurse at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, so after my shifts at the hospital, I come home and bake. I guess you can say that I nurse by day and baker by night. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I was born and raised in Columbus; and out of all the cities in Ohio, I’m happy to call Columbus home for my family and Ditch The Mix.
I have been baking my entire life, since I was about four or five years old, but Ditch The Mix was not founded until 2019, when we got registered as a home bakery with the state of Ohio. This is my first show with Avant-Garde, and we’re so excited to be a part of it. We can’t wait to see how it goes and hope that this is the first of many!
I’m inspired by various things—cooking and baking blogs, seasonal ingredients, and watching people enjoy our creations. I want people to enjoy our baked goods because I don’t believe in feeling guilty when you indulge a bit in something that tastes good. Three women in my family got me into baking—my mom, my Aunt C and my grandma, MaMaw. From a young age, I was always in the kitchen with my Aunt C and my MaMaw. Aunt C is very talented with creating homemade candies and chocolate based treats. On the other hand, MaMaw had many hand written recipes that she never really looked at, and yet she baked the best cookies and cakes. They both taught me how to bake—from scratch and with love. Then at home, almost every night, my brother and I always asked “what’s for dessert?” My mom always had a box of brownie mix on hand, so I ate plenty of boxed brownies over the years. But growing up being surrounded by my Aunt C, MaMaw and my mom, I learned how to bake and carve out my niche of baking brownies and cookies.
Over the years, for almost every gathering, party or event that I was invited to, I was asked to bring a dessert. Believe me, I know how to make side dishes and main courses, but I became known for bringing sweet treats. I figured that there must be something to these repeated requests, so with some encouragement from my family and friends, I navigated the journey of creating my home bakery and becoming a small business owner. My creative process is practice makes better. I like to experiment with different ingredients, techniques and diet preferences. Baking is truly a science, so not everything turns out right the first time or makes the cut to be part of Ditch The Mix’s product line; but the delicious disasters are part of the fun and part of the process. In 5 years, I see Ditch The Mix having a brick and mortar location, that features our signature brownies and cookies, as well as a larger selection of seasonal baked treats and hot teas and coffee beverages. Additionally, Ditch The Mix will be available in multiple local coffee shops and boutiques and as a preferred dessert bar vendor for weddings and other events.
Ditch The Mix! Get your homemade fix! You don’t have to buy another box mix ever again to be able to enjoy delicious, homemade baked goods.
Meet Audrey Foster from Captain Hook's Crochet...
Hello, my name is Audrey! I currently work as a laboratory technician in a toxicology lab, and I am studying to receive my Master's degree in Environmental Science and Land Resource Management. When I'm not working, I crochet and work on my small business. I also like to hike and kayak when I can. I have been crocheting for 17 years now, but I have been running my business for five.I have been to two Avant-Garde craft shows, one in Columbus and one in Cincinnati. I can't wait to get back after the big break caused by the pandemic.
I love all things animal and science. You can really see these reflected in my work as I try to create things everyone can enjoy. My grandmother taught me to crochet starting with a granny square and a chain. Since then, I've branched out into doing a bit of everything. My true passion lies with amigurumi, but I also enjoy making blankets, wearables, and wall hangings.
I really discovered my talent once my cousin showed me all the adorable plushes I could be making if only I crocheted in shapes. Ever since I figured out how to do that, I have been hooked. I would describe my creative process as pretty scientific. I like to fiddle around with patterns and shapes to see if they work, and chances are, if a pattern is bright and colorful, I'll want to make whatever item it is!
I hope that in five years I am still out and about making amigurumi and blankets for people to love. I love doing craft fairs and getting to meet wonderful people.
Meet Katy Ventre from Kate’s Place...
Hi, my name is Katy Ventre, and I am the owner/creator of Kate’s Place. I retired from the corporate world last year and have been busier than ever before. I have always dabbled in painting and simple crafts, but I saw a porch sign on Pinterest and fell in love. So, I made it, put it out on my porch and a neighbor saw it and wanted one and that was the start. Then last year I bought a die cutter, and my crafting business dreams began.
This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft show and I am so excited, not only for the experience it will provide but for the customer and peer contacts I hope to make. Until recently, my business has been mostly custom orders, referral or word of mouth. I have just recently launched my website, Kate’s Place (katespl.com) and Esty shop (katesplacecfreations). They are still a work in progress as I am busy completing orders by referral and have had little time to add more items to them.
I get inspired first by seeing something that I really like and wondering if I can create it and then it just escalates. I started with acrylic painting a few years ago to pass time while my husband was traveling for work. I then changed paths to making porch signs, door wreaths. I have recently added tumblers (saw one, wanted to make it and now …escalating) and they have been a huge hit.
I have recently bought a laser printer. I wanted one because the shipping cost of ordering cutouts was double or triple the original cost of the item. I want to make my items affordable and don’t want to pass this added expense to my customers. I am so excited to start making my own letters and designs and hope that this process will expand my business. I would really like to hand my business off to my children or grandchildren when I retire for good. They are truly my inspiration. My husband and family are my biggest cheerleaders and my best critics. Without their support, I would not have made this scary step into the small business world. I am a bit of an introvert, and they are the ones who push me to be more.
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