We're Ready For You, Columbus

Meet Hex Reverie...

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hex. I consider myself a creator through destruction. I’ve explored many facets, my more recent (within the past 5 years) has been wire wrapping. 

This will be my first experience with the Avant-Garde Art and Craft shows so there’s much excitement as well as nervousness. My creative process had been fueled by emotion in previous years, taking form in the midst of the most chaotic experiences. It was my way of making peace whilst in the middle of my storms. I took to wire wrapping at the start of the pandemic, and have recently been exploring integrating it with portraiture. 

The wire wrapping was a way to cope with the environment in which I was in…it wasn’t the healthiest. Upon research, trial and error, I found my footing with various weaving styles and ideas began to flow. My process can only be described as intuitive. In 5 years time, it is my desire to be able to fund a non-profit (in art sales mainly) dedicated to the protection and relocation of women and children in DV situations. 

The message behind my work is this: Even in the most dire of times, in the midst of despair and sorrow, one must never forget where their true value lies. It is not in the circumstances that create us; but in us, ourselves.

Meet Lillian Watson, from Tiffin Ohio...

I am the creator and owner of The Butterfly Boutique. I am from Tiffin, Ohio, and I am a first-year student at the Columbus College of Art & Design. I am currently majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics. I have always been a creative and self-driven individual. 

I've participated in art fairs since 2023, but The Butterfly Boutique only fully existed since September of 2024. This is my first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I'm so excited! I've only participated in craft shows in my hometown or through my college, so I'm ecstatic to try somewhere new! Lots of things inspire me to create my art. There's a lot of nature and emotions incorporated into my pieces. 

I love spreading joy with my pieces but also bringing myself joy with the creation of them. I've never felt stuck with my art. Ever since I was little, I've always drawn what was around me or just played around with colors that connected to me in the moment. 

My high school art teacher was the person who inspired me to pursue my art in college and as a profession. My original plan was to go to OSU and become a tax attorney, but my teacher convinced me that my true passion was worth pursuing and that I was going to succeed. 

In five years, I will graduate from CCAD. I am hoping to work in a Ceramics studio or as a graphic designer, but the goal is to own a two-story building for The Butterfly Boutique, with the first story being a gallery and a place for other artists to sell their work and the second story being a studio space for art classes. 

The goal behind The Butterfly Boutique is to create beautiful, handmade artwork and gifts for people to share, but also to inspire individuals to embrace their creative flair in their wardrobe and lifestyle. I want to keep the tradition of handmade art alive and continue these practices through generations to come. 

Here's my website: thebutterflyboutique.net 

Meet Lynne...

I'm the sole proprietor of Pretty Odd Poms, est. 2024 :) I started knitting while I was nursing a broken ankle in 2017 (roller derby-I’m always willing to bring it up). I loved knitting and that opened up so many other avenues of crafting and creating.

In about 2023, one of my favorite knitting follows on social media posted the cutest pom pom with a picture of a strawberry inside. I saw it and thought I can make that into a face! I spent weeks, ruining the pattern and stressing myself out and then one day, it clicked. And true to my personality, I did a deep dive on Youtube, Etsy and all the things. 

I found some brilliant fiber artists and started making pom art. I fell in love! And yes, I made a face :) lol I did not make a strawberry. However, I am inspired by food, fun and the women in my life. 

For the most part, my "process" is really I want to make a thing and then I obsess about it til I make it. A picture pops in my head and I just try to follow it, draw it, and give myself grace and allow for mistakes. I don’t know if my work has a message but my favorite thing about pom art is how tactile and tender each piece turns out. 

When I think about the future of Pretty Odd Poms, I hope to continue to love making fiber art for people to enjoy. I love making everything from the quirky to the beautiful to the abstract. 

This is my first craft show ever, I’m nervous, excited and everything in between! I'm looking forward to meeting other crafters and making connections.

Meet Aishwarya Verma...

I’m the creator of 'Owl Eyes Mama', a space where creativity and self-care come together. I design handmade and digital pieces that bring joy, balance, and inspiration to everyday life. This journey started in 2018 as a passion project, growing over time into a meaningful way to share art and positivity with others.

This will be my second time attending the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows. I’m inspired by the little things—acts of self-love, moments of reflection, and the joy of creating something meaningful. I’ve always loved making things, but I truly found my creative path when I saw how art could bring comfort and connection to people. 

Discovering my talent happened naturally—through experimenting, creating for loved ones, and seeing how my designs resonated with others. I created brand bundle for a small business "Kiyana Candles", and it worked great for them. It was so inspiring. 

The process is a mix of intuition and intention. Every piece is designed with care, blending aesthetics with meaning to create something that speaks to the heart. In 5 years, I hope to continue growing, expanding my reach, and offering more products that encourage self-care and creativity. Self-care matters. Life gets chaotic, but taking time for yourself isn’t just important—it’s essential for thriving. 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/owleyesmama?igsh=MThwNGMzeDBmOTg2cg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/18kLYLeGt1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Creativity in Columbus!

Meet Alicia Ranshaw from Curious Herbarium...

My name is Alicia, and I’m the owner of Curious Herbarium. I create shadow boxes with natural elements, growing and preserving many of the plants I use. My shadow boxes are like portals to another world.

I’ve been creating shadow boxes for about a year now, and this will be my first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show.

A love of gardening and nature, combined with a drive to create, fuels my work. I’ve always been a maker, and this form of art combines many of the things I love to do. I even grow a flower garden specifically for preserving, so the things I love can continue on.

I discovered my talent by simply messing around with different elements until I found success. My creative process is pure chaos! I don’t ever have a plan—each element builds upon the next until I feel like the project is complete.

In five years, I hope to be creating even bigger shadow boxes and other enclosures, while also making custom works of art for others.

The message behind my work is simple: stop and take a look at the nature around us. Those beautiful little details that most people don’t usually notice are what make life so special.

Meet Isaiah Winter from Grim Horizon...

Hello! I'm Isaiah "Winter" Ross, a Columbus local scavenger artist. I love being outdoors in pretty much any context: camping, backpacking, kayaking, gardening, etc. This appreciation of the outdoors influences my craft in a big way, from the materials I use to the stories my pieces tell. When I'm not crafting, you can find me out on walks, enjoying a brewery, or being a (phenomenal) home cook.

View my work at: https://isaiahross.wordpress.com/

I started out with photography in 2008 and grew as a multidisciplinary artist in the years since. I recall my first piece of furniture was as a sophomore in high school. My time as a design major in college only amplified my knowledge and technical ability.

This will be my debut, both for the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show and in general!

There's an unexplainable drive in me that truly wants to create. Even if it's something to just keep my hands busy I love every minute of it. It is mentally stimulating and a never-ending task of problem-solving. Life and experience do a lot to inform what the project will be, and my creative nature tends to exude into much of my daily life.

From a young age, I was always playing and creating with Legos, Lincoln Logs, K'nex, and Erector sets. Art has always been second nature for me. When my first furniture piece, a bookcase, sold—I realized I was onto something bigger and should pursue it.

My creative process doesn't typically start with an idea. Rather, the material itself. Whether it be cut of wood, bones, flowers, etc. When I find curiosity in a specific object the process truly begins, what with style/aesthetic/statement. I run through all sorts of possibilities over the next moments or days and then jump in, hyperfocused until the vision is realized.

Though I've had my online shop since 2020, this is the first year I'm "taking it seriously." I hope this first show, and the following year, prove worthy to make it more full-time. In five years, I hope to see my art in a gallery or shop for the public to enjoy.

While there's no one answer as to a message in my work, there are certainly recurrent themes. Overall, my art is a reflection on time, natural process, and earthen beauty. Another fairly common theme is paganism.

Meet Raven Moose from Raven Moose Designs...

I am newly married and live in Grove City with my husband and our three rescue dogs—Willow, Blue, and Baxter. I moved to Ohio from New Hampshire in 2021 when my career changed directions. I love spending time outdoors hiking and camping, hanging out with my nephews, and getting creative in the craft studio.

I’ve been papercrafting for over twenty years. This will be my first show with the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, and I’m really excited to share my work!

My family is my biggest inspiration. Preserving memories of all the amazing adventures we’ve had means so much to me—it’s important to always have something to look back on.

I first got into papercrafting when I started scrapbooking. It all started when I found my baby book hidden away in the basement—it was moldy, and I wanted to create a new book to save those memories. My crafting grew from there.

My friends were the ones who encouraged me to take it further. They’ve always loved my work and pushed me to share it with others and start offering it at shows.

My creative process usually starts with inspiration from something I see while I’m out and about. It could be a new crafting item I find while window-shopping, the colors of autumn leaves, or a beautiful spring bloom. Sometimes it’s just a hint of my neurodivergent hyper-focus kicking in!

In five years, I’d love to have a small brick-and-mortar store where I can teach scrapbooking and card-making classes full-time. I also hope to raise money through my work to help support local animal rescues.

The message behind my work is simple: spread positivity and cheer through small gestures—like a handmade card—while also giving back to the community by supporting local animal rescues.

Meet Keith Stone from Keith Stone Books...

I was involved in a golf cart accident in 2015 that left me a quadriplegic. I had never written a book before, but I wrote my memoir about the accident and my recovery to help inspire other people who might be down.

I didn’t complete that first book, “The Optimistic Quadriplegic,” until 2021. I had never written a book prior to that.

Since then, I’ve written five novels—two mysteries, two conspiracy theory books, and a fictional story about a group of musicians who got together and became a one-hit wonder. I have a very vivid imagination, and the various ideas just seem to come to me. I already have two other novels in the planning stage.

In five years, I expect to continue writing books of all types. It is a great way to keep my mind sharp since I can no longer exercise my body.

My first book, my memoir, was written to inspire. My other books were written strictly for the readers’ entertainment.

Meet Kim Alverson from Rochfort Creative Glass...

My name is Kim Alverson, and I am a retired preschool teacher and the painter/creator behind Rochfort Creative Glass. My husband and crafting partner, Fred, and I will be working the Spring Craft Show together. We've been married for 37 years and have raised three outstanding young men who’ve married amazing, strong women and have given us four beautiful grandchildren and four granddogs.

I began creating painted wine bottles for Christmas 2022. I was encouraged to keep going, and now here I am! This will be my first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I’m thrilled to share my work.

What inspires me most is creating something beautiful for home decor. Blending my walks through home decor sections of stores with the inspiration I get from paintings in art museums and galleries makes me want to bring my own artistic perspective to glass. Plus, I just love playing with paint!

I didn’t originally set out to create a craft. As a preschool teacher, I would experiment with paint projects with my students. After retiring in 2022, I started playing with paint and accessories at home using recycled glass. That December, I made Christmas gifts for my family, and from there, I’ve upped my game with better paint quality and lights. I’m always experimenting with different bottles, sizes, and colors of recycled glass.

My creative process starts when I see something visually appealing to me. I break it down into stages—figuring out how difficult or easy it would be to paint and deciding which techniques to use. I’ll often snap a picture of whatever inspired me—a piece of fabric, a pillow, wallpaper, etc.—and think about how to work that onto a glass bottle. From there, it’s all trial and error.

In five years, I’d like to continue doing a few craft shows each year, but I’d also love to have more custom orders between shows.

My bottles can be beautiful standing alone or with lights. It’s a piece of decor made from recycled glass with the hope of bringing visual beauty to the observer.

Meet Smee from Smee's Readings...

My name is Cinnamon, but you can call me Smee. I’m relatively new to the Columbus area, having moved here with my family in the fall of 2023 from my hometown of Trenton, NJ. I’m an x-ray tech by trade and the mother of two beautiful neurodivergent teenage boys. I love taking nature walks—I'm a bird enthusiast and love to listen to their songs while I walk. Music is also a big part of my life; I love to sing and hope to join a local choir someday.

Professionally, I’ve been creating essential oil rollerballs and sprays for under a year, but I’ve been making them for friends and family for several years now. This will be my first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I’m really looking forward to it!

My love of helping others inspires me in everything I do. That drive to assist others is what fuels my work.

My first creations were inspired by personal need—I suffer from migraines and wanted a natural remedy that didn’t rely on adjusting my caffeine intake. After doing some research into essential oils, I made my first Migraine Relief rollerball—and it worked! From there, I created other "recipes" and gave them to friends and family to try. Now I have blends for self-love, anxiety relief, menstrual and perimenopausal symptom relief, and even just to help you relax enough to fall asleep.

I discovered my talent simply by trying. You never know what talent lies within you unless you’re willing to try new things.

My creative process is meditative and magical.

In five years, I’d love to switch things up—take x-rays part-time while creating and selling my products full-time. I’m hoping to gain some momentum this year and grow my business.

My work is all about love. Self-love, love of others, and love of community. My hope is to spread that love through my creations.

2025 Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday March 23, 2025

10:00am-4:00pm

Makoy Event Center

5462 Center St.

Hilliard, OH 43026

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

INSTAGRAM

LINKEDIN

The Holiday's are Here in Columbus!

Meet Barbara Gibbon from Artsy Ape...

I’ve been drawing since I was 3 and creating abstract oil paintings since graduating from CCAD with a degree in fine art. 

I’ve only been making pottery for about two years, after receiving a grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, with which I purchased a pottery wheel. I’m excited to sell at my second Avant-Garde show.

I’ll have one of a kind wheel thrown pottery and an out of order alphabet book that I illustrated and published. Stop by my table! 

Meet Ana Fernandez from Fernished Crafts...

My name is Ana, and I have been crocheting for a little over a year now. I love all things cozy in life. I currently live in Columbus with my partner and three precious kitties. I have been doing this over a year now! This is my first Avant-Garde Craft Show!

My love languages of gift-giving and inner-child healing inspire me to create. Nothing brings me more joy than showing love to others and myself in the form of handcrafting handmade creations. 

I came across an ad for a crochet shop one day last summer and felt the urge to learn, myself, as a way to engage in self-care and make gifts for others. I discovered my talent by following videos tutorials and beginner-friendly patterns. 

I like to explore various ideas based on the interests of others and what I would like to see more of in my personal environment. Once these ideas are floating in my mind I do some research on patterns online and find the ones that resonate with me and my creative style. 

Where I see myself in five years.. I can see myself continuing to sell at craft markets and running an online shop. 

The message behind my work is to indulge in the cozy delicacies of life and follow opportunities to increase comfort & joy whenever you get the chance. 

Meet Carolina from Dos Hermanos Food Truck...

We are Dos Hermanos Food Truck, serving authentic Mexican food in the Central Ohio area. I have been doing this for 12 years!

My message behind this is my passion for food! This will be our first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows!

Meet Carolyn Kendall from Art by Carolyn... 

Hi! I’m Carolyn Kendell, and making art has been my passion since before I can remember! I love to explore creativity through all kinds of mediums, but watercolor has been my focus the last several years.

Nature inspires all things creative in me. There is nothing better than wandering through a garden, hiking up a mountain, or relaxing on a beach. 

I always have my camera or my phone along to capture the beauty surrounding me; sometimes on a grand scale, or all the way down to the tiniest details we rarely stop to admire. 

You will nearly always find bright and vibrant colors in my work, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to create art that brings bits of nature inside for you to enjoy.

My hope is that my art sparks a connection and it brings you a bit of sunshine!

Meet Carol Barber from Trammelinks...

After many years in the corporate world, I now have a chance to pursue a creative endeavor! Some of my former colleagues (as well as family members) have been able to provide knowledge or assistance to my new business. And a few of the skills from my prior career have also come in handy, even though the businesses are quite different.

I made my first Trammelink® about 15 years ago, and over the years, made several more for myself, friends, and family. I started working to set up Trammelinks as a business about three years ago. We have also added some sweater clips to our lineup for people with outfits that do not have buttons.

It was my pleasure to participate in two Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows in 2022 in the Cincinnati and Columbus areas. Then in 2023, Trammelink was only able to attend the Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. We are looking forward to our third year at the Columbus Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

It is very fulfilling to find out what people like, and then create trammelinks that resonate with them. Hopefully people attending the shows will provide me with their thoughts and feedback, even if they do not purchase one right away. Listening to comments from others is the key to creating an exciting and diverse collection of trammelinks, as well as finding out new ways of using them and sweater clips. 

An early retirement offer came my way in 2021   I always wanted to make trammelinks into a business, but did not have time. So now I have a new career and purpose: trammelinks!

Trammelinks were truly born out of the “necessity is the mother of invention” phrase! The button-down-shirt-over-a-shirt style has always been a favorite of mine. But I found that wind, purse straps, and backpacks would make that style look messy very quickly. So I made the first trammelink to keep the outer shirt from flying open, and to keep it somewhat aligned.

The name really describes it ounce you know know the word “trammel” means to tether or restrain. Then “link” in this case, refers to connecting both the left and right sides of the clothing. Put it together and you have a trammelink!

A pendant, charm, or button will catch my eye, and then I find the appropriate other parts that look right with it. That might happen quickly, or it can take weeks! Buttons can be difficult because of the different sizes needed for different types of clothing. That must be considered too when matching up a pendant with a button. The chain and other  “findings” are a different situation. For those, I want the strongest options available so the trammelinks will be sturdy. 

  

In 5 years it would be great if the business would grow and remain stable, so I can continue making trammelinks for many years to come.

The Trammelink slogan is: Helping you keep it together. Fashionably. “Keep yourself together” is a good daily goal through good and bad times - although the “fashionably” part can be questionable for me depending on the day! Helping others keep it together is also a goal, so a portion of the proceeds from Trammelinks is being donated to a breast cancer charity. Being able to do that is very meaningful as breast cancer has affected many of our friend

Meet Darla Snively from Y-City Scents...

A business that started as a small hobby in 2018 and has blossomed into a thriving passion. Inspired by family, friends, nature, and the emotions that scents can awaken, I began by creating handmade gifts for loved ones, whose encouragement helped me discover my talent. 

My creative process combines thoughtful intention with joyful experimentation, crafting fragrances that evoke memories and feelings while meeting the highest standards of quality. 

Looking ahead, I envision Y-City Scents as a nationally recognized brand with a storefront, an expanded product line, and a growing community of customers who share my love for meaningful, handcrafted scents.

At its heart, my work is about connection—bringing comfort, sparking memories, and making every space feel like home. This will be my first Avant-Garde art & craft show.

Meet Kim Reed from Craftea Chaos...

I'm Kim, full-time Chaos Coordinator for my three kids. When I'm not managing their schedules, you can find me with yarn and a crochet hook! 

I have been crocheting for more than half my life, however, up until 2 years ago, I would only crochet blankets and scarves.

This will be my second Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! My kids inspire me! My Aunt got me into my hobby when she taught me at 14 years old... so 24 years ago!!

I discovered my talent by one of my kids asked if I could make her a stuffed animal, and I said 'Challenge, accepted!' As I've perfected my craft, I started focusing on making stuffies that double as fidgets or stress balls!

My creative process is Finding a cute pattern while scrolling instagram - and then listening to some music or audio book to focus on the craft. 

I see myself in 5 years to hope to be designing patterns, and still doing shows!

No idea or goal is unattainable - I never could have imagined the success I've had in this first full year of sharing my crafts!

 Makoy Event Center

5462 Center St.

Hilliard, OH 43026

Sunday, December 15, 2024

10:00am-4:00pm

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM