Saturday, November 17, 2012

Join us Tomorrow for the Cbus Fall Show!


Meet Susan Voit from Bespangles...
My interest in jewelry started seven years ago when I took a class at a local bead shop. Learning is the key word. It is so much fun to continue to learn how to make beautiful things that I won't stop until I drop.  

Since retirement, my hobby changed to a business called Bespangles. My favorite thing to make is necklaces. All of mine are different as I never make the same thing twice.  
I also like to make children's jewelry, magnetic bracelets and unusual bracelets of different styles.  Bead weaving is also a continuous learning experience which I enjoy and incorporate into my designs.  

The message behind my work is: "A woman without jewelry is like a night without stars!"


Meet Devon & Jeff Johnson from Backyard Living...
Our business is called Backyard Living and although we just started selling this summer at local festivals, my husband Jeff has been building things forever. You may say he has it in his blood!

Jeff's grandpa's on both sides were builders. They taught him many things about tools and were also builders of birdhouses which is where Backyard Living began. Jeff filled our basement up all winter with birdhouses, and I told him he needed start selling some or we would run out of room! He has had a very successful first year going to the North Market Artisan Sundays twice a month, Worthington Plant Festival, Food Truck Festival, Independents' Fest, and Yellow Springs Street Fair.
Jeff has expanded his business from only having birdhouses to now making end tables out of logs that were in a firewood pile, jewelry display frames, floating wine holders, and a few other items. He uses a lot of barn wood from my Dad's 100 year old barn he is no longer using, or reclaimed wood he finds from pallets. He also goes to the Amish to get some fresh white oak and cedar that hasn't even been cured.  
Of course Jeff's dream is to go far and own a store front some day, but I am happy with where we are now getting in to local fesitvals and giving people local items that are unique.  

Meet Bethany Mitchell from Ladybug Designs...
I'm a single mom to a wonderful 4-year old little girl! I got into creating handmade items as a way to relieve the stress of everyday life and distract myself for a few hours.  Once I really got into it, I realized very quickly that not only did I love creating things, those around me began asking for me to create things for them and thus Ladybug Designs was born! I have been creating for about 18 months now. The Columbus Show will be my first Avant-Garde show and I'm incredibly excited!!

I get my creativity from the necessity of life. I will often look around my home and think, I want a throw pillow here or a wreath on that door and the idea explodes from there. Pinterest has become my go-to for inspiration as well, that site is an absolute gift to the world of designers and crafters!

I first got into the craft hobby while traveling for work in Salt Lake City. I met a woman there that taught me how to make paracord bracelets.  I was fascinated by what I could create with my own hands.

My friends and family were constantly asking where I bought a skirt, bracelet, pillow, wreath, etc. When they realized that all of these items were coming from my own two hands, starting the business was a necessity to fulfill the wants of those around me.

My creative process is simple. Much like the movie line from Field of Dreams: "build it and they will come", I think "make it and they will buy." I can be inspired by nearly anything...once I'm inspired I HAVE to act creatively on it.

The thing I enjoy most about creating unique items is just that: they are unique items. I love making and selling paracord items the most because I love hearing "I've never seen something like this before!"

My message is simply that life is more beautiful with a handmade item in it! I love store bought items as much as the next person but a handmade item carries meaning with it that a store bought item never will.


Meet Adam Levene from Adam Levene Illustrations...
My name is Adam Levene, I graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design. After I graduated from school, I worked for a special effects company designing characters, props, and environments for the entertainment and retail industries. I have been producing my own artwork seriously for about 7 years.
This is my first Avant-Garde Show and I am looking forward to it. 
gain most of inspiration from good observations; I am also keen on free writing and word association in developing ideas. I have wanted to do my own thing for a while now, I think what motivates me mostly is seeing the excitement in someone's face when they purchase a piece by me.

I would consider my work classically styled with dark and cynical undertones. My creative process usually starts with text. I either free write or have some words that I try and connect. I then begin with small sketches developing composition and value. After that, I create a tighter sketch of one I like. I will gather reference and do any more research if necessary and then I start constructing my image with a tighter drawing. After the drawing, I start layering in 
paint and color. 

My work has a variety of different meanings and I like to produce work with something in mind, however it is fun to allow others to interpret my work. Thank you and you can view my work at http://www.adamleveneillustration.com.

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature a large selection of the area's most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Columbus Ohio's Pet's Without Parents a local non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats.

2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1:30pm-6:30pm
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
555 N. High St 
Columbus, OH 43215
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on:

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Handbags to Duct Tape Treasures


Meet Wendy Calfe from Nouveau Bags...
I was raised in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Interior Design. I moved to central Ohio with my husband in the mid-80's. I worked in many facets of the custom drapery industry until starting a family, and decided to work from home using my last employer as my first client. I am excited to be a first-time participant in the Avant-Garde show this year, and look forward to returning in the years to come. 


My interest in sewing evolved from a hobby making clothing for myself and the occasional balloom shade for my parents to an independent business creating custom window treatments and home accessories. I discovered making purses and bags was a great way to upcycle small amounts of leftover fabric into beautiful and useful creations. The fabrics inspire the design and use of each bag, and I enjoy choosing attractive linings for each as well.  Support from family and friends encouraged me to pursue this new avenue of creativity.


Meet Melissa Freuh from Sqrl & Bee Studio...
My name is Melissa and I'm a fiber artist and graphic designer. I currently live in the North Campus area of Columbus with my husband Andrew my 2 year old daughter Maya and our two kitties Gamma and Nessie.

I get a lot of my creative insprisation from my daughter and all the kiddos in my life. Since I do make mostly kid stuff. Color is a lare part of what I play wiht. I'm very inspired by color. I love simple uncomplicated design.

I first got into crafting as a hobby by a little pig named Momoco. It was the first needle felted thing I'd ever seen. It was on a Japanese blog I translated. I could not understand how it was made with no seams or stitches. I was then on a mission to find out how to do this needle felting item, and instantly became hooked!!

                           

I have been making mobiles for years, and finally made one and posted it in my shop and it sold immediately so I made anoher one and it sold so I just kept going! People kept buying mobiles so then I contintued to make them and made the decission to offically make it a business three years ago. 

I enjoy crating handmade items because of the wonderful feed back that people give me. I love hearing stories of my mobiles calming their babies down and when people recognize them and remind them that they are home and safe. I enjoy knowing that I have an affect in a small part of their day, and that my creations are other there making little ones happy and calm. I truly don't think it could get better than that!

Meet Mary Shumaker from Ravenswood Jewelry...
I’m relatively new to crafting having only started a little over a year ago. I started out by making feather earrings for my daughters and their friends which morphed into adding beaded earrings into the mix. I primarily focus on earrings, though I dabble in other jewelry pieces as well. The 2012 Columbus show will be my first with Avant-Garde.

The inspiration for my pieces are the stones and beads I work with; I find beauty in mixing different styles and types of beads and stones. I particularly like to juxtapose delicate beads with more industrial or earthy pieces.

I only recently started, this fall actually, to pursue selling my earrings beyond family and friends. I’ve had a positive response from friends and co-workers and based on this I’m branching out to more public forums.

I find that working with beads, stones and feathers allows me to speak through what I create. Earrings may not be considered an “art form” in the truest sense, yet I feel that when I am working I’m moved by the combinations of colors and textures. I find the entire creative process both rewarding and relaxing. My hope is that people enjoy my jewelry and that to some degree a small part of what has inspired me during the creative process is carried with each piece.

Meet Gina Blaurock from Green Handle Designs...
I am a Columbus Native, a graduate of OSU with a BA in English.  I have been  participating in craft shows since May of 2003 after being laid off from Highlights for Children Hospital,I bought a table and sent up in front of the then Banc One on High St for that month's Gallery Hop and have been trying to maintain crafting as a fulltime job ever since. 


Taking a few odd-jobs, parttime and fulltime jobs here and there, pushing crafting on to the back burner as a hobby, I am approaching my 10th year of craft shows.  Starting with jewelry, I added duct tape crafts in 2008. With duct tape becoming a popular seller, I have been able to do shows where I bring only duct tape, such as this one. When I get an idea and turns out well, I have to do that same piece with every color or color combination available.  Crafting is not a hobby, not a job, it is not obsession.  It is an exsistence.

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature a large selection of the area's most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Columbus Ohio's Pet's Without Parents a local non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats.

2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1:30pm-6:30pm
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
555 N. High St 
Columbus, OH 43215
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on:




Thursday, November 8, 2012

Eclectic Artists in Columbus

Meet Nicole Coleman-Hummler from Snapped by Nicole...
I am a Columbus Native. I graduated from Ohio State with a Bachelor's in Natural Resources and a minor in Film Photography. I am currently pursuing a Digital photography and Business Associate's from Columbus State. I enjoy photographing nature and animals, as well as portraits and events. I have a dog, a cat, and two Northern Leopard Frogs. I have been married for a little over 2 years. 

I have been doing photography for over 7 years in some capacity. I took my first film class as a senior in high school taking courses at OSU, in 2005. I get my inspiration from nature. I see beautiful patterns and colors. I typically do not have to set up any of the non-human shots. 
How I got started selling my craft... I saw a photographer at a craft show in 2006 and thought "hey, I could do this." People kept asking for my pieces or if I could make it into this or that or have something for Christmas. I figured that meant that I could possibly sell my work. And I can!

My creative process... I look at a item, such as a block of wood, and decide which image would best in those dimensions and if it would transfer well with the acrylic method I use. I also look at elements from individual images to see if they will translate to a necklace pendant or not. Knowing that someone likes it enough to buy it. I strive to create items that people actually want.
The message behind my work is that I believe that if enough people appreciate nature, they may begin to tell themselves or accept messages that nature is worth preserving. 

Meet Tami Bowen from Cupcake Studio...
I have good, old-fashioned memories of making pie pigtails in Grandma’s kitchen, milking cows with Grandpa and spending summers at the sewing machine with my 4-H projects.  County fairs, farm fields, church suppers and good people … I am beyond blessed to live with my happy little family in the same county that I was born & raised in.

Cupcake Studio began several years ago as a place to create from the heart.  Handmade items are created by me, in my farmhouse studio (a.k.a. kitchen table.) I especially enjoy making handmade greeting cards, felted flower pins, vintage cupcake stands, resin jewelry and anything that strikes my fancy…all with love and a vintage spin.
I collect old buttons & books, lipstick, magazines and photos of my kid, so I guess my interests are pretty varied…but,  give me a nice, Autumn day and a good country barn sale and I’m in Heaven!

I’m so tickled to be a part of the Avant-Garde Fall Craft event.  Can’t wait to see you there!

Blog:  cupcakestudio.blogspot.com
Etsy:  cupcakestudio.etsy.com

Meet Michele Jakubowski from mjaxwax...
My name is Michele Jakubowski and I’ve lived in the Columbus area for 15 years. I started mjaxwax this fall. What started as an idea for creating holiday gifts, quickly turned into a small business. This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. From checking out the blog, I’m really looking forward to meeting the other vendors!

For years my creative outlet was writing children’s books. I recently started a full-time job and my writing time was severely cut into. I’ve never been particularly crafty but I was looking for an outlet that didn’t require the same type of focus as writing.
To me, business is just another form of creativity. I’ve always enjoyed logo design, marketing and social media. As my ideas for mjaxwax grew, so did my ideas for promoting it.

I don’t have a creative process, per se, but I do tend to get my best ideas in the shower or as I’m falling asleep.


My favorite part of the entire process, is that I love the feeling of a finished product!

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature a large selection of the area's most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Columbus Ohio's Pet's Without Parents a local non-profit, no-kill, all-breed shelter for dogs and cats.

2012 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1:30pm-6:30pm
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
555 N. High St 
Columbus, OH 43215
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on: