Our names are Chris & Janeesha Harcourt. We are a husband and wife team, fairly new to the world of arts and crafts shows. This is our first official year taking a shot at selling the wares we enjoy creating. Our first Avant-Garde Show was June 9th.
Chris makes string art on hand-drawn wooden backgrounds and Janeesha makes jewelry. These things started as a way to de-stress. Chris saw and purchased a string art piece as a gift and quickly noticed that there was a way he could build upon that concept, making it more unique. I was simply not finding the types of jewelry pieces that I liked to wear, or if I found them, the prices were astronomical, so I decided to make my own.
As we quickly realized, we had expensive hobbies. We also noticed that others liked what we made, and it was at that point we decided to sell them, thus BindingThreadsGifts was born!
The world around us is what inspires us to create; some trends, special interests, and things we enjoy ourselves, as well. In 5 years, we hope to still be in business, traveling across the state of Ohio, peddling our Ohio handmade goods, hopefully incorporating some new items.
We are live and let live people. We want to inspire and encourage people to be who they are and embrace it. No worries. Be happy!
Meet Sara Thome from Looming Moon...
I have been an avid crafter my entire life. Most of my free time is spent gardening, reading, hiking, spinning yarn, dyeing, and knitting with the ever-present distraction of my merry band of cats. I began experimenting with natural dyes about five years ago and quickly honed in on the excitement of printing with leaves and flowers on all kinds of fabrics. This will be my first Avant-Garde show! I am looking forward to sharing my work with the AG community!
My biggest inspiration to create comes from nature, herself! I love foraging around in my garden, and in the prairies and forests around Central Ohio, exploring the colors and shapes and the wildlife around all us.
I was first interested in becoming part of the craft community when, several summers ago, I attended a local fiber festival. One of the vendors was selling some eco-printed silk scarves. I was stunned! The scarves were a bouquet of intricate leaf prints and colors. I took some notes from the artist and raced home to try the techniques out myself.
A few years ago, my dear friends and I came up with a wild philosophy for our style of crafting, which we dubbed: Full Weaseling (there may have been wine involved). Basically, Full Weaseling means diving into projects, head first, and with wild abandon. Forget about perfectionism and hand-wringing over the details. Full Weasling is about experimenting, playing, learning, and embracing the successes and failures (even when you end up with a kitchen full of beeswax and minuscule batik fabric patterns). A lot of natural dyeing is trial and error. So many things factor into the dyeing process, from the pH of the water to the temperature, and length of time items cook in the dye pots. I've learned a lot, but there are always surprises!
I really enjoy being able to meet with people at art shows, to share my work and techniques. I've been selling online and around the area for about ten years now, and would love to move into the classroom, to help inspire and teach anyone interested in learning more about natural dyeing.
I try to lift up the uniqueness and beauty of our Ohio landscape with my work. There are so many treasures just outside our doors. It is my hope that by drawing attention to them, Ohioans will continue to work to preserve and protect this land for generations to come.
Meet Carolyn Johnson...
I am a retired widow who has done different crafts all my life. I love to work with my hands and also to see how different things are made. I also am a seamstress. I have sewn garments from everyday sweatshirts to wedding gowns.
My friend received a beautiful wreath for Christmas this past year and I was so envious that I decided to start to make them myself and I have been making them ever since. My living room is now full and my family gets to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Now, I am hoping that others will enjoy them as much as I do.
Having never been in an Avant-Garde Art and Crafts show I hope to enrich my life by this experience. Making new friends that enjoy the art of crafting would be a great benefit of participating in this show.
I love to make crafts. Wreaths are fun to create and keeps your mind busy. I would hope that the wreaths that I make, bring people the same amount of happiness and enjoyment to hang them, as they give me when I make them.
The wreaths are all different and have a personality all their own. My desire is to make people happy. I am a people pleaser. I am always open to create a personalized wreath for a specific occasion or event!
Meet Carolyn Scono Shisler from Jewelry by Carolyn...
Carolyn absolutely loves what she creates and takes pride in the classic design and quality of each piece that someone will love wearing.
Jewelry by Carolyn is handcrafted art jewelry -- woven, braided, formed, forged, soldered and beaded. Inspiration comes from her fascination in gemstones meld with metals creating an extraordinary focal piece that is elegant and enjoyable to wear at an exceptional value. Gemstones are hand-selected and most designs using them are one of a kind. A common design element woven through the collection is special attention to detail.
Carolyn’s jewelry has a classic, timeless design. What differentiates her work from other jewelry artists are her distinctive designs—many are one of a kind. Her superb craftsmanship quality, with special attention to detail, and customized, handcrafted decorative elements—embellished clasps, charms, and connectors—add special dimension to each piece.
Jewelry is woven, braided, formed, forged, soldered and beaded. Each piece created with high quality gems and metals in sterling silver, 14k gold fill, pure copper or Vintaj brass.
Carolyn has been creating jewelry for more than ten years. She is constantly evolving her work and adding fresh new techniques in design and metalsmithing. She creates her work in her Columbus home and a silversmith shop in Tucson, AZ during the winters; and learns new techniques from nationally renowned artists teaching at the Tucson Gem & Mineral show.
Locally, she is active at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center and participates in local juried art and craft shows. She sells her jewelry in Uptown Westerville, at The Ohio Art Market and downtown at the Columbus Cultural Art Center, creates custom order pieces; and teaches classes in chainmaille and metals wire-wrapping.
Carolyn has been creating jewelry for more than ten years. She is constantly evolving her work and adding fresh new techniques in design and metalsmithing. She creates her work in her Columbus home and a silversmith shop in Tucson, AZ during the winters; and learns new techniques from nationally renowned artists teaching at the Tucson Gem & Mineral show.
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