Meet Emily Shaw from Sweet Aromas by
Auntie Em...
My
name is Emily Shaw. I am from Columbia, Missouri, and I moved to Hilliard in
the summer of 2017 to pursue a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at The Ohio State
University. I make hand-poured soy wax candles and melts. My interest in
candle-making started last December - my mom loves the scent of lilacs but has
always had trouble finding lilac scented candles. I took it upon myself to make
her lilac scented candles as a Christmas gift that year, and I have continued
learning and working to perfect the art of candle-making!
After
several months of learning and testing, Sweet Aromas by Auntie Em was born. The
name embodies what I want to capture with my work, as I feel I am the best
version of myself when I am around my two nephews, Hudson and Harrison. I have
been able to connect to people through my work in creating what they want in a
candle. I have fulfilled requests for novelty scents such as pizza, bacon, and
Booberry cereal, I have customized a candle in remembrance of a customer's
friend who had passed away, and I am always open to hearing new ideas.
This
will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and my second craft show
overall. I hope to continue making candles for many years and to expand the
presence of my business, both locally and online.
Meet Bob Corby from Back Porch
Comics...
My name is Bob Corby I am the owner of Back Porch
Comics. I run the Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE) in Columbus
each year and have been a small press comics publisher since the mid-80s. Some
of the comics I produce are hand printed linoleum cuts which is what will be
featured at this show. I also produce Oh, Comics! an annual comics anthology
which features many local Columbus area artists and writers and a number of
different minicomics.
I have been doing comic conventions since 1986, and started SPACE in 2000. I have also done a few craft shows in the past. I have been drawing comics since I was a child. I build ideas from the absurdity of daily life. I got interested in linoleum printing in high school, and was reintroduced to it as an advisor with the Columbus Art Explorer Post 407.
I began doing this as a business because I wanted people to read my work. It sparks from something within my imagination that I just want to share with others. I enjoy this hobby because I have a somewhat stressful regular career, so doing something handmade is very therapeutic.
The message that lies behind my work is don't let anybody stop you.
The message that lies behind my work is don't let anybody stop you.
Meet Linda Saville-Roth from Tino's
Treasure...
I retired from The Ohio State University, Microbiology Department
in December 2011. I grew up on a farm in southwest Ohio and have always enjoyed
the outdoors. I’m married and have two grown children.
I have been doing this since
Summer 2012. This will be the fourth Avant-Garde show that I have
participated in! My husband and I enjoy
travel, hiking, and camping. I’m inspired by the forms I see in nature.
When I retired, I had
plenty of time to “explore my artistic side”. After reading an article
about fairy houses and seeing an exhibit at Franklin Park Conservatory in
Columbus, I constructed some houses of my own design. I have always enjoyed
working with my hands and seeing where my creativity leads me.
First I collect
interesting items from nature that have a shape or texture that I like. I then
select a container. Usually the shape and size of the container helps me as I
begin to choose nature items to turn it into a fairy house.
In 5 years, I expect to
continue participating in four to five juried art shows per year. All the
materials for my houses are collected from nature. Preserving resources and the
environment are important to me.
Meet Christy Sturtz from Just Try It,
Georgie!...
This is my first
Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show. I began writing my first children's book
in 2011 and it was published in 2016. I was inspired to author a
children's book because I am a teacher and mother, and having read thousands of
children's books with my students and my children, I wanted to create one
of my own. The theme was chosen in response to a concern I had for young
children and the characters, story, and information I included were chosen to
teach while entertaining.
I began writing my first
book as a creative writing project with my oldest daughter. We
brainstormed characters together, and I showed her how to research facts about
the animal characters we'd chosen. I continued to work on the story when
I had the time while working as a full time mother of three and a reading
tutor. Once I had a finished manuscript, I sent it to my brother, who is
an artist, and asked him to illustrate the book. We found a small
independent publishing company in Ohio to design and publish our book. My
brother has since written and illustrated his own book, and we are working an a
second book together. I have done several preschool and elementary school
visits where I talk about the writing and publishing process, and we have done
a few school visits together, including illustration demonstrations.
Teaching is my passion, so
I love to teach through my stories and my interactions with children. I'm
looking to set up more author visits at local preschools and elementary
schools so that I can encourage more children in their love of literature
and writing. I have designed a writer's workshop that I hope to begin
doing with students in local elementary schools as well, in which students
publish their own children's book to share with younger children.
Meet Emily Mullen from Written Paper
Goods...
I'm Emily Mullen, the
writer/artist/founder of Written Paper Goods. I grew up in Vermont, came to
Ohio by way of The College of Wooster, and moved to Columbus in 2010. I love
this city and its incredible creative community!
In the spring of 2016 I quit my job as
a writer and editor of an online magazine and founded Written Paper Goods. Back
then, each card was individually handmade with my old school calligraphy dip
pen. Since then I've learned how to digitally manipulate my lettering. This
enables me to continue creating designs featuring my unique hand lettering
style (which I still achieve using that same calligraphy dip pen!), add color
and pattern to my designs, and sell my products at a much more affordable price
point.
This will be my first Avant-Garde
show! I'm excited to meet more makers and more people who love to shop local.
More and more I'm realizing they're my favorite kinds of people.
I've
always loved whittling down a phrase until it feels just right, until every
word feels as though it's in its right place. I always planned on being a
writer, but once I got there, I found that I felt too hemmed in, writing for
other people.
My
designs are inspired by my life, by my relationships, by the sentiments that I
want to share with the people who matter to me. Sometimes a friend will be
going through something rough, or I'll listen to an awesome podcast, or read an
incredible book, and I'll have an idea waiting to be polished and turned into
something unique to Written Paper Goods. That's why I love Instagram so much;
not all of these ideas are quite right for a greeting card. Instagram enables
me to share those moments of inspiration freely. (If you're curious, you can
find me @WrittenPaperGoods.)
I
had been intrigued by calligraphy for a long time, but when I finally started
dabbling in it, I didn't enjoy the rigorous training involved in learning the
precise styles of traditional calligraphy. Instead, I found that I wanted to
create something new, something that felt unique and personal to me.
It
sounds silly, but I've gotten a lot of compliments on my handwriting over the
years! I used to work at a stationery shop, and customers were always
half-jokingly asking if I would address their envelopes for them. I think all
that flattery was percolating in the back of my mind, just waiting for me to
find a medium. Turns out, a calligraphy dip pen was just what I needed to get
those creative juices flowing!
My
creative process could be described as "structured whimsy." Like I
said before, inspiration can come from anywhere, and the work of turning an
idea into final wording can look like long walks, journaling, spending half an
hour scribbling various combinations of words. It's basically the
quintessential artist montage, lots of inky fingers and gazing out windows
thoughtfully. But once I've finalized the wording, everything gets technical
and I have a strict process that requires a lot of drafting by hand and
(somewhat tedious) work on the computer. I love that the stages balance each
other out, even though both have their frustrations. And seeing the final
design is always worth it.
In
5 years, I want to see Written Paper Goods carried in shops around the country,
and I want it to be turning enough profit that I can focus on it full time. I
want my designs to really strike a chord with people, so I can support myself
entirely by creating work that motivates people and inspires true connection.
I
strive to write authentic sentiments that ring true. I think the world would be
a better place if we were all more honest, more vulnerable, and more generous
with our love. Whether it's a card that's perfect for your bestie, a print
that's perfect for your office wall, or a coffee mug that's the perfect
reminder to be your best self, I want Written Paper Goods to help you be more
present, more connected and more authentic.
