April Showers Bring May Vendors!

Meet Richard and Alice from Pure Bees Wax Art...

We are Richard & Alice - Since 1996, we have taken pride in being candle artisans and designing one of a kind unique hand rolled pure bees wax candles, beeswax art and beeswax sculptures. We have enjoyed being creative and letting nature lead us over the hills and through the woods to the natural liquid gold we use to make our art.

We use solid blocks of pure ohio bees wax and cotton wick. We hand design each candle using real pressed flowers, roses, rose and flower petals, larkspur, daisy, cosmo...fern, leaves, lavender, and herbs in our craft. We are fortunate in having a garden which offers its bounties to us to use as fresh cut and then pressed flowers for our candle creations. Ocean stones and seashells are also our favorites to use because of the natural offerings of the ocean combined with our pure beeswax designs makes sense.

We are inspired by nature - The Love of Flowers, Bees & Honey - we're all set! We started making candles when our garden gave all the wonderful offerings to work with. We'd cut and dry flowers, we enjoyed the light from candles, and it all came together one day when we had both to work with. California driftwood also led us to making our first beeswax sculptures. From then on, we were excited with our craft. Connecting to nature has meant a lot to us! Nature's bounties leads us and this is our contribution to the art scene…

Our creative process starts with pure liquid beeswax. We double boil it, pour it into hand made molds, wait for the perfect temperature, and we roll our candles to a cotton wick. Using a warm candle and hand applying real flowers is a sense of wonder every time! Once the floral design is made, it is then dipped back into the liquid beeswax to seal the natural beauty on the surface of the candle. Ocean stones and seashells add a wonderful texture to the candle with a one of a kind design. 

In five years we'll still be known as the beeswax candle people! Our message to give regarding our art, it's all natural & all wonderful! We are so excited to join the Avant-Garde Art Show! This will be our first year. We are proud & honored to have this opportunity of connecting with so many awesome artist

that will be on site for May 10th, 2014. Happy spring time everyone!

Meet Pat Underwood from Classy Glass Creations...

Classy Glass Creations was started in the spring of 2013. We had been treasure hunting on a trip to Michigan one day and found a beautiful yard sculpture made from glass pieces. We really wanted to bring it home to our own garden, but the price was far above our reach. We decided right then we would learn how to make them for ourselves. Once we made the first one, Garden Granny, people told us we needed to make more and sell them. 

Family history is our inspiration. We come from a long line of artisans: our Dad worked with metals and wood for many years crafting unique and useable items, one grandmother took up painting at the age of 84 and left behind beautiful paintings, and our Mom did ceramics for many years and took great pleasure in giving them to others to enjoy.

I have a strong appreciation for antiques and hand crafted treasures. I also have a talent for sales and marketing, and am skilled at seeking out great pieces to build our items. Pam’s talent is in seeing things differently. She is inspired by finding new beauty in the plain and ordinary. For her personally, it is therapy that allows her to share her visions with others. She’s the designer.

Pam and I have always created much from little. We learn most things by hands on trial and error. Talent is much like beauty; it lies in the eyes of the beholder. I supply a wide selection of colorful glassware with many unique shapes and sizes. Pam then selects a piece that interests her and begins to pair it with other selections until she “sees” something interesting. Together we discuss and fit the final pieces and trim until we agree on the final collage. Pam will study it a bit until it “speaks” together with a name and a story. Finally a new “Garden Granny” is born.

Everything holds value and beauty, if you look beyond the surface or expected use. You can draw outside the lines and make one of the most beautiful pictures ever. And finally, it is our responsibility to preserve parts of the past for future generations to learn from and love as we have.

Meet Bonnie with Crone Age Wisdom...

After a successful, twenty year career in the corporate world as a marketing executive, I finally decided to follow my passion.  My grandson was born with very dry skin, and nothing we tried seemed to help.  I decided to go back to the wisdom of my forefathers (wisdom of the crones), and became certified in herbology. I realized my passion for living naturally. 

I started making lotion bars, other lotion preparations, natural cleaning ingredients, and herbal remedies for any ailment imaginable.  And the products and herbal remedies worked!  Then I realized that I loved educating people about the benefits of using natural ingredients in anything they put on their skin.  I have been selling products and educating the public at vending events for over three years, and am continually adding different healing solutions to my Crone Age Wisdom product line. I develop products based on need. The more I learn about harmful ingredients in almost all products we use daily, the more I am inspired to research all-natural herbs, oils, and butters that work in concert with our bodies to promote natural healing. 

My products use fresh ingredients and do not contain preservatives, chemicals, or unnatural fragrance.  Most products are completely fragrance free, as many people have allergies or reactions to scents. My future is to continue educating people on the benefits of using natural products that promote healing and are non-toxic to humans and the environment. I use my ancestor-intuition to draw upon the wisdom of the wise-women who healed naturally and spiritually. Crone Age Wisdom, the natural solutions to dry and ageing skin.

Meet Jamie with The Maven Raven...

Greetings! I am Jamie "Raven" June. I began my journey of creating handmade items about 5 years ago. My grandmother was my teacher and mentor. I ran a small business for 11 years with my husband. When he passed away in 2012, I could no longer run our successful business on my own. I was determined to begin a business that I could design and create yet also provide for my two teenage sons. I started The Maven Raven at the end 2013 in which I make handmade items and unrefined beauty products. Specifically Unrefined African Shea Butter. I am also the vocalist/lyricist for the band, June Dreaming. This will be my first Avant~Garde Art Show and I am excited to be a part of this event! I love meeting new people, especially artist and vendors. 

This has always been my dream, creating art and music and bringing it into the marketplace. 

My heart is to bring joy and love to everyone I meet. I also have a desire to bring in my sister, Cheri to this business. She is married and has 4 young boys. I have recently been teaching her how to sew and taking her with me to events. My goal is for her to become a huge part of The Maven Raven!

My Grandma Phyl, was my inspiration to art. She was sewing since she was six, and ran her own business teaching women how to paint, quilt, and start their own businesses. Unfortunately, she passed away in a tragic car accident. My heart is to carry on her legacy. My husband also inspired me to take risks in business. He and I had many struggles running a small business but never gave up! I loved being his business partner and miss those times. I take what he taught me into my own business, as I carry on. He taught me that people are important and everyone deserves love.

2014 Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, May 10th, 2014, 10:00am-4:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

For more information, contact Becki@ag-shows.com

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These ladies pull inspiration from family, and even Dr. Suess!

Meet Beth Heyer from My Cre8tive Outlet...

I recently married my amazing husband, Geoff.  We live in Bexley, Ohio with our two pups Aldo & Bunson.  I work as a Sales Recruiting Trainer at Kimball Midwest and volunteer and mentor with Franklin County Children's Services. I just recently opened my Etsy shop, My Cre8ive Outlet, and this is only my 2nd craft bazaar, but I have been sewing and crafting seriously for about 5 years and casually my whole life. This is my very first Avant-Garde show and I am so excited to be a part of this great event!  

I really get inspired by my friends and family, I love to make gifts for others, so thinking about what someone else would enjoy and what they would want to receive really helps me think outside of my own personal tastes.  I have a very crafty mom, so growing up in a crafty home is what got me interested at a young age. 

I worked with a non-profit My Very Own Blanket for several years.  They make blankets for children in foster care.  I had sewn only a little prior to that.  It is safe to say that over 3 or so years with them I made over 100 quilts and tops.  Having the opportunity to practice and experiment and try things I didn't think I was talented enough to do, made me realize that maybe I am actually pretty good at sewing!

 I would love to have a successful Etsy shop, attend a dozen craft bazaars a year and be able to consider My Cre8ive Outlet a real part-time job.

Meet Sarah from Dainty Bean...

My name is Sarah and I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I am married and have a little girl and another baby on the way. I love making handmade things for my friends and family members and now that I have a cute daughter I love to sew things for her too. Other than crafting, I love to spend time with family and friends. 

I have been crafting since I was a little girl but my skills and love for sewing have really increased in the last five years. About two years ago I decided to open an Etsy shop and about a year ago I decided to start selling at craft shows. It has been a great experience and a great way to grow my little business. I love making things for people and sending them all over the country. This will be my second Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show. I am excited to participate in the Christmas show because I have been hard at work creating fun Christmas decorations and stocking stuffers.

I am inspired by the people that I love and the beauty around me. I definitely have a specific taste and vision for the things I create. Fabric is a huge inspiration to me. I love taking a yard of pretty fabric making something beautiful with it. I strive to create beautiful things that are also functional and useful. 

My mom deserves the credit for my crafting hobby. She was always making handmade things during my childhood and I learned so many things from watching her. Her love of sewing rubbed off on me and I hope that some day I can pass on my love for creating to my daughter also. I discovered my talent just by doing it. The phrase "practice makes perfect" is definitely true and it is through a lot of practice that my sewing skills have improved. I have definitely made a few ugly things on my journey to make pretty things.

I am not really sure where my business will be in five years. Once I have two kids I am sure my time for crafting will be much more limited but I hope that I will still be able to make and sell things in some way. Eventually (probably way down the road) I would love to own a pretty little quilt shop and sell gorgeous funky fabric and handmade things from local artists as well as my own. The message behind my work is one of beauty and functionality. I want the items I create to be useful and functional and really bring happiness to the people who use them. 

Meet Tammy Sheppard and her beautiful creations...

I have been drawing and painting, and taking photos since I was in high school but have just recently taken a real interest in using various media to create my artwork. I love to see things in a new light and I often see beauty where other people simply see the mundane. I continue to train my eyes to see beyond the surface of everything to find deeper meanings and different ways to see everyday "cast off" objects people call trash every day.

I like to give these discarded items new life and new purpose. I have enjoyed learning how to use various media over the years and will continue to add new techniques to my skill set as I learn them. I generally paint on canvases and  boards and use found objects and sculptural media to add texture, more depth and an almost "need to touch" kind of feel to my work. The Avant-Garde show this Holiday season will be my first time showing and selling my work so I am extremely excited about the possibilities.

I have also recently begun to make very small abstract glass pendants that I have made into necklaces and magnets using altered magazine pages under the glass. The pendants have an almost geological gemstone like appearance. I use all natural cotton cord and bead/button closures instead of metal clasps to keep the neclaces hypoallergenic. I call them "Art under glass" pendants which are in effect a mini abstract painting you can wear.  I am inspired by the earth and nature and the vastness of our universe as seen by things like the Hubble telescope on a large scale and microscopes on a small scale.  Some things are so small they go unnoticed with the naked eye but under a microscope there are whole new worlds to be seen and appreciated.

I love how Dr. Suess wrote about the "Whos in Whoville" who are so small they live on specks of dust and snowflakes. Now that is a whole new way to see the world around us. Eyes that see with the wonder and heart of a child. I am not sure I always have a meaning behind the work I create, sometimes the meaning that is derived from my work is completely different from observer to observer and I don't like to steer a person's thinking when they approach my work. I want them to see something different each time so I often don't title my work as to not persuade the viewer one way or another.

I find working in my studio my sanctuary where I can have fun and find peace in an often too hectic world. I am hoping I can continue to create new works of art and perhaps in the next few years to attend and sell at various art festivals locally and as I get older it would be nice to retire from my current work and do my art more full time. I hope you enjoy viewing my work as much as I enjoyed making it. 

2013 Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, December 21, 2013, 10:00am-4:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com

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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

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