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Meet Katie Runyon from Nuthatch Yarn Studio...

Hello! My name is Katie Runyon, and I’m the face behind Nuthatch Yarn Studio. During the day I work as a pharmacy technician, but what I really love to do is crochet! I share my home with my wonderful husband (Alex) who is so supportive of me, and a grumpy old man cat (Jake) who thankfully doesn’t really like yarn. I’ve been crocheting for about 5 years. 

This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I’m so excited to share my work with everyone!

I’m inspired to create because of the joy it gives me. Although I do sell my items, crochet is primarily a hobby for me. After a stressful day at work, spending time making something adorable out of soft yarn is the perfect way to relax. The process is more important than the finished product. If I can bring others joy when they see my creations, that’s wonderful, but I would still crochet even if nobody ever saw it. 

I became inspired to create, about 5 years ago I happened to see an image online of amigurumi. My grandma had tried to teach me to crochet when I was a child, but at the time I wasn’t interested in making scarfs and blankets. When I learned that crochet could be used to make cuddly animals, I was amazed! I remembered the basics, and I watched YouTube videos to learn the rest. 

I discovered my talent when my first piece was a small fox made with turquoise yarn (because that’s all I could find lying around the house) and stuffed with tissues. I winged it, watching videos each time I came across part of the pattern I didn’t understand. I was sure my first attempt would be a disaster, but the fox came out cute in all its imperfection! I was hooked! (pun intended)

I like to make new things. I’m constantly looking for new patterns and I don’t typically make the same thing more than a few times. I do most of my crocheting in the evenings after work and on weekends—even when I have other activities, I often bring along a small crochet project…just in case.

In 5 years I’d like to see myself participating in several craft shows throughout the year, as well as having a successful online presence where I can share my work with a broader audience. 

Through my work, I want to bring joy and make people smile. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy cute plushies! I want to encourage people to do what makes you happy, regardless of what others might think about it.

 Meet Amber Fosler from A Crafty B...

Hi! I'm Amber Fosler. I've been an artist since my first box of Crayola crayons was given to me!  I'm happiest when I'm creating.  It's always been my go-to for when I'm stressed, anxious or just trying to process heavy stuff that life throws out on occasion. I was an event planner for many years and loved incorporating my creativity into events from weddings to business meetings. My career path took a very sharp turn when I became a mom. My amazing kiddo has been medically complex since birth.  By the time he was 5 months old, my husband and I realized that one of us needed to be home full time to care for our son. After a quick round of rock, paper, scissors (kidding.  Sort of.), I was the chosen parent to leave my job.  That was 10 years ago. While still very medically complex, my son is healthy and thriving. It took a lot of years in the weeds of parenting before I could really come back to one of my first loves: art.  And then the pandemic started.

Because I had more time at home, I started teaching myself new skills: Paper flowers, watercolor, quilting and hand embroidery. It was the last one though that really lit me up though.  I loved how calming it felt.  I really fell in love with how portable it is.  I almost always have a work in progress with me.  It gives my hands something to do while waiting with my son for doctor appointments, during trips to the hospital, while in OR waiting rooms or just the school pickup line.  It became a very calming way to sooth my nerves and make extra stressful days go by faster.  

I loved that it challenges me but it also gives me a creative outlet.  I went from buying one beginner kit and pattern to diving right in to making my own patterns. I honed my skills (thanks to YouTube) and used my friends and family as my test subjects.  LOTS of people in my inner circle received my first projects. And I still love to give to people I know, a finished piece that I used as practice for a new skill.  

Hand embroidery has also become a sensory activity for me.  I was diagnosed as autistic when I was 41.  In learning more about autism from other autistic adults, I realized that my sensory needs are probably different that those of a neurotypical person.  Creating art in just about any medium gives me a sense of peace, calm and event control when the rest of the world seems confusing, chaotic and out of my control. I started hand embroidery just over 18 months ago.

This is my first show and I am so excited to participate! 

For me, creativity is ultimately a need.  When life gets in the way (like it does) and I'm not using my creativity regularly, life gets exponentially harder. I'm grumpy and impatient.  I have a harder time understanding and processing the world around me. I have a general feeling of being unwell.  But when I'm happy and making time for creativity, my entire world is a source of inspiration.  I get excited to think about all the possibilities, all the colors and mediums available to me. I'm inspired simply by wanting to feel whole. I'm inspired by continuously learning, playing and becoming my favorite version of myself.

I started crafting because of Social media! Knowing I need art in my life to feel whole, I started following more and more artists on social media platforms. For me, looking at art is almost as grounding and soothing as actually creating art.  Then I stumbled upon hand embroidery. I was quickly inspired by the embroidery artists who were putting a really modern spin on an art form that has been around for centuries.  I quickly fell in love with what a tactile art form it is.  As an autistic artist, the sensory experience is important. I knew just from seeing other artists' work, that it would be a good fit for me.

I've always loved trying new mediums in art.  I randomly ordered an embroidery kit online.  I learned some of the basic stitches pretty easily.  It was when I started learning some of the more challenging techniques that I realized I had a knack for it. I discovered that hand embroidery is a much more forgiving form of needle arts (I'm AWFUL at counted cross stitch) and it gives me freedom to simply pull ideas from my head and sew them down to fabric. 

For my creative process, I get ideas from everywhere but those ideas frequently start as an encounter with something that makes me laugh or smile or is a color that I seem to have a physical response to  I'll see a color that lights up my brain and then I will start visualizing what I can make using that particular color.  From there I will just start stitching without a real defined outcome in mind.  Other times I will come up with a concept, using color as my jumping off point and then create an actual pattern to transfer to fabric.

In five years, I hope that I still have the luxury of making what speaks to me, what lights me up inside.  I also hope to grow my custom business.  I love taking an idea from a client and running with it.  The collaboration of taking someone else's vision and interpreting it in my own way and then getting that out onto fabric is such a fun process.

I like to think of myself as an inclusive artist.  I really hope to create items that just about anyone can enjoy.  I try to make sure I have a lot of representation in my pieces.  My goal is to bring smiles to people from all walks of life.

Meet Rachel Hanger from Mae Designs...

I am super passionate about creating one of a kind bracelets to add to your style that no one has created before, each piece comes from my creative brain work. I've been doing this for a very long time! But officially started my business in 2016! I've participated in one Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show previously.

What inspires me to create is knowing I put a smile on everyone’s face! I mean tears, happy smiles, and shocked faces! I started crafting because I started creating my own unique bracelets since about 11 years old. I went to craft shows with my mamaw, then started in 2016, my own brand- I fell off of it and got lost but found myself again in 2019! Full force! 

I discovered my talent when I looked at a bracelet that cost about $500 at macys and said I can do that- so I did only better :) I just create! I don’t have a lot of inspiration through artists, very few, but I’m an artist through and through.

My goal.. I am already in shops downtown Columbus the main ,but a absolute goal would be to be in more shops all around US & just make people feel good and complete their looks 

The message behind my jewelry is stack em! Get what calls to you! There’s only one of you & many stacks to compete your outfit 

2023 Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday December 10, 2023 - 10:00am-4:00pm

Makoy Event Center

5461 Center St.

Hilliard, OH 

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

Let the Count Down Begin!

Meet Amanda Roberts from Amanda Roberts Trinkets & Crafts…
I am almost 40 and am trying something newish! I was raised by my grandparents and a lot of my childhood was spent going from one festival to another. Almost all of my good memories came from these experiences. I have always loved to create things but I haven't had the best luck with follow through because I hadn't found the right product/medium. I think I have found something that brings me joy and brings joy to the people that visit my booth.

I’ve been doing my craft for just under a year, and this will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This all started with me making party favors for my backyard wedding. I made over 150 coasters and everyone loved them. I had people coming up to me afterward asking for more!!

I have always enjoyed art. It has been my safe calming space. There have been years where I was unable to have a creative outlet but that is all changing now.

How I got into my craft… My grandparents raised me and some of my fondest memories are traveling around the state selling at fairs and festivals.
For my creative process, anything that makes me laugh makes it on my table!

The message behind my work is to laugh about life while thinking of others (typically people buy my coasters as presents for other people)

Meet Jen Donovan from Pleasant Valley Apothecary…

Your skin is your body's largest organ, treat it with care! Soap and skin care should be good for you and the environment. My products are made using all natural ingredients that you can actually pronounce! They are made in small batches in my home. I care about giving you the best so you can feel your best and know you are treating the environment with kindness. No synthetic scents or colors ever. Scented with essential oils only. Colors are from botanicals or clays only. Never any petroleum, titanium dioxide, palm oil, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and no animal testing! My packaging is minimal and selected to be reusable and/or recyclable.

I have only just started selling my products after years of making them for myself and as gifts for others.

This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

I am dedicated to natural products that treat our bodies and the environment with care.
How I got into my hobby… I started out making items for personal use and gifts.

I discovered my talent through trial and error! I started out making products for myself and I only sell what I love!

In five years, I hope to still be creating wonderful things! 
The message behind my work… Simple is always best!

Meet Rae Drotleff from Rae Drotleff Crafts…
My name is Rae! Please refer to me with they or he pronouns, I'm a fiber artist/crafter. I was born and raised in Dublin, OH, but no longer live there. I have lived in Baltimore, MD the past 5 years while getting my bachelors degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art. I always have a cup of green tea as soon as I wake up in the morning, and I love to go for a drive or a hike.

My mother taught me how to sew when I was 13, or whatever age you are in 7th grade. I got more serious about sewing and weaving around 2017, and switched my major to fiber arts shortly after. I learned to crochet 4 years ago and to knit 1 year ago.

This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I’m excited to check it out.
I’m inspired to create by trash day, the thrift store, car crashes, conversations I have with my friends, and movies (mainly Ardman productions).

How I got into my craft… To be frank, cosplay. But once I was in school for fiber arts, I wanted to learn how to make stuff that is comfortable to wear, and also has distinctive shapes and pattern mixing. I'm now very driven by the statement or spectacle you can create with a garment, and how much clothing relies on the present.

As a child I loved drawing and making things from sculpey, and lining up my toys like they were going to be a set for a play or a store window. I don't really think of myself as talented, more as stubborn and persistent. My skills didn't come to me overnight, I learned from each piece I made and grew from that. Talking to people is also very informative, and taking classes and being in supportive educational environments brought out some of my favorite works.

My creative process… Loud music, and crawling around on the floor aligning my pattern pieces. Or I will put on a tv show, or YouTube, and crochet/knit. When I am making a hat for someone I will ask them for colors they desire, and riffle through my bag of yarn and send them photographs of the yarns I can offer. I often will put the yarns next to each other to compare the color interactions.

In five years, it would be amazing if I had an album/scrapbook of photographs of people in stuff I made that they have sent me. I want to see how my pieces are styled in different hands, I would love to see my pieces worn to parties.

The message behind my work… Humor is underestimated. If you want a trend to happen you have to start it. Stories of lived experience as an LGBT person in the midwest.

Meet Priyanka Aggarwal from ChaiBag… 
I'm Priyanka, founder of ChaiBag - a Masala Chai Co. I'm an engineer-turned-blender, and began creating tea blends in my kitchen that soon were a hit among the local community! After founding ChaiBag, I spent four months in India, researching the best tea and spice gardens to make the best ingredients and flavors in ChaiBag's tea blends!
I founded ChaiBag in 2021, but I have been making chai (and creating spiced-chai blends) since I was a kid :). I also have 10 plus years of supply chain experience in the industry.

This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

I first began creating tea blends for my husband, who'd often find himself missing authentic, homemade chai during his travels. The options available at that time weren't the taste of Indian chai that we were familiar with. That's when I decided to create the authentic Indian chai blends that could be prepared in minutes to create flavorful and fresh chai. These blends turned out to be a hit amongst family and friends alike! My inspiration to create was further fuelled by the positive reception within my community, with my product becoming a part of their daily routine  for many of my neighbors. Bringing people joy (and a taste of home) is what inspires me above all!

I got into my hobby due to the fact that I'm good at blending and making chai :). That, coupled with the encouragement I received from the community got me to start ChaiBag.
How I discovered my talent… It was a no brainer. I have been making chai since I was 8 years old! This was and still is one of my best beverage recipes. When I quit my corporate job 2 years back to take care of my little ones, that's when I realized I wanted to have a third baby- my chai co.

My creative process is hands-on - I can visualize the type of flavor I'm looking for in a cup of chai, and during my visit to India, I immersed myself in bringing these exact flavors out through different proportions of spices and black tea. My blends are curated and finalized only once they make the perfect cup of chai well liked by the community.

In five years, I see myself reaching a larger audience in and around the US, and hopefully becoming a household name. I hope to see my chai bring unique and memorable tea experiences to everyone - and I hope to expand  through multiple channels, like local retail stores and e-commerce.

My intent with ChaiBag is to transport my consumer to their grandma's kitchen through the aroma of my spices and herbs. The goal of this soothing beverage is to give them moments of peace, focus or whatever else that they may need at that time!
The key message is clear- take time out for yourself and make this part of your self care routine!

Meet Jillian Maruskin from art2seebyjillianb…

I'm a self-taught artist who has been home raising children for six years. Being home with kids is by far the most challenging job I've done and working on my art has been one of the few ways I could have something of my own.

I started dabbling in art about 8 years ago. I started with colored pencils and markers, but have since moved more towards fineliners and watercolors.

This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! 

What inspires me to create… I love to work from photographs. I do not create with the end goal of realism, but pull certain characteristics out of the photograph to highlight while allowing my own style to dominate. I do a lot of self-portraits because I am my most readily available subject. I also love to meet people out in public and get their permission to take a photo and then draw them.

How I got into my craft… To me, making art is an act of self-care and self-preservation. I'm not sure I could survive without the opportunity to create.

I do a lot of studies of famous works and have learned so much from that process. I don't remember a singular moment where I thought, "Hey, maybe I'm good at this," but I do remember a point where I started to trust and accept compliments on my work from family and friends.

My creative process is unorganized and instinctual. 

Where I see myself in five years… I really love to do commission work, so I hope to have a steady stream of people's meaningful photographs to work from.

I don’t have an answer to what the message behind my work is yet. I’m just glad to be able to create. 

2023 Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday March 26, 2023

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

Eclectic Talent and Their Stories!

Meet Corey Davis from Coriander Designs…
My name is Corey Davis and I am the owner and creator of Coriander Designs. I have been creating jewelry since high school, starting mostly with bead work but I have made jewelry with wood, leather, fabric, and many other mediums. 

You can view my work at: instagram.com/coriander_designs

Coriander Designs came about, interestingly, after my four kids came down with the flu just this past fall of 2022. We were all cooped up and stir crazy so I bought some craft supplies to pass the time. One of the containers had some polymer clay and after a few tries I was hooked! I had some leftover resin from a past crafting project and with the help of a few YouTube tutorials the next thing I knew I had about 50 earrings. I love jewelry as much as the next person but I knew I needed to start selling my creations or my jewelry box would collapse. 

As I am still green with my skills, I try to work with clay every day so I can improve my technique and skills. What I love about working with clay is, most of the time, you can’t produce the same effect twice. Each time I cut into a slab it comes out different, and I love that! My process is all about experiment and “winging it”. Some of my most favorite pieces are the result of scraps coming together. Clay is a very low waste craft which also makes it very appealing for me. 

The Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show is my first Avant-Garde Show and I couldn’t be more excited. I used to show my work at local fairs and craft shows in college but that was many years and less children ago. I am so excited to be back doing what I love again. I took a break from crafting and jewelry making to create a family and a profession, which I am so proud of, but I am excited to now have Coriander Designs and to be back to creating jewelry. My pieces are about fun, unique design but also about trying again after stepping back. I didn’t expect to jump back into the world of crafting and art so soon, but I’m so glad I did. I am so looking forward to the upcoming show and meeting customers and fellow crafters. 

For anyone looking to see more of my work or reach out to me, you can find me on Instagram @Coriander_Designs.

Meet Caroline Kurtz from Cola Prints…
My name is Caroline Kurtz, I am a 23 year old dental hygienist from Toledo, Ohio. I currently live in Maumee, Ohio, in a small fixer upper that my talented boyfriend, Charlie, has fixed up for us!  We'll be spending most of our spring/summer fixing up the outside and adding things to make it our own! We have two dogs, Cola and Gemma. We recently rescued Gemma from our local humane society. Miss Cola is the pup behind my favorite hobby, Cola Prints.

I've been painting ever since I was little; it's always been something I've had fun with and gravitated towards. I got more serious with it once I graduated highschool, making pet portraits for family/friends. Most recently, about 2 months ago now, I've decided to try and make a little business out of it, and it's been so fun so far!

This is my first Avant-Garde Art and Craft show! I cannot wait.

My two dogs inspire me to create! Dogs are so special to me, I can't imagine life without them.  Creating pet portraits is my main seller, and it's so fun creating paintings for people's beloved animals. It's truly such a special gift that people will cherish forever.

Art classes in high school definitely got me into this hobby. We experimented with several different medias, and watercolor was always my favorite. When we had the option to create a project with whatever media we wanted, I always chose watercolor. For one project, I painted a cow from a farm nearby, and it got me far into a local high school art competition! 

I've always loved painting, and I excelled in art classes growing up and in high school. After high school, I gave my go at creating pet portraits and they were coming out so great! So, I rolled with that!

My creative process always starts with a picture of the pet/house, whatever it may be. Most of the time, people will send several of their favorite pictures of their pet, and I go from there. My process is pretty structured as I take so much from the pictures.

In 5 years, I would absolutely love to see my business start to do really well on Etsy. I would love to have some of my art selling in local boutiques. As I do enjoy my full time job as a dental hygienist, I would love to see my business do well enough in order to have Cola Prints be my full time job.

The message behind my work is to enjoy the little things in life, like our homes, and our pets. So much love and happiness comes from the things right in front us.

Meet Heather Rawlings from Queen Bee Blankets…
Hi! My name is Heather Rawlings of Queen Bee Blankets, and when I’m not at my 9-5, you can find me pushing shopping carts of yarn in Ross County, Ohio. Two decades ago I decided to become an insurance agent; two months ago I fell in love with finger crocheting blankets and haven’t stopped since.

When I was 7 or 8, my sister and I learned how to crochet with a hook. The problem was, I lost interest because it took too long to finish a project. Even into my thirties, the blanket I was making always turned into a scarf. Not long after Christmas 2022, a dear friend showed me how to finger crochet with chunky yarn and I finished a blanket quickly. Then I took it apart so I could do it again. I was hooked without the hook and immediately began making blankets for loved ones. When I ran out of family and friends who wanted blankets, I took to selling them.

This will not only be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, but my very first craft show ever. To be honest, I’m nervous and excited because I’m not sure what to expect or how many visitors to anticipate. Of course, I’m already fretting about not being able to operate my Square Card Reader. So if you’re reading this, and you purchase a blanket at the show with a card, be kind. Even though I’m smiling, I’m probably having a mental breakdown on the inside. lol

All I need for inspiration is spare time and jumbo yarn, nothing else needed.   
How I got into my hobby… It’s easy for hard times to get you down, and I’m as guilty as the next person. I’m coming off a year and a half of surgeries and treatments for breast cancer, and even though I try, my body isn’t up to doing all the physical stuff I did before. I ended up spending my evenings in my chair either watching TV or staring at my phone, not realizing I was getting more depressed every day. It wasn’t until I started crocheting every night that I realized keeping my mind and hands busy was the best therapy I could have asked for. Now, because of making blankets, I’m happier and feel like I have a purpose again.

How I discovered my talent… Pure accident. What was meant to be an afternoon of fun hanging out with a friend turned into something I’ll do for the rest of my life. I love the constant pulling of the loops and the rhythm you slip into building the rows. It makes me happy.

My creative process is fairly simple. I need a clean and organized work environment, and once I’ve decided on the blanket size and yarn color, I grab my trusty tape measurer and start crocheting. I continually measure throughout the process and gauge my loops as I go. I’ve been known to finish a 6-7 hour project, not like it, and undo it to start over again. Can we say picky?

In five years, I imagine I’ll still be making blankets in the evenings and on weekends to sell online and at craft shows.

The message behind my work… Even though it may be a long, hard journey, go out there and find what makes you happy. It’s worth it. I promise.

My website is queenbeeblankets.com and Facebook page is Queen Bee Blankets. I don’t have online sales just yet but you can view a few photos.

Meet Rachel from Boujee Dal…
My name is Rachel and I am the owner of Boujee Dal. I live in Hilliard with my fiancé Max and our two dogs Ruby and Biscuit.

I have been making dog treats for four months now and this will be my first ever craft show!

I’m inspired by my two dogs and wanting to give them healthy, organic treats.

My brother actually came up with the idea to make dog treats and I ran with it. Our company is named after his dalmatian, Izzy.

I discovered my talent the first time I made a treat and Ruby LOVED it!
My creative process involves trial and error in new treat flavors that I think my dogs will enjoy.

In 5 years I hope to be selling my treats full time.

The message behind my work is to provide dogs with healthy, organic, dog treats with no preservatives.

2023 Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday March 26, 2023

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

Sunday March 26,