Columbus Fall Show Vendor Preview!

Meet Kristi Eodice from Starfish Flags...

Hello Everyone! My name is Kristi Eodice and I was born a misplaced beach girl. I grew up in central Ohio and make my home on the far east side along with my husband Gary, my son Christian, and my two cats Libby and Daisy.

Although I have always enjoyed our DIY projects around the house, my crafting actually began just a few months ago and seemed to be born of necessity. I had a huge vacant wall in my family room and a very limited budget. I knew I wanted a large statement piece that reflected my love for the shore, but just wasn’t clear on how to achieve it. After mulling over many possibilities, my creative process kicked in with the end result being my very first STARFISH FLAG. The weathered picket fencing brought the distressed look I love and the starfish added just a touch of whimsy and fun!

Since that first flag I have been very busy creating many more along with other beach inspired pieces and I am full of ideas for the future. My creative process seems to be very unpredictable,  so it is not uncommon to find me covered in sawdust and paint at 2 or 3 in the morning just crafting away in my workspace.  I have found something that I truly enjoy doing and I love every part of the creative process, so none of it seems like work, just a pleasure. My work reflects my love for the beach and all things coastal and the message in it is a simple one:  Surround yourself with what brings you joy and take a moment each day to enjoy it. It is my hope that my pieces will bring a smile to your face and evoke happy memories of lazy days by the water.

I am hopeful that my very small business will bring modest success. As my husband and I approach our retirement, we would love to have a business that allows us to travel and meet new people as well as affording us some extra income. Ultimately, it is our dream to settle down south with our toes in the sand and a STARFISH FLAG gracing our mantle- as well as the mantles of all our new friends, neighbors and the entire town!

I excitedly  look forward to meeting everyone at my first show in September.

Meet Heidi Lyons from Heidi's Paper Creations...

Hi, I’m Heidi of Heidi’s Paper Creations.  I’m a homeschool mother of 3 children, 1 Lovebird and grandmother of 3.  I have been doing all kinds of crafts since I was a little girl.  I enjoy painting, drawing, quilting and gardening.

In 2010 a friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up party where they sell paper crafting supplies and I became hooked on card making.  Several years ago I was asked by our church to make a picture album for a couple that was moving out of state.  I came across handmade mini photo albums on the internet and fell in love.  After my 2 daughters moved out I turned one of their bedrooms into a craft room dedicated to my crafts.

For my albums, I start with chipboard and quality scrapbook paper collections to craft each one of my unique, interactive albums to hold precious memories.

I enjoy working with the beautiful papers and also making each album and card unique.  I hope you get as much enjoyment looking at my paper crafts as I do in making them.

Meet Jenn Bonito from Jennuinely Cool...

I've been doing ceramics consistently for five years but first got exposed to the pottery wheel in high school and really enjoyed it. It was great to find a studio in Columbus (Clayspace831.com) where I could take classes and do my work. I started making my ¢oink! piggy banks in 2012 after I saw something similar and decided I'd like to try making my own version. Mine are each different, numbered and named, each with a different personality. I've made close to 100 of them now! My next favorite thing to make is various types of bowls because there are so many uses and possibilities–from batter bowls to small ingredient/ring bowls. 

My inspiration.. Seeing what other people do is certainly an inspiration. I also like to make things that satisfy a need and even help people express themselves, for example with color. I find throwing very therapeutic too, so I am driven to the wheel to relieve stress. It's also extremely satisfying to make things you can use on a daily basis, or delight others with as a gift.

How I got into my craft.. I was pretty good with the wheel in high school and learning more tips and tricks in classes has helped me to improve over the years. With the wheel, consistency and patience are key. You can't force the clay and you have to learn when speed is required and when moving slowly is a must.

My creative process.. I usually decide the type of thing I'd like to make (pig, bowl, etc.) before I start throwing (or the clay sometimes tells me what it wants to be), then I alter many pieces off the wheel, which is where they become more unique: pigs get features, bowls might become cat-shaped or get a handle and spout. Deciding on a glaze can be difficult, particularly if the piece isn't a keeper: what will someone else like, how will the glaze turn out this time, do you mix colors, etc. Before first firing, I try to sign every piece with initials and the year.

My five year goal.. I'd like to keep going as I do now, perhaps making more pieces a year and trying new things. There are so many ways my ¢oinks could evolve and I always like to try new projects, so one never knows when I'll be enamored with making something new. 

The message behind my work is that I really just like to have fun and make my art feel expressive and useful. With the banks, I'm trying to make saving more fun for kids and give adults with a cute place to store spare change.

2016 Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 10:00am-4:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

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

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Artists with Imagination!

Meet Bianca Gery from B. Sage Studios...

I distinctly remember the moment I decided I was going to own an art and design business. I was 12 years old and no stranger to creating art. I've been making art since I was able to hold a crayon in my hand. It's natural for me. I've never imagined doing anything else but creating and designing. It's pure passion. I don't know if there was ever a "discovery" moment. It's always been a way of life for me. I began mood boarding and designing clothes that very day. Since then, every project, piece of art, and design has been made with the intention to learn and build towards my dream. Shortly after graduating from art school, I knew it was time to dive fully into that idea and make it happen. B. Sage Studios is something I look forward to everyday. 

B. Sage Studios has become known for the Painting Pendants which are designed from my abstract paintings. Creating artistic jewelry is just one of the first ways I plan to develop B. Sage Studios into a company for the individual who wants a creative and inspirational lifestyle that is as unique as they are.

My first experience making jewelry began on the playground when I was in elementary school. In 2012, the first trials of starting a business based around jewelry and design began. B. Sage Studios finally launched in the summer of 2015.

My inspirations are always in flux. I've had creative inspirations come out of anything from dreams and memories to conversations to nature. My artwork reflects the things that constantly surround me: colors, textures, sounds, people, and even feelings. From the artwork that is made, products are then designed around that idea. 

My creative process not a definitive list of steps. It's a combination between pure creation, lots of research on seasonal trends, and figuring out how those two things can integrate together to create the final product. I always want to be relevant, but more importantly I want to be true to myself and my brand. 

Within 5 years I hope to open a physical B. Sage Studios store as well as continuing the online store. My goal is to gradually incorporate different areas of life into the development of product lines such as clothing and accessories to home goods. I want to be a brand that becomes a lifestyle. 

The message behind my work is to be yourself, and be confident doing so. It's cliche, but it's so important. Trends come and go, but it's the uniqueness of each individual's style and personality that keeps life interesting and inspirational. I use artwork as the vehicle to spread this message. View more of my work at: www.bsagestudios.com

Meet John Kosinski...

I reside in Elyria, Ohio. I have been doing photography for more than Twenty Five Years and I have worked in a studio and have my own Studio in Elyria. I have been doing Wildlife Nature Photography for 14 years. I have traveled to the Florida Everglades, the Amazon Jungle in South America, and Mexico City. I do some Photography for the Audubon and Bird and Bloom Magazine.  View my work at: http://picasaweb.google.com/koscinski

I also can be found on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/john.koscinski.3

https://www.facebook.com/JK-Photography-743320199012009/

Meet Erica Dodge from Simply Couture Closet...

I'm a wife and a loan manager who loves to cook, but when I am not working my 9-5 or cooking something special for my hubby... i'm crafting!

What started out as a church fundraiser two years ago, turned into something I love! The moment I see an adorable fabric or the lasted color trends, I immediately begin designing things in my head.

I love creating pieces with a vintage flair and I also work with creative color palettes, so I tend to design things using several colors. I research color trends as well as prints and designs that pair well together to come up with something unique. 

Although I have been doing this for a couple years it has primarily been custom orders. This is my first Avant-Garde Craft Show and I have decided to make 2016 my year to expand! I currently have an Etsy shop, a Facebook page and an Instagram shop which I hope will expand my customer base. My plan is to have my items sold at local boutiques and would love to eventually open my own to showcase all of my designs.

Meet Wolfgang Parker from Crime Cats...

I'm a Columbus native who has been making art for 20 years. I have been writing and publishing Crime Cats books for a year and a half. 

I began writing Crime Cats as a gift for my nineteen nieces and nephews as a way to stay into their lives without geographically being there. I have written ever book as if I were telling them the story face-to-face.  I have been writing for ten years. I just never had any ambition to write for kids, so this was a surprise. 

I have been a songwriter and recording artist for 20 years and telling stories was something I enjoyed doing through music. Writing books has only freed me to do it more directly.  Each book takes me between six and eight months to finish. I write, illustrate, and layout the books, personally. 

My five year goal..  I hope to be working on the ninth volume for a very eager fans. 

The message behind my work is that I try to show children (and adults) the value of empathy and the importance of recognizing your self-worth while exploring forgotten chapters of Columbus history.

To learn more, here is a segment from WOSU-PBS's Broad & High TV show that profiled Crime Cats books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2in2QL1Z5tQ

2016 Columbus Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, March 5, 2016

 10:00am-4:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

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

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Holiday Shopping, Handmade Happiness!

Meet Marsha and Nancy from Granny's Candy...

My business partner, Nancy, is a wife, mom of 2 daughters and grandma of 2 young boys. Nancy is a florist and still works in the industry. Marsha is a wife, mom of 2 daughters and gram to 2 young boys, as well. Marsha is a retired dental professional..... Yes, she really does make candy!

Our business, Your Granny's Candy started in January 2014. This is our first Avant-Garde show. We're so excited to be a part of this organization!

The thing that inspires us is the appreciation of all things handmade. To offer a gift made from your heart is so satisfying. Nancy and Marsha, besides being business partners, are sisters-in-law. Making old fashioned hard tack candy was a Christmas tradition we did as a family with our mom and daughters.

How we got started in our business.. More than discovering hard tack candy-making as a talent, we missed the tradition when our mother passed away. We found this type of candy impossible to purchase. We wanted to fill the void of enjoying hard tack for all who had the fond memories without time to make it themselves.

We are always thinking of ways to streamline the process, introduce new flavors and best ways to market our product. Nancy always has the creative juices flowing; Marsha's forte is more towards the business aspects.

In five years our goal.... We would love to be a part of a large gourmet gift basket business.

The message behind our work is to stop and enjoy the sweetness of life. It is our hope that while you are enjoying our delicious candy, you experience fond memories of your past and pay tribute to those who showed love by the gifts of their hands.

Meet Becky Rodriguez from Wreath Envy...

I’ve always liked textiles, and have enjoyed sewing, doing macramé when that was trendy, weaving, and making yarn from my own Angora rabbits. In my twenties, I was working toward the Mother Earth self-sufficiency homesteading, and made as much as I could by hand, from clothing to goat cheese.

Burlap ribbon has the natural feel and look I like.  I enjoy searching for just the right combination of design and accents to create a unique wreath that will compliment someone’s home decor. I listen carefully to people’s comments when they’re choosing one of my wreaths for their door or inside their home, so that I can continually improve my craft.  I try to make wreaths that are exactly what someone was looking for, and if that means swapping out one ornament for another I’ll do that. I come prepared with tools! I’ll do custom orders, too.  It is important to me that my wreaths have the right balance of fun and elegance without becoming gaudy.

I recently retired from 23 years of public school teaching as a bilingual and ESL teacher and now have more time to spend on making wreaths. I had been making spring and summer floral grapevine wreaths for friends and family. I still add floral components to some burlap wreaths. 

My plan is to offer additional specialized themed wreaths in the future-dogs, cats, weddings, babies, OSU, etc. I have been collecting materials to hand stamp and stencil burlap for a Golden Retriever wreath and a “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs.!” wreath. In the summer I hope to have my inventory of hand stamped and stenciled burlap tote bags ready!

This is my first holiday season participating in craft shows and my first Avant-Garde show. I am very excited to be a part of this event! I am making new friends and seeing some wonderful church venues.

Meet Cathy Baker from Baker's Buttons and Bows...

I am a retired executive administrative assistant.  Worked for Nationwide Insurance for 36 years and retired in January 2015. I have been married for 36 years, have two children and three grandchildren. Love to read, scrapbook and, of course, craft making. 

I have even making crafts for 20 years for family and friends. Decided to make it a part-time hobby/career after I retired.

About my crafting style.. I love the primitive look and feel. My motto is if I create it, would it fit into the theme and look of my home and will others who love the primitives love them!! I like creating and designing items. Makes me feel challenged and a sense of accomplishment when I see the finished product.

When it comes to my creative process if I see something I like, I tweak it to fit my decor and colors. That may mean changing the entire design!  

My five year goal is to continue to do shows, as I enjoy meeting and talking to people.

The message behind my work is love what you do, and do what you love.

Meet Michael Lutz from Handcrafted by Michael Lutz...

I was born and grew up mostly in Ohio, graduating from Ohio State with a degree in Psychology. So I spent 25 years in construction. I've always had a creative, hands on side. I've only been serious about making stuff to make stuff for the last 7 years. 

I enjoy the creative process as much as the final result. Most of the things I make are spontaneous, with very few drawings, which can lead to unexpected results, both good and bad! I'm OK with that. 

Every piece is practice and a learning experience for the next piece, so its hard to see where that may lead me in the future. I have so many untapped ideas currently, I had to quit my day job to explore them, and I have just been getting into CNC and 3D printing. 

As for future goals with the business... my intent is to begin to merge the many media that I work in into larger scale multi-media projects! I'm just so excited to see what comes next! 

Meet Jesse Potts from Houndstooth Maille...

My name is Jesse Potts, I'm 26 and I was born and raised in Ohio. I moved to Columbus in 2009 and currently work for a company that has me travel around to other cities in Ohio as well as other states. I went to CCAD for a couple of years in the illustration program. I make chainmaille jewelry and accessories in my spare time. I've been making chainmaille for about 2 and a half years now.

What inspires me.. I follow a bunch of other artists on social networking sites and am a member of a few groups that specialize in chainmaille. Seeing others trying new things and posting their works in progress as well as their finished products really helps me to keep going and trying new things. I like surrounding myself will all kinds of art and drawing inspiration from the world around me.

How I got into my hobby... Honestly, I don't remember. I think I saw a blog post where someone posted some pictures of some chainmaille items they made and I thought to myself that it was a really interesting hobby that you don't see very often. The fact that you could make almost anything with it, including clothing/armor and even intricate pieces of art was interesting to me as well. I picked up some cheap supplies to see what it was like and fell in love with learning all the different ways to link my metal rings together.

I have always loved making things with my hands. I have tried knitting, crochet, sewing, sculpting, painting, drawing, and many many other crafts and arts. I still come back to these other things every once in a while but I think I found my niche in chainmaille, it is definitely the thing I have stuck with the longest. 

My creative process... When I'm trying new weaves I like to research the one I'm learning thoroughly and try it out a few times before committing it to memory. I use leftover materials that might not necessarily be used or sold later for practice, and then when I have the hang of it I work on making finished, polished pieces. 

My five year plan... I would really like to be able to attend more shows in a year. Currently I'm busy with other things so I don't get to create nearly as much as I would like. So I think being able to focus more on my craft and getting out and seeing others at shows would be my goal.

The message behind my work.. My aesthetic has always be casual but almost elegant. I like things that look intricate but are fun or deceptively plain enough to be worn casually. Sort of like a paradox, I suppose. It's the opposite of what you might expect.

I work typically in a light weight but strong aluminum alloy. I also have access to other metals and often used anodized metals to add color to my pieces. I try hard to limit my pieces to metals that are non-reactive and hypoallergenic. This includes all my earrings, the ear hooks are all hypoallergenic stainless steel or niobium. You can find some of my jewelry on my etsy!http://www.etsy.com/shop/houndstoothmaille.

2014 Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, December 5, 2015

 10:00am-4:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN