Meet Kyle Hood from Pistol Pete's...
As tinkerers, we found a great way to keep what we needed most for survival
high and dry in a compact, convenient way. Our original product combined
everything we loved. A means to survive, in a compact, cool, edgy shotgun shell
case. We have evolved our craft over the years and now offer rustic wood home
decor items and other survival creations from antique and found material. We
love to create rustic pieces from tree trimming, stumps, pallet wood, barn wood
and items Mother Nature leaves for us to find.
Wood working and repurposing has always been a hobby, but never to this level. We just started coming up with ideas one day and then listing them for sale. We figured, let’s just make the creations for ourselves, and then put them on a website. If they sell, it just showed that people liked our work and the creation was a clever idea. The fact that we can now do this and help our families along the way is rewarding and a lot of fun.
Our ideas usually come to us in conversation while camping or sitting around the fire. It helps put us in the mindset of needing to make something to help us survive. Being out in the elements is a big help. When you step out of your most comfortable home or office environment, you really begin to think and view things in a different light.
My business partner and I have always been creative and artistic. We have found a way to show off our love to create and are finding a lot of love and positive response from the items we come up with. We try to create items that you will find
helpful in surviving your day. Items that will look rustic and unique but also
help you keep your life organized.
Pistol Pete's Survival has been in business for 1.5 years and the December 2014 show in Columbus, Ohio will be our second show.
Our goal is to make
Pistol Pete’s Survival our 9-5. We all currently work a regular job and work on
Pistol Pete’s items in our spare time. Our group of friends has the dream of
all working together and providing for our families with this brand and the
items we create. I guess you could say, one day we hope to be the next duck
dynasty family, Craft Dynasty?
We believe you can make
something, out of everything. There is the possibility to create useful items
and tools to help you get along with your day no matter what you do. And if you
like the old fashion rustic look like we do, you will love our items!
Meet Barbara Lowry from Blue 7 Hand Knits...
I’m Barbara Lowry. I was born and raised in Summit County, and I’ve been a knitter for over 50 years! Now while I am a very hip Grandma,
I’m not a little old lady, but I do owe my love of the craft to one; in
1949 Akron purchased the home my father
had been born and raised in and relocated his parents to the house next door to
my mother’s family. Dad came home from the Korean War and fell in love with the
girl next door.
His mother was never idle; even sitting on the front porch
chatting with the neighbors, her hands were in constant motion, tatting,
crocheting, darning, embroidering, quilting or knitting. She fascinated me as a
very young child as her hands moved while she seemingly never paid attention to
what they were doing. I would sit at her feet and play in her work basket,
pestering her with endless questions of what she was doing and how she was
doing it; one morning she’d had enough and thrust a short pair of knitting
needles and ball of yarn in to my toddler hands and showed me how to knit; I
made my first sweater at age four. Grandmother praised my efforts, and then
gently picked it apart and showed me how to make it correctly. Little things
like rolling two balls and making both sleeves at once soon had me making
actual wearable garments. My Grandmother was born in the Black Forest region of
Alsace, France in 1894 and to us she was
the ‘old’ Grandmother, even though now I know she was only 10 years older than
my maternal Grandmother. She never used a pattern, but almost always had a tape
measure about her neck; to say she was both an inspiration and an intimidation
is an understatement. She wrote down her ‘shapes’ on recipe cards, tucked in a
small box. She encouraged my drawing talent, showing me how to transfer the
drawings to graft paper so they could be knitted in to a garment. As a child I
was always drawing, knitting, playing my guitar to express myself.
I knitted throughout my childhood for gifts and then as I
got in to high school and especially University I made custom sweaters to pay
for living expenses the daytime job didn’t cover. If I could draw it you could
have it on a sweater! I worked mostly
word of mouth but did a few church basement craft fairs.
After graduation I worked as a Medical Assistant/Biller. In
1985, I moved to Columbus, Ohio. Life became busy with career,
marriage, children and the knitting needles only came out late at night when a
need arose for a new sweater. Two children were raised and now married.
Sixteen years ago I changed careers from Medical to Real
Estate. While no less stress, it was a different stress and it gave me a bit
more time to be creative. I began to knit again for pleasure rather than
necessity. In 2013, a huge change occurred in our lives when our grandson was
born. To my dismay even in the higher end shops in Columbus the winter wear for babies was often
either shoddy or extremely expensive and impractical. What new mother has time
to hand wash and block a cashmere sweater?
I dug out the little card box of ‘jumper designs’ my
Grandmother had given me all those years ago, just before she passed in 1980.
Since babies aren’t known for their broad shoulders, her simple placket pull
over was a raglan shape with two buttons up the back. I took her basic beanie
and played with shapes to add either bunny or bear ears. My daughter in law was
delighted with the wee sweaters I made for baby N, and I’ve made several for
other people with children/grandchildren.
I decided to re-launch my old company, as there’s not much
in the shops that are well made, easy care and frankly really cute! Everything
comes off of two needles, not a machine. Everything is hand sewn; the only
concession I’ve made is that acrylic yarns don’t splice well, so there are tiny
knots. Everything else is just as my late Grandmother taught me. I am having a
blast making patterns, stripes and using color combinations. In five years I
hope to walk through a crowded venue and see little ones wearing a sweater or a
critter hat that I made.
I want people to enjoy what I’ve made, know that they can
throw them in the washer and dryer and not worry about them. Most of all I hope
people enjoy dressing their little ones in a warm, cute sweater or hat knowing
they can tuck it back for the next child.
Meet Jane Hill from Harley's Soaps...
Hi, I am Jane Hill, born and raised in Fairfield County, Ohio. Most of my life has been selling
something! Insurance, Jewelry, Real
Estate, Condos Cigars (!) and now Soap. I’ve been very successful in most of my endeavors and most of all in the
art of being with people. The last few
years I have been taking care of my parents and ageing dog Harley. They both mean a lot to me. I have retired
to working at home with them and I also get to be with people when I do
shows. I have found out that this is a
great combo for me, using all my talents to meet the needs of others and myself
is a pretty big thing!
I have been making soap and my other products for 3 years
and this will be the first Advant-Garde Art & Craft Show I have done.
My inspiration comes from nature; colors, smells and of
course senses. I try to let the current
weather to inspire me. Right now with fall in the air the colors are so
beautiful; tans, russets, grey greens, reds and the air smells of musk, lichen,
and fresh balsam.
In this endeavor I have realized that not only is it
important to treat your skin and body with loving care, but that we must also think that everything we do leaves an effect on the environment. I have done an extensive study on what
commercial soaps do to everything it comes in contact with, mostly the
earth. With these products, we are adding
salt and numerous chemicals that will not dissolve into anything. Essentially, it clogs in
the earth. With natural products, the
earth is given back those things it has given up to us for so many years. Not only is your body detoxified and
softened, your tub, shower, septic and public system will be cleaner without the chemicals.
I see myself in the bath and body business for years to come
making strides to be better and better all the time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be
with Avante-Garde and meet new people, thank you.
Meet Kit Aikin from Lincoln Street Design...
My name is Kit Aikin. I’m the owner
and creator of Lincoln Street Design. Professionally, I am a social scientist,
working in the area of prescription drug regulation. Lincoln Street Design is my creative outlet
for jewelry and fiber works. I create Memento Mori and other
jewelry using recycled and upcycled hardware, cast-off found objects, natural
stones, antique portraits, and vintage planetary and scientific photos. I started
making jewelry in college in the 1980’s. I stopped for a while to finish my
doctorate in psychology, then started up again in 2010.
I started by learning to sew, crochet, and knit from my grandmother. I collected extra buttons from her sewing box and bits and pieces of jewelry that others had discarded. I studied existing jewelry to see how it was put together. I’m drawn to the unusual, and my work reflects that. My biggest challenge is parting with pieces I have become attached to.
My jewelry design is self-taught. I wanted something different than the jewelry I was seeing in stores, so I bought some crafting wire and combed through my jewelry box for loose beads and broken pieces. I started by making delicate wire spiral earrings with beads and leftover parts. My roommate promptly bought them. Soon I was making earrings for all my friends and selling them around campus. I loved being able to make people happy with something pretty. From there, I started participating in local craft shows, sharing my work with a broader audience.
I would describe my creative process as a combination of science and spontaneity. I ask myself how seemingly unrelated items might fit together. I am constantly looking for connections, trying to see old things in new ways. What happens if you turn it sideways or upside down? Lately I have been incorporating weathered shells into my work. They have a character all their own. Their organic shape suggests ways in which the piece can be used to show off the natural crevices and holes by adding semi-precious stones.
My brain is always full of ideas. I carry a sketchbook with me at all times so I can jot them down. I am especially inspired by the costumes and accessories in old movies, old photos, and vintage stores. I will come across an unusual bit of cabinet hardware and think, wow, that would make an amazing necklace! Because I am using pieces and parts gleaned from a variety of sources, each finished work is one of a kind. The semi-precious stones have a character, shape, and individual feel. There’s a spectacular rush when you match the right piece with the right person.
My long-term goal is to attend more shows and hopefully get my
work into small boutiques and shops. This will be my first Avant-Garde show. I’m excited to be a part of it!
Meet Frank Carter from Stained Glass & Paintings...
I live in
Richwood Ohio (about 30 miles northwest of Columbus). I have a wonderful wife and
three great sons (my wife says she has four sons!).
I work in
supply chain, materials planning and operations management for a hydraulics
company in central Ohio and have been with the same company for over 40 years
(I used to say I started when I was ten but fifty still sounds old!).
In November
2000, I was accepted in an MBA program. In January 2001, I was diagnosed with a Myrkel cell cancer. After two surgeries, 25 radiation treatments, too many scans,
x-rays, pokes and prodding’s to count, I was cancer free. Like many other
people that are diagnosed with a serious illness, I reevaluated my life and
decided I wanted to concentrate on my art work.
I’ve been focused
on my art for over 12 years now. I create stained glass, mixed media, acrylic and oil paintings and prints of my art work.
My inspiration is nature. I’m also inspired by work of artists Brenda Timmons, Bob Hill, Howard Wentz, Tim Gagnon, Jill Hardman and Eyvind Earle. I get ideas and see images then react to them by creating glass designs and paintings. I usually have many projects started and will look at them many times before deciding how to complete them with the look that I imagine. It just comes to me when the time is right.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” - Albert Einstein
This will be
my first Columbus Avant-Garde Art Show and I am very excited to be
participating. I want people to see my work and get a good feeling with what they see.
Meet Barbara Ashbury, Harpist..
My name is Barbara Ashbury, and I have been playing the celtic harp for over 15 years, performing for special events, weddings, craft shows, and performing home concerts.
I have been doing this for 15 years but this is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. Music is my passion, and composing, recording, and performing are what I enjoy doing the most.
I have been a musician forever, a music major in college, then performed with the Hammered Music Duo for over 20 years on the hammer dulcimer. My talent has always been there. I go into my heartspace when I create music, and when I am there, it flows easily and effortlessly.
In five years I see myself performing on a regular basis and continuing to compose and record music. My music comes from the heart and if it touches people in some way, then I have done my job.
2014 Columbus Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday, December 20, 2014 - 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:
LINKEDIN
.jpg)
