There is Art That You Can Wear, and There is Art Everywhere!

Meet Sharon Butcher from The Wristbandit...
My name is Sharon Butcher, I am the creative mind that lies behind The Wristbandit. I am a Columbus, Ohio native, OSU graduate, and a retired Art teacher for the Columbus Schools. I started my business "The Wristbandit" but I have been creating for years. I consider my jewelry to be wearable art, a small painting, relief sculpture or a collage. 

Making wearable art (jewelry) has been an interest of mine for years. While attending OSU I took several jewelry and metal smithing classes. The cost of materials when teaching moved me towards finding less expensive ways for students to create wearable art (jewelry). It was only natural for me to think in a direction, non-traditional materials, for my jewelry. While Shopping at one of my favorite thrift stores, I discovered the beauty of old leather belts and the rest is history. My materials come from thrift stores, garage sales, and friends. I use upcycled leather belts, reused costume jewelry parts, found objects, and hand-painted images and designs. Most are one of a kind.

I believe that I get my creativity from my childhood. I was taught to be a problem solver and to find ways to entertain myself. So, I made houses and furniture for my dolls from everyday items, puppets from old socks and paper dolls from catalog pictures. My parents never discouraged me from doing anything creative. 

My creative process is like a feeling I get of needing to create, and this is when I do my best work. I don't create everyday but I work everyday at some aspect of my business. When I sit down in my studio I am surrounded by lots of materials, what catches my eye might be the shape of a piece of leather or a found object and the process begins. 

I began my business two years ago. But I have been creating for years. When I started making wearable art it was just for the experience of creating. Later on I started giving it to friends as gifts. I enjoy the experience of sharing my art and running a business. I opened an Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TheWristbandit in December 2010 and started doing shows in April 2011. I have since expanded into consignment shops.. 

Meet Ron Clemons from RNAphotos...

My name is Ron Clemons and I am the creator of RNAphotos. I work in tech support as my day job, and I use my photography as a chance to get out and escape from behind the computer. Nature provides a perfect contrast from my day-to-day life, so I particularly enjoy driving into the country and getting lost. Finding things that catch my eye enough to take a moment to get that perfect angle is really the driving force behind my art. I focus a lot of my work on old barns as well as nature because I see them as a relic of days gone by and of simpler times.

I developed my interest in photography about ten years ago, but it has only been within the last two or so years that I have started to seriously see photography as a hobby, rather than just a passing interest.

My creativity come from finding things that few people have seen. If I see a side rode that looks like it doesn't get much traffic, I assume that there are hidden treasures to be found that few people have seen. I may have a day where I take fifty good pictures, followed by a day that only yields two or three. The hunt is a big part of the fun of taking landscape photography.

The message behind my work is to not let nature pass you by. There is a lot of beauty to be found in nature and along the side of the road. A lot of the time it just seems that we are all too busy to actually see what is around us. I hope that my photography allows people to take a moment to appreciate the world around them.

Meet Wendy Wren from The Glass Loft...

My name is Wendy Wren and I am the crafter of The Glass Loft. I have been a crafter for as long as I can remember. Sewing, making candles, embroidery, painting, wire wrapping, etc., then I became hooked on glass crafting!

I have been doing glass crafting for about two and a half years but according to my dad, I have always been creative. He says I would see a game or toy and come home and make one myself. He said I did it to either improve it, or just say I made it! I have always loved glass, whether it was stained glass in a window, fused glass, sea glass or just colorful glass dishes.

My creative process changes, sometimes I look at a bottle and an idea just pops into my head. Other times I have to contemplate a while to decide the best use of a particular bottle.

True story on one of my first projects.. One of the first bottles I slumped had a rather large half bubble form under it. I even tried re-slumping it to get it flat, which didn't work. I ended up laying it on my work table to decide what to do with it later. When I revisited it I realized I placed it upside down so now it was a bowl like impression!........When I looked at it again, I had an idea! I covered the top surface in glue, covered it in sand, glued a couple of shells in the sand and put a votive candle in the "bowl"!  Viola! A beachy themed candle holder! It didn't want to be just a slumped bottle!

I enjoy working with glass because it is unique. Even if I try to do two exactly alike, they usually come out at least a little different. I believe that the message behind my work is that there is another life in an object just waiting for someone to bring it out. Crafting & creativity don't have to be expensive, look around and use your imagination!


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 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 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.

2013 Columbus February Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, February 16th 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

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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Starting 2013 in Style!

Meet Angela Pennock from Marang Studios...

My name is Angela Pennock and I am the creator and designer behind Marang Studios. I create eco friendly fashion accessories, jewelry and home decor mostly from old t-shirts and reclaimed fabrics and materials. I have, since college, been using materials that are headed to the trash or dump. I began using magazines to make elaborate paper collages and have always worked with fabrics on the side. It's such a thrill to know where the materials had started, as old t-shirts, and to see what you can make with them! The shirts are fun and versatile and the colors and patterns are endless!

I search high and low for inspiration and will find ideas in the strangest places. I will see ideas in stores, magazines, online or even in nature. There is inspiration everywhere if you just take the time to look.

Art and creating have always been a huge part of my life. My mother and both Grandmother's are quilters and seamstresses, and my Grandfather was a woodworker. It was natural to me to follow in their footsteps. I attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI and have my Bachelors in Fine Art.

I wanted to start my own business to have an outlet for my creations. Etsy was a great place to start. I began with Etsy in 2007 as a way to make a little extra money and to be a part of a creative community. This is my second Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I participated in the August show in Columbus.

I work pretty intuitively with many of my creations, letting the pieces fall together. I don't typically work from patterns as it creates redundancy and I love that each piece I create is unique and one of a kind. I love that a person can find that one special piece and they know that they will have the only one like it. Everyone is unique and you should have unique accessories that express your individual style.

I think the biggest message behind my work is that even something discarded, or about to be, still can serve another purpose if you just put a little thought into it. We throw away so much usable materials is astonishing. I am just trying to do my part in being eco friendly and pass that on to my customers. I also believe a fun unique accessory can tell a lot about a person, show a side that some may not see. My pieces are a bright, fun and unique way to show off your own creativity and unique fashion style.

For links to my work visit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarangStudios
Etsy Shop: www.marangstudios.etsy.com
Contact Email: marangstudios@gmail.com

Meet Stephanie Crooks from OneSEC...

My name is Stephanie Crooks and I opened my online Etsy store, OneSEC, in August 2012. I've never been one to wear a ton of jewelry but when I do, I love simple and dainty pieces that can be worn from day to night. I've always felt affordable options with those qualities are hard to find and I found it to be frustrating. With that said, I decided to start making my own pieces and from there it grew into an Etsy store that so far has been quite successful for me! I couldn't be happier with how things have gone for me and the store thus far <3

I'm fairly new to this business, only six or seven months.. I've only done one Avant-Garde show so far, and that was the November 18, 2012 show at the Columbus Greek Orthodox Church in the short north. It was an awesome show!

When it comes to creativity, my whole family is adorned with tons of different talents but I think I mostly I owe my creativity to my mother. From our childhood hand-sewn Halloween costumes to her decadent gourmet meals and embroidery projects, I've always been amazed by her talents and what she can accomplish with her skills. I try to mirror her because I've always been in such awe of her!

I've always loved crafts but I think what made me want to stick to my craft hobby was the end of my wedding planning. I got married last April (4/14/12) and I planned every last detail and I did every little DIY project you could think of. I was never stressed because I loved every second of it but when it was all over, I realized I missed having those projects to work on so-so much. So I started scrapping, doing home decor projects and  also started making my jewelry pieces <3

I realized I wanted to start my own business after creating my first piece of jewelry this past year. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment and I realized I wasn't so bad at it either ;) So with all of that, I decided why not take advantage of an awesome site that I love to this day, and start selling my pieces online? That site is Etsy of course! ;)

I think I make my pieces based off of what I would want to wear on a daily basis or what I would want to wear for a specific occasion. I think about what would look good with my work attire, night out attire, etc. With those thoughts, come visions and once I have a vision I'm excited about, I contact my jewelry vendors, order what I need and I try to make the magic happen! ;)

The best feeling in the world is sending out a piece to one of my customers after an order is complete. That's my favorite part. I feel like they saw something in my jewelry and that makes me feel like my store, although not a huge phenomenon, is a little successful or at least getting there <3 

The message behind my work is that jewelry doesn't have to always be gaudy, over-the-top and expensive. There are simple, beautiful and dainty pieces out there that won't drain your bank account and OneSEC helps contribute to that.

Meet Sarah McFadden from Dainty Bean Handmade Goods..

My name is Sarah and I have loved to sew every since my mom taught me at a young age. I recently gave birth to my first daughter and I hope to be able to pass the love of sewing onto her also. I am originally from the West and have lived in Ohio for the past four years while my husband attends graduate school at the Ohio State University. I spend most of my time taking care of my family and sewing. There is nothing I would rather be doing.

I have been sewing most of my life but actually selling my handmade goods has been something I have been doing for the past 3 years. This is my first Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show and I am so excited to be a part of it!

I am constantly inspired by the beauty around me as well as the creativity of others. I love looking at Pinterest or other craft blogs and seeing the cute things people come up with. I am also inspired by the regular things in life and am always looking for ways to beautify ordinary things. I would say that most of all my creativity has been passed down to me from a long line of creative people. My mom is very creative and is always making beautiful things, as is my grandma and I would imagine her mother as well. At my daughter's baby shower, most of the gifts were handmade. I have so many crafty people in my family so it was inevitable that I would enjoy making things as well!

To be honest, I think I have a small addiction to creating things or beautifying something that already exists. I am constantly looking at something and saying "I bet I can make that," or looking at something at the thrift store thinking, "I can make that pretty or useful or whatever if I just dress it up a bit." My mom has always been repurposing things and she has inspired me to do the same.

For a really long time I didn't sell my items. If someone liked something I made, I would usually just give it to them for their birthday or just because. I was under the impression that if I started selling things, I wouldn't enjoy creating as much. This hasn't proven to be the case though. I started my Etsy shop because people were constantly telling me that I should sell my items. When I first opened my shop, I was afraid no one would buy anything from it but I was pleasantly surprised when I made my first sale. I have really enjoyed making things for people all over the country. It is fun to think that people in Chicago or Seattle or Florida are enjoying something that I have made for them.

I feel like my creative process is a little scattered. I usually have several projects going on at once, or I go through spurts where I will make several of one item, and then not make that item again for a long time. I just kind of create as I feel. If I want to make a purse, I make a purse. I am always looking for new things to sew or trying to figure out how someone made something and then try to make it myself. I love seeing something come to fruition. Not all the things I try work out, but when they do it is a great feeling.

The thing I love most is seeing the happiness in someone's face when they open my gift and say "you made this!?" or when they display my item in their home or use the purse I made them. It makes me happy to see something I made bring someone joy. I made a quilt for my friend's baby when she was born and that little girl is now 2 1/2 years old and drags that little blanket everywhere. It is well loved and enjoyed just like I intended it to be. If I can bring joy into someone's life that way, then I have accomplished what I wanted to do.

I wouldn’t say that I have a specific message behind my work. For the most part, my goal is to create beautiful things for people to enjoy. I typically make things that I would like to use as well. I try to create things that are unique, simple, functional and beautiful.  

2013 Columbus February Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, February 16th 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

St. Agatha's Parish Hall

1860 Northam Rd

Columbus, OH 43221

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

Visit us on:

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Join us Tomorrow for the Cbus Fall Show!

Meet Susan Voit from Bespangles...

My interest in jewelry started seven years ago when I took a class at a local bead shop. Learning is the key word. It is so much fun to continue to learn how to make beautiful things that I won't stop until I drop.  

Since retirement, my hobby changed to a business called Bespangles. My favorite thing to make is necklaces. All of mine are different as I never make the same thing twice.  

I also like to make children's jewelry, magnetic bracelets and unusual bracelets of different styles.  Bead weaving is also a continuous learning experience which I enjoy and incorporate into my designs.  

The message behind my work is: "A woman without jewelry is like a night without stars!"

Meet Devon & Jeff Johnson from Backyard Living...

Our business is called Backyard Living and although we just started selling this summer at local festivals, my husband Jeff has been building things forever. You may say he has it in his blood!

Jeff's grandpa's on both sides were builders. They taught him many things about tools and were also builders of birdhouses which is where Backyard Living began. Jeff filled our basement up all winter with birdhouses, and I told him he needed start selling some or we would run out of room! He has had a very successful first year going to the North Market Artisan Sundays twice a month, Worthington Plant Festival, Food Truck Festival, Independents' Fest, and Yellow Springs Street Fair.

Jeff has expanded his business from only having birdhouses to now making end tables out of logs that were in a firewood pile, jewelry display frames, floating wine holders, and a few other items. He uses a lot of barn wood from my Dad's 100 year old barn he is no longer using, or reclaimed wood he finds from pallets. He also goes to the Amish to get some fresh white oak and cedar that hasn't even been cured.  

Of course Jeff's dream is to go far and own a store front some day, but I am happy with where we are now getting in to local fesitvals and giving people local items that are unique.  

Meet Bethany Mitchell from Ladybug Designs...

I'm a single mom to a wonderful 4-year old little girl! I got into creating handmade items as a way to relieve the stress of everyday life and distract myself for a few hours.  Once I really got into it, I realized very quickly that not only did I love creating things, those around me began asking for me to create things for them and thus Ladybug Designs was born! I have been creating for about 18 months now. The Columbus Show will be my first Avant-Garde show and I'm incredibly excited!!

I get my creativity from the necessity of life. I will often look around my home and think, I want a throw pillow here or a wreath on that door and the idea explodes from there. Pinterest has become my go-to for inspiration as well, that site is an absolute gift to the world of designers and crafters!

I first got into the craft hobby while traveling for work in Salt Lake City. I met a woman there that taught me how to make paracord bracelets.  I was fascinated by what I could create with my own hands.

My friends and family were constantly asking where I bought a skirt, bracelet, pillow, wreath, etc. When they realized that all of these items were coming from my own two hands, starting the business was a necessity to fulfill the wants of those around me.

My creative process is simple. Much like the movie line from Field of Dreams: "build it and they will come", I think "make it and they will buy." I can be inspired by nearly anything...once I'm inspired I HAVE to act creatively on it.

The thing I enjoy most about creating unique items is just that: they are unique items. I love making and selling paracord items the most because I love hearing "I've never seen something like this before!"

My message is simply that life is more beautiful with a handmade item in it! I love store bought items as much as the next person but a handmade item carries meaning with it that a store bought item never will.

Meet Adam Levene from Adam Levene Illustrations...

My name is Adam Levene, I graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design. After I graduated from school, I worked for a special effects company designing characters, props, and environments for the entertainment and retail industries. I have been producing my own artwork seriously for about 7 years.
This is my first Avant-Garde Show and I am looking forward to it. 

I gain most of inspiration from good observations; I am also keen on free writing and word association in developing ideas. I have wanted to do my own thing for a while now, I think what motivates me mostly is seeing the excitement in someone's face when they purchase a piece by me.

I would consider my work classically styled with dark and cynical undertones. My creative process usually starts with text. I either free write or have some words that I try and connect. I then begin with small sketches developing composition and value. After that, I create a tighter sketch of one I like. I will gather reference and do any more research if necessary and then I start constructing my image with a tighter drawing. After the drawing, I start layering in 

paint and color. 

My work has a variety of different meanings and I like to produce work with something in mind, however it is fun to allow others to interpret my work. Thank you and you can view my work at http://www.adamleveneillustration.com.

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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