Show's Tomorrow! More Vendor Features!

Meet Dawn Chiparatu from Paw Pleasers...

My Neighbor, Lori Marko, and I are regular working moms. During the day, Lori is a reinsurance analyst and I am a customer service representative for a residential remodeling company. Together we have been doing this for only a couple of months, September of this year. Actually- I had started four years ago on my own and then tabled the concept after my dog Zoe to cancer. 

This will be our first Avant-Garde show and we are very excited about this opportunity. 

Where we get our creativity..  We take our own favorite things (mostly food) and convert them into items that are suitable for our furry friends. We got into the craft when we were looking for treats and toys that didn’t contain any preservatives. Zoe was gluten intolerant and well, the boys…just too darn cute to taint. Our creative process is lots of brainstorming and comparative shopping.

After receiving so many requests from our frients and family to make goods, we decided to make a go of it in the retail world. The thing we enjoy the most is the response that we get from our repeat customers. They have even brought in pictures of their pets.


The message behind our work is love your furry friends. Great tasting treats can also be great for them!

Meet Jenny DiNuoscio from End of The Beach and JP Candles…
My name is Jenny, I run End Of The Beach and I share JP Candles with my friend Erika. End Of The Beach was official September 1, 2009 and JP Candles started in October of this year. I've been creating since I was little! Erika and I started making candles as a hobby that gives back! This is our first Avant-Garde show and hoping it's not the last!

When it comes to creativity, I have to blame genetics! My mom was the MacGyver of arts and crafts, and my Dad has been in the jewelry business for over 40 years!

I got into my hobby because I have a love of the craft! I love making jewelry, and Erika and I are both obsessed with candles. It was just a snowball effect from there! I love making all things odd and unique and wanted to share it with the world, so I started my own business.

My creative process… I'll see something and my mind just starts flowing. I'll find inspiration in the smallest and weirdest things in this world.

The thing I enjoy most about crafting is that I know every single detail about what I'm selling and the creative process from start to finish. It's a better advantage than regular mall bought retail.

A portion of each candles sold is donated to cancer research. It's a way to give back to the community while honoring the ones that inspired us most. My jewelry is meant to be fun, playful, and gaudy! Blah

Meet Coayne McDaniels from Rubber City Cupcakery...

I was born and raised for 30 yrs in Southern California with a 10 yr. stop in Colorado before moving to Ohio for my day job. I've now been in Ohio for 13 yrs, not fond of the snow but LOVE the falls here. I had been in the corporate world for over 33 years and wanted to start something that I would have fun with, enjoy doing, and that could brighten people's days (if even for a few moments). Thus, Rubber City Cupcakery was born.

I started RCC in September 2010, I make gourmet cupcakes with quality ingredients for any type of events. This will be my first Avant-Garde show, however I have done several smaller craft shows in the past.

I have been around baking and cooking since I was very young. When I was in kindergarten, I would help my great grandmother make homemade bread when she visited. Nothing smells better than something made with quality ingredients and your own hands.  

When it comes to my creativity, I usually meet with or talk with the customer, gather basic information, and then think outside the box a bit. I want the cupcakes to be fun if it's kid involved, beautiful or elegant if it's a wedding, rehearsal, bridal shower event, and delicious all at the same time. I try to fit the cupcakes to the event and the customer.

The thing I enjoy most about doing this, is the joy it brings to the event and the smiles and sincere thank you's from the customers. It's nice to know that I helped make their event special for them.

The message behind my work is: Enjoy Life, have fun and always eat dessert!

Meet Whitney Aquino from Sweet Lala Kay's Boutique...

I am graduating in 2 weeks from Kent State with a Criminal Justice Degree. I'm a proud mama to the face of my company and "helper" in my shop - Layla Kay, Soon-to-be wife to a man who is patient enough to deal with my craft addiction and busy life. A coca cola addict, and not one to sit still......ever.

I started making items for my shop the very last week of February 2012 DAYS before my daughter was born. This will be my first Avant-Garde Event!

Creativity runs in my family's blood. My grandmothers from both my mom and dad's side were/are extremely creative and crafty. My granny was always making something - from painting to sewing to crochet. She taught me everything I know and ever since I was little I can't remember a time that I wasn't creating something along side of her. 

I got into my business because of my daughter. We found out we were having a girl and because of my obsession with Hobby Lobby. I started thinking of everything I could make for her, and once I got into the store, my mind started going crazy putting all these ideas together. I loved the idea of having pictures in tutus so I wanted to create tutus that were perfect for dress up, pictures, weddings, holiday... you name it. After I realized that I could make all these things for my own daughter, I wanted to make more items: tutus, dresses, blankets and so much more for other people as well. Because creativity runs in the family, I brought my Aunt on board to help in this process! 

My creative process is a little hectic and hard to describe. I don't think I have ever planned out an item prior to making it.  Once I start, I will continue until I know that the item is complete and perfect. 

My favorite thing is that I love knowing that the time was put into making it, and that it wasn't made in seconds by a machine. I love knowing that handmade items have a face behind them that have stories. 

The message behind my work is that Every little girl should be classy and fabulous! 

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This show will feature a large selection of talented handmade artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Jade's No Kill Rescue for animal rescue.

2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:00am-6:00pm

The Tangier

532 West Market St.

Akron, OH 44303

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

It's Show Week!

Meet Shaina Dampier from Aliana's Jumble Shop...

My name is Shaina Dampier. I am 24 years old and I run my business with my mom Kathy Calfee. I am based in Erie, PA and she is in Southaven, MS but we both moved from Akron, OH. I am a senior at Edinboro University in PA for Earth Science. Aliana's Jumble Shop is a name my mom came up with. Aliana is my middle name! 

I have been running Aliana's Jumble Shop for about 2 years now. My mom and I both have done crafts our whole lives. We love to make gifts for people and unique things to enjoy. Creativity is in my bones! My entire family is made up of very creative people from music to art to dance and back to art!

I got heavily into crafting when I made both my mom and my mother-in-law scrapbooks for my wedding as gifts to them. I took up scrapbooking heavily and when I wanted a change, I started making jewelry. Now I continue with both. However, I went to a performing arts school when I was younger and that really sparked my interest in arts.

I don't have much of a creative process. Some days I wake up feeling really "crafty" and I will sit and work on different projects all day. Other times I don't feel it at all. But I will usually sit down and lay all my materials out in front of me and just see them come together!

I love being able to create something beautiful. I love things with interesting stories behind them or that can be neat conversation starters. like to think my projects and crafts can bring some happiness to people :)

Meet Nancy Zunic from Blue Room Ink...

Hi! My name is Nancy Zunic. I have a wonderful husband and four wonderful adult children. My three daughters live in the Cleveland area and my son and daughter-in-law recently moved to Columbus and blessed me with my first grandchild, Calvin Bales this past July! My oldest daughter is planning a summer wedding that will take place in Arkon, Ohio. I also have two adorable cats (Jasper and Mooch) that love to get into all of my stash in my crafting room!

Besides crafting, I love to run and bike. I have run many a race in the Cleveland area with my second oldest daughter. I ran in the 10K race with her that was held during the Cleveland marathon in 2010. It was a huge accomplishment for me! The reason being, five years ago I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that required a pacemaker be placed and this was my way of overcoming the mental part of receiving it at such a relatively young age. It was such a liberating feeling having run the entire 10K!

I have been working with my hands all my life. I have been a dental hygienist for the past 32 years and recently lost my job due to my boss retiring. Fortunately, my boss was my brother and he had a wonderful practice in which I was blessed to work in for all those years. The retirement was a bit of a shock and I was suddenly in a position to make some major changes in my life. I have crafted throughout my life whether it was cross-stitch, making hats and scarves from fleece to knitting but most recently I have become an avid scrapbooker. From the years 2003 through 2009 my children were all involved in music and sports throughout high school as well as college so I had made many of a scrapbook for them all.  I have a blog that I started in April 2010. (http://www.blueroomink.blogspot.com/) Since then, I have gone beyond just making scrapbooks. I enjoy creating art with different scrapbook/art methods that I have learned over the years. Through some gentle nudging by my daughters I have recently opened an Etsy shop.  (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRoomInk) I was excited to do my first show this past July for the Avant-Garde West Side NEO 2012 art and craft show.  I am just as excited to do the Summit/Akron show at The Tangier on Dec. 2.

I get my creativity from my feelings about life. I express different thoughts and feeling within most of my work. I lay in bed at night and an idea will come to me and then I find that I cannot get to sleep because I want to work on it. I love color and working with blending the right colors together to create a sensation or mood. Many times I start in one path but end up taking the fork in the road to another place and I become pleasantly surprised at the outcome. There really is no concrete process to my creative madness. I go with my gut and my eye for the not so obvious. I feel that some of my pieces speak to certain individuals.  It is fun to find the person that is attracted to it. It's always just a matter of time.

My favorite item that I have produced would be my Butterfly canvas easel art.  It happened to be the first item that I sold in my Etsy store. The piece spoke to the person who bought it. The butterflies are the symbol of her Grandfather and she is having a feather themed wedding so she said it brought tears to her eyes. That is why I like to create. To be able to evoke that kind of emotion in someone else makes it all worthwhile. Then there are times that  some of the art  is just "fun" in someone’s eyes. Who wouldn't want to sell some "fun!?" I know I sure do!

I love working in my vibrant turquoise craft room. That is where my name BlueRoomInk originated from. I hope to achieve a successful Etsy store and venture out to do many more craft shows. I would love for this to be my new full time job. I think with a lot of dedication and patience that could become a reality. I love being able to get out there and show my crafts in person instead of just online. I am looking forward to meeting and seeing other artisans at the show.  I love original artwork that grabs you and draws you in at first sight. 

I have attached several pictures of my work and several pieces are currently for sale in my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRoomInk. Come by and shop at any time as I will be adding new items frequently.

Meet Gretchen Meyers from Peg's Hardware...

I'm an Indy jewelry designer from Buffalo, NY. Actually a graphic designer by trade, but have always had a deep love and fascination with jewelry. I have been making jewelry on and off since I was about 14. My grandmother actually was my first investor, giving me $100 because she believed in my passion. I actually use the same tools today that were purchased with part of that $100. The company name, Peg's Hardware is named for her, Margaret "Peg" Criqui. 

I get my creativity from all over. The standard answer would probably be Google images, but also hardware stores, antique shops, I love mixing media and making something stunning out of the usual.
How I got started with my business.. With every end there is always a beginning….I had lost my job at an advertising agency and thought, why not try this out.

I would describe my creative process as unruly! I wish it was like a switch I could turn on and off at my convenience. Sometimes I'll sit at my desk for hours and get only a single pair of earring done. While other times it's like Niagara Falls, and my hands won't work fast enough!

My favorite thing about doing this is that similar to graphic design, it's a little piece of you or your work that goes floating out into the world. The message behind my work is make something stunning or different out of the usual.

Meet Haley Herman from The Crying Wolf Designs...

My name is Haley Herman. I am a recent graduate of the University of Akron's Interior Design program and I currently work as a freelance architectural illustrator. Although I grew up near Akron, I am currently living in Findlay, Ohio with my awesome husband and two adorable and ornery kitties. I have always been a crafter, an obsession that grew from Play-Dough, through friendship bracelets, and straight into my calling... crochet. 

I have been crocheting for about five years, but this is only my second year participating in craft shows. This will be my first time at an Avant-Garde event, and I am very excited to share my designs with everyone attending! 

I'm not sure where my creativity comes from, usually it is just a spark of an idea. I get a lot of suggestions from friends and family. And of course, living in the age of Pinterest, I see a lot of things online that give me ideas on how to modify and make things my own. 

I have always been a do-it-yourself-er. I would rather find out how to make something, rather than go out and buy it. Living in Ohio, with the winters we have, led to a need for warmer accessories, and a discovery of crochet. I love to crochet. It relaxes me. I crochet in my spare time, which led to sharing my designs on my Facebook page, which grew into selling them through the page, as well as at craft shows, and creating custom orders.  

The idea of owning my own business started with my amazing friends and family, who loved my designs, and wanted to purchase their own. Also, crocheting away in the off seasons (spring and summer), left me with so many hats and scarves that I couldn't possibly wear them all myself without going out in public everyday looking like Ralphie from "A Christmas Story". That's when I started selling at craft shows It’s exciting to see people loving your designs and wanting their own. 

When I am working, I have a list of items and ideas of things I want to create. Usually, while in the middle of making something, I will have an idea for something else to make, which goes on the list. Sometimes I'm just inspired by the yarn I see and its feel, and a project is born from that. 

The thing I enjoy most about creating handmade items is the fact that they are unique. They aren't items that are seen everywhere, when I make a hat or scarf, it may be one of a kind. Even with some of my best selling items, no two are exactly alike. 

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This show will feature a large selection of talented handmade artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Jade's No Kill Rescue for animal rescue.

2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:00am-6:00pm

The Tangier

532 West Market St.

Akron, OH 44303

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

Personal Expression Artists & Crafters

Meet Allison Fensel from Art by Ali...

I’m a stay-at-home mom and my kids have gotten old enough for me to finally get back to my passions of art and all that includes. I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, I went to school for fine arts. Like many others, when I started a family I did not have time to continue to pursue my art.

I have always been artistic and have been drawing, painting and trying new projects for as long as I can remember.

I get my creativity and inspiration from just about everything around me. I love nature and I love seeing my family and what they do. There is a lot of creativity within them, and that’s where I get my inspiration.

How I got started in my business... I decided to start to do face painting parties. From there, I figured since I was doing that I might as well start doing some craft shows. Particularly since I had more time to sell and I am always looking to try new projects.

I really love seeing how unique each face painting comes out. Even if I am trying to do the same thing over and over again, there is always something different each time. I generally like it more and more every time.

Meet Kristin Hadari from eleven:eleven...

Kristin: proud mama. in love. laughing addict. big breakfast eater. project making. emotional about movies. dr. pepper enthusiast. classic over thinker. in pursuit of an amazing life. eleven:eleven.

My scarves have an infinity design, meaning no beginning and no end. They are one big circle that can be worn in a variety of ways.These infinity scarves can be worn long, or they can be wrapped around your neck 2 or 3 times.

The line is sorted by collections, and each collection consists of a different type of fabric:

The Southern Belle Collection: This is the flannel collection that comes in all varieties from lumberjack to princess cowgirl. There are a variety of weights suitable for indoors and out.The 

Girl Next Door Collection: These are the classic and simple cotton scarves. Patterns are across the board but the polka dots and chevron are the favorites!

The Urban Chic Collection: The jersey knits are soft and flexible which expands the tying options and ways to wear. The solids can be worn with almost anything.

The Cosmo Gal Collection: These are made from polyester fabrics, and tend to be a little more dressy for your nights out. This will take the little black dress to the next level.

The Kristin Collection: My hand picked favorites in all fabrics.

The Lil' Collection: Because in fashion, age doesn't matter, these are the little fashionista girl's version of scarves in a variety of fabrics.

The Mom and Lil' Collection: Like mama like daughter! This line is made in complementary fabrics to show off the hip mom and daughter duo.

I've been doing this for only around 3 months. I am a newbie. I have always been into fashion and I think much if it comes from there. I am also an immediate gratification type of person so if I want something and can make it, I usually just do.

I got into this hobby because honestly, I wanted to buy so many of them I just thought it would bemore economical to make them myself. Then friends started wanting them and others wanting them for gifts as so on and so. The journey still continues!

 

My creative process is very personal. I usually create things that I would want for myself, so the people who like it and enjoy the products, I usually have a small unique connection with. 

My favorite part of the process is having other people relate to my products and purchase them for their wardrobe or to give as gifts. The message behind my work is "Give your style a little twist!"

Meet Alison Nieman from A Nieman Design...

My name is Alison Nieman. I graduated from The Ohio State University with my degree in Interior Design but am mostly using it part time right now. I am a part-time crochet crafter and blogger of the blog A. Nieman Design http://aniemandesign.blogspot.com. I grew up outside of Columbus and have been in the Akron area for almost 6 years now. I love the area and am glad to call NEO my home!

I have been crocheting for as long as I can remember. My mom and my grandmother both taught me in their own ways when I was younger. I have been crocheting as a business since 2006 when I opened my first Etsy shop A. Nieman Crochet. This, believe it or not is my first craft show as a crocheter and I am excited to be a part of it!

I get my creativity from my mom. She got me started crafting and opened my mind to the creative world. Crocheting is my outlet to be creative and it also really helps me relax which is a big plus.

How I got started in my business… I was in college and started crocheting myself items. I was looking to start selling items to make some extra money. I started on Ebay and as soon as I found Etsy, I knew I would be in for the long run.

A lot of times my creative process starts with the yarn. Colors, feels, etc can determine what I am making. I also kinda make things up as I go and follow my creative instincts. If it looks good as I go, I keep going. If it doesn't, I have been known to completely tear apart a whole project halfway through.

I think what I enjoy the most in what I do is the pride and the appreciation that goes into each piece. The fact that I make everything with my own hands is something special. You don't get that with machine made products.

Check out these featured vendors at the 2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This show will feature a large selection of talented handmade artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to Jade's No Kill Rescue for animal rescue.

2012 Summit County Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:00am-6:00pm

The Tangier

532 West Market St.

Akron, OH 44303

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN