Collections for Kids- Fabulous Fashionistas

Meet Emily Gainer from Gainer in Stitches...

I’m Emily, the crafter behind Gainer in Stitches. I crochet and sew baby items, such as crib shoes, bibs, and burp cloths. As an archivist by day, I have always loved history, antiques, and vintage patterns. I bring that classic feel to my crafts, choosing interesting pattern and color combinations.

My grandma and mom taught me to sew and crochet when I was in elementary school. Even though I only sewed square pieces of fabric and crocheted long chains, I learned the satisfaction of creating something. Those two special ladies who taught me the art of crafting are still crafting themselves.  It’s in the genes!  I just launched the business about one year ago.

Colors and patterns inspire me to create. Usually, I see a color of yarn or a fabric pattern before I know what I want to make with it. I have stashes of yarn and fabric throughout my house, just in case! I’m also inspired by functional items. I want to create things that will be used, used often, and hold up well.

My grandma and mom are big influences in my crafting hobby. They made crafting “cool”, and I find it enjoyable, relaxing, and satisfying. I can’t imagine my life without crafting.

After a lot of practice making things for myself, I started making gifts for family and friends. Their feedback and enthusiasm helped me discover my talent and inspired me to keep crafting.

My creative process is very methodical. I like to create products in batches and work assembly-line style. I spend time choosing colors and patterns, and then cut out all the fabric at once. Next, I pin all the items, sew them, and then iron. Each piece gets individual attention as I work through the process.

In the next 5 years, I want to expand my product offerings. I am exploring new techniques and patterns. Currently, I make products for babies, but I would like to make items for toddlers through adults.  

The message behind my work is functional and beautiful! I strive to make baby items of interesting colors and beautiful patterns that are also functional – items that you would want to give as a special gift or use every day for your little ones.

Meet Heidi Dobran from Dress Up Designs...

I work full time, and I am a mom to an amazing one year old little girl, Gianna. I have been doing this for about a year now, and I officially started ‘Dress Up Designs’ about 4 months ago. This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, and I am very excited for the opportunity. 

My daughter is my inspiration for everything that I do. Every little girl needs an outlet for dressing up, and I wanted to give that to her. Once she was born, I started making outfits for every holiday, special event and photo shoot. I decided to give tutu making a try after seeing a tutorial and from there, I couldn’t stop.I love to create after my daughter has gone to bed. 

For my creative process, I usually don’t completely know what the end result will be until it’s right in front of me. I just think of a certain object or character that I want my creation to reflect, and go from there. I love to create something I know will make someone smile. In 5 years, I hope to be successful enough to do what I love with crafting and getting more time with my daughter. 

The message behind my work is that life is serious enough, and everyone could use a little pretend!

Meet Kristy Behner from iHEARTees...

Hi! My name is Kristy Behner. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design from Kent State. I currently work in the bridal industry and as a freelance designer/crafter. I live in a little old house in Akron with my husband, Matt; two dogs, Mabel and Leon; and our cat, Norah. I am lucky enough to have a spare room dedicated to my craft that is an animal free zone and always full of ongoing projects. I started selling on Etsy last summer, but I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. This will be my second ever Avant-Garde event.

How I got into my craft… I was always hands on as a kid whether it was helping my dad work on cars, or helping my mom in the kitchen. I really credit my parents for letting me always be in their business as to why I love to craft so much. I specifically got into sewing when my mom taught me how to use her machine when I was 7 years old. I get my inspiration from so many things. Mostly, I just love to be making things with my hands and as long as I am doing that, I am happy.

Quickly after my mother taught me to use her sewing machine I started making clothes for my fashion dolls, myself and family members. Soon I was creating my own designs using newspaper and fabric from my mom’s fabric stash.

My creative process is best described as ever-ending. I am a thinker. When an idea pops into my head I can’t stop thinking about it until I know the best way to make it. And even then I will tweak finished items based on customer feedback or adding a feature I think is missing.

My goal is in 5 years I hope for iHEARTees to be my main job, working three jobs doesn’t cut it!

The message behind my work is.. Form, Function, and Fun, there is no reason all three can’t go together. You can purchase/view more of my work at www.iheartees.com.

2012 Summit County Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

The Tangier

532 West Market St.

Akron, OH 44303

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

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Crafts from the Heart!

Meet Bonnie Novak of Pieces of Time Jewelry...
My name is Bonnie Novak and my business is “Pieces of Time Jewelry.” I have been making and selling jewelry for over six years now and participating in Cleveland and Akron area fine art and craft shows.

I love making jewelry, creating it, and watching it come together. I have always loved jewelry, even as a small child, so I believe this business grew out of that passion.

The name of my business reflects the fact that I repurpose earrings and necklaces from vintage pieces. Many of them are Czech and Japanese beads that are of good quality, but the style is outdated. I take the vintage beads and combine them with new pearls, crystals and natural stones to bring new life to the necklace and earring sets.

In my newest venture, I am making bridal necklace and earring sets for “Artisan Bridal Shop” located in Ohio City. These sets are composed of vintage pearls, pins, and crystals. They will be a wonderful addition to the repurposed bridal gowns being offered in the shop.

This is the second Avant-Garde show I have attended and I intend to continue my business as long as ladies keep enjoying my work! Thanks for looking!

Meet Carla Fahrni of Treasured Sensations...

My name is Carla Fahrni, owner of Treasured Sensations. When I retired a couple of years ago, my son said I should start making my keepsake bears again. I made and sold quite a few in the past, but when I checked the internet, I found out that other crafters had flooded the market with them - I needed something original. The Memory Mutt was born!

I have been working at my business now for a year and a half. I love making the Memory Mutts the best of all the items I create and sell. I show potential clients samples of my mutts and my album of the mutts I have designed and made. Each mutt is individually designed for the client. They bring clothing that has a memory about it - sports, vacations, special events - and I design them a dog. I love watching each mutt being born as I create it! They all have their own look and expressions.

This will be my first Avant-Garde show and I am really looking forward to it. I have always enjoyed creating things and it seems like my best ideas and answers to creative problems come to me at night. I always like to make something new. As far as my creative process, I work at an idea to make it come alive.

I hope my business continues to grow over the next few years. I would like everyone to know that they can mail me the memory clothing and I can mail them the completed mutt. My creations capture personal memories for my buyers. All of my creations are "one of a kind." I plan on adding a Cuddly Cat to my memory collection soon.

Meet Desiree Adams of Paper Acres...
I just recently started making these flowers for my own use, but everyone that saw them was so interested, I thought I should share it them. I’ve been making these paper flower bouquets and wreaths for a little over a year. I'm very excited to be a part of this show!

I want to create something that will last. Bouquets of live flowers are a beautiful thing, but they die after a few days. These paper flowers will last as long as you want them to last. Using them in a wedding is fantastic because the memory of your bouquet doesn’t have to end. You can display it forever and even hand it down to the next generation.

When I was planning my wedding, I wanted something different and original. I experimented with paper flowers and it was a success. The bouquets last forever and you don’t even have to get them professionally “preserved” as you would for live flowers.

It takes a little while to make a normal size bouquet, I just get absorbed into the flowers and I can see the finished product before I even begin to work. In five years I hope to make custom bouquets for wedding parties. Beautiful flowers can last forever!

2012 Summit County Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

The Tangier

532 West Market St.

Akron, OH 44303

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

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A One Of A Kind Buy!

Meet Stephanie Nighman From Unique Hand Painted Gifts...

I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a small town called Walker Valley which is about 1.5 hours north of New York City. A good deal of my life has been spent surrounded by the beautiful Catskill Mountains to the north and Shawangunk Mountains to the west. My family would often take rides exploring the long, winding mountain roads that seemed to go forever. 

My interest in creating something was ongoing. When I was around 9 years old, I would go into the woods to collect vines, intertwining them on rounded hangers and going from door-to-door, selling them for one dollar. I made roses out of colored tissue paper and often sewed some of my clothes, always thinking about what my next project would be.  

Moving forward in my life, I came to live in Ohio where I raised two children.  Photography became another love of mine and I would often spend many hours driving to small towns, especially Amish country, or going to the Holden Arboretum to take pictures.  

I am very much inspired by nature, colors, and just a yearning inside me to continue to explore how things work together. Over the years I have taken many different classes in sewing, ceramics, card making, water color and glass painting.  

About 10 years ago I began painting glass on my own.  I pride myself on carefully selecting good glass, fine crystal and unusual pieces.  Many of my items come from antique stores. My technique changes often, experimenting and combining different types of glass paint and textures. Over the years I have participated in many juried arts and crafts events, and look forward to my first Avant-Garde show this April. 

Meet Judy and Mary Beth From Put It All Together...

We as mother and daughter, began All Put Together more than thirteen years ago as a way to merge our love of fabric and design with our passion for transforming vintage textiles into one-of-a-kind, earth-friendly accessories. In the early years of our business, we focused mainly on creating distinctive valances. But we now focus solely on creating beautiful and stylish accessories such as handbags, hats, headbands and scarves.

We are inspired by so many things. We will see a fabulous vintage brocade drapery and just automatically feel inspired to create pinch-pleated messenger bags. Beautiful fabrics and people inspire us to create one-of-a-kind products. We get many special requests from customers and often end up adding their ideas to our newest collections. Inspiration is a wonderful feeling , it is a truly motivating force that gets us moving every day to design away!

We got in to the craft as a hobby when we started making appliqued valances to meet a need. At the time Mary Beth wanted beautiful one-of-a-kind, rustic moose and bear curtains that were not just the run-of-the mill cotton printed kind available at any big box retailer across the country. So she had an idea to cut out appliques from reclaimed wool and make her own. Despite their originality and whimsy, curtains were a tough sell at arts and crafts shows. But we would get a lot of orders after shows from customers wanting to redecorate. So we decided to expand our original idea and morph our concept into handbags and women's accessories. Now, we have this great vintage boutique look at our shows where every piece is a gem made from the most beautiful reclaimed fabrics possible.

How we started our business... Judy was always sewing, mostly for her three daughters on a tight budget. And Mary Beth always watched with piqued interest, eventually taking a sewing class in high school and then learning more from her Mom when launching the business. Over the course of thirteen years, we've really gained an understanding of how to best utilize our talents and direct them toward certain products. We exclusively hand-stitch our appliques, which is time-consuming and very detail-oriented. But it makes all the difference in the world.  We also line all of our bags with terrific vintage floral sheets or rare upholstery fabrics.

Our message really stems from the green philosophy of bringing new life into already beautiful, vintage, rare fabrics and materials that were basically just put aside or ready to be discarded in a landfill. We want people to realize and appreciate the fact that you can take something rare and vintage and turn it into something fabulous, trendy and totally original! Why buy a mass-produced, imported purse at a big-box retailer that 50,000 other people will have when you can have a one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched original that no one else on the planet will ever have!! It's good for the Earth and good for your style!!!

Meet Lumina Natalie Kemp From Eclectic Earthwear...

I'm a world traveler, a book worm, a yoga instructor, and an Ohio girl at heart. I love to learn, explore, and inspire. I have been crafting for sixteen years in total. I started making jewelry when I was eleven. I set up my first booth at age eighteen, and since then, I have sold my work everywhere from music festivals and farmers markets, to art galleries and online.  

I love exploring different cultural themes from the places I've lived and visited. Working with semi-precious stones is mostly what drives the jewelry making process. I'm always trying to find inventive ways to turn the stones into an art that can be worn and enjoyed.  

My mother always encouraged me to put a lot of love into cooking. I think making crafts was a natural extention of that philosophy. I've always loved making art, from drawings, writing and sculptures, to clothes, photography and ceramics. I still prefer to buy products that is made with love. I come from a very creative family. They have been very supportive in any artistic adventure I've undertaken. 

My creative process is varied. To prepare for an art project I enjoy doing yoga before hand. That way I'm physically and mentally limber and can let the creative juices flow. Five years from now I would love to own a shop that features all mediums of my art.

2012 Summit County Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 11:00am-5:00pm

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