Celebrate Fall with Our Summit Show Vendors!

Meet Amanda Wallace from Zombiedo...
I grew up in Wooster, Ohio, and in 2005 I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with my Bachelor in the Fine Arts. I mostly concentrated in/on painting, but dabbled in a wide variety of other mediums. I have always enjoyed learning new art and craft techniques. After college, I lived in a couple of different cities, but my favorite place was Tucson, Arizona. In Tucson, I fell in love with cacti and the vibe of the desert. Currently, I am living on a farm in Ohio where my imagination roams. I have always loved goofy/weird things and bright colors and I feel as if I show this through my art.

I have been painting (and learning) since I was little, but about a year ago, I started to learn about surface pattern design. From that point on, I realized that I could turn my sketches and doodles into cool products. So, for about a year, I have been learning and working on starting my little business ZOMBIEDO. This is a place where you can find my unique designs applied to baby hats and swaddle blankets (other products coming soon.) Also under ZOMBIEDO, I will be selling my shrinky-dink jewelry designs and some creature prints. This will be the first Avant-Garde show that I am participating in.

The desire to express myself inspires me to create. Creating helps me feel grounded and happy and who doesn’t want to be happy. I was very lucky to have a great support group when I was little. My mother always put me into any kind of art class that I was interested in learning, my mimi is a beautiful seamstress who could whip up and create any design or idea that I had in my head, and my aunt is a talented artist who always sat down to draw with me. I don’t really feel as if there was a time and place where I discovered my talent. Personally, I still feel as if I am discovering my talent everyday and maybe that is why I am always creating and learning. I have always been encouraged to be myself and to try new things.

How do I get my creativity? I am a creator of lists! Sometimes when I go back and look at them, I will see reoccurring ideas or thoughts, and then I will base my next design or painting off of that. I also like to over think things (hence the lists), so some days I just like to turn on music and let the pen or the brush do all the work.

In five years, I hope that I am still learning and creating for a living. But, there are two things that I am hoping to learn within those five years- screen printing and printmaking. I have done small scale screen printing, but I would like to work with on a larger scale, and I have a little letterpress that I would love to become friends with.

My message is to always be yourself. Yes, it’s nice to be trendy, but the real path to happiness is to be true to who you are, because individuality is awesome. My baby hats and swaddle blankets (that are made from my fabric) are made in an earth friendly way with water based inks on organic cotton. These pieces are also all made here in the USA – from the place where I get my fabrics printed to me, here in Ohio!

Meet Brenda Glasure from Tread The Terra...

My name is Brenda Glasure and I am the sole proprietor, designer and fabricator for Tread the Terra handmade jewelry. I have been making jewelry since the mid-1980’s. My husband had been moved to the North Coast area while I was finishing my work at a hands-on science museum in North Carolina.  At that time a friend of mine knew I needed something to help occupy me.  She asked if I had seen this great new stuff that was a lot like play doh, but you could make beads and other small items with it. Once I started working with acrylic clay, I realized the potential. I loved being able to create what I could imagine. This desire has driven me to acquire new skills along the way.  I was imagining more and more sophisticated pieces and needed to add more tools to my personal skill set, so I have continued to learn and grow. 

As mentioned, I started making handmade beads with acrylic clay, eventually specializing in making canes – much like the Venetian glassmaking technique called millefiore (many flowers).  From there, it was a natural progression from beading to metalwork. I use metal-smithing and wire-wrapping with natural stones, glass, ceramic and crystals.

I am currently exploring handmade chain links and developing components that are completely handmade. I have charms, pendants, earrings and chains that are unique – no two alike. My pieces have a personality – a real spirit to them.   While my work is not at all “typical,” it is meant to be worn every day. The earrings, bracelets and necklaces are all made with comfort in mind as well as aesthetics.  

Recently, as I was making a curled chain link pattern, I realized how much I am influenced by the curving lines and textures you find in nature. My work has a natural, organic feel. I think that most people wear jewelry because it expresses their personality and is pretty. My business “motto” says: “Tread the Terra on your own terms,” because it literally means “Walk the Earth in your own way.” You can be strong, capable, and comfortable in your own skin.  You can also wear something pretty that speaks to you. When I create a new piece, I look for color, texture and composition that is beautiful and emotionally satisfying.

In five years, I know I will have added more skills to my personal “toolbox.” I am beginning to research etching and metal cutwork techniques. I am still striving to create the pieces I imagine. I expect that I will continue to love creating beautiful, everyday pieces for all of the amazing, wonderful women out there in the world.

Meet Cindy Antenucci from Cindy's Scentuals: Soap, Bath & Body...
By day I work at a local university as the career services director, and by night and weekends, I make soap. When I'm not working or hanging out with my husband and two teenagers, I'm working on a batch of soap, or working in my garden (for things to put in my soap), or running the trails or roads (gaining inspiration for the next soap).

I've been making soap for just over a year--and I'm very prolific averaging one to two batches a week. As time goes by, my batches keep getting bigger and bigger because demand is up and the possibilities endless for variations in scent, color, and technique. Not content to stick with one recipe, or one style, or one particular scent blend, I like to experiment and try new things. My entire extended family use and benefit from my soap. All have said their skin has remarkably improved and have no desire to go back to commercial soaps, which aren't really soap at all, as they've had much, if not all the natural glycerin removed.

I'm very excited to attend my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I'm mostly inspired because it's crazy fun to make soap and there is no end to various combinations of scent, color, and style. As they say, variety is the spice of life. 

As a cook, gardener, and runner, I'm very much inspired from nature, so I use only certified pure essential oils to scent my soaps. I leave several unscented, too, allowing the addition of botanicals/additiives, such as toasted oats, almonds, dried chamomile, dried calendula and other dried botanicals to provide subtle scent and effect. I'm inspired now to keep creating because I can't believe what handmade soap has done for my skin. I've had oily problem skin with large pores visible from six feet my entire life, but after using natural soap, my skin seems more regulated and definitely more soft. My friends and family report similar improvements, so I'm inspired to share these little practical, sensuous-smelling, pieces of art. No matter what you're skin type, your skin will thank you.

My grandmother provided the initial spark of inspiration. I grew up with and loved her off-white irregular, albeit utilitarian, but amazing soaps. She'd chunk them up and keep them under the sink. She called it her "lye" soap, which seems to imply the resulting soap must be as caustic as the lye used to start it, but after soap cures, there is no lye left. All real soap has it's origins in lye reacting with fatty acids in oils. Grandma's soap was amazing. Modern soap makers have kicked it up a notch adding essential oils, natural colorants, and an array of astounding oils customized for various skin types and soap feel. 

Another source of inspiration was the flawless skin of the five soap maker vendors at a large craft show I attended. Considering that it was unlikely they imported face models to run the show, I bought a bundle of goodies, including handmade soap (it was Rosemary!) and loved it. I had to learn how to do this. It took months of research and a few flops--like the time I poured hot soap into a leaky mold and my husband called me a "hot mess," but I'm well on my well to making consistent quality batches!

I'm inspired to keep creating because I can't believe what handmade soap has done for my skin, so I'm inspired to share these little practical, sensuous-smelling, pieces of art. No matter what you're skin type, your skin will thank you. I don't know if I have talent so much as persistence. I told myself to keep making soap until it matches the "vision" in my head. It's finally starting to do that.

I call my creative process chaotic-progressive. That pretty much sums it up. I try to learn something new or incorporate something different with each batch. I'd like to see my business grow. While I love making soap, I love the business end of it as well. I visited a soap shop in Florida not too long ago...it was so amazing. I'd love to have a shop that sells soap and the natural offshoots--bath salts, massage oils, lotion bars, etc.

Handmade soap is not just another pretty face--it's practical, experiential art ready to love your skin! I'd love to make a custom order for you. My e-mail iscantenucci@gmail.com. Hope to see you at the show on October 19th! My Etsy shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/CindysScentuals.

Meet Monica Horner from Cakes by Mojo...
My name is Monica. I am a mother of a 15 month old, as well as a step-mother to eight & seven year olds. I have a full-time office job, but cakes & cupcakes have always been my true passion. I have been baking since I was a young girl. I loved helping in the kitchen with my mom, grandma and aunt's while they baked.

This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show and I'm very excited about it! Everything inspires me to create. Whether it is for a wedding, birthday, baby shower, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party, religious,  graduation,  engagement party, retirement, holiday or just because, my clients' visions also help me get inspired. I have always loved to bake & decorate cakes & cupcakes. I remember at a young age I would use my mom's cake decorating tools to decorate my own cakes for her, which only a mother could love. 

Through the years I have watched many TV dessert shows & have experimented a lot. In recent years I have taken some decorating classes at local craft stores. Now, my cakes & cupcakes actually look like what they are suppose to.

I discovered my talent by feedback from friends & family. I would always bring a dessert of some sort to pot luck. I am creative by just trying something, i.e. a new recipe or design. I have made a lot of cakes, cupcakes and cookies that sounded yummy or looked beautiful in my head. But, did not quite workout how I expected in real life. Luckily, I have great taste testers at home. 

In 5 years I see myself doing my business full-time. Everyday is better with cake!

Meet Billy Lacy...
Billy Lacy was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and is from the Cherokee Nation.   During the late 1950’s his family moved to California, as part of the government’s Indian Relocation programs. Billy served in the Marines during the Viet Nam conflict. After returning home, he worked in the west on ranches as a cowboy. He started doing silverwork in the eighties while ranching.  

Today, Billy works in gold, silver, platinum and titanium. He lets the stone dictate the piece. Billy's style is both traditional and contemporary with a strong Native American influence. He has won several prestigious awards for his silver and gold jewelry at both Indian Art Shows and Non-Indian Art Shows. 

In 2009 he was named Best New Artist at Indian Summer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he also took Second Place at Rancocus Indian Art Festival in Rancocus, New Jersey.  

In 2010, Billy took Best in Show in the Circle of Art at Indian Summer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and an Award of Merit at Castle of Art Affair, Delaware, Ohio. Billy served as Vice Chairman and Board Member of the Oconee County Arts Foundation in Watkinsville,Georgia, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and education of the arts.  

Billy attended Montana State College in Billings, Montana, where he studied business and theology.  Billy is also a children’s storyteller. His stories come alive with his wit and humor.  He currently resides in Jeromesville, Ohio with his wife Sharon.

2013 Summit County Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday & Sunday October 19 & 20, 2013 11:00am-5:00pm

St. George's Fellowship Centre

3204 Ridgewood Rd.

Fairlawn, OH 44333

For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator

at info@avantgardeshows.com

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