Meet the Fabulous Fairlawn Crafters!

Meet Mark Ash from Relief Carvings and Wood Wizards by Mark Ash...
Hello! I'm Mark Ash and I'm thrilled to be part of the 2016 Fairlawn Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. This is my first chance to show my carvings in Fairlawn and it is also a homecoming for me. I grew up south of Akron in Coventry Township, but have been calling the deep woods of Pennsylvania home for over 30 years now.

I took up whittling and carving as a hobby. At first, I just whittled toys for my children. Then, I discovered relief carving. I am self taught, but I soon realized that I had a knack for it as my carvings began selling in craft stores and even in an art gallery in Pittsburgh. 

Almost five years ago, I stopped taking commissions and began carving what is near and dear to my heart, wildlife! I love studying wildlife and am always looking for that perfect photo to bring to life on the board. I do all of my carvings by hand, no machinery involved, and I never duplicate my carvings! The goal behind my work is to get the audience to recognize the truly magnificent wildlife we have on this planet. 

Meet Todd Hiney from Custom Pet Portraits by Toddy Hiney...
I'm a 43-year old artist residing in Aurora, Ohio, who is happily married and the father of two incredible children. I've been drawing and painting since I was a little kid, it's something that came very naturally to me. Professionally, I have just started my business venture of painting and drawing pets. This will be my first Avant-Garde show!

Being able to express myself and produce artwork that brings me contentment is one of my largest inspirations to create. I find the entire creative process to be therapeutic and enlightening. And, as a father, it's important for me to show my kids that you can express yourself in a variety of different ways. It's been fun to watch them become more interested in what I do and want to share in painting and drawing. 

I want people to respond in a positive way when they see my work. I want them to appreciate the beauty of the subject matter and understand that all animals deserve our respect, love, and protection. 

Meet Dorothy and Maryann from Touch of Mink, Designs in Clay...
Hi! We're Dorothy and Maryann! We're sisters who are the proprietors of Touch of Mink, Designs in Clay. We started doing shows 13 years ago and had so much fun making and selling our products that we haven't stopped! We do hand built and slab pottery, which gives us more flexibility and creativity in the pieces we produce. This is our first Avant-Garde show!

 Dorothy is a self-taught artist who enjoys traditional art mixed with whimsical fantasy. A life long collector of old things, she likes to mix those items in with new pieces. Through her art, she enjoys bringing a little joy and humorous fun into people's lives.

Maryann took some classes in art and likes to look at many different art mediums, not just pottery, which helps her create many different kinds of pieces. Her goal is to build function but fun pieces of art that are unique in style and color, ensuring no two pieces will ever be alike. 

Meet Helaina DePace from Treasured Ink...
My name is Helaina and I'm a wife to a wonderful husband, hair stylist of 8 (almost 9) years, and a volunteer at a non-profit youth ministry, where I work with and mentor at risk youth. I have been creating cards and other paper crafts for a little under 2 years now and this will be my second Avant-Garde show!

I have kept every card that I have ever received, as they hold such fond memories of people, holidays, accomplishments, and more. I cherish those memories and believe others feel the same, so I wanted to be a part of those memories! I draw inspiration from everything and anything but most of my inspiration comes from my love for people. I am a firm believer in encouraging others, and what better way to do that than with a hand-crafted card?

The hope of being a part of a memorable occasion for someone is the motivation that drives my work. My cards have been a first Mother's Day card for a mom who was not supposed to be able to have children, a first anniversary card for a newly married couple, and an anniversary card for a couple married for a decade. There have been so many other awesome occasions I have been able to be a part of. I want my cards to create smiles, joy, and memories to those who receive them.

2016 Summit County Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, November 5, 2016 - 10:00am-5:00pm

St. George's Fellowship Center

3204 Ridgewood Rd.

Fairlawn, OH 44333

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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It's Almost Showtime, Fairlawn!

Meet Kathleen Hooper from Kh Quality Creations...
Floral arranging has always been an interest of mine. When I retired from my local school system in 2011, I had the opportunity to take floral arranging classes via the University of Akron Continuing Education Department. Although the classes were focused on arranging fresh flowers, I soon switched to silk and fabric flowers.

In the building where I took classes, there was a craft shoppe. I submitted one of my floral pieces to be approved by the shoppe board. Later that week my piece was approved, so I began bringing in more pieces for consignment sale. I realized I had talent when my items began to sell.

As I became more confident in my work, I began participating in craft shows. That is also when I decided to open an Etsy shop to sell my creations online. I view my work as a hobby. I truly enjoy having an idea about an arrangement or wreath and completing the item. 

Meet Cat Clark from At Last Fine Arts & Crafts...
I am the sister in a brother and sister art business. My brother and I were separated through adoption on the day I was born, and we recently found each other in 2010. I have been doing art for most of my life, while my brother just started painting a month ago. This will be our first Avant-Garde show!

Everything inspires us to create, sunsets, clouds, emotions, trees, and everything else in our environments. I like to use art as a form of meditation and appreciations; I find it very therapeutic. I believe both of us have always had talent. I think everybody has talent, it's just a matter of when they discover it. My brother has just found his and is learning that it is never too late to find what you love.

During my creative process, I tend to not think about the end product. I like to let my ideas flow and typically, good things happen. I end up with something I had no idea I would create that day. For me, it's about the journey.

My dreams are to help bring local artists together and to find a way to make art my career, because art is what makes me truly happy. The message behind our business is a very simple one: it's never too late to find what you love.

Meet Rita Bartram from Oh So Delicious...
I always loved to make appetizers and desserts, so last year, when I decided to start a business, I began with those two strengths. I did this because when you embark on a new adventure, you want it to involve something you love, otherwise, there's no point.

I played around with my favorite recipes and ingredients, took the best combinations of flavors, and created a line of dip mixes and sweet spreads. I make a variety of flavors including Very Veggie, Horsey Spinach, White Cheddar Onion, Cranberry Pecan, and Sweet Pumpkin, to name a few. I make them all from scratch and each package is hand blended. 

I started selling my mixes at a local Farmer's Market and offered all of my dips and spreads for tasting. What a fun beginning that was! I love participating in Farmer's Markets and craft shows. I'm passionate about what I do and love getting to share that passion with others. 

Meet Joe Buzolith...
I am a 69 year old gentleman who has to keep busy. I have bachelor degrees in business and marketing and currently work full-time as a senior software support analyst for the third largest software company in the world. While that work is interesting and requires creativity, there is nothing tangible at the end of the day. I think that drove my need to find a different creative channel.

I am new to jewelry making and just started my hobby business in July of 2015. I specialize in sterling silver and 14k gold jewelry with genuine gemstones. My goal is to offer something genuine and unique at a reasonable price while enjoying the shows and my new hobby. I always liked to watch jewelers work when I went to shows in the past and decided to try it. I bought the necessary tools and raided the library and internet for instructions, and here I am!

I really love to meet people at the shows and talk about my jewelry. I learn a lot from potential customers and other vendors at the shows and get ideas that may lead to another interesting piece of jewelry. I hope others will enjoy the jewelry as much as I do making it!

2016 Fairlawn Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, April 16, 2016

St. George's Fellowship Centre

3204 Ridgewood Rd.

Fairlawn, OH 44333

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

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Meet the Fabulous Fairlawn Crafters!

Meet Chris Bronson from Triple Squeeze Pottery...

My art is guided by my upbringing in a home where craftsmanship and working with one's hands was encouraged and celebrated. Watching my father persevere in his wood shop, despite his disabilities from polio, instilled a sense of pride in my own creations. The name, "Tripe Squeeze Pottery," is a tribute to my father, who, when holding my hand, always gave it three squeezes.

My clay journey began in 2010 as a student in a pottery studio where I learned the basics of clay and throwing on a pottery wheel. Clay has a way of taking hold of you and not letting go. There is always a new technique to learn and perfect. I use all commercially prepared, lead-free, food-safe glazes. Each piece is one-of-a-kind made either on a potter's wheel or by hand-building from a rolled slab of clay. I do not use molds or stencils but I do enjoy finding texture in batik stamps and nature.

My pieces are all siblings, but none of them are twins! I create strictly functional pieces, durable enough for everyday use and are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe. I think of the end user while making each piece. As a collector of others' pottery, I love the beauty that a special mug or bowl brings to my day. In a fast-paced world of technology and mass-produced items, it soothes my soul to be in my studio, elbow-deep in the mud. 

Meet Jessica Glatz from Earthy Mama Jess...

I am a wife, a mother of two sweet children, and an 8th grade science teachers. I became interested in AMEO essential oils in 2014. My goal was to improve the overall health and well being of my family and to use less of what was in my medicine cabinet. That is what inspired me to create jewelry that was pretty, fun, eclectic, and still in line with my core beliefs. I have been making necklaces since October of 2014 and recently introduced bracelets just this past February. This will be my first Avant-Garde show!

My interest in AMEO essential oils inspired me to create. I was using and selling AMEO essential oils and figured that there had to be a prettier way to wear oils, and that's when I came up with my craft! I ordered some essential oil diffuser lockets online and then begged my friends to raid their jewelry boxes. I would take anything and everything, even pieces that were broken and old. I just started putting it all together.

Anything and everything inspires me. The core collection of my pieces are made from recycled jewelry, giving new life to old pieces. The essential oil diffuser is added as charm to enhance the look of the piece. In addition, essential oils have so many benefits. The essential oil component can be personalized and tailored to the needs of the individual wearing the piece. The scent can also be changed depending on the mood or the need of the wearer. 

Meet Barbara Hubert from Eagle Wings Art...

I have always had an artistic flair in the past, from stamping cards to making and retiring cupcakes, but when I retired two years ago, I found myself lost and missing my job. I had to find something meaningful to me that was meaningful. Then I found watercolor painting! I've always loved to look at them and now wanted to try my hand at them.

I took lessons for a year or so, from a wonderfully talented artist, and off I went! I especially love to paint birds, wildlife, flowers, and other beautiful things! Every day, I look around and see trees, flowers, birds, and other wonderful things that inspire my art. 

Not only do I find painting wonderfully relaxing, I use at least half of my proceeds to support another love of mine, The Cleveland Pregnancy Center! I also volunteer there once a week and I love doing it! They operate solely on donations and I love to support them! It gives my painting a very special purpose. My life has been very busy and full since I started painting. There's never enough hours in the day. I don't have a professional studio and have to share my art room with the grandkids. What matters is I have beautiful light and a great place to paint my heart out!

2016 Fairlawn Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, April 16, 2016

St. George's Fellowship Centre

3204 Ridgewood Rd.

Fairlawn, OH 44333

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

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It's Show Time!

Meet Carolina Losada from Needles...

I am Carolina Losada, and I am currently working as an au Pair in Ohio, my mom is Gloria and she started doing scarves and hats before I was born 24 years ago, she decided to knit and designed clothes because I am the only girl between my two brothers, and she made everything for me when I was little. It is going to be our first craft show and we are so excited!

We think this is a good way of let people know about my mom´s work, she gets inspired in her creations with her 6 grandsons and granddaughters, she likes to read magazines about the new fashion for kids and try to do something new that could fit with it. My mom and I want our business to grow up more and spread it out in other countries :)

We want to let grown ups and kids know about the importance and the power of your dreams, it doesn't matter how old or young you are there is not a specific time to work hard for them, and pursue your dreams everyday, my mom and I believe that working together as family we can reach our goals.  

The message behind our work is be happy, proud and yourself in everything you want to do in your life.

Meet Uma Maheswari from Ahilu Arts...

I'm Uma, from Tamilnad, India. First daughter in family. Did my B.Tech in information technology & MBA in human resources and was working in IBM India. Came to US as dependent after marriage in 2013. There started my journey of crochet. I was pregnant in July 2013. Since I was bored being idle in home, like most mothers, I too started making sweater, blanket, beanies for my baby. Later it kept on going and here I am doing this for two and half years now. 

What inspires me to create.. 'Happiness is Handmade' I personally feel this motto. Though we have elegant and expensive dress or accessories for any special occasions, it really gives immense pleasure to have something personally made for ourselves. When I first saw my son wearing the sweater I made for him, my happiness has no boundaries and it increases each time. This is what inspires me the most. 

How I discovered my talent.. My first plan was only to make a sweater for my baby. But to my surprise I enjoyed each stitch and so happy to see the finished product. Then I made a set with blanket, beanie, mittens and shoes. I got lot more appreciation from everyone and few of my friends order for their babies and asked me for teaching crochet. When I panicked to do this as business, my husband is the one who believes in me and encouraged me to go for it.  He's the one who discovered my talent before I do and understood how much I enjoy doing this. Now With humbleness I can say I'm quite talented with satisfied customers and students as well. 

My creative process... For a year, I was making the products of available patterns as the orders come with the pictures. Later I started trying to make my own patterns for small items. I did make a carseat organizer as free hand and few baby dresses for which I had the choice to select the design. I usually combine two three patterns or try out a pattern for different product. All I know is, you'll find something new each time you explore different things. And that's the important thing to be creative.

My five year plan.. I'm not sure if I will be in US or in India after 5 years. But no matter where I will be, I will have my own boutique with wide range of choices of crochet items for babies, toddlers, girls, women plus their own choice of custom order. I also would like to teach crochet for interested people professionally with dedicated place and a structured curriculum. May the Almighty bless me to do so.

The message being my work is that Everyone deserves to be special' We all have a very special person in our lives and we'll be special to someone. I personally feel that handmade is an wonderful way to express that they are very special to us. 

I'd also like to take this as an opportunity to thank my lovely husband 'KumaR' who has been the backbone of my business and my beloved son 'Ahilan' after who 'AhiluArts' was named. And thanks to you Becki for this. It really helps me to have a self review and know where I stand. 

Meet Robyn Martins from Homegrown Shadowbox Art...

At Homegrown Shadowbox Art, I work with a variety of materials to feature poetry, snippets of literature and other sentiments, and I set my favorite topics inside shadow boxes. This is my second Avant-Garde show.

As a lover of words, a poet and former creative director, I have always been drawn to ink on paper. Since I received my first paycheck as a teenage babysitter (years ago!), I began collecting old books from various book shops, carefully setting them on shelves and moving them with me to new shelves over the years along with my most prized possessions. In fact, some of these books ARE my most prized possessions. 

But some of them have deteriorated, and some I have begun to recognize as having more value when disassembled and paired with other things like aromatic roots from the neighbor's yard, feathers that have fallen from passing birds or bark that my birch trees have shed. And I have discovered the value of fitting all of these things into shadow boxes, giving them renewed life and relevant meaning.

More recently, a variety of sources have yielded vintage magazines along with more old books, and the stories and advertisements from past eras inspire my work as well. Sometimes all it takes is an ad for ladies' corsets or a new house plan from a 1934 issue of "Women's Home Companion" to spark the setting of a new box, new with old material, new with old ideas of the ideal life.

Each box I create is a world of its own—imagine climbing into the scene, parting the foliage for a better view, stepping lightly on the coiled prose for a place to take in the details. Then imagine these boxed worlds sitting on one of your own shelves or hanging in the perfect spot on your own wall.

Meet Simone Lindsay from Simi Lindsay..

Simi Lindsay Luxury Scented Soy Candles are made with 100% natural eco soy wax, a natural wooden wick made from organic wood or 100% cotton wicks, and high quality phtalate free fragrance oils, assuring you receive a cleaner burning, longer lasting, richly scented soy candle. Our candles are non-toxic, eco-friendly and water soluble. Since the candles are made with natural ingredients, the containers can be safely repurposed after cleaning with soap and hot water. SIMI LINDSAY brand Soy candles are a green, healthy choice for sharing and enjoying your favorite scents.

I have always been very interested in arts and crafts and I got inspired by another candle maker in Pennsylvania. I wanted to create candles with unique scents and with the environment in mind.

The creative process is to hand select each fragrance and to develop a candle that is handcrafted one at a time.

My five year goal.. I will see the business growing as an online business and wholesale business to other businesses by offering private label options.

My message is to create clean, eco friendly products that are enjoyed by people.

Meet Bryn Young from Larry and Boo's Emporium...

I am a fabric junkie and an inveterate DIY-er.  I always had decorating and sewing projects going on the weekends, and when I was off work having babies, I dabbled I. The craft show market and loved it.  But alas I had to go back to work and my projects returned to the weekends.  Despite being a single mom, working full time, and traveling for my job several times a year I still managed to keep my creative life alive.  When I retired in 2008 I finally got to focus on my creativity full time.

I began crafting as my main activity in 2008 in Florida where I had retired.  My neighborhood had a local farmers'/craft market every week so I started making little girls' dresses and stuffed owls and was pretty successful! We also do special orders! We have done a complete nursery, custom animals, custom yoga wall hangings, upholstery and curtains.

What inspires me is Fabric, fabric, fabric!!! I adore fabrics, so I have to make things so I can use the fabric I acquire.  I just see a fabric and know it is meant to be a certain animal or wall hanging to piece of clothing.  Also my customers.  They love that I use recycled (thrifted or donated), some vintage, fabrics and coordinate them in unexpected wants.  When they ask for an animal they don't see, I design one for the next show.  Sometimes the hardest decision is what to display on a 6 or 8 foot table because I have such a diverse menagerie.

How I discovered my talent.. My Mom (now gone) was always talented.  She upholstered our furniture and made most of my clothes, and when I had children, she made theirs.  She taught me to sew when I was in 7th grade.  I discovered my talent for sewing and decorating through her coaching.

My creative process.. Because I do so many shows now, I kind of have an assembly line.  I used to make each item individually, but it became inefficient.  So I savor each step:  shopping or sorting fabric, deciding what project for each, making a design, assembling all the "bling" that goes with the item.  After I have a group of "kits", I sew them.  I usually stuff while watching TV at night.

My five year goal.. I hope my following with grow and I will continue to create new patterns, product lines, etc., but quite honestly I don't have a major business plan.  I had to plan, schedule, go to meetings, budget, supervise others, write reports for 40 years, and now  I just want to create and share my creations with others.  My business provides fun money for tee times and dinners out and travel with friends.  That's more than enough for my "golden years".

My message behind my work is that cuteness and cuddlingwhimsey and fun, are crucial components of life for children AND adults; that spending $10 or $20 on something that makes you smile and may have no particular function, is OKAY! 

Meet Alena Ruman from Hodgepodge Knits...

My grandma taught me how to knit when I was in elementary school. But I lost interest and did other things. In high school, I took a crafts class with a knitting unit. I picked it up again right away and have been expanding my skill set ever since.

I love creating new patterns and combining new stitch combinations. I am what you would call an ADD knitter. I would be driven insane if I limited myself to the same 5 projects over and over again. That is exactly why my shop is called Hodgepodge Knits. Each item is unique and may never be seen again in the shop. I also sell original patterns so that you can be inspired too!

While I am ADD with the projects I create, when the needles are in my hands I can get very OCD! I notice every mistake I make, even if it is just 1 twisted stitch, and fix it on the spot. Rest assured, every product that passes through my hands are of the highest quality possible.

2015 Fairlawn Winterl Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, December 19, 2015

10:00am-5:00pm

St. George's Fellowship Center

3204 Ridgewood Rd.

Fairlawn, OH 44333

For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

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