Less Than 24 Hours to Go!

Meet Amanda Packard from The Phoenix Quill...
Hi! I’m Amanda, and I am a pyrography artist.  My passion is to burn pictures into wood, leather, and cork, while adding occasional colors.  When I started Woodburning, it was a fun hobby to create traditional family signs and gifts for friends.  Since then, it has evolved into a true art form where the sky is the limit. I've been doing this for 13 years and this will be my first Avant-Garde show!

What inspires me most to create is any whimsical subject matter, animals, fantasy art, etc. What got me interested into this kind of crafting was just a curiosity that grew into a full time passion. I've been creating since I was old enough to hold a crayon! 

Meet Lauren Brenneman from Simply Cypress Glassware...

My name is Lauren Brenneman and I am a Cincinnati transplant (Cleveland native) and have lived here for almost 7 years. I attended the University of Cincinnati and obtained a degree in Marketing and Sports Administration. I’m a die-hard Cleveland sports fan but also love me some FC Cincinnati soccer! I am a marketer/advertiser by day but a dog-mom and crafter by night! I have been crafting all my life but this is my first year actually doing shows and getting my hand-made products out there. This is my first Avant-Garde event!

I’ve always loved to craft, ever since I was a kid but it really ramped up in college when I was too broke to give expensive presents for the Holidays. There really is nothing quite like watching a family member or friend open a handmade and personalized gift and then seeing them use that gift for years to come. I made my mom a wine glass my freshman year of college (when I couldn’t afford to give her a huge Christmas gift) and to this day, she still says it’s one of her favorite presents and uses it all the time. Net-net, what inspires me is being able to provide people with unique glassware that they can give as gifts or keep for their own enjoyment, all while knowing that each piece is as unique as we all are. 

I’ve always been a creative person. I learned the Adobe software in High School and ever since then, I’ve loved to creative personalized items whether it’s in the form of t-shirt designs, hand-painted glassware, invitations, etc. Whether it’s a wineglass, cocktail glass, beer stein, ornament, etc., the design I choose to move forward with always depends on what type of glass I’m working with. In 5 years I would love to continue to do shows and eventually open up my own online shop where customers can easily submit custom orders or purchase products online. Each piece is as unique as we all are and there are a variety of different items to choose from so you can

find something for just about anyone!

Meet Christina Cullis from Serendipitous Dips...

I'm a Cincinnati native and am married with two furbabies! I've been selling online for a few years, but have only been in the craft show circuit for 2 years, and this will be my first Avant-Garde show! 

Serendipitous Dips was born both out of my love for dips, and, frankly, a desire for ease and simplification. I think anyone can relate to the small-scale panic that sets in when you are invited to a potluck or over a friend's house. My first thought was always, "What do I make/buy/bring?" I started just experimenting with some dip recipes to make them my own. When my friends asked for the recipes, that made me wonder if I could back into a dry version of the mixes, so all they'd have to do is add 1-2 ingredients, stir and serve. I have a huge family and tested out dozens and dozens of mixes before arriving at my current set - and even then I still experiment!

My creative process is lots of tasting and adjusting. It really is about trial and error. My husband jokes that he always wanted to be a "taster tester" when he was going up... so now he gets to be chief "taster tester." (I will say though, he tends to be an inventory liability.) What I love most about food/snacks/dips is that, inherently, if you are bringing a dip platter somewhere, you are likely going to a meeting of family and/or friends. My most rewarding moments are when a customer comes back to buy more dips and tells me "I made this for Thanksgiving last year and it got gobbled up in 5 minutes!" I love the idea that my product is a small part of a community or family coming together. 

2018 Cincinnati Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 10:00am-5:00pm

Oasis Golf Club & Conference Center

902 Loveland-Miamiville Rd.

Loveland, OH 45140

For more information, contact Amanda Look, Event Coordinator at Amanda@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

We Are Just Around The Corner Cincy!

Meet Deb Sturdevant from...
I am passionate about color and design. I studied both fashion and interior design in college, along with getting my healthcare degrees and certifications. I ran my own clothing design and alterations business since I was 16 years old but have had many and varied artistic interests and pursuits during my lifetime. From fiber artist, interior designer, clothing and wearable art designer, liturgical vestment and parament designer, to fabricating and designing polymer clay jewelry (my current love).

My inspirations are, first and foremost, everything I see, feel and experience. I have a passion for color and design. Sometimes thoughts and planning of my next creation keep me awake at night! I use color and design from numerous sources as inspirations for my necklaces. For example, I may see a piece of artwork, a piece of fabric, or an article of clothing that inspires my design. I transfer that inspiration into polymer clay. I also incorporate glass beads, gemstones and Swarovski crystals into many of my designs. My creations are all unique and the owners can boast of having a one of a kind piece of polymer clay art jewelry.

Crafting and creating art came naturally to me. As a child, I was always involved in art projects. I

attended 12 years of art classes at the Toledo Museum of art, learning about different mediums. I would describe my creative process as fluid and natural, but sometimes instantaneous. I am a visual thinker and when designs pop into my head I then sketch those images so that I can continue to develop my design. I would like being an artist to be my full-time retirement career. The thought of leaving my art behind as part of my legacy appeals to me. Life is too short - don’t be afraid of color and design! Dare to accessorize your wardrobe and home with a unique piece of art that speaks to you.

Meet Greg Enslen, Author of 27 Titles...

I'm an author based in Dayton, Ohio. I've written twenty-seven books, including four books in the “Frank Harper Mysteries” series and three other novels. I also write original screenplays and guides for popular TV shows such as “Game of Thrones” and “Mr. Robot.” I live in southern Ohio with my wife, three children, three dogs and an indeterminate number of cats. My interests include travel, reading, film and television, and yelling at various sports franchises. I enjoy writing late at night, after everyone else has finally trudged off to bed and the house is quiet.

I've been writing all my life, finishing my first book, Black Bird, in 1993. It was an arduous process, getting that published, but in 2010, I got back into writing full time after closing a business. Now I'm writing all the time-it's crazy. I really get my inspiration from the world around me, including lots of tiny little interactions that probably would mean very little to anyone else. I heard somewhere that writers are professional observers, and I'd have to agree with that--many times, I hear or see something that makes me think, and I jot it down in my notebook or on some random scrap of paper to squirrel away for later.

I read a lot of great books when I was younger and always wondered what it would be like to tell stories like that. At some point, I remembers specifically reading "The Stand" by Stephen King, and that book showed me what could be accomplished, if you took the time and made the effort. I have a whole list of things I'm working on, and try to prioritize whatever is most interesting to me at the time. I do a lot of research before I start writing. I think it's important to be confident about what you are writing, and that comes from researching a topic or location. 

My books tend to be hopeful-bad things may happen to characters, but usually the good and just win out over the bad folks. I'm drawn to stories that tell a tale in an interesting way, and tend to avoid stories that just exist for their own sake or are pushing some kind of agenda. In my experience, agenda-driven stories are just that: about the agenda first, then a good story second. And often the story aspects suffer. That being said, I try to incorporate a theme in each fiction work, and I try to come up with an interesting take on it. I hope to continue writing, really, until my eyes go. Of course, by then, maybe we'll have robot eyes. Who knows. 

Meet Tracy Macmorine from...

Hi, I'm Tracy Macmorine, originally from northern OH. I started my business one year ago, just wrapping gifts. When January hit I added gift baskets and retail items, and started crafting over the summer in preparation for Halloween and Christmas sales. To develop my and grow my business I took part in the Aviatra Explore Small Business Accelerator program, numerous SCORE workshops and have had guidance from a SCORE Mentor. 

My grandmother was seriously into crafting and making, and most of my birthday or holiday gifts from her involved some sort of crafting kit.  I spent a number of summers with her, in AZ, and she had me making all sorts of things alongside her, that she would sell at her church bazaar: angels made from palm fronds, baby dolls made from baby socks, patchwork quilt skirts, and one summer we scouted old trunks from flea markets and refinished them. For me, this creative work is a way of focusing, I'll get a spark of an idea and boom! Tunnel vision while my imagination investigates, twisting and turning the idea until I reach a point where I have to start playing hands-on.

In five years, I would like to be doing more online sales, have a studio where I can both work and host crafting workshops, with a storefront attached. Although in the short term I still need some sort of day-job, I'm hoping Wrap Artistry can eventually be full time and retirement. A lot what I do is adapting and embellishing something that already exists. I love that I can make something beautiful out of these vines that I've been cutting back for years because they choke out all of the other plants. I love going old school with bar soap, using the technique my grandmother taught me when I was a child to waterproof the image. With my Snowbursts, I love that I can make such a cool thing out of some simple toothpicks. So I guess my mssage would have to do with seeking beauty from the mundane.

Meet Nancy Borchers from Designs by Nancy Leigh...

After many years as a mathematics educator, I found my love of geometry came in handy when designing artistic fun and functional products. Sewing requires accurate measurements and the application of all sorts of geometry concepts. By adding a little artistic twist to various shapes, I have developed a number of items that are fun and useful. I learned to create specialty embroidery about 2 years ago. Since then I have been digitizing my designs and stitching them onto fun and functional products.

The winter show will be my second show. I love working with the Avant-Garde staff as they are dedicated to include excellent artists in their shows. Each item is made to be fun and functional. I begin with an idea, create a pattern for my products (e.g. wallet, gift tag holder, notebook/journal, clutch bag), and digitize a design to be embroidered onto each item. 

It is fun to find ways to create items that people can use and enjoy. I especially like to create items that meet a specific need for my clients. My mother taught me to sew when I was only 5 years old. She was always creating a new craft and sharing them with friends and family. Through the years, I learned how to pay special attention to detail and create pieces that are fun and functional. I would like to incorporate “thread painting” into my line of products. These designs would be unique and based on inspirational messages. Each product is designed for folks to enjoy their embroidered treasure while using it every day! 

2018 Cincinnati Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 10:00am-5:00pm

Oasis Golf Club & Conference Center

902 Loveland-Miamiville Rd.

Loveland, OH 45140

For more information, contact Amanda Look, Event Coordinator at Amanda@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Coming to you This Weekend Cincy!

Meet Heidi from Stone Black Collective...
We are a husband & wife team who love animals. Being Full time caregivers to his father, this work allows us to have income, do what we love, and take care of dad. We’ve been creating forever, but Stone Black Collective started this year, and this will be our first Avant-Garde show!

Everything inspires us to create! (I’m sure everyone says that, haha!) Nature, our animals. Trends of course, and we both naturally crafty. It’s our outlet.  Ben started wood working about 7 years ago, while working for his brother. He created these gorgeous tables and absolutely loves it. Now he incorporates his metal working into his wood working. I prefer smaller projects, like dream catchers and coat racks. I literally on a whim just start designing something.

Our creative process always starts as a picture in our heads. Draw it out on paper. Then start making!  In the future, we would love to be doing this full time in 5 years!  The message behind our work is natural, simple, beautiful!

Meet Cilene Vaz from BowTerFlower...

I am married and mother of 2 kids and a cute dog.  I have a college degree in Business and Masters in Marketing. I worked 11 years for international companies in Brazil. Then, I left the corporate job and started to learn all about decorative arts, such as mosaic, collage, decoupage, photography, etc. Then, I moved to the US, had my kids and started to be a stay-home mom. Combining all the knowledge that I have acquired in arts and the desire to create something for children to feel special and unique, I launched BowTerFlower. At the beginning, I was only selling to close friends, almost like a hobby, but then the demand increased, and I decided to turn into a business.

It is my first time at Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I am super excited to have this opportunity to share our exclusive designs. My daughter was my inspiration. I started to design bows to match her outfits. The way she felt was inspiring. She told me once: “ Mom, I am the only princess that has this bow, I feel so special. Thank you, mom.” She followed the thank you with a warm hug. And I felt so compelled to share this feeling with other moms and I also want other girls to feel as special as my daughter was feeling. I realized that when those girls had something unique to wear, that only belong to her, her self-esteem and confidence also increased. I will never forget that hug and her vibrant smile.

I got into crafts because craft for me represents your unique art and way of perceiving the world. I also enjoy the feeling of create something with my hands, so I can see, touch and feel. I grew up with my mother and sister, who are very talented in arts and crafts, and I felt the happiness and joy that my mother and sister felt when they were creating crafts, and I realized that I also have the talent to do it.  In 5 years, I want my business to be well known to all parents in our region. I want to create long-term relationships with my clients and to be the “go-to person” for creating bows to all special occasions in their lives.

Meet Julie Long from Maddi's Melts...

We are a mother and daughter duo who loves all things that smell good. We have been making candles and melts for about 2 years. This is our first time participating in an Auant- Garde Art and Craft Show. We started making candles and melts for personal use and decided to share. Our creations for others to enjoy.

Basically making our own candles and melts inspired us into the craft side of the hobby. A lot of people love our candles and melts so we can continued to create for ourselves and others. We love experimenting with new scents and styles and it’s a mother/daughter bonding time as well. Our process is family time. Hopefully in 5 years we will have our own stores.  Candles and melts are great to make your home or office smell amazing but also are great for emergencies and power outages. Soy wax burns slow and clean holding fragrances for hours and hours till you get to the bottom of the jar. 

2018 Cincinnati Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 10:00am-5:00pm

Oasis Golf Club & Conference Center

902 Loveland-Miamiville Rd.

Loveland, OH 45140

For more information, contact Amanda Look, Event Coordinator at Amanda@ag-shows.com

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM