Meet Amanda Brown from Cultivations Plant Shop...
We sell plants! All propagated by me: Hi 👋 I'm Amanda! I have been growing houseplants since I was a kid, and selling them for over a decade! I have a wide variety of tropicals, succulents, natives, edibles and a rare variety or two 🪴 🌱. We use plant power to make skin nourishing balms from our plants too! See us in Cincinnati craft shows, and Etsy!
Cultivations Plant Shop has been official since Spring 2024, but we have been growing and selling plants for over 15 years!
This is our first year in the Avant-Garde craft show!
Nature inspires me most! I love making a beautiful planter that I think will work well with a specific plant. The plants themselves usually inspire me.
I started keeping houseplants as home decor when my daughters were very little to spruce up our space. Over the years I had drifted in and out of the hobby, keeping lots or very little plants in our home. About 5 years ago I really dove into learning about plants, soil, bacteria, and fungi and became fascinated with the subject. I began collecting all sorts of plants and understanding how they grow and what environments work best for them. Selling propagations was actually someone else's idea! It has just grown exponentially since then.
When I really educated myself on plants and soil, that's when I saw the quality of my plants blossom. I have always had a natural talent, but knowledge was the key to my plant successes.
Painting planters, making plant hangers, and terrariums are all more of a meditation or zen for me. I always find myself creating as a means of release from the thoughts and feelings that can sometimes plague us all.
I have quite the plans for my plant business! I want to go mobile! I would love to purchase and retro fit an old bus as a mobile plant shop, and home for me! My daughters will be grown up and moved out in a few short years, so taking the plant shop on the road is the next step.
Our message is that anyone can grow plants! You just have to be willing to learn.
Meet Olive Frank from Maria Mundi...
My name is Olive Frank, and I’m the owner of Magia Mundi, which translates to “magic of the world” in Latin. I’ve always been deeply passionate about spirituality and finding beauty in nature. I create a variety of metaphysical goods, including finding unique crystals, handmade journals, meditation candles, handmade crystal jewelry, and antiques. My artistic side shines through in my work, as I enjoy crafting unique pieces with intention and love.
I started Magia Mundi in 2024, and it’s been amazing to watch my business grow from the ground up in such a short time. The spring and fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows will be my first shows, and I’m really excited to be a part of them!
My inspiration comes from my deep connection to spirituality and my love for nature. I’m always in awe of the natural world, and I love incorporating that sense of wonder into the pieces I create. The process of bringing something new and meaningful into the world is incredibly fulfilling.
I’ve always been a very creative person, whether it’s jewelry making, drawing, or just about any other artistic pursuit. Crafting has always felt like a way to channel my emotions and thoughts into something tangible. Over time, that passion for creating evolved into my business.
My talent for crafting grew naturally over time, especially as I immersed myself in spiritual practices and began creating items that aligned with my beliefs. It felt like a calling, and when I started making jewelry and metaphysical goods for myself, I realized I had a knack for creating unique, meaningful pieces that resonated with others.
My creative process is very organic. I like to let the energy and intention of each item guide me. Every piece I create is crafted with love and care, and I aim to make each item unique so that it speaks to the right person. It’s all about feeling out what the piece wants to be and letting that intuition guide me.
In five years, I see myself expanding Magia Mundi into a brick-and-mortar shop, creating a safe space for people to explore and discover their spirituality. I want to help people find items that resonate with them and foster a sense of connection, peace, and self-discovery.
The message behind my work is one of connection, intention, and authenticity. I aim to create pieces that help people on their spiritual journeys and encourage them to embrace their true selves. I want my customers to feel that the items they purchase are more than just objects—they are meaningful and infused with positive energy.
My website: www.magiamundi.com, instagram @magiamundistore, Thanks!!
Meet Shannon Shiba from Covered Adire Collective...
My name is Shannon Shibia, and I’m the CEO of Covered Adire Collective. I create 100% handmade wearable art and accessories using traditional Adire fabric hand-dyed in Nigeria. I am a mother, wife, and lover of Christ. A modern day Proverbs 31 Women.
I’ve been sewing and creating since junior high, but officially launched Covered Adire Collective this year.
I’m also deeply inspired by the bond I share with my daughter. Creating with her by my side—watching her smile as we complete a piece, or seeing her light up when a customer admires our work—is an experience I’ll always cherish. It's more than just making something beautiful; it's about teaching her life lessons through creativity, hard work, and pride in our culture.
I’m also driven by the joy of seeing a customer’s face when they not only love the design but realize it solves a problem for them—whether it's how it fits, how it functions, or how it makes them feel.
It started with school projects, but I found myself going beyond the assignments—making fascinators and accessories just for fun. That’s when I realized I had a gift.
My creative process is collaborative and intentional. I design pieces inspired by culture and functionality, partner with Nigerian artisans for the fabric, and hand-make the accessories with my daughter.
My five year plan.. Expanding into a full lifestyle brand with global reach, empowering more artisans, and building a physical studio in Abuja, Nigeria and in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The message behind my work cultural pride, creativity, and connection. Every piece tells a story—of heritage, craftsmanship, and love.
Meet Debbie Steiner from Red Bird Art Studio...
I am a local Loveland artist. I work in acrylic, using unconventional painting tools, such as bubble wrap and napkins
I've been painting my entire life, but taken it seriously since I retired. I finally have time to devote to my art. This will be my third Avant-Garde show.
I'm inspired by all types of nature and mythical creatures. I got into this craft from my high school art teacher. She was awesome! I discovered my talent in high school. I understood concepts and could create focal points and depth easily.
My creative process is from ideas from all sources, visualizing the result, then finding new ways to create it.
The message in my work is have items in your home that give you peace and joy.
Meet Laura Molander from Yohanna Boutique Jewelry...
This is my first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & craft show, and I hope you will help me make it an experience to remember. Yohanna Boutique Jewelry focuses on bold statement pieces for those not afraid to truly be themselves.
I am a lifelong learner who is always expanding into different mediums and crafty projects. My background is in fashion design and costuming. I still do costume design for operas and on cruise ships, but my main gig is teaching underprivileged men and women how to sew at the Sarah Center. This program focuses on helping them to find a creative outlet and earn supplemental income, with some continuing to make it their career.
I love teaching and watching my students grow and gain confidence is priceless to me. About a year ago I branched out to focus more on my jewelry business. But, I started my company 7 years ago. In the beginning it was mostly to feed my travel addiction. My goal was to leave the country at least once a year, and I have stuck to it! Now I’m taking a leap of faith with my business and myself; one that I hope customers like you will help me take it to the next level. My goal is to build my clientele enough to support an online store. And hopefully have more than travel money in the future.
You will find materials from all over the world in my unique jewelry and fiber arts creations. I consider myself a mixed medium wearable artist. Lately I’ve gotten into making jewelry from recycled zippers. They tend to be bold statement pieces, sculptural in design. I incorporate a lot of upcycled materials in my work. I like that I am working with materials that already have a past and continuing their story.
Each jewelry piece represents a different time in my life, invokes a different feeling, and connects back to nature and the raw elements. It’s not just a necklace it’s a story. One that continues to grow for the customer who buys it. I love doing custom work, like incorporating buttons from a lost loved one into wire wrapped pieces.
As a person with a mental health disability, art is healing to me. It gives me an outlet to sort through complicated emotions and difficult periods in my life.
Each piece is completely unique, and I never know what it will look like until it’s done.Jewelry making for me, is about putting together all these raw materials and creating something completely new. It’s adding a little bit more beauty to a world in which we forget to; stop, look around, and find the beauty beneath the rubble.
Meet Brenda Potts from CoziNests...
At heart, I am an artist. My roots are exposed, authentic, and expansive—I love to stretch myself and am always learning, whether through photography, oil painting, glass cutting, or repurposing objects that have been discarded or foraged from nature. I believe art doesn’t only belong on gallery walls, but in the flow of everyday life—in the objects we touch, the spaces we inhabit, and the rituals that ground us.
CoziNests was born from this vision: to make art more accessible, integrated, and alive in the world. It is more than a business—it is a reflection of my journey as an artist and maker, a testament to the power of creativity, and an offering of light and love to all who encounter it.
I have been doing this for 3.5 year. This will be my first Avant-Garde show.
I'm inspired by Curiosity, and the desire to be a light-bearer—to make the world just a little brighter.
How I got into my craft.. I'm an empty nest. When my children—twins—began stepping into adulthood, the quiet felt vast. What once was filled with their laughter and needs became open space, and I began filling it with creativity. That freedom became fertile ground for my next transformation.
My five year goal.. I live in the moment, always striving to make the time I’m in as magical as possible. I imagine five years from now will be filled with that same magic. I believe joy is something you make, not just something you stumble upon. Each creation I offer is meant to spark delight in the everyday.
The message behind my work is to spread light, foster pride in our community, and show that art can be both functional and meaningful—a light for the planet.
2025 Cincinnati Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
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