Meet Ethel (Penny) Rainey from Mia's Mixed Media...
My name is Ethel but everyone calls me Penny with the exception of my grandchildren, they call me Mia. I'm a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a great friend. By nature I’m a quiet person but very passionate about the things I love. I have been employed by the state of Ohio for over 31 years with most of those years working in a civilian role at the highway patrol. I've only been doing mixed media for about 4 years and I am growing and loving it more each and every day.
This Spring will be my first Avant-Garde show I will participate in but hopefully not my last. I'm mostly inspired to create by colors or moods (emotions). When I see something beautiful or interesting my mind always goes to how I can turn it into a painting or art.
I got into mixed media unfortunately out of the loss of my oldest son Kyal. It was a way to focus my mind on something other than grief and a way to turn "ashes to beauty". I just started putting colors together on canvas then giving the finished product to someone that was grieving in their own way. It would make them smile and ease their pain a little. I still do this and it gives me a somewhat of creating with a purpose.
I didn't even know I could do anything like this, I was watching videos on YouTube and I thought I can try this. Little did I know I would grow to love it, after all I couldn't even draw. I just kept practicing, experimenting and spending tons of money on materials lol, but it helped. I took an online course in a Swipe technique and the rest is history!
My creative process is a little strange, at least I think it is to other people. I always start with color thinking what I want to make or paint, do I want it as a painting or a color on a vase or both. Then I picture the lines and angles, how I want it to flow. What materials do I choose how do I lay it all out. I do this all normally while standing still like I'm day dreaming but that's how I normally come up with my next project. I see it mentally first then I try to bring it to life.
I see myself in 5 years, since I will be retired, just spending more time creating. Traveling doing shows and fine tuning my craft.
The message behind my work is that each and every piece I create was done intentionally, not to sell or make a profit but to create something colorful and in my opinion beautiful that can bring a smile to someone's face or spark a positive conversation. That it's true that sometimes beauty can come from ashes.
Meet Micheal Crawford from The Fresh Pot Mobile...
My name is Michael Crawford, you can call me Chef Mikey C or the sauce man. I am a passionate chef/artist in the hospitality industry with a Bachelors degree in Hospitality Management. I have been an entrepreneur since 2018 and this will be my first time (of many) showcasing my product at Avant Garde craft shows!
I was inspired in my younger years by Emerald the popular Italian chef which led me to where I am today. The possibilities of where I can take my bussiness is limitless which inspires me everyday to work hard on my passion. Getting into my craft hobby started out when I realized I needed to simplify my approach to entrepreneurship. I wanted to do something that was easy to me but still showed off my passion and skill in the craft.
In the past I worked various cooking jobs and discovered I had a talent after being able to pick up the skills of each job fairly quickly. This lead me to applying those skills to my own brand, my bussiness among other aspects of my life. My creative process is simple. I go for what I know works and follow industry trends while keeping my personal touch obvious in my products. I sample food from many different cultures along with drinks, sauces, gravy and more. This helps me by sparking the creative part of my mind. I also study cooking shows, including competition shows. watching people on the shows being forced to think quickly on their feet and trust their instincts helps me get into the same mindset while I undergo my creative process.
In five years I see my brand of quality products growing large enough to allow me the opportunity to travel around the world. Setting up pop-up events from my food/sauce trailer and sharing my products with many different communities. The Messaging behind my products is simple, a repeated concept in my business, do what you love and find ways for that love and passion to never die out. Believe in yourself. Something that may seem small can become large if you put the work and time into it and let it grow.
Meet Emily Vitori from Syreene Studios...
My husband and I have been Cincinnati residents for over twenty years, with him as a graphic designer and photographer, and me as an art teacher. Now that he is retired and I am working in the banking industry, we both continue our love of the arts by making crafts at home for friends and individual commissions, and have decided to try and expand by joining the art festival circuit.
My husband has been exploring his ability to create using resin, and I have moved on from illustrations to crafting jewelry and hand painting the resin figurines that he has been creating. We have been teaming up on this craft for three years now, but this will be our first Avant-Garde show!
My husband has always been inspired by the uses of color, and resin crafting has been a great way for him to explore that love through the application of different inks and powders to get his colorful creations.
As an ex-art teacher, I have always believed in the therapeutic ability of art to help people express themselves, and I find it to be a wonderful form of meditation in these stressful times. I've always been creating things since I was a child, and expanding into the craft hobby and art festivals seemed like a natural progression.
As the youngest child in the family I saw the artistic ability of my father, mother and siblings, and reasoned that I should have it too...so I did a little of everything from illustrations and pottery to printmaking and jewelry making until I found the things that made me happy.
My creative process includes putting on my headphones taking a deep breath and letting whatever's inside me come out. I try not to overthink it and just let the ideas flow as it's more about the act of creating than it is the finished pieces for me.
In the next five years our focus will be to continue making enough to support our business and costs of supplies. we need to keep this going as it's been a great help for both of us to deal with the stresses of daily life. We also hope to be able to set up an online store so that we can sell our creations across the country.
a message behind our art and business is to never think that you're too old, too young, or too inexperienced to create art. If it makes you happy, go out there and do it.
Meet Rachel Simon from Pumpkin in Stitches...
Hi! My name is Rachel. I am a queer crafter, native to Cincinnati. I’ve always been interested in artsy things, always drawing, always writing, ever since I can remember. And while I don’t do much of drawing anymore, I like to dabble in a little bit of everything—whatever piques my interest in the moment.
The main thing I’ve stuck on to is cross stitch, which I have been doing in some capacity since middle school. I guess it was only natural that I would one day turn my art outward and try to make some money. I made myself an Etsy just before college. And while in college I began going to anime conventions. That’s where it really all started.
Conventions have what is called an “artist alley.” I immediately knew I wanted to be behind those booths. I started out with only hair bows and my pride heart pins, which I still sell to this day. Since then, this whole thing has evolved and morphed so much, it is hardly recognizable from where it started. But it is still wholly me.
I graduated college with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, and I currently work full time in a DNA lab. My business does not make me much money, and sometimes quitting seems like the best option. But now, more than ever it feels, it is so important to keep creating and to keep going through art and expression. And that’s what I plan to do, because I still have so much to learn and improve, places to go, people to meet. So much of that which keeps this worth it. This year, I’m making an effort to do more local shows—to save money, yes, but also to connect more with my community.
Meet Renee Strickland from Local Charm...
I'm Renee Strickland and I created Local Charm which features handmade jewelry and other beaded items. I'm a mom of 2 beautiful teenage girls who keep me running! I have an amazing girlfriend who has helped inspire me and encourage me to start this hobby again. They are the reason I keep going. I'm a certified pharmacy technician in a hospital by day, beading wonder and chauffeur by night. I'm excited to see what can come of all of this with support from the community and my family.
I started making jewelry when I was a teenager with my mom and sister. We did a few craft shows, but life got busy and the shows got harder to get into so we let it go. I've created pieces off and on through the years but nothing quite like I've done in the past few months. This will be my very first Avant-Garde show and I was nervous about getting in. There's always the fear of not being good enough. But creativity and beauty is subjective so who knows what may happen! My kids and my girlfriend inspire me. They are the best judges of what may or may not work. My 18 year old is the "trendy" one. I'm the functional beauty one. So if I can merge both, it's a win.
I don't know that I have a creative process per se. I make things that I would like and hope others do too. I see beauty in many different styles. I also don't sleep well so sleep deprivation sparks creativity! In five years I hope to still be making beautiful pieces. I hope to branch out to other functional, relatable beaded things as well. I hope that my girls will join me in the process either through designing or on the business side. And I know that my girlfriend will continue to be my biggest cheerleader and advertiser!
The message behind my work is that everyone deserves beauty in their lives. If I can create something that evokes a special response in someone, I've done my job. I try to focus on one of a kind pieces. There are no 2 beads exactly the same. I use unique heartistry to create one of a kind pieces, just like you
2026 Cincinnati Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Sunday- 10:00am-4:00pm
RSVP Event Center453 Wards Corner Rd.
Loveland, Ohio 45140
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, becki@ag-shows.com
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