Cincinnati Shopping Weekend Ahead!

Meet Zara Staleva from NYAJ (Not Your Average Jewelry)...

Hi my name is Zara. I'm a senior student at the University of Cincinnati DAAP majoring in Fashion Design. I've been creating the NYAJ jewelry for 4 years now but the actual brand started 2021. This is my first time taking part in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show and I'm very excited to be part of it. I'm a person who likes creating things and to create beauty in places people don't really see it. The NYAJ jewelry happened as an accident and at first it was a huge experiment and a hobby. Last year it came to a point where I decided that I should share this with the world and let other people experience the authenticity and unique nature of the jewlery. I would say my biggest influence and inspiration is listening to music and TEDTalks. 

My creative process is a very much order and chaos mixed together. The pieces are made from recycled plastic water bottles and melting the plastic is hard to control, you never know what shape you are going to end up with. You can manipulate the shape but it's never the exact same thing. That's why I would say earrings are the hardest product to create because they have to be same or at least similar. I believe that this technique is the advantage of the brand because it truly gives authenticity and individuality to each product. Today customization and individuality has become more and more important to customers, everyone wants to show that they are different and outstanding in their own way. That is why I believe the pieces are very modern and up to date with people's fashion choices. 

In 5 years from now I would love to have a physical location- a boutique downtown Cincinnati, where I can sell my pieces. I would still take part in different markets because I love the interaction not just with customers but with other artists as well. 

I think there are a few messages that people can interpret through the jewelry I create:

First don't be scared to be different, to be outstanding. Be wild, be a rebel against the boring norms of society, be authentic, be you.

Second, I want to stress on how scary it is that we have so much plastic in our lives and the fact that it affects nature so much. Each NYAJ piece  is a small step to saving the planet and helping clean the environment. It's a small step towards a change to a better, cleaner and more beautiful world. Be part of this change! 

Meet Lauren Connelly from JLAerialViews and LCAquaArt... 

The website is www.JLAerialViews.com. We are also on Facebook, with more up to date pictures. Drone pictures are at www.facebook.com/JLAerialViews and watercolor art is at www.facebook.com/LCAquaArt. 

I just recently moved to Loveland, Oh with my son and husband. We love the proximity to so many parks, river, and town. We are avid bird watchers and we have the most amazingly diverse group in our backyard- from hummingbirds to pileated woodpeckers. My son just started high school- he is still figuring out what he wants to be. Whatever it is, I know it will be great! He and a friend have raised over $5,000 for sea turtle conservation before! In 2020, my husband and I started a business together which has been an amazing ride, we love the flexibility of being our own bosses. As a family, we love to travel and scuba dive- there is a rule in our house, if you are traveling, you cannot go someplace you can go to when you are at home (like a restaurant or store)! I love to explore and try new things, which is why I landed on such a fun, vibrant style for my watercolor paintings. I am fascinated by nature and feel at peace when I am outside and that is what I love about the watercolor medium- you can take it anywhere!

I have been creating and doing art for as long as I can remember. In grade school and high school, art was always my favorite subject! I tried to become a graphic designer in college, but that led to artistic burn out and I wasn't as motivated to create for many years. During the pandemic, I finally opened my "Let's Make Art" Watercolor kits and I was hooked! I ventured out and tried many different classes and styles until I found one that just clicked! While I have been actively painting in different mediums for over 20 years, I started excelling and really finding my style within the past 2 years.

What inspired me to create.. Pets! My favorite thing to do is paint people's pets. One, because I get to hear all about your favorite fur baby and two, because each pet is unique in his or her own way and I enjoy trying to bring out their personalities on the page- the eyes are my favorite part to paint! I also LOVE animal photography and have been doing that for 15 years. I am one of those people you will see at the zoo or a park with a camera bag and all the cameras. When I get a really great photo to reference, I will sketch it out and paint it. One of my favorites is Fiona the Hippo. That painting won "Best In Show" at the Hamilton County Fair in 2022!

The main part of the business is called JL Aerial Views- affordable drone photography and videography. We are a family, woman, and veteran owned company. In 2020, I was a professional diver and my husband was in the military. When the pandemic hit, it gave us time to re-evaluate what we wanted to do with our lives. I bring an artistic eye and safety experience to the business and my husband is the geography, mapping, and customer service end of the business. The drone service provides multiple uses like real estate images, construction progression, roof inspections, home portraits, and my favorite- locating missing dogs! Eventually with the home portraits, my goal is to take the beautiful home portrait and turn it into a one of a kind watercolor home portrait- which is why we merged the drone and watercolors together! It also gives us a chance to display and sell our drone prints. Drone photography really offers an opportunity to experience some place from a whole new view! My favorite images we have taken are of a sea turtle release in North Carolina, the Reds Stadium, and manatees cuddled together in a warm spring in Crystal River, Florida. 

How I discovered my talent.. I bought an online class by Shaunna Russell about how to paint your pet. Christmas was coming up and I wanted to paint my brother's dog, Gary, because my brother is obsessed with Gary! This opened my eyes to learning how to paint with a palette that isn't realistic. This was the first step in developing my style. I am a bit more heavy handed on color and details than Shaunna. I am a big advocate for taking as many different classes with as many different styles as possible because you pick and choose what you like about each and eventually what develops is your own unique style! 

My creative process.. It started with asking people if I could paint their pet or suprise my friends and family with a pet portrait. Now, people are coming to me wanting paintings of their furbabies, which has been an amazing feeling! I use reference photos and from there I make a sketch. I duplicate the sketch, so that I can map out where I want all the colors to go. I figured out early on which bright, fun color I wanted to represent tans, browns, and blacks and for the most part, I stick to that same key of colors. Once I have everything mapped out, I put my outline on watercolor paper and then I am just in the zone- it is a completely meditative experience... there is just something about not having control of the color and watching it move on the page!

Five year goal.. One of my dream goals is to see our drone videography on TV and then on the big screen!!! I am really hoping to connect to the Loveland community and help out with whatever the drone and imaging needs are. I WILL be doing home watercolor portraits within the year. Being able to licence my art is another goal. Honestly, the part that makes my heart the happiest is seeing how their face lights up when I give them a pet portrait and I hope to keep doing that for as long as I can paint! 

Message behind my work.. 

Be bold and explore!

With the watercolors- Try new things and do what makes your heart happy. It may not be "traditional" or "normal", but if it makes you and others happy then you are doing good work! Have an art adventure!

With the drones- Explore new heights, see things from a different perspective!

Meet Valerie Hewitt from VallieGirl Creations...

Hi! My name is Valerie Hewitt, I am a 28 year old wife and SAHM, I married my husband Justin in 2019. I have one daughter and another kiddo on the way, due spring of 2023. In addition to crocheting, I’m writing two books. I’m the oldest of four kids, was homeschooled, and have my degree in Business Management. 

I learned to crochet when I was 7 years old from one of my mom’s friends. I love colors. I love mixing colors. And I love seeing the smiles on kids faces when I give them something I’ve made and they can snuggle/hug/kiss/play with it. 

I learned first how to make scarves and hats on a loom, and I thought it was really fun. Then I discovered amigurumi and just love to make stuffed animals and dolls for kids to play with. 

How I discovered my talent.. Through lots and lots of practice and people asking me to make thing for them that I hadn’t made before. 

My creative process.. It’s a very eclectic process, sometimes I see I certain type of yarn and I just want to make a specific item out of it, sometimes someone asks me to make them something and that sparks one idea that leads to another. 

Five year goal.. I see myself making a website and being able to sell in the entire US, as well as teaching in homeschool co-ops and private clients how to crochet. 

Message behind my work.. I don’t know if there really is a message, I just really love making people smile with what I make, whether that’s because of color choices or the quality of my work or because it brings to life what the customer has been envisioning! 

Meet Melissa Saylor from Bling Princess...

I am a recent amputee and wife. I am a mom and grandmother. I have always loved to do crafts and any chance I got I was doing something creative. I want to make amputees and people with disabilities smile and give them something to make them feel like they are like everyone else. Being disabled has made me realize a lot of things in my life and one of them is do not take life for granted and live your life with a lot of sparkle and BLING!

I have been doing crafts for a long time but these I have been doing for over a year.

I'm inspired by my family, my disability and seeing what I can do.

Also, I LOVE BLING! I seriously think I have an addiction to BLING!

How I discovered my talent.. I have always known I can do things and anything I put my mind to. I create things that I feel people will love and look at and think I need this in my life.

My five year goal.. I want my business to go nationwide and have everyone ordering BLING from me.

Message behind my work.. Even if you are diabled you can do anything you want to.

Meet Kelley King from

I'm a Florida native. Currently an Ohio resident for 3 years. During my professional life,  I am a dance instructor and choreographer.  I have been doing this since I was 16 years old!

This is my 3rd event with Avant-Garde . I'm creative by nature. My inspirations come from life and other's work that sparks me.

How I got into my hobby..  I'm Irish and Cherokee... it's traditional in my family. 

How I discovered my talent.. It was a process... but I liked that it allowed me to be expressive.

My creative process..  An exercise in patience 

Five year goal.. Hopefully even more well known for my work!

Message behind my work..  Life is too short to wear department store jewelry! Have FUN!

2022 Cincinnati Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, November 20, 2022

10:00am-4:00pm

RSVP Event Center

453 Wards Corner Rd.

Loveland, OH

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

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Meet Shelly Bauer of Purple Birch Shop...

My name is Shelly, and I've always had a love for art, crafts, and making things ever since I was little.  I'm a mother of two amazing boys and we have two rescue dogs.  My husband, Andrew, also has a talent for making things.  He does all the woodworking for our items, from cutting/building, sanding, staining, and sealing. He is also very hands-on with many of the items we create.   
    

We began selling our items in December 2018, but we have been creating items for personal use as long as I can remember. This is my first Avant-Garde show! I'm always inspired by my boys, and things they are interested in.  I also enjoy window shopping and exploring Pinterest/Facebook groups for new ideas and trends to put my own spin on.

Our craft business really began with baby shoes.  I discovered a pattern for them around Christmas a few years ago.  I had purchased coordinating pajamas for our family, and I thought it would be fun to add matching slippers as well.  Ever since the first pair, I have been obsessed with these adorable little booties.  My oldest son learned to walk in the soft-soled shoes, and my youngest has been wearing them since birth.  As for our wood items, my husband has always been extremely creative and talented when it comes to woodworking.  We decided to combine our two talents, and create a variety of handcrafted and hand painted wood signs, planter hangers, cutting boards, etc.  It is always fun giving him a new challenge of something I would like for him to create. I have always enjoyed crafting.  I love the idea of taking some sort of raw material, whether it be fabric, wood, or paint, and turn it into something.  I would typically gift some sort of handmade items for holidays, birthdays, showers. new babies, etc., and it was always very well received.   Friends and family have been extremely supportive and encouraging us to sell items.  After hearing "you should sell this" or being asked "do you have a shop?" a few times, I realized there might be a market for what we create. 

I LOVE fabric shopping and usually can't wait to sew up something new when I purchase new material.  If I'm ever feeling uninspired, a quick trip to the store usually takes care of that!  I'm also inspired by practical things I would like in my own home, or by ideas presented by customers, friends and family.  Sometimes I have a vision of the end product in mind, and other times I don't really know exactly what an item will look like until it's complete.  I also love creating custom and one of a kind personalized items.  In the next five years I would love to expand our business to have a bigger online presence through the creation of a website as well as begin carrying items in local boutiques. 

We are proud of the items we create and we believe quality is what sets us apart.  We pay close attention to detail and believe it shows in the items we create.  Each item is handcrafted and/or hand painted, you can see and feel the quality of our items in person. 

Meet Michele Meyers of Buddha Bottle Co...

My name is Michele Meyers.  I am a Mom, HR Professional, and Artist with a passion for creating art from materials not normally combined, such as a rusty ¾ inch hex bolt and a baby blue single ply wool and acrylic blend.   My only addiction in life is soda. I found myself keeping the empty soda bottles after indulging. I was not completely sure why I was keeping them, probably because in the back of my mind I thought maybe in 50 years an old Coke bottle would be worth enough for me to retire on.  My daughter hit the teenage years and slowly started needing me less and less, disappearing to her room more and more. So combine all of those things – my love of creating, soda addiction, and a lot more free time – and you get Buddha Bottle Co.

The message behind my work is a message that I am very passionate about – there is no “normal”.   As babies, the world is a blank slate. Our reality is shaped by our parents, society, religion, school, etc.  Society leads us to believe we have to look a certain way or achieve specific goals in order to be “normal” and accepted.  I have learned that this is a false notion. We need to celebrate our individuality, embrace our differences, and do crazy things like decorate soda bottles with bolts and flowers.

In 5 years, I hope my business continues to provide me with joy.  My creative process involves several steps, all of which I perform in my makeshift “studio” aka my garage and living room.  I do all of the painting in my garage and all of the embellishing in my living room. Creating at home allows me to be present for my teenage daughter and two dogs, Sky and Riley.  It really is the best of both worlds.

Meet Kelly Stone of K. Stone Creations...
My name is Kelly and I recently started K.Stone Creations.  I am a happy to call myself a newcomer to the world of Artisans: specifically the art of beading and jewelry making.  For years my background had been in healthcare. I loved being in a profession where I could offer my heart and talents in a way that would bring hope and healing to others. I was fortunate to have a 15 year career in direct patient care as well as managing a large team of gifted professionals. My course took an abrupt turn when at the age of 36, I suffered a stroke.  The pathway of professional turned patient has been both challenging and extremely humbling. Rehabilitation is not easy and it has taken a lot of work to find myself amidst the changes that occurred. I feel very fortunate that in addition to my beautiful partner, two amazing children, Merrell the aussiedoodle, and loving family, the places I continually find joy are in the arts and nature. I've been focused on the art of jewelry making for the last year. This will be my first Avant-Garde Show!

I have and always will be someone who loves using my time and talents for others. To be able to make something one of a kind for someone that will create a lasting memory for them is such a rewarding feeling.  I work hard to put that uniqueness and care into the pieces I create. I have a beautiful neighbor, named Roberta, who is in her 80s and recently widowed. She is an extremely gifted artist who has spent many years of her life devoted to her crafts.  Roberta knew of my stroke and my struggles. She has become a great supporter in my life, taking me under her wing, and mentoring me the art of beading and jewelry making.

I found myself feeling inspired by Roberta's teachings and the more I made and shared with family and friends, the more I wanted to create.  It has been with great persistence (and many mistakes) that I discovered this was something I really enjoyed.

I don't know how many can relate, but once I am "All In", my mind races with ideas and at all hours of the day and night! Many a-nights I have dreamt about beading and woke having to get my thoughts down before I could fall back to sleep! I take pictures, make drawings, jot down notes in my phone and then spend time going back and reviewing before I start a project. When it comes to crafting a piece, I spend a great deal of time planning before diving in.  My Type A definitely likes to try to dominate creative process!

In five years, I hope to still be creating. To still be learning. To be reaching as many people as I can.  I have only just started an instagram page but hope in five years to tap into an online market. In addition, I hope to be more intimately networked.  Both in my career in healthcare as well as this opportunity as an Artisan, I think there is so much to gain from networking with other gifted and talented artists!  

The message behind my work is this; Without a doubt, be your authentic self: find your passion and live it!

Meet Elizabeth Barron of Elizabeth Barron, LLC...
Prior to shifting her photography hobby into a career, I spent 20 years in the
technology industry. But, for as long as I can remember, being in nature is
always where I felt most at home. When I’m not working and spending time
with family, I spend most of my time with my camera in the abundant parks and
nature preserves in the greater Cincinnati area. I have a deep appreciation and
love for all plants, flowers, insects, and animals, and enjoys telling their stories
through photography. I post a unique nature photo a day on my Instagram
(@elizabethnphoto) and Facebook (@elizabethbarronphotography) accounts.
I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America, and working to
complete my OCVN Ohio Naturalist certification.

I have been a photographer for many years, but have only made it my full time
profession this year. This is my first Avant-Garde show! I love finding things in
nature that other people might miss, or walk past. I feel that every single plant,
insect, flower, tree, and animal has a unique story to tell, even the ones that we
consider commonplace. Nature’s miracles are everywhere! I have loved creative
hobbies since I was a little kid. I blame my mother and grandmother; we spent
hours and hours doing arts and crafts. :)

I don’t know if I have a “talent” or if I just practice a lot. When you’re doing
something you love, you will naturally get better at it with time, because you
love it! I’ve taken over 50,000 nature photos in my life, and I still have a lot to
improve. I simply take every chance I can to get out in nature and see what I
can discover. I try and find new angles and perspectives that people may not
have noticed before. During my photo post processing, I sometimes tweak the
settings to give photos a unique look, while still honoring the beauty of the
subject.

Honestly, in five years, I hope to just be making enough money to keep me
going. I am not in this to make millions or grow an empire, I simply want to be
able to continue to be in the woods with my camera. :)

The mission of my business is to foster our kinship with nature. In everything I
do, whether it be commissioned work, or floral product photography or fine art
prints, I want that to be the end goal. I chose the word kinship because it
represents more than just a “connection.” The word “kinship” also encompasses
respect, appreciation, oneness, unity, acknowledgment, compassion, and love
for the world in which we are a part.

2019 Cincinnati Summer Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, June 23rd, 2019 - 10:00am-4:00pm

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:

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