It's Go Time Strongsville! Shop Till You Drop this Weekend!

Meet Denise Kappele from Dare to Go Air...
Hi! My name is Denise and I make air plant arrangements. Tillandsias (air plants) are plants that grow on rocks and trees without soil and are super easy to care for. I've been designing air plant arrangements for just a couple of months now. Not only will this be my first Avant-Garde show, this will be my first show of any kind!

My daughter has been a fan of air plants for some time now and during a recent trip to visit her in Chicago, we went to a garden center where I purchased a few for myself. After making my own arrangements, I found that I really enjoyed the creative process of it all. 

What inspires me is the plants themselves. Tillandsias are very unique looking plants with many different varieties. I think they have a lot of character and are really interesting. My husband thinks they're a little creepy though, haha!

The message behind my work is pretty simple: find, see, appreciate, and behold the beauty and uniqueness Mother Nature provides us. I also am a huge proponent of repurposing items and I find most of the containers I use in my designs at thrift stores!

Meet Susie Winfield from Susie Makes Stuff...
Hi! I'm Susie and by day I work in stress testing and cardiac rehabilitation. By night, I chase around my two-year-old son, do laundry, binge watch Netflix with my husband, and make stuff. I've always loved to paint and draw, but just recently decided to schedule time to create. This will be both my first Avant-Garde show and first show of any kind!

I don't feel I ever legitimately "discovered a talent." I have enjoyed drawing from the time I could hold a crayon and enjoyed painting from the time I could use a paintbrush, but I only engaged in these things as leisure activities. Even though there were years I hardly painted or drew at all, I never stopped loving the creative process.

My creative process is akin to having a large number of Google Chrome tabs open, but in my mind instead of on a computer. Each day I think of a slew of ideas that I'd like to see come to fruition. One new idea, one new tab. I just try to keep up.

I would love to continuously expand my horizons to bigger and better things. I am always searching for different techniques to utilize in my work. I want to make progress and I want to continue to do what I love. What more could a person ask for?

Meet Marcella Eiben from Firefi Candles...
My name is Marcella and I love to create! I have all sorts of creative outlets from writing to glass bead making to candle making. My entire life, I have always had a need for a creative outlet, or two or three! Even during my time in college, my major was creative writing, so you could say that making things is in my blood! 

I have been making candles and soaps for just under a year now. I started by making some small candles and loved the process, so I continued on to soap making, which is a somewhat similar process. I find both things very enjoyable and relaxing. This will be my first Avant-Garde show!

The idea to make candles just sort of came to me one day. Both of my parents have creative genes so I would say it was passed on to me from them. My parents were instrumental in allowing me to discover ideas and be creative with a lot of things in my life. 

With the candles, I am inspired by the seasons. My candles are all made from natural soy wax, so they promote a healthy environment. Because my candles don't contain harmful chemicals, they are better for those with allergies and other ailments. 

Meet Chengeto Gwengo from Cutindo Body Suds...
My name is Chengeto and my business partner, Tendai James, and I, collaborated to create Cutindo Body Suds, a home-based soap making venture that specializes in soaps enriched with nutritious juices from plants and animal milk products. We work diligently to craft enriched bath soap bars that are not only nourishing but also free from aggravating ingredients and harsh chemicals.

We are both originally from Zimbabwe. I grew up in the villages, where I got accustomed to the scarcity of essential commodities such as soap. Such situations were used as teaching moments for living off the land. I have fond memories of learning to adopt natural plants for a variety of uses, which serves as part of my inspiration.

We started making soaps using recipes posted online from established soapers. Using my background with natural plants and foods, my expertise in formulation development and product commercialization, and Tendai's detailed approach to soap making, Cutindo is able to offer a wide variety of soaps. 

We encourage our customers to seriously rethink the bath basics and to shy away from products full of synthetic chemicals, instead turning to products that are rich in natural ingredients. With consistent use, the products can add amazing natural skin care benefits.

Meet Amy Haas and Sara Wakefield of Divine Gifts...
We are Amy Haas and Sara Wakefield of Divine Gifts. We met and became friends while working on the planning committee for a Mothers of Preschoolers group. It didn't take long to realize that we had many common interests and passions. Our first project was a gift for mothers in the group with newborns. Everybody enjoyed the gifts we made and it didn't take long for others to begin requesting custom gifts for purchase.

In 2009 we embarked on our journey and our original tagline, "unique handmade items to give others or treasure as your own," still rings true today. Over the years, our product line has evolved as we have learned and grown.

We love to find ways to bring a little extra beauty to everyday items. Inspiration can be found anywhere children and babies are. We love to use fresh and clean colors and patterns. It is very important to us that all of the materials we use are high quality so that they will be durable for the duration of their use.

The passion behind our work is our faith. Sewing and creating beautiful items to serve a practical purpose brings us joy and fulfillment, but also honors our creator God who has graciously gifted us to create. 

Meet Dominique Williams from Cousins Homespun Country...
Hi! I'm Dominique and my cousin Lisa and I started our crafting business two years ago. We combined my love of primitive, country decor with her artistic ability to hand paint and draw.

I do all of the cutting, sanding, distressing, staining, and painting, while Lisa does all of the writing and lettering for our signs. Each sign is designed with a specific look and character to it, making it unique.

We both work for different school districts, so we enjoy how the way this brings us together. We love crafting and spending time together on the weekends or during any other free time we have.

Our inspiration comes from a time when life was simpler and the small things made people happy. The joy of creating sayings on signs and bringing warmth to people's homes with our creations is why we do what we do.

Meet Brian Harvey from All Things B...
Hello, I am Brian Harvey of the All Things B jewelry shop. I was born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and received a BFA and MA in crafts with a concentration in enamel, metals, and jewelry from Kent State University. I followed that up with a post-graduate degree in Art Education. 

After years of travel, I have returned to my hometown and have been showcasing my items in Northeast Ohio for about three years. I have done several previous Avant-Garde shows. 

My training in ceramics, enamel, and metals led me to explore the new material of metal clay. Many of the processes involved in metal clay and enamel require periods of time waiting for the kiln. I found that I could use this time to explore beading and gemstones. I am always reading up on new techniques and materials. 

Many of the new trends with metal clay, glass, and enamel involve ways to recycle or upcycle materials. As a nature lover, recycling, reducing, and reusing materials in a sustainable way is a very important factor in all of my work. 

2016 Strongsville Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, November 12, 2016

10:00am-5:00pm

Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center

18100 Royalton Rd.

Strongsville, OH 44136

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

Visit us on:

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Meet the Splendid Strongsville Crafters!

Meet Shirley Wilson from Simply One Design...

Hi! My name is Shirley Wilson, owner of Simply One Design. My business is creating jewelry. I am a retired third grade teacher who incorporated my love for arts and crafts in my students' curriculum. While I have participated in other art and craft shows, this will be my first Avant-Garde show!

I have experimented with many different types of art including oil painting, scrapbooking, polymer clay, and jewelry. I discovered my love for creating jewelry about eight years ago when I enrolled my granddaughter, Erica, in a jewelry class. Working with Erica, the jewelry bug bit me.

I attended many classes on creating new types of jewelry in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I really enjoyed these classes and found them very informative. Mixed media, steampunk, beads, polymer clay, beach glass, and Swarovski crystal are a few of the products I use in my jewelry.

My new line is called "Nature's Eye Candy." This jewelry is created with real pressed flowers in necklace, ring, and bracelet bezels!

Meet Barb Hubert from Eagle Wings Art...

I'm Barb and I am a retired Cat Scan Tech of over three years! I was looking for a purpose and hobby after I retired, so I decided to try watercolor because I've always loved watercolor paintings. After just one year with a friend and teacher, I took off! This will be my third Avant-Garde show!

I love painting using different mediums like real leaves, salt, saran wrap, and anything else that can make my paintings different and unique! I love to experiment!

I am inspired by nature all around me and always, always have a painting in process! You will find birds, animals, owls, landscapes, children's art, modern, and abstract art in my paintings! I also accept orders for dog portraits! 

I'm putting a lot of work and effort into building my business, as I feel this is one of my purposes and gifts God has given me. I hope my business grows and I can just give back more to God!

Meet Candice Adams from The Haute Bohemian...

Hello, my name is Candice Adams and I live in North Royalton with my husband, dog Levi, and our three ducks! I graduated from the University of Akron in 2011 and I am a high school intervention specialist for Lorain City Schools.During the summer of 2016 I decided to design and create jewelry with the goal of opening an Etsy shop. This will be my first Avant-Garde show!

I am a lover of jewelry and fashion and began experimenting with jewelry when I was 10 years old. Every summer, I would visit family in Michigan and spend time with my older cousin making jewelry out of seed beads. I have amazing memories of visiting a bead store that got me hooked on the jewelry making scene.

My creative process coms from being inspired by nature. When I was younger, I collected rocks and gems and loved to explore caves. Every piece of my jewelry incorporates a natural or semi-precious stone, which reflects my love for nature. My jewelry can best be described as having a bohemian/free spirited style.

I really enjoy creating jewelry that is one of a kind and hope to continue for many years to come. My ultimate goal is to learn to solder, so I can create rings. I would also like to educate myself on the business side of selling jewelry and have my creations sold in local boutiques!

Meet Connie Morilak from The Singing Beader...

Hi! My name is Connie and I'm a self-represented handmade jewelry artisan who sells on Art Fire and Etsy! I also sell my handmade earrings at Joseph Hair Salon in my hometown, Strongsville, Ohio!

I was inspired to make jewelry by my husband's cousin, who taught me the basics of making a beaded necklace. I immediately loved the craft and caught on quickly to various jewelry making techniques. 

My hobby turned business in 2009. I named it "The Singing Beader," because it combines both my enthusiasm for making jewelry and singing. I'm an avid karaoke singer who also participates in church and community choirs. I'm often asked if I sing when I'm making jewelry. It would be funny if I did, but the answer is no, because I like to concentrate and have fun with each interest individually. 

I make one of a kind gemstone, crystal, and pearl jewelry and specialize in music-themed jewelry. The music themed jewelry consists of unique, hard to find, musical instrument charms and more. Music jewelry is my best seller; it appeals to musicians, band students, and music teachers. 

Meet Joanna Ettorre from Balancing Point Creative Studio...

Fiberartist Joanna Ettorre is a newly returned Cleveland who was, for 30 years, in Columbus, Ohio, where she re-discovered her childhood passion for blending colored yarns. Knitweaving on a knitting loom was the re-entry link. Like traditional weaving, it involved using colored threads to create textiles. 

But, being a home-based mom of a very active little boy, it met her need for flexible time management and portability (to, say, baseball fields with little action). So, her free form tapestries, working in short bursts using a table loom that was stationery but still portable, and needlework like crochet and needlefelting, were born of lifestyle responses.

It was nearly 25 years ago that Joanna moved out law books from a legal publishing business to make room for yarn, knitting looms, and, in rapid succession, a new son who all fit together, in the beginning, in that home office. Each year has been its own set of conditions when it comes to bringing the work of Joanna's business, Balancing Point Creative Studio, to the marketplace. 

2016 Strongsville Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, November 12, 2016

10:00am-5:00pm

Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center

18100 Royalton Rd.

Strongsville, OH 44136

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN