Meet Annetta Mackey from Chocolate Desires 216...
My name is Annetta. I enjoy creating chocolate. I work a full-time job and enjoy making chocolate. I have been doing this on and off for almost 30 years. I have never participated in any craft shows. It makes me feel good to see the finished product. My mother made chocolate a few times when I was young, so I decided to try making it one day, and I liked it. It's just fun and exciting to see the finished creations. One day I hope to progress into something bigger. There's no message behind my work, it just relaxed me.
Meet Jeannie Kohler of Aunt Jeannie's Attic….
I’ve been sewing since I was six years old. I love sewing and spend most days in my studio with my helper Lucy, my jack/beagle and Ethel, my baby Pitbull. They are useless as far as sewing, but they do give good smooches.
I have been participating in Avant-Garde shows since the beginning. My creative process starts with anything that inspires me and ends with a lot of drawing and math. I draw all my own patterns, as well as being a ninja seamstress. I love rescuing and repurposing fabrics and create from vintage furs, antique wool suits, and antique quilts.
Meet Melanie King...
My name is Melanie King and I first started drawing when I was young, watching my father create signs. Unfortunately, it got pushed to the side to raise my sons until three years ago. I had to make some life-changing decisions where I started painting, my father in law bought me paints and canvases, and now, here I am doing my first art and craft show. I would say my inspiration comes from family and friends and for love of painting. I want people to enjoy the beauty of nature through my paintings.
Meet Maria Falorio from Maria Falorio Kindness Creations...
My name is Maria Falorio and I was born and raised in Cleveland, OH. I am a full-time preschool teacher, but I have a love of creating and crafting. I have tapped into many areas of crafting, from painting to crocheting, but have recently found a love of creating household items and jewelry for friends and family to enjoy. I am excited to begin to share my talents with others!
I have had a creative side for as long as I can remember, but I really started creating for other people in college. Since graduating, I find that crafting and creating gives me a sense of joy and relaxation from the “real world” stresses and find myself creating in my free time.
I am inspired to create when I think about the joy that art can spread between people and with an entire community. My hope is that when someone wears my handmade jewelry, they are reminded of how powerful their thoughts, words, and actions are and choose to have a positive day. I also hope they are a reminder to the customer to spread some kindness that day, whether that be through a random act or a small conversation. I hope the same for my household items. The purpose behind them is to serve as a reminder or just bring a smile to someone’s face.
To be honest, I discovered my talent through trial and error. I fumbled through multiple mediums until I found the one that truly showed me that my creations were not just for me, but that they can bring joy and happiness to those around me if I share them! As I stated earlier, crafting became a big part of my life during and after college. I have always found it to be a stress reliever and an enjoyable hobby. Once I was gifted my Cricut, I soon realized the wide variety of items that I can create and personalize and I took off from there! I do not have a clear plan of where this tiny business will be in the next 5 years, but I hope to spread kindness through my work and hope it is shared with others! I plan on exploring other products to create as well as find a way to use this business to give back to the community. This is my second Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I am so excited to share some of my work.
I try to create things that I feel would serve as good reminders to choose happiness. I enjoy creating items (such as pillows, dish towels, and makeup bags) that I know people can look at each day, in common areas of the home, and make them smile. I think it is so important for people to remember that they have the power to decide how their day is going to go every single day. You have the opportunity every day to decide to have a good day and to use your own positivity to lift others. I hope that my work is a reminder to everyone who sees it to choose happy, to spread kindness and to find the positives in each day. I hope my work becomes a reminder to share kind words or participate in a random act of kindness. We have the power to make the world kinder, let’s do it.
Meet Lynn Pelka of Lynn Patricia Designs...
Creating my handbags and accessories brings me much joy. I love working with the fabrics and textures making a classy looking handbag that may be just right for you. We, as women, look for a handbag that is specific to our needs whether it has pockets, zipper closer a certain kind of strap/handle. I create my handbags with a full front pocket to hold all your important items at your fingertips with soft webbing handled for a comfortable fit. I also offer handmade zipper pouches, mini wallets, and lip balm totes, as well as special character handbags for the little girl in your life. Even though I’ve been sewing since childhood, my business began when I launched an Etsy store 2011 listing, at that time, my very colorful handbags, tea bag wallets, and water bottle totes.
With experience over the years, my design has settled down to a more classic handbag style in neutral colors. Things have blossomed and I am now established both at indoor and outdoor shows. It is always a pleasure meeting and chatting with those who stop at my booth. The future looks bright with the hopes to one day retire from my day job as an office manager at a dental practice and participate in as many shows as possible. I’ve found the Avant-Garde shows to be expertly done with vendors who produce beautiful and interesting items making for an enjoyable shopping experience. So hope you enjoy your day here at the show and be sure to stop by and introduce yourself as a one who has read this blog.
Meet Jerry King of Pet Cartoonz…
I am a professional cartoonist whose cartoons are published worldwide. Since 1992, I have been a full-time cartoonist working for Disney, American Greetings, and other companies. I was always bored as a kid, so I doodled, which turned into cartoons. I started this craft when I was doing caricatures of pets to raise money for pet rescues.
What inspires me to create is making people happy. My creative process is just taking real life situations that people can relate to, and drawing cartoons about them. I have participated in three Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows. In five years, I see myself drawing cartoons on the beach in the Florida Keys. My message is this: for the love of pets!
Meet Briana Ashley of AshleysArt, LLC…
My name is Briana Ashley. I am currently a full-time artist and entrepreneur with my business AshleysArt, LLC. My husband Dexter Ashley (also an artist in this business) and I formed this business while I was still in undergraduate college and we have decided to pursue the independent artist industry ever since (hence why it is Ashleys’ art and not Ashley's art; there are two Ashley’s.)
I have been an artist since I was born. Art isn't just a hobby for me nor even a career; it is a way of life. My whole life revolves around being creative, seeking new ways to create things, bringing aesthetic appeal to my customers, and bettering people's lives with art. Dexter is not as heavy of an artist as I am. However, he is very creative and brings his own level of style, opinion, and expertise to our business. Art is almost like breathing for me. I cannot go one day without creating something (or at least brainstorming what to make next.) Whether I am sitting down drawing/painting or looking up new techniques for my craft on YouTube, being creative is an everyday experience. Dexter is inspired by the various books and knowledge he learns in the world. He creates his artwork with a level of precision and dedication that many people do not have today! He is also a musician and loves to create works that are musically inspired.
Like I had mentioned before, I knew this was what I was meant to do in life. I have however, moved into different sectors of my industry such as producing my own product line, creating handmade decor, and creating digital artwork for multiple uses. I had already been selling my work on the side during high school and in college, so when I married my husband, the business had grown and adjusted to fit both of our lives and desires. When I was two years old, my parents gave me my first crayons. I couldn't put them down after that! As time went on, I continued to work on my craft to the point where people would offer me their money, time, and services to receive my art. I knew around age 12 that I wanted to be an artist. I didn't care how or what formal title it was, but I just wanted to create art full time. Dexter also discovered his talent at a young age. He was very creative as a young boy, also drawing and creating artwork in his sketchbook. He also paired his artwork alongside his skills as a poet!
When I create something, there are two processes I usually choose from. If I'm starting from an idea in my mind, I will solidify what it is, sketch it out (maybe look at some photos if I am doing something realistic) then finish with the medium of my choice (paints, markers, etc.) If I am being given a specific theme, style, or request, I will first do the research on it, sketch it out, figure out what's the best medium to use, then finish it. During both processes, I will keep in mind how I wish to present/sell the artwork after it's finished (on a coffee mug, t-shirt, framed decor, phone case, etc.)
This will be our first Avant-Garde show! We recently went to the Avant-Grande show in Chagrin Falls and received a lot of support, encouragement, and knowledge on how to go about as a vendor for this show. We are so excited to bring my artwork and products and to be more involved in the arts and crafts community. My husband and I have big plans for AshleysArt, LLC. For the 5-year plan, we plan for our business to be in a position where customers are consistently purchasing our artwork and products via our online store and platforms. We also see our business having a permanent location for people to visit, view, and purchase our work in-person.
Finally, we plan to have our more everyday products sold and/or displayed in big-box retail markets such as Walmart, Target, Michael’s, etc.
This will be our first Avant-Garde show! We recently went to the Avant-Grande show in Chagrin Falls and received a lot of support, encouragement, and knowledge on how to go about as a vendor for this show. We are so excited to bring my artwork and products and to be more involved in the arts and crafts community.There's no such thing as bad art. Our artwork ranges from being extremely simplified to highly detailed and rendered. We want our art to be a testimony to any person (be it young or old) that you can become and artist and not only be great, but be successful as well. Don't let people count you out because you aren't a Michelangelo di Ludovico or Leonardo Da Vinci. All art has a place somewhere in this world and it only takes some support, encouragement, and discipline to take it all the way to the top!
2019 Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2019
10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday
11:00am-5:00pm on Sunday
Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com
Sam has been binding books for over a year and Anna has joined her in the last 6 months. We both have the ability to see and appreciate the beauty and potential in unwanted things and it gives us the desire to find ways to use them so that others can appreciate them as well.
Our creative process can be described as the following: We tinker. We play with things. We think about it. And then we go back to tinkering. In five years, we can envision new product collections and a larger, supportive fan base. The message behind our work is that, first, just because things are old does not mean they are worthless. Second, day to day adulting does not need to be so serious.
This is our first Avant Garde Show and it is also the first show we are debuting our work to the public!
I love the outdoors. I have heard too many people say that they feel like they need to take big vacations to see exciting and beautiful sights. I believe that Ohio has a unique blend of nature, cities, and culture that provides for great one-day trips in our own state. 
This is my first Avant Garde show! I am looking forward to meeting other creatives and customers!
