Friday, December 13, 2013

Find unique gifts for the holidays this weekend!

Meet Jodi from Diella Jewelry…

My name is Jodi Sainato DiPierro, and I am the owner and designer of Diella Jewelry. I graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2007 with a degree in Communication Design and minor in Photography. I had worked as a graphic designer for 8 years and started Diella Jewelry as a hobby in 2008. I have recently taken a hiatus from her graphic design work to concentrate on her true passion in life, jewelry design. I resides in Cleveland, Ohio with my husband Angelo and our two cats Roxy and Monster. Besides design, jewelry and art, I am an advocate for Infertility Awareness and devote a lot of my time to this as well.
I went though a time of unemployment and needed something to do with my time. The fact that I was born with the gift of creativity and I have such an obsession for jewelry, I decided to start making my own jewelry. For the first time in my life I was excited to get up in the morning and work! The first few months I would have to force myself to take a break from creating and go to bed at night. I still live and breathe creating. I have really found my niche in life.
Everything inspires me to create, especially color! But most of the time I make jewelry that I would like to wear. I sort of create for myself and go from there.
I am a very visual person, I see something I like and get 20 ideas in my head. It can be anything from a pattern, a shape or even my cats!  And of course being me, I need to attempt all those ideas. Most of the time they all don't work out, so it becomes trial and error, but that also leads to more new ideas!

Diella Jewelry is meant to be fun, unique and affordable. I personally don't like wearing something 100 other people are wearing, I want my jewelry to catch someones eye because of it's uniqueness. I've never been one of these people who buy or wear something because everyone else is. I'd rather have the cool one-of-a-kind item. I also love wearing different jewelry everyday, because of that I don't buy expensive jewelry. I'd rather have lots of cool jewelry then some boring expensive bracelet that everyone else is wearing.


Meet Kristin Gabriel from Earth Eats…

I am a passionate person. I love to help people learn to cook or offer them healthier options.  I am a firm believer in people being  self-sustained in today’s world of abundance because it is too easy to count on larger companies to feed you and this is why I believe our populations health is declining. I had gained a lot of weight a few years back and realized how badly my eating and lifestyle had become. I realized you can’t count on large companies to be honest what is in your food. The road was and never is easy but it is worth each step. So, now I try to help others.
 My website is www.earth-eats.com. It is a mainly vegetarian catering but we do offer some meat options. I am not trying to exclude anyone because I believe people are scared into thinking things have to be all or nothing. That is fine for some, but not everyone’s bodies work the same way. I believe it is all about the balance and actually being aware first to make your choices.
I have been catering/cooking for 20 years. You should never stop learning in this industry. As I started to get into the healthier side of the cooking for myself and finally decided to try to bring that into the catering.
I have never done crafting shows before but have been to plenty of them over the years. I find sometimes to find the right people you have to be in the right place. I am hoping that my products are embraced at these events. I make everything from jams, jellies, salsas, fruit butters, energy bars, vegan cookies, and assorted baked goods.
I find when you truly care about what you do it is felt by the people who choose it and that is powerful.

Meet Maggie from That’ll Do Farm…

I was born and raised in North Carolina and moved to Ohio in January of this year. So yes, I've made it through one Cleveland winter so far with the generous wool clothing gifts made and given to me by fiber expert, Andrea Wargo, President of the Ohio Natural Fiber Network and soon to be grandmother of our first child! Her son Mike and I met at Appalachian State University and I feel blessed to be a part of the farm organization his family has built in the past 4 years. I teach yoga, make soap, and happily await the arrival of our new addition.

That'll Do Farm has been established since 2009 providing wool, honey, and produce. The soap operation was added this year. This is our first time being in an Avant-Garde show!
Scent evokes emotions and memories. I love creating soaps that induce a sense of comfort or excitement. I believe scent has the power to make one feel every emotion from confident to pampered, so I use my own emotions and memories to craft signature scents and formulas creating not just soap, but an experience! Andrea Wargo encouraged and assisted me in the first few steps and has been there as my support ever since.
Success your first try is always encouraging. The first batch we ever made has ended up being our signature soap. I believe that talent is in the passion to want to make the perfect bar of soap for every need. My creative process involves a lot of experimentation. I feel like a mad scientist sometimes smelling every possible scent combination and furiously scribbling notes.
In 5 years, I hope to see a farm store with all of our products, farmer's markets, boutique retail, and a strong internet following.The message behind my work and the work of the farm is that of providing Ohio's finest locally made, farm raised retail with an emphasis on the "back to roots" lifestyle.

Meet Renee of Firestone Candles…

I have been creating these unique oil lamps for over 10 years. Using river rock and Brazilian agate, I create one of a kind rock candles that are fueled with Ultra Pure Lamp oil. They are easy to use. Simply remove the wick, use the funnel provided to pour oil into the reservoir, replace the wick and light it like a candle!
These can be used indoors or outside. No need to replace the wick as the wicks are created of fiberglass.  The most popular item is the gift box set, which includes an agate, funnel and a small Ultra Pure Oil.


2013 East Side Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, December 15, 12:00pm-5:30pm
Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre
6200 Enterprise Parkway
Solon, OH 44139
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on:

Monday, December 9, 2013

These first time East Side vendors are excited for this weekend!

Meet Heather from Double Deuce Kettle Corn...


I am a happily married mom of 4.  I have two sets of twins, ages 9 and 5.  I have been a stay at home mom with the kids until my youngest twins just started Kindergarten this year.  I am the captain of a co-ed Volleyball team that plays weekly, which is a lot of fun.  I love family and sports...and have always loved kettle corn :-) I am just getting started.  My start date was Friday, Oct 11th, 2013 as my first set up. This will be my first Avant-Garde show!

Now that the kids are all in school, I asked myself, what can I do that would be fun, rewarding and I can still be a "mom" first.  This is a perfect solution.  I am still home to put the kids on the bus and take care of our household, while setting up events and wo I love socializing with people and love kettle corn!  I named my business Double Deuce Kettle Corn because of two sets of twins and my family means everything to me.  My husband has been a big help and will continue to help.  Great team work!
In five years,  I see myself enjoying raising my family and popping kettle corn at fairs, car shows, art & craft shows, festivals, etc.  In 5 years, my older twins can even help :-)  I love socializing with people and love kettle corn! 


Meet Elyse from Elysium...


My name is Elyse Moore.  I live in Parma with my wonderful husband, our hyper dog Helga, and our fluffy cat Olga. I have been crafting all my life with my Mom and sister, but this is only my second year actually participating in craft shows as a vendor. I will be in my first Avant- Garde Craft Show this November!  I am SUPER excited!
Seeing people happy with my creations is what keeps me going.  I love creating a product that brings a smile to someone's face. I have always been creative and love trying new crafts.  I started crocheting because of my grandmother who passed away several years ago.  She crocheted my whole life and I always wanted to learn, unfortunately, she passed away before I could learn.  I later taught myself how to crochet and use several of my grandmother's pieces as inspiration. 

I discovered my floral hair clips by accident!  I had some extra fabric and began folding it in certain ways, trying to make a floral design for an embellishment.  Now, I have perfected my floral hair clips and I love making them. My creative process is a long trial and error process.  If I create something and I am not 100% happy with it, I will work on it till I perfect it.  I love creating colorful, fun, bright, and unique pieces for women and girls of all ages.  I lay out the fabric or yarn, buttons, thread, snap clips, etc. ensure that they all match and go with one another, then I begin creating the piece. 
I would love to expand my business into local shops and boutiques.  I would like for Elysium products to be made available in several shops in order to maximize sales and so that everyone can have a unique Elysium piece! Any women or girl of any age can wear my hair accessories or cowls.  I want everyone who purchases one of my products to feel happy when they wear it.  Owning a one of a kind accessory that is hand made is always exciting and special.

Meet Cristen from Rusty Bear Studio...

I was born and grew up here in Northeast Ohio while spending summers in Western NY state, immersed in the beautiful country life. After attending Kent State University for Earth Sciences, I settled in Aurora with my husband, Mark, and started my art business, Rusty Bear Studio. I have been fortunate enough to have my artwork accepted into galleries both in Ohio and Chautauqua, NY as well as producing commissions for people across the country.
My mother has been a prominent local artist since long before I was born so I began to create artwork from a very young age. I continued to challenge myself with new techniques after my academic career and, at the age of 25, began to develop my business. Now, at 30, I continue to push myself with new techniques and commissions and I enjoy every minute of it. This is my first Avant-Garde show and I am very excited to participate! I found my talent for art as a child, drawing and painting for fun along side my mother and continued to hone my skills throughout high school and college, focusing on animation and Special FX make up.
I have a passion for science, geology and the outdoors, which I try to convey through each piece of artwork I create. I am constantly inspired by the colors, movement and history I see in the parks and countryside that we are lucky enough to have right outside our door here in Ohio. The words of Cole Porter have always been close to my heart, "Experiment. Make it your motto day and night." Without experimentation, I would not have found my footing in multi-media work.
We are lucky enough to live in the age of information and technology. Without the ability to research and study the many new techniques that artists are coming up with at the touch of a fingertip, I would not have learned about fluid pour or alcohol ink painting. I am  always pushed by advancements in the art world to try new things and evolve my style.
Once something inspires me to create a piece, I begin the process of finding color and movement that follows that inspiration. I will use several different mediums that will chemically interact with each other to create new designs and texture. Sometimes I will be working on up to 10 pieces at at a time because my techniques call for each layer to dry almost completely before I can continue. I chose acrylic paint and alcohol ink as the bases for my pieces because of their shorter dry time.
In five years I see myself with a new, larger studio space and a regular presence at more local shows. 
The message behind my work has been greatly inspired by Bob Ross, "I believe everyday is a good day when you paint, I believe it will bring a lot of good thoughts to your heart." Art allows you to see the world in a different light, it can change your mood and bring you to a place that you have never been to before, much like reading a good book. I hope that the colors, movement and subjects of my art bring a sense of peace and happiness to those who see them, as well as inspire a passion for nature.

Meet Susan of SusieKays...

I am a mother of three school age children, who is fairly new to Ohio.  The family has moved many times, and my crafting has kept me sane.  I have a Bachelor of Arts in Design, and I am also a graduate Jeweler Gemologist.  I left the jewelry industry when I had children. By creating my own items, it enabled me to stay at home with them.  I opened my Etsy store in 2011. I have always had a love for sparkly items, starting from when I was very young.  I would sneak up to my Grandmothers Attic and try on her sequin dresses, and all of her rhinestones.  I love taking something, and creating something different with it.
I have been in the jewelry industry since the 1990’s, and have been crafting as long as I can remember.  I revisited the sewing machine only a few years ago when I started creating the up-cycled mittens.  That turned into Brooch bouquets, but I always return to my first love, jewelry. This is my second, having already participated in the Fairlawn show this year.

I become inspired to create by my general lack of non-creating.  Sounds strange, but if I do not create something for a few days, I get this urge.  One day it may be to sew, one day it may be to bead.  Vintage items inspire me, and I love turning them into something unique. 
I have always been artistic.  I enjoy working with my hands, and my mother taught me to sew.  I have a good eye for design, and create things that I would want to have for myself. A bouquet usually starts with a color, or a specific brooch that I will work around.  I group them by size and shape and work out an appealing design.  The wool sweaters inspire the mittens.  The jewelry is usually inspired by something that I would actually want to wear.
I would hope that I could still make a little “mad money” by selling my craft items.  I don’t need to be the biggest; I just hope to make a little extra from my work.  I enjoy working with Brides, and love being involved in such a special day.

2013 East Side Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, December 15, 12:00pm-5:30pm
Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre
6200 Enterprise Parkway
Solon, OH 44139
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on:

Friday, December 6, 2013

A week left until the 2013 East Side Winter Show!

Meet Carol from Artigiana...

I'm so happy to participate in the Solon show; this is my first Avant-Garde show! I hope the following will let you know more about me! I've been married for 33 years. Two children, seven grandchildren (number 8 will be arriving soon!), keep me busy and very happy. I am a dental hygienist and I work out at CrossFit. Most of my adult life I've done some type of craft. Currently I prefer to repurpose and create things from some unconventional things. I also enjoy making jewelry and decorating.


Usually I see an object or something at a resale or antique shop and think of what it could become. My daughter and I seem to come up with ideas for each other a lot. She likes to refinish and repurpose old furniture. I also use my time making things as a time to relax and think. Making candle holders began as I made some for our vacation home. After acquiring some old farmhouse windows I began to think of ways to repurpose them. I've always loved to make things. I don't remember a time that I didn't do some kind of craft.


Often I will start making something and change it or alter it as I go. It may end up completely different from what I first envisioned.I would love to share a small storefront with my daughter. We both truly love to create various crafts. We could sell our crafts and repurposed goods together!

Our world has changed drastically in my lifetime. We as a society have a very disposable mindset. I feel we have become very wasteful and have lost respect for old and used things. Some of these have the most beauty and character and I really love to show that.

Meet Maranda from SewRanda...


My name is Maranda, and I am a graphic designer for Whitemyer Advertising in Zoar, OH. I am a 2012 graduate of Kent State University, where I majored in Visual Communication design.
I have been sewing for a year and a half now. After graduating from college, I needed a hobby to keep me busy. This is my first Avant-Garde Art and Craft show, and only my third craft show that I have ever participated in. 
Curiosity inspires me. It’s how I got started. My grandmother used to sew matching outfits for me and my sister. She wasn’t able to teach me herself before she died, but just out of curiosity I started to sew. I’ve always been really crafty. I enjoy creating things. Finding my talent just kind of happened. I sewed my halloween costumes in college. They never had to be perfect so it was a good way to start.  
I would describe my creative process as a well planned mess. I start out with an idea for a quilt and then end up changing something or adding material halfway through. In 5 years, I would like to see this grow into a profitable business. I'd love to have a quaint fabric shop someday.

 Meet Janice from Plank House Art Studio...


Hello! My name is Janice and I am Plank House Art Studio! I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University, and I have been continuing my artistic pursuits ever since! Plank House Art Studio is located in renovated “out building” of our wood framed Victorian home.   Plank House Art Studio was named after the Plank Family, the last working dairy farmers who lived in our wood framed Victorian home.  The house is on the national registry and part of the Bath Scenic Highway in the greater Akron Area.

I really enjoy getting into the creative flow and designing beaded jewelry out of solid sterling silver, brass, copper and semi-precious stones. I get such a kick out of seeing customers wearing special designs from Plank House Art Studio. A treat for them and a treat for me too! 
I hope you will make every day sparkle a little with a piece of Plank House Art Studio’s “Elegant, Fun & Funky Jewelry.” I hope that my Elegant, Fun & Funky jewelry makes someone’s day sparkle just a little if not a lot.  Especially earrings! Earrings are such an easy way to brighten up every day. 



2013 East Side Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Sunday, December 15, 12:00pm-5:30pm
Terry Macklin Entertainment & Event Centre
6200 Enterprise Parkway
Solon, OH 44139
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
Visit us on: