Friday, December 21, 2018

Less Than 24 Hours to Go Till Avon!

Meet Willa Hollingsworth from Three Feathers Pewter...
Throughout our respective explorations in the Arts, we have gained not only a wider worldview but also an expansion of spiritual consciousness. This brought each us to the appreciation of the advanced historical art forms of both the North American Indigenous Tribes and Early American Colonial People. This knowledge has given us an intimate perspective of the beauty and preciousness of life and those things which support and enhance our lives. This will be our first time being apart of an Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. We are very much looking forward to the experience.
My husband has been in this craft for 45 years and has been called Master Pewterer by those who are considered Masters of their respective crafts. I have been in this craft for 21 years and hold the title of Journeyman Pewterer. Creativity comes from all aspects of life and recognizing beauty in its many forms. Due to this, ideas and inspirations are limitless. During his years of historic reenactment, my husband was steadily casting with pewter. He later was taught the basics of being a Pewterer by a Craft Master. He then began his true learning through experience and repetition. I, myself, studied the Pewter Craft under my husband’s tutelage.
My husband was already a Pewterer when we met. He realized I had a tool sense and decided to take me on as his Pewterer’s Apprentice. After 7 years I advanced to the level of Journeyman Pewterer. We each have a very similar process: 1.) Determine in actuality how we can utilize our respective talents, experiences and training to create in this reality the vision in our mind’s eye; 2.) Then do so. Within the next 5 years we would like to have more Ohioans visiting our gallery in downtown Millersburg. From our gallery, visitors get an up-close view of our workshop where we create all of our Pewterware. Expansion and passing the knowledge on to those who desire to learn will keep the craft of pewter alive for future generations. As artisans, we create solid, usable art with plain, clean lines that can be dressed up or down and is to be passed on to future generations. The message is quality, beauty, utility, creativity, longevity.

Meet Iulia Cujba from Jules Bzzz Elixir...
Mother of two wonderful young boys and nurse as profession, I started beekeeping as a hobby and for our family needs. Last year we were lucky enough to have extra “golden elixir “ / honey to be able to share with our friends and family at Holliday’s time, and everyone loved it . This year we added a few more hives to our backyard veggie garden in North Olmsted and we are fortunate enough to be able to share this “golden elixir “ with others.
 We offer local/ raw / unfiltered/ unpasteurized HONEY I’m different size jars; 100% pure wax candles, fresh pollen from the hives, comb honey, homemade tinted and flavored lip balms,  bath salts, bee jewelries,  nose and paw lotion for your puppy and even beard balm for the man in your life . We are proud to announce that our honey samples and gift baskets received multiple ribbons at Cuyahoga County Fair this 2018 year. Thank you all for your support in advance and come out and taste our honey this Saturday. 



2018 Avon Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday, December 22, 2018
10:00am-5:00pm
Emerald Event Center
33040 Just Imagine Dr.
Avon, Ohio 44011
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Get Ready For This Weekend Avon!

Meet Lois Steiner from Silverwearables...
Both myself and my husband are retired.  We have three children and 6 grandchildren.  We enjoy traveling and doing shows and festivals while selling our work gives us great opportunities to do that. I started making the jewelry about 4 years ago, then in 2016 when my husband retired he took over the machining, and physical aspect of it while I concentrate on the designing, etc. I love the ornate designs in the vintage flatware and often I will see a design and know exactly what I would like to do with it. I have always enjoyed crafts, including sewing, quilting, crocheting, making this and that.  

Years ago I had seen a chandelier made from teaspoons. So I started collecting them with that goal in mind. Well, the chandelier never happened and one day I ran across the spoons and though of donating them to the thrift store, but decided to look online to see if I’d want to use them myself.  I ran across the spoon bracelets and made a couple. I took them in to my workplace and began getting so many orders, I had to buy more spoons. And here I am!

Meet April Hardin from April Kristina Crochet...
I’m a stay-at-home mom of three boys ages 11, 4 and 2. I’ve been married for 19 years now and I love anything craft related! I’ve been crocheting since I was a teenager, and this will be my fourth show with Avant-Garde!  
Crochet is like therapy to me. When I get in the zone, I feel relaxed and I feel such joy seeing people wear something I’ve made. Especially my children!  I always wanted to make more than just blankets, but I had trouble reading the patterns. After watching some YouTube videos on making hats, I realized I could do it with ease and it’s been non-stop since then. I love scouring Pinterest for fun, exciting patterns and ideas. Then I try to add my own creative twist to it. In five years I would love to have a full-time on-line business happening! The message behind my work is I want everyone to feel good about themselves and to feel good about wearing something unique and comfortable.

Meet Chris Santee from Chris's Kitchen...
I live in Stow,  married with three grown children. I enjoy (obsessed with) doing ancestry and look forward to traveling to see some of the places my ancestors are from when my husband retires. I enjoy doing all kinds of cooking and baking, will try just about anything. My kids  refuse to buy me cookbooks or anything for the kitchen because I already have too much, and that I can never make all of the recipes even if I make something new everyday.
I have been making jam and jelly as long as I can remember but as a business for about 10 years it grew from making some for friends and then them asking if they can buy it to gift to others. The natural cotton candy was my daughters idea about 5 years ago. We bought her the cotton candy machine as a graduation present she did the farm markets a few summers with me to pay for school, I enjoy making it and continued to do it when she found a job in her field. One of the markets I participated in lost it's candle vendor so the market manager at the time showed me how to make them and asked if I could fill that void it is hard for me to say no so I am still doing them today. I recycle my jelly jars when the customers bring them back, but also started receiving all kind a bottles and jars that were not for jelly. I did not want to be rude so I just took them, about the same time I lost my supplier for my candle jars so upcycled scents was born. I cut the bottles and jars I received from my customers to fill with candles and the wine bottle tart warmers.

Meet Diane Watson from Sweet Heart Suri Alpacas...
Hi, I'm Diane! I have owned alpacas since 2000, I am self taught in spinning my own fiber in to yarn, dyeing the fiber and yarn, also crocheting. I love just getting my hands in the fiber triggers the creativity. This year will be my first show with Avant-Garde!
My grandma showed me how to knit, and I don’t call it a talent, it is just plain “Fun.“ In five years I hope to be teaching as well! The message behind my work is believe in your work and enjoy what you’re doing.

2018 Avon Winter Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday, December 22, 2018
10:00am-5:00pm
Emerald Event Center
33040 Just Imagine Dr.
Avon, Ohio 44011
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:

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