Meet the ladies from Babz Scrunchies...
We are three teenage best friends who
love to bake, travel and sew. We attend Avon Lake High School and when we
aren’t in school or working on our business we are involved in sports, drama,
and choir. Our favorite thing to do together is anything outside but we
love hiking and going on adventures
Since the three of us were in fifth grade
we always tried to put little businesses together but about a year ago we got
serious and started Babz Scrunchies. Together, we had a lot of old
clothes that we wanted to put to use instead of just throwing them away. We
decided to try and learn how to make scrunchies so we could make fun and unique
styles for people. And now, look at us! This upcoming show will be our first
craft fair and we are so excited about it!
The three of us used to do bake sales all
the time but then we got too old and wanted to find something new to do. After
we came up with the idea of making scrunchies Bree and Brooke’s mom lent us
her sewing machine and taught us everything we know. Without her support, we
would not be where we are today.
First, we get old or stained clothes of
ours or our friends and begin to get them ready to be scrunchies. Then we all
get together and listen to music while we sew. We are striving to grow
continuously and transform this business into our job. Our dream is to be able
to keep this business going even through college.
Meet Andrew Lorince from 3
TIPSY CATS LLC…
My name is Andrew Lorince and I am the Chef for 3 TIPSY CATS LLC.
I retired in 2014 as an MSSC Certified Production Technician after 31 years with
a major lighting manufacturer. In late 2014 I went back to Lorain County
Community College to pursue a long time dream of becoming a Chef that I have
had since the 1980s and in 2018 got my degree in Applied Business /
Hospitality and Tourism Management with a major in Culinary Arts. During that
time I participated in two American Culinary Federation cooking competitions.
The first awarding me a certificate and the second awarding a Silver medal in
the Student Pastry 1 category.
After graduation, I took a position as a Food Service Coordinator
with LCCC. I occasionally help with events at the college in the Culinary Arts
Department and teach non-credit cooking classes. One of the classes I instruct
being a class for canning Jelly and Jams.
This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I
attribute my passion for cooking to my Mother, Aunts, and Grandfather. Watching
and assisting them in the kitchen when they would let me. Someone was always
canning something or fermenting something or just cooking something wonderful.
The creative process that inspires me to produce small batch
jellies and jams stems from wanting something different than you can buy at a
grocery store, something exciting and in tune with the season and also my wife
Dianne who suggests different flavors to try. Something that will make the
taste buds tingle with joy something you can give as a Hostess gift that is
different. Doing small batches and developing recipes for the different jellies
and jams allows the selections I produce to change and rotate thru the
different seasons.
Meet Rachel Patton from Patton Clock and Design...
My husband and I live
in Rocky River and started this little side hobby in our garage after obtaining
all of this great wood and seeing all of the various things that we could
create. We upcycle industrial wood cable spools into functional wall clocks,
tables, signs, and other art pieces.
We’ve been doing this
for just a few months now. We’ve always been crafty, and it started with just
making one clock for our dining room to fill a space on our wall. We'll see
something on a home decorating show, Pinterest, or in a store & always end
up saying "we could make that ourselves." Having a free day to
ourselves is usually when we get a lot accomplished. Having good weather is
also ideal since most of the work is done outside.
Since finding the time
is challenging with juggling full-time jobs and a two-year-old, in the future, we
would like to stay local, but hope to get to the point where we are
participating in several community and craft shows a year! This will be
our first with Avant-Garde! We love upcycling wood and industrial materials
into clocks and other pieces of art. Something that was once considered trash
is now the focal piece in someone's home, and that is amazing.
Meet Judy and Huey Kirk from Art by Kirk...
Huey Kirk is a local artist specializing in the Swiss style of Chip Carving. He became interested in wood carving at the tender age of ten. He credits his passion for carving to his father Lluey Kirk Sr., and his grandfather, Charles Buckley. Judy Kirk is a local artist specializing in portrait landscapes and pyrographic art (the art of wood burning). Her fascination with drawing began at about age seven and credits her mom, Betty Smith-Morog, with inspiring her and providing her with art supplies and endless encouragement.
Over the years, Huey developed his carving skills and eventually studied and perfected his technique under the direction of master career and author Wayne Barton. Judy’s training came through self-study and learning from other artists. She considers herself extremely fortunate to have painted under the direction of some very talented people. Her mentors include a gifted portrait artist named Gladys Ulvila' and Harold Margolis who patiently taught portrait sketching in charcoal.
Huey is a member of the National Wood Carvers Association and the Lorain County Wood Carvers Club and Judy is a member of the Lorain County Wood Carvers Club. He creates and sells original, intricately carved wedding and birth plate keepsake boxes, plaques and personalized signs for home or business. Both of their work has appeared in the national carving magazine, Chip Chats, as well as numerous private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Australia, and England. Judy is proud to have helped with the design and painting for one of the carousel horses at The Metro Parks Schoepfle Children's Garden. She has exhibited her work in several local galleries and her artwork is included in many private and corporate collections throughout the United States.
Judy and Huey take orders for paintings, pyrographic art, and handmade creations and participates in several art and craft shows each year. They are excited to participate in the upcoming Avon Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!
