Chagrin Falls Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Countdown to the Chagrin Falls Avant-Garde Show Begins NOW

Meet Abby Cali from Abby Cali Arts...
I’m an illustrator, designer, printmaker, educator, and (beekeeper!) living in the great city of Cleveland, OH. I actually was born in Wisconsin and grew up mostly in the Boston, MA area but my mom was raised in Cleveland Heights almost her whole life and my parents got married here so I’m happy to be back in the place where it all started. I love all things teeny and cute, and can almost always be found with a cup of tea in one hand and a pen in the other.

I’ve been drawing since I was a tiny kid, and printmaking for the last 5 years. I love silkscreen because it allows me to get my illustrations onto everything—coasters, bags, hats, you name it. I love knowing how the whole process works. This is my very first Avant-Garde Craft Show and I’m really excited! I think I’ll learn a lot from the experience. I’d like to eventually work up to creating and illustrating full time so I think this is a great first step!

What inspires me to create is first and foremost: joy. Most things I make come from my joy. I make cute happy plants because it makes me joyful, I make silly puns and shiny letters because I think those bring joy. Second, I create to make an impact. I try to bring in characters and themes into my work that are underrepresented or need some help having a louder voice in this world. I work a lot with kids of immigrant and refugee parents and a lot of times these kids are going through some really tough hardships. But we take time to make art about it and find the strength and joy in their lives. I try and bring their joy and their words of wisdom into my own work too because it’s so important to hold onto joy and strength when you or the people around you are struggling.

I’ve always been a maker. Anything I see at the store I think “how could I make that at home?”. I had a very creative family growing up so that definitely helped. Aunts and grandmothers who could recreate or create any item of clothing or any tiled wall or any piece of pottery. Grandfathers and cousins who could draw beautifully. I always loved art class in elementary and middle school but in high school I did performing arts instead: theater and chorus. I stopped taking visual art seriously until the end of my undergrad experience where I started taking printmaking and drawing classes again. I remember thinking “OH WOW! What have I been missing out on!!” Haven’t stopped creating since.

My creative process usually starts in my sketchbook. It’s full of ideas and scribbles, and notes of inspiration I get from the internet or images I see in my day to day life. From there I’ll decide if I want to make something one of a kind or a screenprinted item, and if I want to screenprint it I’ll design my stencils. I’ve recently started experimenting with little fake succulents for home decor, and that’s completely different. I’ve just been playing around with different things I have lying around on my shelves which has been really fun. I’m definitely an art supply hoarder. I have yarn, wire, glue, paper, paint and all sorts of random things from years ago that I assume will come in handy at some point, so I’ve been trying to draw from what I already have.

In five years I’d like to have a thriving Etsy store and have consistent illustration work coming in. Right now it’s just a side hustle for me but I’m working on changing that. I’d still like to be tabling at craft shows and conventions, because I love talking to potential customers, displaying my stuff in a creative way, and meeting fellow artists. My work is all focused on joy and empowerment. It’s designed to make you feel happy, strong, silly, beautiful, and resilient, no matter who you are.

You can find my etsy store at www.etsy.com/shop/abbycali.art My portfolio website is www.abbycali.com. My instagram account is where I post lots of in-process pictures of my work. You can find it at @abbycali.art.

Meet Philip Lautzenheiser from Back Fence Turning...

We are Phil and Ginger Lautzenheiser and we call our small shop “Back Fence Turning”. We live on the family farm in southwestern Stark county where we have many types of trees. I started just over four years ago turning a few bowls and a vase from firewood and found I had a knack for making beautiful pieces. My wife started helping with the finishing and marking process and we tried a few local “craft shows” where we found that the public really liked our work. Three years ago we were working from our old damp bank barn basement milking parlor and we did our first Avant -Garde show in Chagrin Falls. That show was quite successful for us and we started to go to other juried shows.

Events led us to having the old barn torn down and having a new building built over the next year or so. To make a long story short, we now are both retired and have more time to devote to woodworking. We make wooden pots, bowls, vases, spoons and salad forks, wine bottle display balancers, business card holders, trivets, spinning tops and whistles all made made from damaged or fallen wood from our farm. We use black walnut, hickory, maple, pine, sassafras, cherry, oak, mulberry, beech, cedar and a few other species for our products. We have not yet started a web site but even though they are a lot of work, we have had a great time at art shows. We plan to keep trying new products and growing our business for as long as out health allows.

Meet Alecia Wooley from Alecia Marie Designs...

My name is Alecia Woolley and I am the owner/creator of Alecia Marie Designs. My day job as a banker has me working with numbers, accounts, and loan products all day so making jewelry allows me to use my creative side and come up with wearable art. I have nieces and nephews that love to give me feedback on what jewelry pieces they like and what I should make for them. My family and friends are so supportive and wonderful helping me in whatever way they can whether they live locally or a bit further away.

I have been making jewelry for almost two years now and enjoy taking classes and learning new skills to have numerous techniques to work with. I am excited to start working with more intricate wire-wrapping, clay and resin work this coming year. The Chagrin Falls show will be the first Avant-Garde Show I will attend. My inspirations for creating jewelry are all around me. Inspiration flows through favorite art pieces from impressionists to modern works, mixing different textures, discovering shapes and colors in nature, and even the colors and styles people choose to wear every day. After returning from a trip to Sedona and having so many ideas on how I wanted to create

necklaces, bracelets, and earrings I started taking classes and lessons to start bead and chain work.

I’ve always had an interest in fashion and art. I became so focused on my day job at the bank, I stopped creating for a while. During a trip to Sedona, Arizona with two friends, I was able to rediscover my passion for creating art through fashion. My friends reminded me how much I enjoyed sketching outfits when I was younger and really encouraged me to go for what I love and make this a reality. So many ideas came to mind while I was there on what I wanted to bring to life. My process of creating a piece comes from a color scheme or combination I want to work with or texture that I want the piece to have. I then pull items from my inventory to lay out, mixing and matching until I have the desired look. I also do custom work so will find the parts to match what the client is looking for as well.

In 5 years I see myself with a storefront showcasing everyday jewelry pieces as well as more artistic out-of- the box items. I will still be loving the process and enjoying how clients incorporate Alecia Marie Designs jewelry in to their wardrobes. The message behind my work is to feel beautiful in your own skin and appreciate how unique and special you are. I chose the dragonfly as my logo because it encompasses strength and resilience while being graceful and beautiful which is how I want people to feel when they complete their look with one or more of my pieces. Also, dragonflies kept showing up for me during my trip to Sedona as I was finding my passion.

To see the jewelry pieces I’ve made you can go to Facebook: Alecia Marie Designs, Instagram: aleciamarie.designs, website: aleciamariedesigns.com, or my etsy shop: AleciaMarieDesigns

Meet Alecia Avar from RaveofRelief...

Im Alecia and I am from Cleveland, OH, born and raised. My full-time job keeps me pretty busy, so my down time and way to relax is crafting and wreath creations. I have always been creative, but making and selling wreaths has been happening for just over 2 years. This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and I am excited to be a part of this community.

I am inspired by creating new ideas and designs that others may enjoy. I started crafting and wreath making most recently to relieve stress and decompress for the daily craziness of my full-time job. My talent of wreath creation was by chance. A friend decided we should dabble in it and well, here I am. Honestly, each wreath I create happens as it is built. I don't necessarily have an end goal in mind, I like to create as I go and hope for the best. It's more fun that way.

I hope to continue to create and design wreaths as a hobby. I want to always enjoy what I do and not feel like it is work. This is my joy. My message to people is that everyone has a talent, you just have to find your niche! You can see much of my creations on FaceBook "RaveofRelief"

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2018 Chagrin Falls Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11th 2018

Saturday- 10:00am-5:00pm

Sunday- 11:00am-5:00pm

Federated Church-Family Life Center

16349 Chillicothe Road

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

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Tuesday, February 27, 2018

"Spring" into March with the Chagrin Falls Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

Meet Lauren Howie from Well Traveled...

By day, I work in Research Administration IT, by night, I'm working to perfect my sewing skills. I'm originally from Cleveland Heights, but now live in Lakewood. I've been finding new creative outlets since childhood but recently discovered sewing and fell in love with it. I am fairly new to the sewing game. I started two years ago and Well Traveled is a little over 1 year old.

The Chagrin Falls weekend will be my first Avant-Garde show! Growing up, I loved the anticipation and excitement prior to taking a trip. Travel was an adventure and a treat. I like to sew items that bring back that feeling. Also, I recently realized that custom work is the most rewarding for me. I love making a bag for someone who had an idea in mind and when they see it finished, they're thrilled. I like putting a smile on my customer's face.

For as long as I can remember, I've been crafting. If I'm not working with my hands, I'm not happy. I get such a kick out of creating something from nothing.

It came out of necessity actually. I moved out of the ceramics studio where I worked but needed to make Christmas presents for my family. I had a sewing machine but hadn't sewn anything before. I only had a couple weeks to learn and after a couple YouTube videos, I was hooked.

I typically get new ideas when I'm at work. I keep a notepad at my desk for super detailed lists of what I need to create a new design. I love the prototyping process, so I spend a lot of time working out the details and making a pattern in different ways. I make notes about everything I do. There are sketches all over the place.

In 5 years I'd hope to have a solid online business. It would be amazing if this could be my full-time job instead of just a side hustle. Every bag I make and fabric I choose, I keep this in mind; we all travel, might as well arrive in style.

Meet Karen Gawloski from WHERE????

I was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio and was blessed to have a mother who was creative and helped to bring out the creativity in me. I have been crafting for two years. This will be my first Avant-Garde show so I am very excited to be joining such a great community of artisans.

Words of wisdom and laughter are my main inspiration. I started out making things for myself which then led to others wanting to order and purchase one or two and from there it continued to grow. I was always encouraged growing up by my mother to try anything that interests me. I often watch videos or read blogs and articles on crafting which provides with with the base to try new things.

In five years I would like to expand to other boutiques and larger shows. My message to my customers is to be inspired, embrace yourself and find time to laugh!

Meet Tiffany O'Niell from Tiffany O Studio...

My love for creating art started at a very young age, with my family. I grew up surrounded by family members that are artists, so it was only natural that I grew into one. My art started with photography and has been evolving into home decor, and accessories items.I started taking pictures ever since my father bought an old camera from a pawn shop and gave it to me to play with. I studied commercial photography at Ohio University specializing in food photography with a minor in fine art, and graduated in 2007. I really enjoy taking photos of my surroundings, and trying new techniques in my photography. I am currently experimenting with coasters, wine charms, and more useable forms or my photography.

I have been creating usable art with my photography since 2010, so almost 8 years now! This will be my second Avant-Garde Show.My everyday surroundings are my biggest inspiration, for example my newest line that I have come out with is based around my backyard chickens. I carry my camera with me every day and whatever strikes me, tends to become a product of mine. It all started with my Cleveland Skyline image and has evolved from there.

To be honest, I started this because I was getting burned out on my corporate photography career (still am). Starting my personal business has given me a fantastic outlet to be creative and not have people tell me what to do. My passion and I talent was started when I was a child and my dad gave me a camera that he purchased at a pawn shop. It was a gift that lead to a passion that stemmed my career, and passion.

My creative process all starts with an image. Once I find an image that I am happy with I take it into my studio and I start to think about what would I want to use this image for? I look around my house and literally say “would I hang this on my wall?” Or “ Would I carry this around with me to work?” and from there I start thinking about the different products that I could put the image on. I try to solve someones problem. Like make a good looking coaster, but it solves the problem of them getting damaged furniture. Win Win!

In five years I'd like to be working on my business full time, and not working in the corporate world. Also have my products in many different stores throughout the country. My message to customers is that i create beautiful usable art. You don’t need to be rich to have nice art in your home!

Meet Ray Lazar from Ray's Carving and Woodworking

I am a retired maintenance worker/school bus driver for Solon Schools where I worked for 32 years. I have been carving since 2011, so about seven years. This will be my very first Avant-Garde Arts & Craft Show. I am inspired by nature, I like to try to capture nature's images in wood.

I discovered my talent when I was building our deck. I ended up at a woodshed while trying to match wood for my deck, I saw a wooden turkey feather and said I would like to do that someday. The owner of the gallery told me they have classes ever Thursday 3 hrs. Everything blossomed from there.

Where would I like to be in five years? Just doing things I like to do! Travel with my wife, fishing. Since I have retired I have six Saturdays and one Sunday! My mission is to make something pleasing to the eye. Never knew I had this type of Artistic talent.

Meet Jackie Ayers from Dyetology...

I am a fashion designer and designed for large brands such as Bath and Body Works, Lane Bryant, and Thirty One Gifts for 17 years until I left corporate to focus on my business full time.

I started my business in 2015. I have shown at three of the Columbus Avant-Garde Shows and excited to be traveling to Chagrin Falls this March!

I truly love the dye process and creating with my hands! I get alot of inspiration from nature and most of my color palettes are based on inspiration from nature’s beauty!

I started my business in 2015 as a creative outlet. I really missed making with my hands- everything we do in the Design industry is on the computer and when I started my business it was an outlet to do something creative for myself. I love the hands on approach with dying and sewing.

While I was the Columbus College of Art and Design getting my fashion design degree I took surface design classes and learned the art of hand dying. It was one of my favorite classes and I hand-dyed most of the pieces I created for my final Senior collection.

I start each season with collecting color research and inspiration for the new collection. I collect inspiration from magazines, trend services, Pinterest, nature etc.. I also research new hand-dying techniques that will yield a new look for my items. I then do many test color pieces to see what colors and techniques are working the best.

When it comes time to dye, I use premium quality base fabrics that are natural fibers such as silk, Rayon, Bamboo-Rayon, and silk-rayon blends. I also use professional grade, permanent dyes.

I use various Shibori (Japanese resist dyeing) techniques as well as ice dying techniques to yield a variety of looks. I sew and dye my items out of my Westerville, Ohio studio. Each item approx takes 12 steps from start to finish to complete.

I hope to grow my business and have a stronger on-line presence as well traveling though out the US to do more shows. I want to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that makes the woman wearing them feel special and unique. I use natural fibers such as silk, Rayon, Bamboo Rayon because I want each piece to feel so good on, you won’t want to take them off!

Visit my website at www.dyetology.com