Join Us This Weekend at the Detroit Show!

Meet Kristen Malloure from K & K Candle Co...
My name is Kristen & I am a medical social worker in Chelsea, MI. I have a twin sister, Karen, who is a math teacher in Grand Rapids. My passion is making other people happy, whether that is through a small gesture or through my work as a social worker. 

I like to give gifts, which leads to my desire to create. I have always been looking to create new things. I believe there is so much to be said for a handmade gift, it isn't the cost but how much time and effort you put towards making something special for another. 

I began making candles a few years ago because what is not to love about a handmade, all natural candle!? My sister has an eye for recycling, it is one of her passions. With this, we have combined the two and began creating candles out of recycled materials. From tin cans to pickle and olive jars. It has been an adventure, keeping my eyes out for great candle containers! I'd like to thank all my co-workers at the hospital who save their spaghetti jars, yogurt containers and jars from canned fruit for me. 

This is my first time participating in an Avant-Garde show and I am excited to be a vendor at the Farmington Hills show as it is a few miles from where I grew up! K & K Candle Co. is something I do in my free time and it brings me so much joy. To be able to provide people with a quality candle, something I made is something I am proud of. I am always working to discover new ways to do this, which is what I find exciting. When people open the candle and close there eyes and tell me what they think it smells like of what it reminds them of is so great. We all love things that smell good! I cannot wait to share my products with you!

Meet Yoshie Kato from Yoko Jewelry...
My name is Yoko. I’m originally from Japan. I've lived in Michigan for three years with my hubby and our four year old cute spoiled doggie. Jewelry making is my life work. I’m working on it every day at my home studio and school studio. This year will be my Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/yokojewelry) 10th anniversary!

This will be my second show with Avant-Garde Art & Craft shows. Every time I learn new technique, I can’t wait to try it! I learn from classes and sometimes from internet like Pinterest. I learn from everywhere! I like that you can add originality on any craft, that's fascinating to me. I love seeing one little gem or piece of metal turn into beautiful jewelry that can brighten someone's day!

When I started wearing my own handmade jewelry, my friend loved it so much she wanted it for herself, and that was my first order! I discovered my talent by my friend, enjoyed deciding the design for her and in the end, she loved it. A pair of earrings are not just earrings, they are something that makes somebody happy!  I thought to myself, I want to make this my job.

I enjoy the whole process of making jewelry. When it turns out how I imagined on my head, I feel wonderful! I started this business in New York then I moved back to Japan and now I’m in Michigan. I‘ve had unique experiences each time I moved. I love this business because I can create wherever I am. In five years, I’m sure I'll still be creating.

When making jewelry, I’m always thinking someone who is going to love the piece. I’m always delighted to ship my piece to new owner. My favorite part at the craft chows are seeing my customers face to face!

Meet Sara Barber from CannaBon...
My background is in the pharmaceutical industry, which inspired me to seek alternative holistic therapeutic options that began CannaBon Therapeutics. I also have a seven year old, who is extremely helpful and supportive with CannaBon’s success. I started CannaBon about a year and half ago and just started marketing within the last five months. 

This will be my first show with the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! I am inspired to create my products because I love helping people and there’s so much fulfillment when someone reaches out to you just to tell you all the relief they are getting from your products! I’ve seen so many people with chronic pain and it’s heartbreaking to watch them try everything and still suffer, which is why I started CannaBon.

I discovered my talent because of the excitement I felt helping others and when compounding medications, I feel so much enjoyment. So, when I started making my products it flowed so perfectly and I am at my happiest when I’m doing that!

My creative process starts with loud, upbeat, and fun music, I just let the energy flow! I hope to see huge expansion in my business within the next five years. I believe my products will be all over the nation and in different countries! The message behind my brand, is that I genuinely want to help people with any area and even if that means listening to them and offering advice without a purchase, I feel satisfied! That is how I’ve treated my customers from the beginning and how CannaBon will always treat others. 

Meet Elizabeth Babcock from DogWool...
I am Elizabeth Babcock and I am originally from upstate New York. My family was military so we moved around a lot - even overseas to Germany. I now live in the mid-Michigan area and I will soon be in college. I have been crocheting since I was nine years old and I only recently started knitting. I came up with DogWool as a business idea a few years ago but I didn't put it into action until last year.

This will be my first Avant-Garde show and I am very excited to be a vendor! I can't wait to see everyone and what the other vendors bring. I love to crochet because it is entertaining to see other people's expressions. People like to ask me "How do you do that?" and I'm always willing to show them. My favorite is when I see the little kids get excited because they really like the stuffed animals I made. I crochet because I enjoy doing it and I like that it makes others happy too.

When I was nine, my grandmother started to teach me the absolute basics of crochet and my mom bought me a book. I'm not sure why crochet stuck with me but it did, so I've been doing it ever since. I hadn't thought of my crocheting as a talent as much as I did a hobby until people I knew would come up to me, one after another, asking me to make them custom items or telling me how cool it was that I could crochet.

Meet Erin McClaine from Neon Vagabond Goods...
My name is Erin McClaine and I'm a creative, colorful gal who loves to explore the world around her! I'm always looking for new ways to express myself and I love to seek out the unexpected. I've been making, selling and showing jewelry for a little over one year. Jewelry making began as a hobby for me and grew into a business when I discovered how much I loved it!

This will be the fourth Avant-Garde show that I've participated in. So much inspires me! I work with a mixture of new and vintage materials and I often find that I draw inspiration from really beautiful stones like jade or quartz. I'm also inspired by my environment and I name each of my pieces. For example, I made a piece on a rainy day in late Spring called, "Clouds Before Rainbows", using raw amethyst and multicolored seed beads. Finally and most importantly, I'm inspired by the amazing women all around me! There are so many bold, elegant and stylish women who are a constant source of inspiration for me. When I'm making a new piece, I like to think, "Is this something that my mother would wear? My grandmother? My best friend?".

I've always been a crafter and have loved making homemade gifts for my family and friends. Over the years, I've made candles, chocolate truffles, home fragrances, coffee mugs and vases for the people in my life. I started making jewelry for the same reason but I loved the process so much that I just kept going!

I love fashion, jewelry and accessories! Creating a stylish and fun outfit for myself was really exciting and I decided that doing so for others might be even more fun! I was right! My process usually begins with materials. I look at the colors, textures and styles that I've assembled in beads, chains, tassels, silk thread and crystals and decide what combination is calling to me. Then, I put it all together.

In five years, I hope to see Neon Vagabond Goods carried at local boutiques, gift shops and artists markets. I also hope to still be doing shows all over the mid-west, especially summer shows in Northern Michigan. If there is any message behind my work it's this: Glamour is for everyone!  When women tell me, "But I have nowhere to wear a piece like this", I tend to say, "Sure you do!" Women, all women, deserve to feel stylish and beautiful! That's why I strive to create jewelry that's unique and affordable, because beauty is for everyone!

2018 Detroit Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Sunday, March 4th 2018

Sunday- 10:00am-5:00pm

Studio Center
23689 Industrial Park Dr.
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48335

For more information, contact Amanda Look, Event Coordinator at amanda@ag-shows.com

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