Discover Talented Creators in Strongsville!

Meet Jody Pulaski from White Dog Crafts...

My name is Jody, and I am retired and have been crafting for over 20 years. My daughter works a full-time job but attends craft shows with me, and together, we sell our 3D shadow box paper art frames. Our company is even named after our little white Coton de Tulear dog!

We’ve been making and selling these 3D shadow box frames for about two years. Years ago, we created accordion memory books and sold them at craft shows, so crafting has always been a big part of our lives.

This will be our first time participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and we’re really looking forward to it!

I find inspiration in color, paper, and anything that might stand out. I have been scrapbooking for years, using a lot of cutting and embossing machines, and one day, I saw this product online and thought, "I think I could make a go of producing these."

My creative process comes from years of crafting. I follow crafting bloggers and Facebook groups looking for designs and patterns, then I create a scene in my mind and search for images that I can cut to bring my 3D shadow boxes to life.

Since I am fully retired, I’m not exactly sure where I see my business in five years. Each year, I try to improve our product—I recently added a smaller 5"x5" frame size, and now I’m working on adding LED lights. I’d also like to expand into larger craft shows, even out-of-state events.

Ultimately, everyone has a different taste in decor, and I just want people to enjoy their selection—whether they are decorating their own homes or purchasing gifts for others.

Meet Gehan Hussein from Thread n Beads...

Hello! I am Gehan Hussein, an Egyptian college professor currently living in the USA with my husband. I have three children who are self-dependent now, which enables me to dedicate plenty of time to my passion for hand-crafted creations.

I have been embroidering since I was 16. I used to embroider my t-shirts and those of my sisters and friends. Also, I made a large quantity of gemstone necklaces throughout my life, whether for my personal use or as gifts for the people I love. 

This is my first time taking part in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows. I'm looking forward to it. 

My study of Literature taught me to appreciate whatever is artistic and authentic. It helped develop my creative skills and endowed me with a distinctive vision. My love for nature and my desire to turn everything around me into a distinctive piece of art is what got me into crafting. 

It is my mum who noticed that I am talented in whatever is handmade. She encouraged me and provided me with the materials I needed. I feel that whatever I make is unique because it is an expression of how I feel and how I see the world around me. 

In five years, I see myself standing out with my brand. Through my work, I want to share a simple message: Be yourself. Keep it simple. Get closer to nature, where you can find peace and beauty. 

Meet Vedelia Tompkins from Awakening Body Products...

I love creating all-natural products with quality ingredients that deliver amazing results!

One of my standout products is my Mango Body Lotion and Mango Body Butter, which help soothe irritated skin from conditions like eczema, rashes, burns, cracked feet, psoriasis, sunburn, and more. My lotions have become a best-seller, and I take pride in offering products that truly make a difference.

2025 Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, March 8, 2025

 10:00am-4:00pm

Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center

18100 Royalton Rd.

Strongsville, OH 44136

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

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Strongsville Holiday Shopping is Underway this Weekend!

 Meet Alicia Diasio from Mom Made Merch...

I have been making merch since March 2022. I made my business official October 2022 with an LLC! I’m huge on matching/color compliments. I try to fit designs and fonts to be appropriate to what the concept is. And I make everything personal to who orders. I like to make stuff that makes people smile or laugh simply to make their day better. I’m huge on sarcasm and dark humor, so a little bit of me is in what I make.

I have a three year old son. I also have a dog and two cats. Some of my hobbies include bodybuilding and drag racing. I love astrology, I’m a Capricorn! If I’m not working a craft show, my regular job is serving at Top Golf. My son is who inspires me to create! That’s why my business is called Mom Made Merch.

I’m huge on matching/color compliments. I try to fit designs and fonts to be appropriate to what the concept is. And I make everything personal to who orders. I like to make stuff that makes people smile or laugh simply to make their day better. I’m huge on sarcasm and dark humor, so a little bit of me is in what I make. I discovered my talents by Trial and error when making stuff for myself.

This is actually my first Avant-Garde craft show! I got into crafting and making merch to save myself money on custom orders. Once people saw my merch and they wanted to purchase I decided to start my business to make extra money but also save others some money on fun custom merch. 

In 5 years I hope to have my own little boutique storefront so this can be my full time source of income to give me the maximum time with my son. The message behind my work is to always be yourself, if you can’t say it with your words, show it with your merch! 

Meet Jeff Bremer Bashore from RD Workshop...

When I’m not in my workshop, I work full-time as a software engineer at The Ohio State University. For the past 15 years, I’ve also been a DJ and children’s entertainer—a role that’s brought a lot of joy and balance into my life. I’m a proud parent of three remarkable children, and my wife, who I consider equally remarkable, is a full-time Artistic Swimming coach. Rounding out our family is Keith, our dog, who we jokingly refer to as the best-looking member of the family. 

I've been curating and restoring tools for 3 years. My inspiration comes from the hidden history of the tools I restore. Every time I uncover a forgotten tool, I see not just an object but a story—one that’s been shaped by the hands of past makers. I imagine the intricate crafts they once helped bring to life, and I’m driven by the idea that these tools still have more to offer. My goal is to breathe new life into them, allowing today’s artists and crafters to push their creative boundaries. It’s incredibly fulfilling to think that something once forgotten can now play a key role in someone’s creative journey.

It all started with a whirlwind moment in my mom’s garage. I was simply sorting through my dad’s old tools, preparing the house for sale, when I stumbled upon some antique pieces. What was supposed to be a quick, straightforward task turned into a chaotic roller coaster ride of curiosity and discovery. One small restoration project led to another, and before I knew it, I was deep into a world of forgotten tools, lost craftsmanship, and endless creative possibilities. I’ve always had a love for using tools, but the turning point came when I was preparing my mom’s house for sale. While going through my dad’s old tools, I stumbled upon some antiques—pieces that just needed a little elbow grease to bring them back to life. That simple moment sparked something much bigger. What started as a personal project grew into a deep passion for restoring forgotten tools, and eventually, it became my mission to share these treasures with fellow creators.

My creative process is very much guided by the tools themselves. Each piece comes with its own set of variables, and I let those characteristics dictate the direction I take. Some tools are beautiful in their original form, and my goal is simply to restore and enhance their natural finish. Others seem to demand a little extra flair, calling for embellishments that highlight their unique design elements. The facets, the knurling, the patterns on the handles—all these details speak to me as I work, and I let them shape the final result. It’s a conversation between the tool and myself, and that’s what makes each restoration so unique.

In five years, I’ll be approaching retirement, and my hope is to have transformed this journey of tool restoration into a sustainable hobby that I can enjoy for years to come. I also plan to expand my charitable efforts, focusing on donating restored tools to local organizations that can benefit from them. I refer to this as my "everyone deserves a good tool" campaign. Additionally, I’m working toward building a regular following on my YouTube channel, where I can share the stories behind these tools and inspire others to take an interest in restoration. My goal is to continue growing, but in a way that stays true to the craftsmanship and purpose behind what I do. The message behind my work is that a good tool is more than just a means to an end—it’s an opportunity. Each tool I restore represents the potential to create, to inspire, and to learn. I believe that when artists and makers hold the right tool in their hands, it can spark new ideas and push them to explore techniques they may never have considered. My goal is to reconnect creators with these tools and the possibilities they bring, reminding us that the right tool can unlock untapped creativity and lead to new discoveries in the craft.

Meet Susan Switzler from Rock On by Suzie's Bowteek...  

I'm a retired registered nurse and had my granddaughter over to do crafts and we decided to paint rocks together. It was so much fun that I decided to start painting them on my own because it was relaxing and therapeutic. So after I got into painting more then I could use in my yard I decided to look up places I could sell them thus came up craft shows. I'm very new at this, I've only been doing it for a few months and this will be my 3rd craft show selling at.

My granddaughter is my inspiration. Painting rocks with my granddaughter is what got me into this hobby and helped me discover my talents! I also use this hobby as a form of therapy. 

My creative process includes picking out my rocks specifically. Some of the rocks speak to me by the way they are shaped, it tells me what I should paint on it. In five years I hope to be selling YEAR ROUND at different craft shows! 

The message behind my work is spreading joy, happiness, Love, peace, and kindness!

Meet Mathew from Bougie Bees...

I started Bougie Bees during the COVID-19 pandemic as a honeybee apiary. In 2023, I carried the name over to essential oils and bee-themed products. I have been using essential oils for years and this is a great way for me to share my knowledge and experiences with others in using high-quality oils - whether it's in diffusing, on your skin, in a plant spray, or even a cleaner! 

I have been making Bougie Bees essential oil for about a year but this is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show! I got into this hobby because I was raised in a household where my mom made Americana crafts, so I have been around the crafting lifestyle for years. I would describe my creative process as a lot of trial and error!

I have been using essential oils and creating blends for a while, and I was receiving compliments on the scent profiles I came up with which is how I discovered my talent. I love mixing and creating new scent profiles, blends, and more! I use them in my everyday life, so this is a great way to share them.

This is a side business for me. However, I have started making strong business-to-business connections, so it would be amazing if in five years I had partnerships with other companies in exclusive scents and products. The message behind my project is to limit the chemicals in our world by not adding more synthetic chemicals than we are already exposed to. 

Meet Logan from Red's Custom WoodWerx...

I am a medically retired veteran that started woodworking about 7 years ago. I was a medic in the United States Army with 2 deployments to Iraq and 6 months in Kuwait. I moved here to Ohio about 6 years ago from Minnesota when I met my girlfriend on one of my motorcycle trips.

I have now done 6 Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows as I just started getting into the craft show scene. My inspiration to create wooden works of art comes from both my imagination and the mind of those that I create it for. People give me an idea of what they are looking for, and from there, I just start making sawdust. No blue prints, no Auto-CAD, no drawings, just a visualization in my mind and I start creating. 

In 5fiveyears, I see myself still creating works of wooden art.  I use wood working as a therapy for my PTSD. I know a lot of Veterans out there that suffer from it and I guess my message behind my work, is to find a hobby you love and run with it. It's helped me out immensely and I have made many connections along the way!! I just recently created a linktree to my social media accounts that have a few works I've created over the past few years. 

I can only hope that the recipients of my work enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them!! So when you're at the next craft show, if you see the big sign that says, "Red's Custom WoodWerx", stop by and say hello, I love to chit chat!!

2024 Strongsville Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday and Sunday, November 16th and 17th, 2024

Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm

&

Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm

Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center

18100 Royalton Rd.

Strongsville, Ohio 44136

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Meet our Strongsville Spring Vendors!

Meet Asjaéa Troutman from Jue Draws…

I’m an artist and nail tech, and I've always wanted to have an established art business. I love whimsical, unrealistic and cartoon-type art. Over the years I've gathered small aspects of shows, movies and other artists and incorporated them into my own pieces that I have today. 

I've been drawing and creating since I was a child. I still have the computer paper mini books I made from before I was 10 years old. I even have a character binder with hundreds of characters I used to create. 

This is the first avante garde show I've ever participated in!

My mood and other artists inspire me to create. If I watch an especially inspiring movie or show, I snatch up my ipad and start sketching ideas. If I'm upset or angry, I do the same thing and create mini villains. Most of my characters, though, reflect my general “bored” mood. 

What got me into my craft… I've been into art prints for a couple of years. Thanks to the support of my family, I was gifted an IPad and other art tools to push me towards my goals as an artist. 

I don't think I really discovered my creative talent until I noticed the progress I made with digital art and nail art. I've come far in 2 years! 

My creative process would be described as erratic and random. Sometimes I have a plan for what I want to draw, and others it turns out completely different than how I planned it. 

In 5 years I see myself with my own space/studio, selling art prints and other accessories. I look forward to my growing entrepreneurship journey! 

The message behind my work varies from piece to piece. I want to express the overall love for my skin.

Meet Vicki Schofield from Sassy Salvage & Designs… 

Hi, my name is Vicki and I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I have been living in Columbia Station now for over 20 years. I have been a crafter all of my life, dabbling in this and that. 

I started off doing flowers for weddings and my creative side took over. You can say I am an eclectic crafter! It wasn’t until covid that I found a new passion…repurposing and upcycling furniture and other odds and ends!

I have mainly done crafting as a hobby and would give as gifts or do an occasional craft show. Friends and family said I should start selling some of my work and that is when my small business Sassy Salvage & Designs was born. My husband has even walled off half the basement for me, which is now my work area for all of my crafting. 

I have recently rented a small space at Handmade Haven in Strongsville where I sell some of my crafts along with other local artisans. I am currently working on a website, but for now I have a page on Facebook to show off my items. 

I love being in craft shows and have been in Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows for 2 years now!

I like to create things that are interesting, but yet practical to use. I don’t know where the inspiration comes from…I guess just the world around me and whatever sparks an idea. I also do custom work for people. Whether it be a piece of furniture, a centerpiece or a wreath, I love creating things for people to look at and enjoy.

Meet Michael Murray from Michael Murray Photography…

I specialize in color and black & white photography of landscapers and cityscapes, including rivers, waterfalls, mountains, wildlife, bridges and skylines. Photos are often taken from unusual angles and in hard-to-reach locations.

Meet MaryEllen Pawlak from ARTkissed...

I am a self taught artist, and love experimenting with various materials, learning new techniques, and using lots of color. Art has always been my passion. It's therapeutic, relaxing and fun! I've been creating and doing artistic things my whole life.

How I discovered my talent… In school I was chosen to design program covers, bulletin boards, and stage sets for our school plays. At a past job I led the team in our annual Holiday Door Decorating contest! Winning three years in a row! lol! And of course, I always made my kids Halloween costumes, using thrift store finds.  

In the 80's I started my own Home Party business: "From the Heart Country Creations" I designed Country pieces… yep, ducks, cows, hearts etc. that I hand cut from large pine boards with my little Craftsman Jig Saw. and then custom painted. While the parties were very successful, after 2 years, I decided to move on to other ventures.

Once I discovered the wonders of the Internet, I began selling paintings, collaged greeting cards and jewelry on Ebay and Etsy. I have been doing business as "ARTkissed" since 1998, but I much prefer meeting people and selling my art in person. I love when my customer tells me the piece they've chosen is going to be a gift for someone special. That's a pretty cool feeling.

This will be my third Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. It's such a great venue and I'm always impressed with the great turn out every time.

 

My current obsession is making Paper Clay Bowls and Vessels. I started five years ago, using "Creative Paperclay'' which is a "store-bought" clay. It works great, but it isn't cheap. After searching the internet and Youtube, I learned how to make my own Paper Clay, using my shredded JUNK MAIL! and OLD BILLS! I love that I can recycle and transform Junk Mail into something functional, and beautiful! I love the organic feel of Paper Clay and the possibilities are endless. It's different from Paper Mache, as Paper Mache is generally torn strips of paper that are dipped in a "paste" made from flour and water and applied to a mold in many layers. Paper Clay can be molded on its own, shapes, figures and even bowls. 

As my Grandson says: "We turned junk into good stuff!" ....YES!  And btw.. Kids LOVE mixing and making things from Paper Clay. As you can imagine, everyone is always offering to "donate" their shredded paper to me. 

I work from my Art room, that's filled with Art supplies, books, plants, photographs, twinkle lights and other hygge things I love.

A great weekend? An all day Rain...maybe even a little thunderstorm or two, coffee, dark chocolate always within reach, maybe some Bowie or Beatles playing in the background, and doing nothing but art... all day! Even better?..... doing art with my sweet little Grandbabies. 

I am blessed with the love and support of my three awesome kids, three adorable Grandkids,  three crazy Sisters and wonderful friends.

 

My five year plan? Just keep doing ART!

Meet Jenna Rose Hoffman from Gone Bad Glassworks…

Hi! My name is Jenna Rose Hoffman, the creator behind Gone Bad Glassworks. I Recently moved to Ohio, originally from california. I’m a (probably) retired hairstylist, and competitive powerlifter. I spend my days trying to soak up the sunshine, drinking too much coffee (I'm a bit of a bean snob) and exploring my new town. 

I’ve been crafting for a little under a year! This will be my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and first ever craft show! 

What inspires me to create… Everything! It may sound cliche, but I truly am in a constant daydream-world of ‘ooh I should make that’ level of inspiration, it’s non stop. Which is great, but also sometimes turns into an executive dysfunction squirrel brain situation and I have to put myself into a more structured plan to get to the creation part. 

What got me into my craft… A recent divorce, I wanted a distraction and a way to stay busy that felt creative and productive. 

I discovered my talent by diving right in! I tend to have an “I can do that” mentality about almost anything. Sometimes to a fault. It’s a confidence in my capabilities that may sometimes be absolutely unhinged, but it works a lot of the time

My creative process is pretty structured for the most part. Once I can sort out the chaos in my brain, and streamline it into one idea- I’ll draw up the pattern, and my system just kinda falls into place from there. 

In five years where do I see myself… Good question, this has been such a whirlwind so far that i haven’t given it much thought. Long term, I'd love to open a coffee roastery/shop. I want to continue to learn more about the different ways to do stained glass and hopefully work on some large scale projects. I'm also sort of interested in stained glass art restoration work. 

The message behind my work… It’s all about fun and good vibes. I want my work to make someone smile. I tend to lean heavily into the custom pet and people portraits because they’re so incredibly rewarding to make something so personal for someone. More

often than not they’re given as gifts so to be able to really make something special is what makes me feel rewarded.

Meet Shannon Baranauskas from Art by Shananigan…

Hello, I am Shannon Baranauskas - Artist and Owner of Art by Shananigan. I have a strong passion for creating art and empowering women. Why not combine them? Usually, you'll find me behind a camera as I have professional experience in the video production world. Although from a young age, I've always had a paint brush hiding in my back pocket. I thought it was about time that the paint brush also made its way front and center.

  

I have been painting and capturing photography for a long time, though I just started my small business in May of 2022.

This upcoming April craft show will be my 3rd Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show!

I am fascinated by other people, telling their stories and lifting them up through kindness. This inspires me to create art that will empower others, especially women. 

What got me into my craft… Since I was little, my parents encouraged me to pursue the creative arts. I am so grateful for this because it has led me to the career path I am on now, with digital media creation and painting. 

How did I discover my talent… My painting talents were practiced for many years, crafted by play and countless YouTube tutorials. It was always a fun challenge to try to paint something new and watch videos to teach myself! 

My ideas usually float to me sporadically and I am caught jotting them down for stored inspiration. Once I have my idea and set time for fun, I conceptualize what that idea may look like on my chosen canvas. When painting, I often enjoy choosing store-bought or recycled canvases that are unconventional such as clothing, mirrors or wood (sometimes, even using wine to paint with- fun right?). When taking portraits and creative photography, I look online and in my life for inspiration and make note of ideas when they arrive in my mind. When photographing, I incorporate fun elements like mirrors, water and flowers to help images tell a visual story.

In 5 years, I see my business developing an online shopping platform to purchase original pieces and place custom orders in addition to participating in 5 crafts shows a year! 

The message behind my work is to uplift and empower the women around you, in your life.

2023 Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday & Sunday, April 15 & 16, 2023

 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday
11:00am-4:00pm on Sunday

Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center

18100 Royalton Rd.

Strongsville, OH 44136

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

Visit us on:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM