Showing posts with label purses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purses. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Spring Shopping is Right Around the Corner!

Meet Chris and Amanda Kent from Loader Road Goods...

We are Chris and Amanda Kent. We live in Coshocton, Ohio on our family farm. We have 2 children and love to spend our days doing life together. We started Loader Road Goods in January 2023. We’ve done many shows but this will be our first Avant-Garde show! 

When looking for inspiration we have very different approaches. Amanda likes to sit down and see what happens, often tweaking a design many times for she’s happy with it. Chris enjoys looking for items that are useful in everyday life. Leather working has been in Amanda’s family for years, her late grandfather made saddles. She purchased a purse and hated it, so she asked Chris to figure out the leather sewing machine to fix it. That made him realize his love for leather and creating useful items.
  
As our business grows, our main goal in to be in a brick and mortar in the near future. When people see our work, we hope they don’t just see a leather bag or wallet but a piece of art.  Check out our website: www.loaderroadgoods.com.


Meet Rob Crippen from C3DProductions...

I purchased my first 3D Printer in November of 2024 when a coworker purchased one.  As most beginner 3D printers do, I started printing items to use on my printer.  I started printing sports logos in spring of 2025 for friends and families. 
I retired from my IT career in July 2025 and began promoting sports logos and various Tea Lite prints.  With a commercial license from two 3D Print designers, I have been selling these prints for 6+ months.  

I acquired my second printer in November 2025 and am thoroughly enjoying this new endeavor.
This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft show and am looking forward to many more.
My wife is the creative one in our household and watching her work on her crafting with freeze drying flowers, sewing, and recently quilting has given me the desire to provide products for customers.

Meet Jacqueline Forestall from Shoeclock...

Based in Westlake, Ohio, I’ve been creating with silk flowers for many years, designing centerpieces, wedding and shower favors, and seasonal arrangements. Now retired, I enjoy crafting unique floral pieces that bring a touch of joy and creativity to any space.

I love designing fun, imaginative works—especially around holiday themes—but I also create lasting arrangements that can be enjoyed year-round. Many of my pieces feature repurposed containers, which often inspire the design itself. 

I find endless inspiration in colors, textures, and the changing seasons, and each piece reflects my passion for turning simple materials into something beautiful and enduring.


Meet Jon Short from 4Shorts-3D Printing and Crafts...

4Shorts-3D Printing and Crafts is a Northeast Ohio business that specializes in 3D printing, needle craft, and handmade puppets. Though we have been creating for many years, we have just recently started selling our wares. This is our first Avant-Garde Arts and Crafts Show; however, we are scheduled to participate in others throughout the season.

The owner, Jon Short loves to create fun, unique, and/or different items showing off his artistic talent. “My grandma was an artist focusing on ceramics, drawing, and canvas painting and I always enjoyed watching her. My focus has always been on performing arts like music and acting, but the visual arts has always been a hobby of mine. I decided to turn this hobby into a business, so I get to do art full time.”

Our motto is ‘Bringing imagination to life’. This is our message and our creative process. We come up with an idea, and work on it until we can make it and share it with others. Our ideas come from many places: nature, environment, necessity, imagination… We hope that within the next 5 years we are able to expand our business to more online sells, beyond that we would love to have a full-time brick and mortar business. We have just started a website, and though not everything is listed, we are adding more each day. Please visit us at www.4shorts3dprintingandcrafts.com


Meet Taisia Mitchell from Stellar Crafts...

I enjoy creating new things, whether it be drawing, resin work, or sewing. I’m also into Astronomy, which is why I went with Stellar Crafts as a name and my slogan: “A Gift for the Stars.” There are times where it tends to work its way into some of my cup designs.

I have been designing cups for 4 years now. It all started with me making cups as gifts for my mom, two of my cousins, and myself for the holidays. Word got around and I started making cups for others. This will be my very show with Avant-Garde, and I’m excited!


The people around me inspire me the most. My friends tend to get the ball rolling when we plan cosplays or even when we go on trips. Other times, it’s people who I meet that talk about a business they’re starting or have already established. 

I really started crafting when my grandmother got me into sewing, and my job at Joann’s introduced me to other mediums of crafting, though the multitude of fabrics kept me sewing. When I started working at Michael’s, I started exploring working with resin and designing cups with it.


I tend to dabble in new things, and resin always piqued my interest. I watched a few tutorials, bought some of the materials needed and tried it out. I started with flat surfaces like canvases, then tables, then I helped my mom redecorate her kitchen counter. Once I got the hang of it, I tried other things with resin molds and finally moved to cups.

My creative process is largely spur of the moment.  Sometimes that can mean combining two mediums to help design my cup, such as marble painting, or using pieces of fabric, stenciling, or even adding an iron on patch for a 3D effect.

In the future, I’m planning on still creating cups as well as other personal items that can go with it. That could look like attire that matches the cups, or some home decor. Just like us, each cup is unique and no two cups that I make are the exact same.


Meet Victoria Taylor from Sparkle & Scrap...

I’m a small side-hustle business owner and creative entrepreneur who loves bringing unique, thoughtfully made pieces into the world. I started in jewelry repurposing with my mom under Abby Rose Antiquities and have transferred that creativity into flipping antique books & ephemera into paper nostalgia. I’m passionate about quality, detail, and creating items that feel special and personal. This will be my third Avant-Garde show!

Sparkle & Scrap are curated Vintage Junk Journal & Scrapbooking Kits featuring authentic paper ephemera from vintage children’s books, antique greeting cards and revolving collections of antique magazines from the 1920s to now. Perfect for journaling, collage, scrapbooking, mixed media, and creative planners. Each bundle is unique and full of nostalgic charm.


I've been doing this for over 20 years of being in the antique and craft arenas. 


What inspires me.. I’m inspired by everyday life; colors, seasons, trends, and the idea that something some may consider “junk” can become part of a creative story. I love creating bundles that will continue to inspire someone in their journaling adventures. 


How I got into my craft..  I’ve always had and needed a creative outlet. My dad is an avid book collector so it was only fitting that I know my way around a stack of paper and knowing the importance of keeping that media alive. 

My creative process... I have always collected pamphlets, booklets, and any piece of paper I can get my hands on while traveling to use in my personal journaling and scrapbooking. I found it appropriate to start collecting for others to enjoy the same and have creative material to start their own journaling journey. 

My five year goal... Hopefully continuing to further my creative outlet and bring even more unique pieces to others. 


The message behind my work.. At the heart of my junk journals is the belief that every scrap has a story and every person deserves a space to tell theirs. I create pieces that turn forgotten papers, vintage finds, and everyday materials into something meaningful and beautiful again. My work is about slowing down, preserving memories, embracing imperfections, and finding magic in the ordinary.


Each journal is designed to inspire creativity, reflection, and storytelling; all while following reduce, reuse, recycle mentality. 


Meet April Amartey from Heart Into Art...

I’m April Amartey, a faith-led artist and jewelry designer creating one-of-a-kind pieces that inspire and encourage the wearer to walk differently—guided by faith. I’ve been designing handmade jewelry for 2 years, and this is my 4th Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show.


My inspiration comes from faith, life experiences, and the joy of connecting with people. I’ve always been creative, but I began putting my ideas into action after my father passed, turning jewelry-making into a meaningful outlet. Through experimenting with materials and techniques, I discovered I could create pieces that are visually striking, subtle, and resonate deeply with others.

I try to find beauty in everything, letting that guide my creative process. Each piece starts with a word, scripture, or emotion, and evolves organically into a one-of-a-kind design. In 5 years, I see Heart Into Art growing into a recognized brand for faith-inspired, wearable art, helping people carry reminders of hope, encouragement, and faith.

Every piece is a symbol—a daily reminder to embrace beauty, hope, and guidance. Photos of my signature earrings, faith-inspired pendants, and styled shots showcase the heart and story behind my work. My tagline: “Created to walk differently—guided by faith.”

2026 Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday March 14, 2026
 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:

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Our Talented Vendors!

Meet Julie Huffman from Jac and Jul..
We are Mother and daughter-in-law. We are together just about every day working on pieces. We have different ideas but everything we do just comes together and shows both of our strengths and creativity.

We started around August/September of 2019 (it’s taken off quite nicely)


What inspires us to create.. When we make a custom piece for someone and they love it, sometimes it brings tears to their eyes-it just makes us want to do more and more.
How we got into our hobby.. Just by doing it! We both have areas of designing and creating that we prefer and excel in. We allow each other to apply our strengths. But every piece we do has both of our work and creativity in it. Together our talents flow nicely to create an end product
Our creative process.. We honestly do what the silverware guides us to do. It just sort of Happens. Jacque names every one of our pieces.

Our five year goal.. hopefully we just grow and continue to have clients that love what we do. Eventually (julie) wants to retire from real estate! (that will be about 10 years though)
The message behind our work. We repurpose family silverware (that’s shoved down in a basement or garage, not being used) we make special unique pieces (necklaces, bracelets, rings) that they can give to family members to wear enjoy “great grandmas” silver. It’s so great. People love it. It give something that was once treasured, new life and meaning. It becomes treasured again! At times we do money clips, key rings, & bottle openers for men.
We also take silver coins and make into rings. Both men and women enjoy those!

Meet Lynn Pelka from Lynn Patricia Designs...
Creating my handbags and accessories brings me much joy.  I love working with the fabrics and textures making a classy looking handbag that may be just right for you.  We, as women, look for a handbag that is specific to our needs whether it has pockets, zipper closer a certain kind of strap/handle.  I create my handbags with a full front pocket to hold all your important items at your fingertips with soft webbing handles for a comfortable fit.  Also offered are handmade zipper pouches, mini wallets and lip balm totes as well as special character handbags for the little girl in your life.
Even though I’ve been sewing since childhood, my business began when I launched an Etsy store 2011 listing at that time my very colorful handbags, tea bag wallets, and water bottle totes.  With experience over the years, my design has settled down to a more classic handbag style in neutral colors.   Things have blossomed and I am now established both at indoor and outdoor shows. 

It is always a pleasure meeting and chatting with those who stop at my booth.  The future looks bright with the hopes to one day retire from my day job as an office manager at a dental practice and participate in as many shows as possible.  

I’ve found the Avant-Garde shows to be expertly done with vendors who produce beautiful and interesting items making for an enjoyable shopping experience.  So hope you enjoy your day here at the show and be sure to stop by and introduce yourself as a one who has read this blog.

 
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com
Visit us on:
LINKEDIN

Friday, April 5, 2019

It's Show Time!

Meet Annetta Mackey from Chocolate Desires 216...
My name is Annetta. I enjoy creating chocolate. I work a full-time job and enjoy making chocolate. I have been doing this on and off for almost 30 years. I have never participated in any craft shows. It makes me feel good to see the finished product. My mother made chocolate a few times when I was young, so I decided to try making it one day, and I liked it. It's just fun and exciting to see the finished creations. One day I hope to progress into something bigger. There's no message behind my work, it just relaxed me.

Meet Jeannie Kohler of Aunt Jeannie's Attic….
I’ve been sewing since I was six years old. I love sewing and spend most days in my studio with my helper Lucy, my jack/beagle and Ethel, my baby Pitbull. They are useless as far as sewing, but they do give good smooches. 
I have been participating in Avant-Garde shows since the beginning. My creative process starts with anything that inspires me and ends with a lot of drawing and math. I draw all my own patterns, as well as being a ninja seamstress. I love rescuing and repurposing fabrics and create from vintage furs, antique wool suits, and antique quilts. 

Meet Melanie King...
My name is Melanie King and I first started drawing when I was young, watching my father create signs. Unfortunately, it got pushed to the side to raise my sons until three years ago. I had to make some life-changing decisions where I started painting, my father in law bought me paints and canvases, and now, here I am doing my first art and craft show. I would say my inspiration comes from family and friends and for love of painting. I want people to enjoy the beauty of nature through my paintings.

Meet Maria Falorio from Maria Falorio Kindness Creations...
My name is Maria Falorio and I was born and raised in Cleveland, OH. I am a full-time preschool teacher, but I have a love of creating and crafting. I have tapped into many areas of crafting, from painting to crocheting, but have recently found a love of creating household items and jewelry for friends and family to enjoy. I am excited to begin to share my talents with others!

I have had a creative side for as long as I can remember, but I really started creating for other people in college. Since graduating, I find that crafting and creating gives me a sense of joy and relaxation from the “real world” stresses and find myself creating in my free time.
I am inspired to create when I think about the joy that art can spread between people and with an entire community. My hope is that when someone wears my handmade jewelry, they are reminded of how powerful their thoughts, words, and actions are and choose to have a positive day. I also hope they are a reminder to the customer to spread some kindness that day, whether that be through a random act or a small conversation. I hope the same for my household items. The purpose behind them is to serve as a reminder or just bring a smile to someone’s face.
To be honest, I discovered my talent through trial and error. I fumbled through multiple mediums until I found the one that truly showed me that my creations were not just for me, but that they can bring joy and happiness to those around me if I share them!  As I stated earlier, crafting became a big part of my life during and after college. I have always found it to be a stress reliever and an enjoyable hobby. Once I was gifted my Cricut, I soon realized the wide variety of items that I can create and personalize and I took off from there! I do not have a clear plan of where this tiny business will be in the next 5 years, but I hope to spread kindness through my work and hope it is shared with others! I plan on exploring other products to create as well as find a way to use this business to give back to the community. This is my second Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I am so excited to share some of my work.
I try to create things that I feel would serve as good reminders to choose happiness. I enjoy creating items (such as pillows, dish towels, and makeup bags) that I know people can look at each day, in common areas of the home, and make them smile. I think it is so important for people to remember that they have the power to decide how their day is going to go every single day. You have the opportunity every day to decide to have a good day and to use your own positivity to lift others. I hope that my work is a reminder to everyone who sees it to choose happy, to spread kindness and to find the positives in each day. I hope my work becomes a reminder to share kind words or participate in a random act of kindness. We have the power to make the world kinder, let’s do it.

Meet Lynn Pelka of Lynn Patricia Designs...
Creating my handbags and accessories brings me much joy. I love working with the fabrics and textures making a classy looking handbag that may be just right for you.  We, as women, look for a handbag that is specific to our needs whether it has pockets, zipper closer a certain kind of strap/handle. I create my handbags with a full front pocket to hold all your important items at your fingertips with soft webbing handled for a comfortable fit. I also offer handmade zipper pouches, mini wallets, and lip balm totes, as well as special character handbags for the little girl in your life. Even though I’ve been sewing since childhood, my business began when I launched an Etsy store 2011 listing, at that time, my very colorful handbags, tea bag wallets, and water bottle totes.
With experience over the years, my design has settled down to a more classic handbag style in neutral colors. Things have blossomed and I am now established both at indoor and outdoor shows. It is always a pleasure meeting and chatting with those who stop at my booth.  The future looks bright with the hopes to one day retire from my day job as an office manager at a dental practice and participate in as many shows as possible. I’ve found the Avant-Garde shows to be expertly done with vendors who produce beautiful and interesting items making for an enjoyable shopping experience.  So hope you enjoy your day here at the show and be sure to stop by and introduce yourself as a one who has read this blog.

Meet Jerry King of Pet Cartoonz…
I am a professional cartoonist whose cartoons are published worldwide. Since 1992, I have been a full-time cartoonist working for Disney, American Greetings, and other companies. I was always bored as a kid, so I doodled, which turned into cartoons. I started this craft when I was doing caricatures of pets to raise money for pet rescues.


What inspires me to create is making people happy. My creative process is just taking real life situations that people can relate to, and drawing cartoons about them. I have participated in three Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows.  In five years, I see myself drawing cartoons on the beach in the Florida Keys. My message is this: for the love of pets!

Meet Briana Ashley of AshleysArt, LLC…
My name is Briana Ashley. I am currently a full-time artist and entrepreneur with my business AshleysArt, LLC. My husband Dexter Ashley (also an artist in this business) and I formed this business while I was still in undergraduate college and we have decided to pursue the independent artist industry ever since (hence why it is Ashleys’ art and not Ashley's art; there are two Ashley’s.)
I have been an artist since I was born. Art isn't just a hobby for me nor even a career; it is a way of life. My whole life revolves around being creative, seeking new ways to create things, bringing aesthetic appeal to my customers, and bettering people's lives with art. Dexter is not as heavy of an artist as I am. However, he is very creative and brings his own level of style, opinion, and expertise to our business. Art is almost like breathing for me. I cannot go one day without creating something (or at least brainstorming what to make next.)  Whether I am sitting down drawing/painting or looking up new techniques for my craft on YouTube, being creative is an everyday experience. Dexter is inspired by the various books and knowledge he learns in the world. He creates his artwork with a level of precision and dedication that many people do not have today! He is also a musician and loves to create works that are musically inspired.

Like I had mentioned before, I knew this was what I was meant to do in life. I have however, moved into different sectors of my industry such as producing my own product line, creating handmade decor, and creating digital artwork for multiple uses. I had already been selling my work on the side during high school and in college, so when I married my husband, the business had grown and adjusted to fit both of our lives and desires. When I was two years old, my parents gave me my first crayons. I couldn't put them down after that! As time went on, I continued to work on my craft to the point where people would offer me their money, time, and services to receive my art. I knew around age 12 that I wanted to be an artist. I didn't care how or what formal title it was, but I just wanted to create art full time. Dexter also discovered his talent at a young age. He was very creative as a young boy, also drawing and creating artwork in his sketchbook. He also paired his artwork alongside his skills as a poet!

When I create something, there are two processes I usually choose from. If I'm starting from an idea in my mind, I will solidify what it is, sketch it out (maybe look at some photos if I am doing something realistic) then finish with the medium of my choice (paints, markers, etc.) If I am being given a specific theme, style, or request, I will first do the research on it, sketch it out, figure out what's the best medium to use, then finish it. During both processes, I will keep in mind how I wish to present/sell the artwork after it's finished (on a coffee mug, t-shirt, framed decor, phone case, etc.)

This will be our first Avant-Garde show! We recently went to the  Avant-Grande show in Chagrin Falls and received a lot of support,  encouragement, and knowledge on how to go about as a vendor for this  show. We are so excited to bring my artwork and products and to be more involved in the arts and crafts community. My husband and I have big plans for AshleysArt, LLC. For the 5-year plan, we plan for our business to be in a position where customers are consistently purchasing our artwork and products via our online store and platforms. We also see our business having a permanent location for people to visit, view, and purchase our work in-person.

Finally, we plan to have our more everyday products sold and/or displayed in big-box retail markets such as Walmart, Target, Michael’s, etc.

This will be our first Avant-Garde show! We recently went to the Avant-Grande show in Chagrin Falls and received a lot of support, encouragement, and knowledge on how to go about as a vendor for this  show. We are so excited to bring my artwork and products and to be more involved in the arts and crafts community.There's no such thing as bad art. Our artwork ranges from being extremely simplified to highly detailed and rendered. We want our art to be a testimony to any person (be it young or old) that you can become and artist and not only be great, but be successful as well. Don't let people count you out because you aren't a Michelangelo di Ludovico or Leonardo Da Vinci. All art has a place somewhere in this world and it only takes some support, encouragement, and discipline to take it all the way to the top!
                                                         
2019 Strongsville Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2019
 10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday
11:00am-5:00pm 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:
LINKEDIN