Spring into Creativity: Meet our Craft Show Makers!

Meet Josh and Janet from Organic Garments...

Organic Garments, an Ohio-based sneaker business,  is rooted in sustainability, craftsmanship, and respect for nature. The vision for the business is deeply personal—shaped by the legacy of Josh’s  grandfather, a man who cherished the art of growing and found purpose in nurturing plants, vegetables, and herbs. Watching seedlings flourish taught Josh early on that patience, care, and respect for the earth yield lasting rewards. Growing up during the Great Depression, his grandfather embodied resilience. From him, Josh learned values that continue to guide Organic Garments today: do things right, build products to last, honor nature, and never shy away from hard work.

Josh founded Organic Garments in 2018 with a bold goal—to reimagine footwear through sustainable design. He set out to create a plant-based sneaker that could be worn anywhere, anytime, without compromising comfort, durability, or environmental responsibility.  Within the past year, we have commissioned local artists to use our sneakers as canvas to create original art and/or pieces of art that are meaningful to our customers. We pay these local artists the fees collected from their art.

This will be Organic Garments' first year participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, and we are looking forward to sharing our plant-based sneakers.

Nature inspires me to create. There is so much to learn from nature. There is so much beauty in it. If we take the time to just appreciate it, nature can inspire us to do so many things, including creating beautiful, comfortable sneakers from it.

Most of my family is involved in the creative arts in some way. When we were young, our Mother realized we had an interest in the arts and gave us opportunities to participate in the arts. I have also always been interested in sneakers and the fashion business.  I’m fueled by the idea that business can be a force for good, that we can create products people love without compromising the health of the earth. Knowing that we’re pushing boundaries with plant-based materials, reducing waste, and proving that sustainability and style can coexist is what drives me every day. Ultimately, I’m motivated by the hope that our work inspires others to rethink what they buy, how it’s made, and the legacy they want to leave behind.  Also, I wanted to build a sneaker that was not only sustainable and looked great, I wanted it to be lightweight and comfortable, too.

It was a process. I have always been interested in nature and how things are made, so I looked for a way to combine my interest in nature and sneakers. I set out to learn more about sneaker construction, including taking a course led by a Los Angeles shoemaker. I also had a friend whose father owned a fashion brand, so I learned a great deal from being around him. I even researched plant-based fabrics and discovered a fabric made by a B-corp that turned pineapple waste into material which gave the farmers in the Philippines a second income. Ultimately, it was designing, redesigning, and making several samples through work with factories to realize my dream of crafting a sneaker from innovative plant-based materials including hemp and pineapple leaves.

I get an idea, and I try to sketch it. The original idea was sketched on a napkin at a restaurant. Once I have the idea, I talk it over with family members. Then, I use software to develop the specs for the idea and finalize the drawing.  I usually have several ideas that I am playing around with until I have the moment when I believe I have the concept to the point of creation.  Since we are also involving new artists in the creative process, it is also inspiring to watch other artists use our sneakers as canvas to create original pieces of art and/or artwork that is meaningful to the customer who inspires the idea.

Right now, I’m especially excited about the next evolution of our footwear line. In the future, we’re introducing two new styles: a high-top sneaker and a blue denim low-top. Both build on everything we’ve learned so far—comfort and sustainability—while offering versatility for everyday wear. We’re using more hemp in both styles, with pineapple leaves, mushrooms, and other plant-based fabrics as accents. Hemp continues to impress us with its natural durability, breathability, and low environmental impact, helping create shoes that last longer and feel better on the foot—especially for people who are on their feet all day.

The message  is rooted in responsibility—to the planet, to future generations, and to the values I was raised with. I’m fueled by the idea that business can be a force for good, that we can create products people love without compromising the health of the earth.Knowing that we’re pushing boundaries with plant-based materials, reducing waste, and proving that sustainability and style can coexist is what drives us every day. Ultimately, I’m motivated by the hope that our work inspires others to rethink what they buy, how it’s made, and the legacy they want to leave behind.

Meet Susan Airhart from Heartfelt by Airhart...

I’m a passionate maker who loves creating handmade pieces that bring beauty and personality into everyday life. I enjoy connecting with people through my work and sharing the joy that handmade art can bring to a home or as a meaningful gift. Being part of art and craft shows allows me to meet others who appreciate creativity and the time that goes into handmade items.

I have been creating and crafting for several years, and over time it has grown from a hobby into something I truly love sharing with others. Each year I continue to refine my skills, experiment with new ideas, and expand my collection of handmade items.

This will be my third Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I’ve really enjoyed being part of these events and connecting with other talented artists as well as visitors who appreciate handmade work. Each show has been a wonderful opportunity to share my creations and meet new people in the creative community.

I find inspiration in everyday life—colors, textures, nature, and the small details that often go unnoticed. I’m also inspired by the idea that something handmade can become a treasured piece in someone’s home or a special gift for a loved one.

My interest in crafting began simply from a love of making things by hand. What started as a relaxing creative outlet quickly became a passion. I discovered how rewarding it was to transform simple materials into something beautiful and unique.

Over time, friends and family began encouraging me after seeing the things I created. Their positive feedback helped me realize that my creations could be something others would enjoy as well, which gave me the confidence to continue developing my skills.

My creative process usually begins with an idea or inspiration. From there, I experiment with materials, colors, and designs until the piece comes together. Sometimes the process involves trial and error, but that’s part of the fun—each piece evolves into something unique along the way.

In five years, I hope to continue growing my creative business, participating in more art shows, and reaching more people who appreciate handmade items. I would especially love to expand into doing more custom work for clients who bring me jewelry from a loved one so I can incorporate those meaningful pieces into a framed picture. Creating something beautiful and personal from items that hold sentimental value is something I find very special.

The message behind my work is to celebrate creativity, individuality, and the beauty of handmade items. I especially enjoy repurposing jewelry into something new and exciting, giving pieces a fresh life in a way that can still honor their history and meaning. Turning existing items into unique art allows memories and materials to continue being appreciated in a new form.

Check out my website here.

Meet Criss Ann Valenti from Chrysanthemum's Crochet...

My name is Criss Ann Valenti and I am a third year at Bowling Green State University. I own Chrysanthemum's Crochet where I participate in many different craft shows all around the state. I am an art major and I love to work with a lot of different mediums. Fiber art and printmaking are some of my favorites and I love being able to share my work with others. 

I started my own small business freshman year of college to help earn a little bit of income to support my education. This is my first time participating in the Avant-Garde shows, and hopefully won’t be my last. 

I take a lot of inspiration from different animals and different characters from mythology. A lot of of my 2-D artwork is inspired by Greek mythology or birds. My crochet work I try to make as many different types of animals as I can in my own little style. I have been working with 2-D mediums for about five years now, but I got into fiber arts about three years ago when I got a craft kit for my birthday and fell in love with the process. 

I love finding ways to reuse different materials in my artwork, using old paint or canvas for paintings, using leftover paper from previous drawings and using leftover ink from others for printmaking. I also reuse yarn scraps as stuffing or find stuffing from old pillows at thrift stores in order to reduce my waste imprint. 

I tend to start my creative process by finding something that inspires me so most of the time I will look up different Greek myths or find different nature pictures of different types of birds. Once I find something I like I take the image and transform it into my own style using my illustrative talents. When it comes to fiber art, I like to take a look at some of the yarn I already have and think what I could make best out of that. I love to make things that are unique that you might not see anywhere else. So when I find a pattern that fits that I save it and use it. 

In five years, I hope to be graduated and settle down with a dream job to get my life started, but having my business as a fallback is something that will be so important to me. I’m very passionate about what I make and I don’t wanna stop even once I get an industry job. The message behind my work would be that I want everyone to stay creative and never stop using their imagination. I make things that I want people taken to their home and used to make their spaces more lively and help make a fun environment.

Meet the Prayers From Maria Foundation...

The Prayers From Maria Foundation is built out of love and compassion for children who suffer, and those who have died, from deadly brain tumors. Our mission is to provide childhood cancer patients with the support they desperately need, by reversing the tragic lack of funding and fueling the most meaningful brain cancer research for kids.

Although this is our first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show we have participated in, we have been the charity beneficiary of the Avon show for a number of years. We are so grateful that the art community supports our foundation and are looking forward to having our first booth this year!

At Prayers From Maria we believe in hope. Our seed funding supports critical cancer research for kids, delivering more targeted, lifesaving treatments. These kids are our inspiration, as we work diligently to raise public awareness and the research funding that is so desperately needed.

Maria’s prayers for other children battling cancer inspired a movement. You can help us grow it. Profits from the purchase of products in our shop support the Prayers From Maria Foundation and our fight to end childhood brain cancer.

Check out our website here.

2026 Avon 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

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Meet David Bornancin from David Bornancin Paintings...

Hi! I’m a local artist and creator. I come from a background of software and technology sales, and I am also a career coach. I enjoy writing, blogging, video and audio editing, and, of course, drawing and painting! My mission is to make art work and paintings available and affordable for everyone. I’m from Fairview Park, Ohio, but I have lived in Westlake for many years. My journey with painting started roughly 15 years ago when my wife became ill and I became her primary caregiver. During the day, I worked for 15 hours, and in my downtime, I would transform my drawings into paintings.

I used to have a small studio in California, where I started selling my paintings and commission work. My wife passed away in 2017 and I decided to retire from the software world in 2018 and commit totally to my Art Work.

I mostly use acrylic paints on canvas, but I also create many 3D type pieces. I’m very excited to be participating in my first Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show in Avon, Ohio. For 2023, I have other shows and events planned, and I am looking to expand my reach with other Avant-Garde shows!

I have a passion for people and art, and I enjoy building a connection with my work by helping people pick out the right paintings for them. The great thing about art is having a vision, a passion and a very creative mind to bring together the vast amounts of colors and ideas.

My body of work expands to abstract, expressionism, interpretive, impressionism, primitive, and modern. I hope that in five years, I am doing more live shows, where I can display some of my most unique 3D pieces in Galleries. At the moment, I only do two commission pieces a year, but I hope to have the time to expand that to 3 projects a year.

My Paintings come from history, traveling and places and the excitement I see in people’s faces when they pick out and purchase one of my paintings. For me it was never about the money but building a strong connection with others from around the world.

I have traveled all over the world, so my message for people, and art and craft lovers is be open to all types of art and creations, and to always treat people with respect and honor. No matter who you are or where you come from, I will always talk to you, to offer coaching and advice in the world of art!

Meet Aracelys Figueroa from Just.a.Brush.of.Art...

I am 24 years old, a wife of 1 year as of February and a stay-at-home mom of 2- soon to be 3- kids! I am a self taught painter. After I had my first kid, I lost some interest in painting, but, a few months ago I found my love for the art once again! I decided to branch out and started doing more than just canvases, like I used to. In high school, I painted the school halls. Now I paint glass, wood, purses, jars, and random objects I find! I love being a mother and wife, but I want to find myself as a person. I want to find a way of doing something I love to make money to help my family! I want to find people who also like my work and support me! Painting has helped me grow a lot as a person.

I started off drawing in middle school, but I've been painting since high school. Part of why I got back into painting is because I want my kids to one day find something they love and not give up on it. 

I don't remember much on why I started drawing because I was so young. I just remember filling my walls with my drawings to where you couldn't even see the walls. I would play music and get lost in the drawings. I could go for hours. After painting trees on the walls of my room, I started painting the walls of my high school. Then, I started on canvases, and it slowly became more into random things to paint. Painting is something I can control and create, but I also never know how something might actually turn out, which can be stressful but so exciting! I find painting to be a great distraction from my mind and all the pressure of the world. 

When I paint, I don't have much of a process. I just try to find objects that would look good with whatever design I have in mind. Sometimes I don't even have ideas, I just think it would be fun to paint the object. Often, it'll sit around for a little while till something comes to mind. Once I start, though, I tend to sit in my art room and paint for hours without noticing. I frequently keep painting until my husband tells me it's getting late!

This is going to be my first Avant-Garde Show, and I hope in the future to do more events! To expand my career, I hope to one day get a website, so I can ship my art work to other states. I hope to grow my talent and find others who enjoy my work and support me in trying to get my art out for others to see!

I hope to remind people to have fun! My personal art style is more cartoon like and colorful, because I want to put a smile on people's faces and add just a pop of color in this world!

Meet Karen and Heidi from Diengie...

As a mother-daughter team, we design and create goods for little ones and women using new and repurposed fabrics. Diengie was first in business from 2008-2015. We made bags and accessories using burlap from coffee bean bags and repurposed fabrics. After a seven year break, Diengie was reborn in 2022. Over the past year we have gradually switched over to making more products for little ones.

We first started out wanting to find a way to use our talents to create a business that would generate an income. Sewing has long been in the family. Our family has been creating fabric goods in various forms for generations. We started honing our skills at early ages and there has never really been a time in our lives when we haven't been sewing and creating.

As a partnership we both bring skills and ideas to the table. We always talk through any ideas we have for new products. Usually, the one who first had the idea begins the process of trial and error in hopes of ending up with a finished product that can be added to our lineup. Our love for little ones and their mamas, our desire for a blend of practicality and beauty, and a drive to minimize our consumer consumption and production waste inspires us to create.

We first started out wanting to find a way to use our talents to create a business that would generate an income. Sewing has long been in the family. Our family has been creating fabric goods in various forms for generations. We started honing our skills at early ages and there has never really been a time in our lives when we haven't been sewing and creating. One day, we'd love to have our own brick and mortar to reach more people!

The message behind our work is twofold: We want to create products that blend practicality and beauty, and we want to produce goods that generate as little waste as possible! This is our first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show, and we are looking forward to being part of the show! We hope to continue adding to our little ones product line and increase our retail and wholesale sales. 

Meet Gwen J. of Handmaiden by GwenJ LLC...

I design Macrame handbags & Accessories (Sandals) that are one of a kind leaving a lasting impression. I have been designing bags since I was in 7th grade from my favorite teacher. She taught home economics in Atmore, Alabama, where I'm originally from. Her lesson on macrame was one of the best things I ever learned, and it inspired me to create. Her lessons started me on my dream, but I kept going outside of class, using my free time to expand my skill in macrame to higher and higher levels. 

In 2008, I turned my love of crafting into a proper business. I keep creating because I love fashion, and I love the accessories that pull outfits together. I find that I work on my art best after work. I am an electrical and computer engineer, and the job requires having an abstract and creative mind, which helps keep my mind flowing with ideas. The mathematics portion of the job is incorporated into my handbags. I hope to one day set up a boutique in Crocker Park, and to have my products in major couture boutiques in LA, NY and Miami, and more! I hope that my bags leave lasting impressions and are used as a conversational piece!

2023 Avon Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, April 22 

10:00am-4:00pm

Emerald Event Center

33040 Just Imagine Drive

Avon, OH 44011

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

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Meet Susan Mariner from Kuddle Katz...

I'm a divorced mother of two with a chronic illness and crocheting is my therapy. I'm a retired hairstylist and nail tech of thirty years. Aside from crocheting, I enjoy golf, coffee, and classic movies. My boyfriend Mike got me into the craft. He said I needed a hobby and I always wanted to learn how to crochet. My grandma attempted to teach me when I was young, but it just didn't click. A few YouTube videos later and Kuddle Katz was born! My mom picked out the name. It’s been nine years and this will be my first Avant-Garde show!

I'm inspired by the wide variety of cat breeds. Their colors, textures, and patterns are beautiful. I also have two cats and their personalities provide plenty of inspiration. I started crocheting different amigurumi animals and realized I was pretty good once my daughter and mom started requesting lots of penguins, elephants, and giraffes. I then found a pattern for cats online. The pattern was for an animeko cat, based on the Japanese picture book Hello I am Animeko, the Story of a Crafty Crocheted Cat. I loved them, so I just started making them. They have evolved throughout the years, and I have made several changes to the original pattern. For example, I make the muzzles bigger and add hand-painted eyes to give the cats more character. 

It always starts with a trip to a yarn store! I like looking for unique colors, patterns, and textures of yarns. I then match various yarns and eyes to create a cat. Sometimes I have a specific cat breed in mind, a picture reference, or a particular color scheme I want to follow. It usually takes me a full day to crochet one cat. I consider crocheting a hobby and I just enjoy seeing people smile when they discover their cuddly companion. I hope I can continue to spread a little happiness with my crocheted cats. My message is that cats are awesome! Everyone could use a cat companion in their life. 

Meet Tracy Smoker from The Craft Momster...

I am a momgineer who likes crafting in my spare time. I have been making crafts of some variety for as long as I can remember, but this will be my first Avant-Garde show. I like to keep my hands busy, I like making nice looking things, and there’s some magic in taking things that were once individual components and creating something new and fun from them. I imagine I found this talent when my mom gave me a few craft supplies to see if I liked it, and the rest is history. 

The stories of my childhood crafting always include references to my parents hiding the tape and tissues in the house because I used anything I could get my hands on. They also knew my craft area floor was clean when you didn’t hear the vacuum sucking up beads or sequins anymore! I try to find inspiration in lots of different aspects of my life.  In January, I finished building a gallon jug igloo in our basement.  I got that idea from a link my mom shared with me on Facebook. Within the next five years, I will still be mom’ing and hope to still be crafting!

Meet Margo Coniam from South Shore Beach Glass...

Hello, I'm Margo!  I am a Radiation Therapist who lives in Avon Lake with two house rabbits. I love to travel and one of my favorite places that I have traveled to is Scotland. You will find that I incorporate a Celtic symbol, the spiral, in a number of my designs. I just started selling my jewelry this year and so far, the feedback has been really positive! This is my first show with Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows and I am so excited about it!  

I was inspired to start this business when I went to the beach and was astonished by the beauty of these beach glass gems. They look like tiny jewels to me and it is amazing to think that nature took something that was thrown away and of no use to anyone and made it into something that is truly unique and beautiful. I like to imagine the history of each piece of glass; vintage bottles from rum runners, window panes from long-demolished houses, maybe pieces from the over 6,000 shipwrecks that litter the bottom of Lake Erie. Whatever their origin, I love that they are something that was genuinely made from this Great Lake and the stories they tell about this Great Lake!  

A few years ago I started collecting Lake Erie beach glass from local beaches.  At first my beach excursions were just a calming retreat at the end of a busy day.  However, while looking at my beach gems, the creative side of my brain took over and what resulted was my company, South Shore Beach Glass.  I take unique pieces of Lake Erie beach glass and turn them into jewelry and lamps.  What I love about beach glass is that no two pieces are the same and each piece has a unique history and story all its own. 

My creative process first begins on the beach where I will spend hours digging through the sand and wading into the surf to collect as much glass as I can find.  When I take these pieces home, I look at the shape and size of each of the different pieces to best determine what type of jewelry to make each piece into.  Earrings are definitely one piece that takes me longer to make as I have to find two similarly colored, sized and shaped pieces.  It can be a time-consuming process, but it is one that I love.  When I design the wire wraps for my jewelry, I tend to find that I draw a lot of creative ideas from Celtic symbols, specifically the spiral.  The spiral symbolizes growth, birth, and our path through life and reminds us of the circle of life.  Plus, it is a really fun design to make and to wear!  

Meet Kristin Gladish from J Austen Boutique Co...

My name is Kristin and I’m the owner of J Austen Boutique Co. and am very excited to be participating in the 2019 Avon Spring Avant-Garde Craft Show!

The design and style of my pieces were inspired by the elegant sophistication of the women of Jane Austen’s time. I combine casual elegance with whimsical beauty, creating pieces that are easy to wear but add a touch of “fancy” to any outfit.

Every item is handmade by me from a carefully chosen piece of vintage-style ribbon, Czech glass or rounded gemstone beads, and Georgian-era inspired charms.

As a stay at home mother of two, I’m very grateful to have found a creative outlet that I enjoy. I love making beautiful things and sharing them with others!

2019 Avon Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Saturday, May 11, 2019

10:00am-5:00pm

Emerald Event Center
33040 Just Imagine Dr.
Avon, Ohio 44011

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

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