🐶 White Dog Crafts – Jody Pelasky
At the heart of White Dog Crafts is storytelling—layered, intentional, and deeply personal.
Jody Pelasky creates intricate 3D layered shadowboxes and paper art pieces that feel both artistic and emotional. What started as a creative outlet has grown into a thriving handmade business with over 1,000 sales and a loyal community of repeat customers.
🐾 And of course, no creation happens without her fluffy white studio assistant, Shiloh.
Jody’s journey into paper crafting began as a creative escape, making gifts for friends and family. Over time, she realized her work resonated deeply with others—and that connection is what continues to drive her.
✨ “Handmade matters.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing through shows, collaborations, and custom work, while staying true to the heart and intention behind every piece.
🎭 4Shorts – 3D Printing & Crafts (Jon Short)
Creativity runs deep for Jon Short, the artist behind 4Shorts – 3D Printing & Crafts.
Blending technology with traditional artistry, Jon creates everything from 3D printed pieces to needle crafts and handmade puppets. While he has been creating for years, he recently took the leap into turning his passion into a full-time business.
Art has always been part of his life. Inspired by his grandmother, who worked in ceramics, drawing, and painting, Jon grew up surrounded by creativity. While his background is rooted in performing arts like music and acting, visual art has always been a passion—and now, a profession.
His approach is simple but powerful:
✨ “Bringing imagination to life.”
Ideas come from everywhere—nature, everyday needs, imagination—and are refined until they become something tangible to share with others.
With this being his second Avant-Garde show, Jon is excited to continue expanding his online presence and dreams of one day opening a brick-and-mortar space.
🌐 www.4shorts3dprintingandcrafts.com
🪵 Cartwright Collective – Heidi & Brent Cartwright
What started with a meaningful inheritance has grown into a beautifully crafted business rooted in family and tradition.
Cartwright Collective is a husband-and-wife woodworking duo that locally sources their wood and transforms it into stunning, handcrafted pieces. Every item is created in their garage workshop, where Brent carefully planes and works with the natural grain to bring each design to life.
Creativity runs in the family—Heidi grew up surrounded by makers, from jewelry to woodworking—and that influence continues today as they raise their own children with the same appreciation for creating.
Their process is thoughtful and iterative. Ideas are constantly evolving, refined again and again until the final piece feels worthy of becoming part of someone’s home.
✨ “Intentional and artisanal.”
Every piece is made by hand—cut, sanded, and finished with care—ensuring that what customers bring home is not just functional, but meaningful.
🎨 Sadie Kai Redesign – Briana Yamane
For Briana Yamane, art is more than something you create—it’s something you feel.
Her work today blends modern minimalism with texture, creating calming, neutral pieces that bring peace into everyday spaces.
But her journey into business didn’t start with a plan—it started with a shift in perspective.
After becoming a stay-at-home mom, Briana began looking for something that was just hers. She started painting and upcycling décor in her own home—transforming old vases, lamps, and mirrors into something new.
What began as a personal project quickly grew when friends and guests began encouraging her to sell her work.
Her creative process is deeply meditative. Working late at night or during quiet moments, she paints while listening to calming music, fully immersed in the experience.
✨ “Be still. Be present. Be mindful.”
Her goal is simple yet powerful—to create pieces that bring a sense of calm and tranquility into a busy world.
🎨 Julie Smolinski – Acrylic Pouring & Repurposed Creations
After a 50-year career in the medical field, Julie Smolinski is embracing a new chapter—one filled with creativity, color, and exploration.
Through acrylic paint pouring and sewing with repurposed fabrics, Julie has found a beautiful way to express herself and give new life to everyday materials.
Her journey into art began unexpectedly. Encouraged by her husband to watch paint pouring videos (instead of crime shows!), she quickly became captivated by the movement, flow, and unpredictability of the medium.
And just like that—she was hooked.
For Julie, the magic lies in the process itself. The way colors blend, move, and naturally form something entirely unique.
Her work reflects her love for nature, creativity, and sustainability—transforming the ordinary into something beautiful and functional.
This will be her first Avant-Garde show, and she’s excited to share her creations and connect with others.
🌿 Awakening Body Products- Vedelia Tompkins
Founded in 2011, Awakening Body Products is rooted in both care and purpose.
What began in 2007 as a solution for a mother’s son struggling with severe eczema has grown into a full line of all-natural skincare products designed to soothe and heal sensitive skin.
Created by a Registered Nurse, every product is thoughtfully formulated to support conditions like eczema, psoriasis, burns, and rashes—while also helping to reduce scarring.
Their product line includes:
✨ Whipped Mango Body Butters
✨ Soaps
✨ Lotions
✨ Beard Oils
✨ Soy Candles
With a wide variety of scents—from Almond and Brown Sugar to Coconut, Grapefruit, and Vanilla Bean—there’s something for everyone.
Their best-selling soaps include Goat Milk, Honey Oat, Aloe with Cocoa Butter, and Oatmeal Honey with Mango Butter.
💛 Their mission is clear:
To provide natural, effective products that truly care for your skin.
🛍️ Join Us in Rocky River!
These makers—and so many more—are what make the Rocky River Spring Handmade Market such a special experience.
From handcrafted woodwork and layered paper art to sustainable skincare, original artwork, and imaginative creations, there’s truly something for everyone.
✨ Come shop small, support local, and connect with the stories behind the products.
We can’t wait to see you there! 💛
