Visnja Riley began baking clay keychains because of her unusual name.
“My name is never on a pen or a cup, so I started my own business, and people love it,” the Thorold artist told ThoroldNews.
Called CherryCro (www.cherrycro.myshopify.com), Riley’s colourful keychains are custom-made for people who have unique or ethnic names and spellings.
“You can order it and have it within three days to a week,” she stated. “People love it. I had a customer say she was so excited because she can never find her name on anything.”
Riley was one of 70 juried artisans from across Ontario whose works were displayed at the 41st annual Thorold Arts & Crafts Show Saturday.
Perusing aisles lined with pottery, personalized pet products, and a host of handmade creations, about 1,120 art-lovers attended, many toting stunning photography or wooden wine holders upon exiting the Thorold Arena.
Concrete artists Ted and Sherry Oosterlaken came from Fernleigh to promote their propane-operated concrete fire tables.
“The top is concrete; the base is cedar,” said Ted. “It operates off propane and is filled with fireproof reflective glass to make it look like burning embers. The concept is new, but our design is different,” he added, and the tables are not susceptible to fire bans. “You turn it on and off at night, clean and simple.”
Peter Shishkov, AKA “Mr. Wood Burn,” discovered his penchant for artistic wood designs after suffering from a concussion while playing hockey six years ago.
Craving something to occupy his time, Shishkov started simply by making gifts with wood designs for friends.
“I fell into it because the doctor said I had to do something and it’s been awesome, because now people ask me for custom wedding signs with their names on it,” as well as a number of other art projects.
The next thing he knew, “My wife signed me up for a booth at the Thorold Craft Show two years ago.”
“Every piece is different,” he said, and some of his artwork is double-sided, featuring Darth Vader on one side and Anniken Skywalker on the other, as one example of his popular Star Wars themed portraits.
John Cantin of Tealightbox.com creates custom wooden boxes that hold tealight candles, in a variety of cutout designs such as skulls, cats, and hearts, among several others. The box sides are made on demand and shipped in a flat state to customers’ doors for simple sliding assembly.
Cantin’s larger business includes custom cutting, engraving, building and designing of aluminum, steel, acrylic and wood projects. For more information, visit www.cncroi.com
