My Varu

It all began with an adorable handmade diaper bag given to an expectant mom at her baby shower. Kimberly Lawson, one of the guests, heard comments about how much it had cost. She thought to herself, “I know I can make something just as cute and even more customized, for much less.” The next day, voila—Kim had created the diaper tote of her dreams to rave reviews. With a little encouragement from her family and a lots of nudges from style-conscious moms who loved distinctive diaper totes, Varu was born.

Varu now produces a wide range of items, from diaper totes to handbags to zippered pouches, all in an affordable price range and vibrant fun graphic patterns. Stop by the Ohio Art Market to see more!

Indigo Jewelry Studio

Wendy Emery in her studio

Wendy Emery, the artisan behind Indigo Jewelry Studio, graduated from The Columbus College of Art & Design with a BFA Magna Cum Laude in 1991. She has been a graphic designer in central Ohio for the past 18 years. She began making glass beads early in 2008 after taking a lampworking class. Wendy was looking for a way to expand her creativity and use her design skills for something other than commercial design projects. Wendy likes the possibilities and the challenges that glass offers.

“Glass is fascinating. It’s free and rigid at the same time. The creation of each bead is a fluid process, the glass moves, the flame is moving, your hands move constantly turning the mandrel and glass. The finishing is much more strict. Annealing the beads is very structured and necessary as one of the final phases of the process. I apply my color and design expertise to each bead, treating them like small paintings. I usually begin with a planned design but sometimes the glass takes on a life of it’s own. No two beads are alike and no single one is perfect. Each is unique with its own personality that inspires my jewelry designs.”

Wendy’s home and studio are in Westerville, Ohio where she lives with her husband Eric and children Benjamin & Christian.

Michael Sorge

Michael Sorge would label himself a "woodturner artisan". Using rescued timber that would otherwise be destined for firewood, mulch, or a landfill, Michael strives to “turn” in a pleasing manner for both art and utilitarian purposes with the hope and goal of allowing the inherent natural beauty of each piece to show well for generations of enjoyment. "I found woodturning to be an enjoyable and satisfying medium that combines my love of nature and creative interests. I’m fascinated by the incredible array of trees and the timber they produce; their colors, grains, textures and conditions are diverse, beautiful and often full of surprises. I sculpt rescued and select timber into original and traditional shapes that display the woods’ inherent natural beauty, serve a useful purpose and are pleasing to the eye. I also strive to efficiently maximize the yield of timber through both design planning and multiple coring." Michael has been creating his one-of-a-kind pieces since November 2009 and is a member of both, The Central Ohio Woodturners and American Association of Woodturners. 


Here are a few of Michael's wood creations that we carry at the Ohio Art Market.

Click on the video below to see Michael in action.