Mary Beth Filon and her mother found inspiration for their Portage Trail Barn gift shop in Cuyahoga Falls in all the fabric and other materials they’d collected over the years for crafts.
“We were looking at all our materials that we’ve acquired,” Filon said, and thought “if we set to using all these materials, we could fill a shop. It kind of started out as a joke.”
The mother and daughter are in their second year of the joke-turned-reality, operating the Portage Trail Barn as a seasonal gift shop in a wood barn made by Filon’s husband, John.
The shop, tucked behind a house at 151 Portage Trail Extension W., features handmade jewelry and other accessories, knitted scarves and animal hats. Filon says other items include wooden pull toys and baskets, aprons and ornaments.
The winter sale — the only time the shop will be open before next spring — runs Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 9. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
All items are made by Filon, her mother Maureen Wiesner or local crafters. Fifteen vendors are signed up for the winter sale.
There are “an amazing variety of things,” Filon said. Filon’s husband, John, even is in on the crafting, making birch candle holders.
The shop has turned out to be more than a way to put all those craft materials to work. “It is a supplement to our family income,” Filon said. “It might not be a large supplement, but it’s an important one.”
The shop is on Portage Trail Extension, west of State Road, and opposite Dawn Terrace. Look for the “open” sign on the north side of Portage Trail Extension. Parking is in the lower lot.
Don Drumm ornament
Akron artist and gallery/gift shop owner Don Drumm has designed an aluminum holiday ornament featuring the word “blessings” for the Akron nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack.
Proceeds from ornament sales will go to Blessings in a Backpack’s program that provides food for children who qualify for federal free and reduced meals at school. Food is packed for the children to take home on Friday afternoons.
The ornaments sell for $25 each. To purchase an ornament, contact Blessings in a Backpack-Akron at blessingsakron@gmail.com.
Twist on jewelry
Local jeweler Scott’s Custom Jewelers, 55 Ghent Road, Fairlawn, is putting a tech twist on the holidays, offering a Kindle Fire HD free with the purchase of any piece of custom jewelry priced at $1,000 or more. The promotion runs through Dec. 24.
Owner Scott Cevasco said, “Since we use high tech equipment [computer aided design] to make our custom jewelry, it seems fitting to include it in our holiday promotions.”
Santa on Arlington
The nearly 5-year-old Southside Flea Market, inside the former Cheton’s furniture at 2262 S. Arlington Road in Coventry Township, will host Santa from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and again on Dec. 9. Photos can be taken for free.
The flea market also will have its first auction at 3 p.m. Sunday. Items can be viewed from noon to 2 p.m.
Co-owner Jennie Morrison boasts that Southside is the only “true” flea market in the immediate Akron area in that the vendors are on hand to make deals with customers.
The Hartville Flea Market and Hartville MarketPlace are over the Stark County line in Lake Township, she notes.
To see a list of vendors, go online to http://southsidefleamarket.com.
Hudson shopping event
On Sunday, Hudson merchants, including those at the First & Main shopping complex, will host the Hudson Holiday Walk from noon to 6 p.m. Santa and his elves, and live reindeer will be on hand. Horse and carriage rides will be offered.
First and Main’s In Style Accessories is donating $10 to the Haven of Rest’s Harvest Home for Women & Children for each handbag purchased through Dec. 24.
Go online to www.destinationhudson.com for more information.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.