Originally a 2-day event named Midwest Craft Caucus formed in 2011, MCC lived dormant until 3 craft show organizers from around the State of Ohio formed it into the CONference its become today.
Midwest Craft Con is now run by a loyal group of board members and volunteers. Who each have combined passions for furthering the handmade movement and bringing the DIY community together in the name of craft. Contact us to learn more about becoming a board member or to volunteer at an upcoming event.
Megan Green is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Midwest Craft Con and a general lover of craft related mishaps. She’s been a plush maker and co-founded the Etsy Plush Team ,formed a semi- prominent soap company: Stinkybomb Soaps, which was featured in Country Living Magazine, sold in the Warhol Museum and WWII National Museum. Megan served as Event Director for Craftin’ Outlaws for over a decade and works as the Manager of Studio Initiatives at the Columbus Museum of Art. Her passion for bringing together community and crafts into Columbus, Ohio has been an ongoing personal and professional mission for over a decade.
Instagram @meganstinkygreen
Esther Hall is an Ohio Native, currently residing in Grandview Heights, Ohio with her Husband and Son. Esther currently works as a professional artist, fashion designer and does contract work as a consultant and educator in grant writing and professionalism for artist. She formerly owned a yarn store called “Yarn it & Haberdashery” a finely curated yarn store in the heart of the Midwest. She was was also the gallery manager and organizational administrator for the Ohio Art League. As well as an adjunct instructor for fashion at Columbus College of Art and Design. She has worked as the head organizer for Craft Alley that organizes craft vendors to have booths as a portion of Park Street festival, Independents day and the Columbus Food Truck and Cart Festival. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in a combined, fashion and sculpture focus. Esther is a crafter, fiber artist, and fashion designer. She has won international awards for her work in fashion design. These include accolades from Styles Scotland international fashion competition, the Marshall Fields Emmanuel Ungaro Scholarship, and she was on national television with TLC’s Craft Wars, hosted by Tori Spelling.
Instagram @torn_angel
Samantha Frew: Energetic, willing to lend a crafty hand and unofficial ambassador to Columbus, Sam joins the Outlaws team with a long line of events and community outreach under her belt. When she’s not promoting Ohio small businesses through ECDI as a Marketing and Communications Manager, she is volunteering at community events.
Instagram has @awwputain
Betsy Greer: I’m a writer and stitcher who originally popularized the craftivism movement, sharing how craft and activism intersect. These days I write and create projects around how making is a transformative act, helping us heal, connect, grow and more.
Instagram: @craftivista
My name is Shannon Gresham. I am the owner of Livnloop. Livnloop is an online shop that sells handmade knits and accessories. Since starting Livnloop in 2017, I have been fortunate to be a part of the small business and crafting community. Everyday I learn something new and am inspired by this community. I have a passion for helping others and hope by serving as a member on the Midwest Craft Con Board, I am able to contribute to helping other small business owners and crafters achieve their goals and dreams.
Instagram: @livinloop
Amy Haggard was born in Columbus, Ohio where she resides with her husband, four kids and two dogs. She graduated from Ohio Dominican College after studying English and Visual Communications while playing softball. She worked briefly for a local design and promotions company, but returned to school to obtain her teachings license. Amy taught elementary art for five years in the Columbus City Schools, but left teaching to stay home with her kids. Once her kids were in school Amy created The Makist to share her love of making art. Her love of bold colors, simple shapes, and graphic patterns can be found in all her paintings and murals. As an artist, Amy’s main goal is to use her art to spread joy.
Instagram: @amythemakistpwet
Claire Jennings: I’m a crafty dilettante, but deeply love to support and be around creative people. I’m a big picture thinker, connection maker, and people person. I love color, knitting, photography, old buildings, and city planning. I’m here to cheerlead and problem solve.
Instagram is @ClaireHelene7
Artist and entrepreneur Lucy Kelly is the creative mind behind jewelry brand bel monili and handmade business marketing coach at Bloom by bel monili.
Lucy began bel monili in 2010 as a “hobby for-profit” and over the years has grown her handmade business from small local craft shows to 6 figures in revenue with features in national publications such as Country Living Magazine and FOLK.
In 2019, Lucy launched the Bloom community to teach the business side of handmade business ownership. Hundreds of makers have taken her Get Online, Grow Online marketing program and have been able to successfully start and grow their handmade businesses selling both online and at in-person markets.
Lucy graduated from Duquesne University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and obtained her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Duquesne in 2007. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband Erik, their daughter Evelyn, and their pug-Yorkie mix Oscar.
Instagram: @bloombybelmonili
Andi Ploehs is the owner and brains behind A.P. Loves Design – a feel good hand lettered stationery and paper goods biz. She works out of her home studio in Cincinnati where she prints, cuts, scores, and packages all items. After graduating high school, Andi moved to Chicago where she received her B.F.A. in Advertising Design. She never imagined leaving Chicago, but she’s rediscovered her hometown with her husband John and their two little ones Xavier and Sage. Andi has a several projects coming up this year that she’s very excited about and can’t wait to share. You can find APLD in retailers across the country and online, www. aplovesdesign.com Instagram: @aplovesdesign
Yetunde Rodriguez is a Nigerian-American multimedia artist, printmaker and surface pattern designer residing in Dayton Ohio. Instagram: @yaytoonday
Mallory Theiss has been working in the fabric and craft industry for fifteen years, specializing in customer service, marketing and project management. She has a passion for sewing, hand embroidery, and just about anything that involves fabric. She teaches sewing classes and loves the opportunity to share her knowledge and skills with her local community. Currently she lives in Westerville, Ohio while serving clients locally and across the country. She has three children, five sewing machines, and a stash of fabric that would make Tim Gunn blush. Instagram: @malloryhillmakes
OG Co-Founders from left to right Grace Dobush, Brit Charek and Megan Green
Midwest Craft Con 