Readying for spring at the home and garden show

MEDINA — Everything means something on a Bob Mallow steampunk hat. The miniature gears taken from old watches signify time travel. The feathers stand for 19th-century aristocracy. Most noticeable are the goggles, which rest on the hat's brim. Anyone who time travels back to the steam age — like they might in a steampunk novel, a subgenre of science fiction — will need those goggles. "I make these hats for both men and women," Mallow said. "It's a lot of fun." Mallow's display was one of the more unique this past weekend at the annual Medina County Home and Garden Show at Medina County Fairgrounds. More than 130 businesses participated. There were landscapers, gardeners, roofers, window and flooring installers, kitchen and bath remodelers, plumbers and heating and cooling firms. The event included demonstrations on tree pruning by Candyapple Nursery & Landscaping in Medina, cooking by Stefanie Paganini, who has appeared on local TV and radio stations, and garden design by Boyert's Greenhouse & Farm in Medina. Attendees also learned how to deer-proof their gardens, build birdhouses, become more sustainable and even preserve their family histories. In addition, the home and garden show featured a grand-prize drawing for an antique bronze metal day bed. There was an amateur backyard barbecue cook-off with cash prizes and trophies. As for Mallow, his steampunk hats are just one of the products at Pandora's Creations by DeeDee, the Rootstown business he and his wife, Diane, started about 10 years ago. Diane makes her own jewelry and purses, which also were on display at the home and garden show. Lauren Falcione, otherwise known as The Blonde Italian, also was featured at the home and garen show. She sells homemade vegetarian and vegan cooking sauces with fresh, natural ingredients at several local stores, including Heinen's, Marc's, Chuppa's Marketplace in Parma and Miles Farmers Market in Solon. About four years ago, Falcione auditioned for the TV show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of potential investors. She didn't appear on the show, but was a finalist. Falcione has been in business about seven years. She's always enjoyed cooking her own sauces even though it took work gathering fresh herbs and garlic. "I thought it would be nice to have fresh ingredients in a jar without having to run to the store and wash and chop everything," Falcione said. Today, The Blonde Italian is a full-time business for Falcione, and she has even expanded into Walmart stores in Georgia and Alabama. Contact reporter Bob Sandrick at areanews@medina-gazette.com.