Gallery 32

Gallery 32 is an amazing Photography shop on Etsy. Trina has had her shop since November 2007, and lives in Lawrence Kansas. Since I contacted her about doing a feature on her shop, Trina has started making Pendants using her wonderful photos.

How did you decide on your shop name?
Gallery 32 comes from the aspect ratio of 35mm film which is 3:2. I liked the idea of the name relating to what I do, which is photography.

When did you start crafting? What is your favorite creative outlet?
I have always made crafts. When I was a child my grandmother taught me to embroider, watercolor, bead and anything else she could come up with. She also bought me my first camera, a Nikromat 35mm, and a book on how to take photos when I was around 8. I think that it had a profound influence on my work especially my current digital collages. I have quite a collection of vintage cameras, which all work, and I like to take photos with all of them. Each one has it's own distinctive character which adds to the photos. Recently, I have been shooting with my Nikon D80 with a 50mm lens that I adore.

Are there other crafts you would like to try?
Oh my where to start. I am constantly wanting to try new crafts. My friend bought me 'The Big Ass Book of Crafts' for my birthday and I have been inspired to try and incorporate my photography into some new things. I am about to make some art jewelry with scrabble tile pendants and bracelets. I also want to make some pendants with punched tin.

Do you have a day job?
I am a bar manager so I work at night and have all day to work on my craft. I very thankful to have the luxury of time.

What or who inspires you?
I am constantly inspired by nature and the cycle of life. I often take photos of flowers and landscapes when they aren't at their best. It's a challenge to make winter Kansas landscapes look interesting. I am also inspired by history and objects that are from another time. I like taking photos of old things and presenting them in a modern way. They may seem antiquated in modern society but the challenge lies in making them relevant again.

Macriphotography

Macri Photography is a wonderful shop from Northern Virginia. Bess takes amazing photo's and has been on etsy for 1 year now.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

hee hee...well, this one was mighty UNinventive of me. :) Macri is my last name. when first began selling my photography and taking family portraits, it was recommended to me by another professional photographer to use my own name in my business name...so there you have it.

#2. When did you start crafting?

I've always loved having a camera in my hand. for years it was a disposable camera or a $25 kodak. then about 4 years ago something sparked in me.. Ican't really explain what it was but all of a sudden a bought a few books on photography and a *slightly* nicer camera. things have kinda gone from there. I am completely self-taught so as I've learned more, my book collection and camera pick has evolved.

#3. What or who inspires you?

I absolutely love to take photos of children. they are uninhibited, unlike most adults, and make the most amazing photographic subjects. I also love to work with kids so it is an awesome challenge to me when I get hired to take family portraits that will include kids...it is really fun to see the progression of how kids are shy with me (as a stranger) at first and then, by the end of the shoot, they are posing for the camera and asking me to take pictures of them! :) I'm also inspired simply by the everyday beauty of life...I have come to see the world around me in terms of how it would look as a photograph and am constantly mesmerized by things I formerly considered commonplace.

#4. Do you have a day job?

yes...I work for the government.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

I most enjoyed taking "new" (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19005308). those are the teeny tiny toes of one of my god-daughters when she was only 7 weeks old and was taken the first time I ever saw her. I remember marveling in the perfection of her itty bitty-ness and, now that she is one and growing like a weed, I am so happy that I'll always remember that day.

Audrey's Accolades:

This is the first Photography shop I'm featuring. I was drawn to the amazing variety of subjects that Bess covers. You don't see only flowers & trees in this shop (not that flowers & trees are a bad thing). I can barely take pics of the items in my shop. Bess has obviously mastered the art of photography. I just love this pic:

Fantastic Finds

This week I've found some older shops and some really new ones. Some with lots of sales and some with no sales. I've tried for a variety and think I succeeded. Please check out each shop - the pictures link to the item in the shop. If by chance you feel moved to purchase an item from the shop - please let them know you found them here! Happy Browsing!!


Sherri's Scents & Soys is an amazing soap shop!! I love the colors of her soaps. You will also find lip balm (can never have to many), lotions, fragrance sprays.



Break Away Studio is new to Etsy. I love stained glass, and this shop has some wonderful pieces. Here are two of my favorites from this shop.




Nothing Like It is a really cool shop. I have never seen coasters like this before. I have a friend who would like the cow one!




Ocean Side Creations has some wonderful jewelry in silver and gold. You will also find bracelets, pendants and supplies in this shop.



Prairie Garden is a wonderful shop with photos and journals. They also carry note cards and envelopes.


Well if you didn't know it already - I love bags!! Boka Bags has amazing bags made from the most wonderful fabric in amazing colors. She also has cell phone/i pod cases.



Hope you enjoy looking through these shops - and maybe find something you can't resist. Have a wonderful weekend!!

Maggie Mags

Maggie lives in Rice Lake, Ontario Canada! She has been married 41 years to the same man and they have two intelligent, beautiful daughters. Our daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren all live in the USA. Maggie likes to try different things but loves to test the limits of what glass will accept in the form of decoupage which you can find in her shop MaggieMags Original Creations with Glass. Maggie also has a Blog which is a combination of personal and art related.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

I have two shops. The first is named 'Maggiemags' and I use that for showing my decoupage plates and decorative glass blocks during the holiday season. I hope to add a couple of new ideas I'm working on in the next couple of months. 'Maggiemags' is a combination of my nickname (Margaret is my real name and sounds so uptight) and the 'Mags' part is in honour of my grandaughter who was named after me, but her parents call her 'Mags' most of the time. The second shop is 'Maggies Studio' which is dedicated completely to my other passion which is photography. It's kind of a boring name, but is pretty self explanatory, I think.

#2. When did you start crafting?

When younger I used to like crafting but marriage, children and work got in the way. I did a lot of sewing for my daughters though. They both were baton twirlers in a twirling corps, so I was busy making costumes for them. I finally had the time to explore more of my creativity when I retired.

#3. What or who inspires you?

I'm inspired personally by many of my friends and for various reasons. However, on the world stage I get inspired by Oprah Winfrey. More importantly, so many of her guests have inspired me to stay as positive as possible, never give up and to be grateful for the special things in my life. As I've gotten older, I look back and only now can appreciate and be inspired by my Mother who passed away. She was in a wheelchair a good part of her life, but refused to give in to her plight. She absolutely tried to do as much as possible regardless of her circumstances.

#4. Do you have a day job?

I retired in 2004 and that's when I was able to finally have the time to explore my own creativity more intensely.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

I enjoy making most of what I make, but the contemporary styled plates are the most fun for me, probably because I tend to like the clean lines..the geometric patterns are a lot of fun to come up with. At present, I'm almost out of this style, but will begin doing more again beginning in February.

Audrey's Accolades:

I found Maggie while searching etsy for glass blocks that are filled with lights and used as decorations. I had seen some at a craft show and wanted to make one or two for myself, but after talking to the crafter realized quite quickly that they were not about to tell me how they drilled the holes. So I went to Etsy! Maggie was one of the crafters who was very helpful. Of course I then went to check out the rest of her shop and was amazed by her plates. How does she do that? I got an answer!

"When I do the decoupage and paint work on the plates, I actually start with just a clear glass plate and all my work is done on the backside of the plate. Depending on how complicated and layered it is make it a little bit more difficult. Why, you ask. Well, you are actually working in reverse order..whatever you want at the forefront must go on first and then work from there. Because the work is done on the back side of the plate, they really are food safe. However, they can not be immersed in water or put in a dishwasher. If you use to serve, you can only damp wipe.Primarily are meant to be decorative."

I love those plates!! The colors and designs are amazing! But how to pick a favorite? Don't have a choice so here goes.

This plate is approx. 10" round.This decoupage work is done on the back side of a clear glass plate. In this case, this is a paper copy of a butterfly and some butterflies stamped on as well.