First Pics: Maker’s Dozen gift shop/gallery opens at 951 E. Passyunk Ave.

The East Passyunk boutique boom has crossed Washington with the opening of Maker’s Dozen this past Wednesday in Bella Vista.

After a stint on the website team at Philadelphia’s own shopping conglomerate Urban Outfitters/Anthopologie, owner Chris Love left for the siren call of the Silicon Valley. When the start-up he worked for shut down, Love took some time off to travel. It was through these travels that he discovered and fell in love with the world of outsider art (artists with no formal training.)

The Chesnut Hill native decided he wanted to share his favorite discoveries and tell the artist’s stories back in his home-town, and the idea for Maker’s Dozen was born.

In addition to the paintings from artists in Nicaragua, England and Memphis, Love found local Philadelphia and almost-local Baltimore artists to fill the shop with hand-printed scarves, unusual lamps, jewelry made from fruit, sculpture, candles and a variety of interesting unique crafts priced from $10 – $600.

The online store should be up and running by today, but you can always stop by in person at 951 E. Passyunk Ave..

Phone: 215-498-1594. Find them on Facebook and the online store here

– Martha Rich, martharich.com