CAROLINA COTTAGE

Being a fan of any sort of tote, it's no surprise that I find trays equally appealing. These trays are from the cool online shop Carolina Cottage. This crafty shop covers wooden trays with a variety of papers and decoupage techniques, then paints the edges with a gloss paint. Stylish and functional, they are an eye-catching gift. All for $20.

KASS Glass Works

This small West Village shop offers CUSTOM decoupage pieces from your design. Each piece is assembled by hand in the traditional method of applying the artwork to the back of a glass piece, them coating the back to seal and protect. They offfer many of their own designs in the vintage / ephemera look of John Derian’s work. Great idea for gifts-- use your own family's history. And don’t forget my earlier post about Ben’s Garden, a similar service in Oyster Bay, NY.

John Derian Decoupage

John Derian has revitalized the art of decoupage and has expanded his own shop to highlight his work and the work of other artists. This is a very old artform, and all the pieces are still handmade, one piece of paper at a time. Derian is mostly known for his cut-paper collages, which are assembled in layers on the backs of glass shapes. The back is then sealed and the design shows through the layer of glass, giving it dimension and an instant "frame." Derian stands apart from others because his craftsmanship is so expert and his subjects so appealing. See more at Derian's online store. (Photos courtesy of John Derian.)

Ben's Garden

Ben’s Garden is a store in Oyster Bay, NY that offers their wonderful decoupage trays on line right here. These handcrafted trays are handmade by Ben in the French tradition of cutting and applying personalized papers to glass. These trays are food safe and make great gifts. Any photo or paper can be used! Prices are very reasonable, starting at $45 and going up to $295 for the 12x20 inch size. See for yourself. Visit Ben’s Garden