About This Blog
Howdy! My name is Maggie and I have always loved arts & crafts since I was a little kid. My step-dad taught me to find treasures amongst other peoples’ trash, by picking up random stuff off the curb and digging through the “free box” outside the local antique store. I guess that was the beginning of my career as a “junker.” I have a passion for all things primitive and country, and I also LOVE:
Any and all antiques, art, photography, web design, wild flowers, dogs, exploring creepy, old, abandoned buildings and cemeteries, kickball, Fleetwood Mac, bluegrass and classic country music, American Pickers and Pawn Stars on the History Channel, Family Guy, old black and white cartoons, Halloween and Christmas, barn sales and flea markets, unsweetened iced tea and beer, and spending time with my friends and family!
When I am not working during the day as an ophthalmic photographer, I have a small side business called Upstate Primitives & Gifts. I specialize in making signs and other crafty things. I also seek out unique primitive and antique items, in hopes of bringing them back to life for another generation to enjoy. I just opened a small space at The Carriage Place, a wonderful craft & antique co-op in Brockport, New York!
~ June (front) and I (back) in one of our “Ameteur Pickers” contest pics…hehehe…
~Me and my best friend and crafty partner in crime, Christine!
Over the past few years I have found so many great ideas, projects, and support from some really great blogs. I decided to started this blog as a way to share some of MY crafting ideas and hopefully inspire others, as many have inspired me!
Thanks for stopping by, and happy crafting!
Visit our website www.thecarriageplaceco-op.com and “Like” us on Facebook!
Thanks for your support! 
Oct 14, 2010 @ 18:46:25
i think that this is one of the coolest things you’ve ever done – all the info is interesting – i look forward to reading more….
Oct 15, 2010 @ 10:40:21
I’m sorry, but I cracked up at the I’m Maggie thing. I’ve never called you that and I don’t know if I ever will be able to. I will make an effort to, if that’s what you want to be called.I know I hate being Margaret, maybe you do too. Super cute blog, keep it up girl. Not my thing, but you are so talented at what you do. So is your mom, her painting is my inheritance.
Oct 16, 2010 @ 15:51:23
Great work my beautiful love. You are the best and extremely talented. Your hard work and dedication is super. Luv 4ever!!!!!!
Greg
Oct 31, 2010 @ 19:00:52
this just keeps geting better and better- love reading all the cool stuff you do – oxox oh yea, pics of the eyes are neat- congrats again on the 2nd honor
Nov 17, 2010 @ 23:11:09
Maggie, could you send me an email? I would like to write an article about you for the “rara avis” section of the OPS Newsletter – and talk to you about blogging – I can’t find a way to directly contact you on this site, so I’m hoping this comment will facilitate that : )
Jan 24, 2011 @ 09:33:25
Cool site. Love your craft ideas and your day job is way cool too. I’ve had my retina photographed before and I really enjoyed looking at the photo (Glaucoma). I will definitely be back.
Jan 24, 2011 @ 09:45:59
Thanks a bunch Susan. Retinal photography sure is a unique job, and I love it. Thanks for the comment, and for visiting my blog!
Jul 07, 2011 @ 11:34:47
Hello, I really enjoy your site, you inspired me to be a little “crafty” and added a little prim to my antique booth. I am a”newbie” and have some questions about paint and sealer. Could you email me?
Aug 18, 2011 @ 12:55:14
Hi! I’m new to your blog and I just LOVE it. You’re a gal after my own heart. You’re so clever and talented. Your tutes are great! Thank you. I have one of those little individual bee honey pots WITH the spoon. I thought it was thing to hold salt. Honey makes more sense! What a neat job you have doing the photography. My son is 7 and JUST had eye surgery at Flaum for his nystagmus. I’ve never been to Carriage Village, but do come to Brockport to go to Goodwill and VOA (or is it Salv, Army?) We’re practically neighbors. Would love to stop in sometime and see your booth.
)
Have a great day!
Mardell in Pavilion
Aug 18, 2011 @ 13:01:35
Thanks so much for your very nice comment Mardell! To be honest, I am not 100% sure that the bee pot is for honey- I just kind of assumed. I thought sugar at first. It’s so cute though. I would love for you to stop in and see my booth. The Carriage Place is such a great little co-op. I just love being a part of it and it gives me motivation to keep on crafting. Thanks again and have a great week!
Sep 14, 2011 @ 22:13:11
Your site is so appealing to the eye. I love it! I just subscribed to your blog, thanks!
Sep 16, 2011 @ 21:34:55
I often tune in to see what you’ve been up to. Your site is interesting, so creative and just plain fun. You’ve got it all. Keep up the great work we love it!
Oct 04, 2011 @ 10:45:38
I love your site! Thanks so much for the Ideas and how to do them.
Oct 18, 2011 @ 16:06:59
Hi Maggie
I wonder if you could contact me about sending some stuff to the UK? Look forward to hearing from you. Julie
Oct 21, 2011 @ 20:29:12
I love this blog! You do such a great job on all your crafts. Two questions, where can one find a glass jar with a wooden top, and where do you find wooden pumpkins?
Thanks!!!!
Oct 24, 2011 @ 10:54:20
Hi Nicole!! Thanks so much for commenting and checking out my blog! To answer your questions- the jars with the wooden tops I used to find at the Dollar Tree and then they stopped carrying them. Now I find them occasionally at thrift stores. To be honest they are hard to find. Keep your eye out at places like dollar stores, variety stores, The Christmas Tree Shop – those places sometimes have them. The wooden pumpkin I also found at a thrift store! I swear by those places…you just gotta go often to get the GOOD stuff!!! Hope that helps! Have a great day and thanks again! ~Maggie
Nov 13, 2011 @ 09:26:00
Hi Maggie.
You are so incredibly talented.
I fell in love with your blog, yesterday, when I first came across it. So many wonderful things to look at, and I love…love…LOVE how you took the time to post step-by-step instructions for re-creating some of your treasures.
I spent a few hours last night looking at everything, and it wasn’t nearly enough time to take it all in!
You truly have a gift–keep it up!
Kristin
Nov 14, 2011 @ 09:01:03
Thanks so much Kristin!!! You have no idea how much comments like yours mean to me! It makes it all worth the time and effort to know that people are actually enjoying my blog and taking away some ideas and inspiration! Thanks again and hope you have a great week!
~ Maggie
Nov 19, 2011 @ 10:22:42
Love the little blue and white tin tea set that is in your store I believe it was $24 dollars- do you sell online and ship? I’ll of course pay for the shipping if you do.
I love your site and the things you do – right up my alley. Waynell
Nov 20, 2011 @ 18:19:42
Hi Waynell! Thanks for your kind words! The little tin tea set is still for sale in my booth and I’d be happy to mail it to you. Right now I don’t sell anything online, although I have an online store for my crafts in the works!! I just haven’t had time to get it up and running- most likely it’ll be a winter project after the holidays are over. If you are interested, email me at powersmargaret@yahoo.com and we’ll exchange more info. It’s definitely a cool set- 18 pieces I believe! Hope to hear from you! Thanks for stoppin by my blog!! ~Maggie
Dec 02, 2011 @ 22:23:20
I recently found your blog, and I enjoy it. Where did you find your foam alphabet stamps that you use for your signs? How big are they? Thanks Donna
Dec 03, 2011 @ 11:19:11
Hi Donna! The alphabet stamps I use for my signs are mostly ones I order online. Because they are bigger (1.5in and some 2in), they are not easy to find in craft stores like Joann’s and ACMoore. Those stores tend to have only miniature letter stamps. My stamps are from all different, random online stores/individuals. I hope that helps. Thanks for stopping by my blog and I am so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend! ~Maggie
Dec 18, 2011 @ 19:28:58
Hello! I just came across your blog and am wondering if you have an e-mail so I can send you a personal message? I love all your creations and have some basic questions about crafting and selling. Thanks.
Elaine Atkinson from Manassas, VA
Mar 05, 2012 @ 09:41:15
I want u to know how much I enjoy ur blog and think ur neat! So much so that when I recieved a “The Versatile Blogger Award” that I thought of u! Read about my nomination of ur blog at the link below. Thanks so much for all u do!
http://buggalcrafts.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/my-versatile-blogger-nomination/
Melba, buggalcrafts
Apr 01, 2012 @ 13:19:14
What a great site! Good luck with your picking!
Jun 17, 2012 @ 22:37:28
I am applying for a retinal photographer job soon and after researching about it, I found your blog here and absolutely love it! It is so interesting. I enjoy junking myself (inherited that from my grandfather) and love to find new uses for my treasures (recycling of sorts).
I would love to hear so much more about your career (how you got started, what you love/hate most about it and so on…). I love photography and am currently a hair designer. I pay great attention to detail and feel that this would be the perfect career for me. Something that would peak my interest every day that I went to work-similarly to my current job, though a more reliable salary. :O)
I’d love and appreciate any advice that you could offer!
Jun 19, 2012 @ 08:26:51
Hi Kristyn! Thanks you for your kind words. Being an ophthalmic photographer is a great job, as far as job security and a steady paycheck! I went to the Rochester Institute of Technology and studied medical photography with a concentration in ophthalmic photography. It helps having that imaging background, but a lot of people do learn on the job, as it’s such a small, specialized field. It also helps being detail oriented as you mentioned, because in my opinion that is what makes a good photographer! Small details can sometimes be the difference between treatments for patients and diagnoses. There are not too many things I don’t like about the job – what I love are the images themselves and the technology. It’s so incredibly fascinating to me and also satisfying that you are a direct part of the patients’ care. A few suggestions that I have for you are becoming a member of the Ophthalmic Photographers Society (http://www.opsweb.org/) to receive information about conferences, meetings, receive the Journal of Ophthalmic Photography (quarterly journal of images and articles about trending topics in the field), etc. The website itself has a lot of great info about the field as well – including forums of questions/conversations between current photographers and different education opportunities. I hope this was helpful and best of luck with your career change. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions! Have a great week
~maggie
Jun 25, 2012 @ 11:42:43
It does seem to be a very specialized field. Thank you so much for the information and your suggestions. I will definitely check it out. I truly appreciate the guidance and your time! Looking forward to more photos and more craft ideas too!
Oh! I just saw a magazine-believe it was “Flea Market Crafts” or “Flea Market Finds” (something “flea market”), but it is a magazine dedicated to reusing flea market finds and other “junk” that people don’t want (right up my alley). If you happen to look into it, this month they have a photo of an old funnel turned upside down and used as a hanging basket. It is so unique and beautiful! Thought you might like to know about it….(maybe you already subscribe?) It might give you some inspiration like it has for me. Every time I visit my grandfather’s barn, my hubby always asks me…why did you drag that thing home?? lol :O) I’m sure grandpa has a funnel like that hanging out somewhere just waiting for me to find it…he didn’t like to throw things away that could possibly be used for something later on. Our birthdays were the same day which likely explains why we were so much alike.
Have a great week too,
Kristyn
Jul 23, 2012 @ 11:55:58
Hi Maggie,
I am an ophthalmic photographer as well and came across your blog today. I was wondering how you are able to post your photos? As far as I know, it is technically the patients who own the rights to these photos. Do you get permission from the patients to use them in your blog? Some of the other photogs and I are interested in maybe being able to start something like this where we work but I am trying to sort out the technicalities. Feel free to email me personally as I would like to hear more about your work.
Thanks!
Jessica
Jul 23, 2012 @ 12:22:57
Hi Jessica, I sent you an email! ~Maggie
Aug 29, 2012 @ 09:46:12
Hi Maggie! It’s me once again…lol…..I hade made the wooden spoons (painted black) that you have on your site and also the small jar candles. They turned out really well. I’m proud of myself (pat myself on the back….lol) How much should I charge for these items? I also made rusty tin cans decorated inside with pip berries and a batterie operative primitive candle, on the can I tied some material with a rustic star. How much do you think I should charge for those? I’m so not good at prices things? How do you caculate what to charge.?
Also do you have a email address?
Thank you in Advance!
Renee
Aug 30, 2012 @ 11:21:36
Hi Renee! I replied to the email above!!!
Maggie
Oct 19, 2012 @ 23:19:23
OMG! I just found this website tonight and it really sparked something with me too! I am really going to try a few of these out and give as Xmas presents.
Oct 20, 2012 @ 15:39:20
That’s awesome Mindi! Good luck your projects and have fun! Just a warning though…once you get started, you might not be able to stop!!! lol!
~maggie
Nov 08, 2012 @ 23:09:10
You have the BEST ideas! I never subscribe to blogs, and I’m subscribing to yours. Along with trying as many of your crafts as I can. You are so talented!! Love Love LOVE it here
Nov 09, 2012 @ 12:25:46
Thank you Tia, I’m honored! Glad you have found some inspiration and best of luck on all your projects! Have a wonderful holiday! maggie
Nov 17, 2012 @ 02:43:59
I feel like a kid on Christmas morning reading thru your posts and scrolling thru your photos! Sorta bad cause I was finding it hard to get to sleep – now, fuhget about it – I’m so inspired. Truly, your work is beautiful and your writing style is captivating. So glad to have found you and I can’t wait to try some of your projects!
Nov 19, 2012 @ 13:21:26
YAY!! So glad you’re inspired and ready to craft away! So glad to help out with some tutorials – good luck with whatever projects you take on! Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to read my posts! Happy Turkey Day!
maggie
Jan 31, 2013 @ 16:02:39
was just on your web site, WOW, you two are very creative!!!
Mar 24, 2013 @ 00:08:55
Love your creativity! And you make things look so easy. Keep it up. I can’t wait to see what’s next!