An artsy locals-only shop in far East Dallas is closing: Makers Connect, an art gallery / gift shop that provided a platform for East Dallas creative and crafty types to sell their wares, will close on January 21.

The store was founded by Christine and Steve Unruh, originally on Northwest Highway before relocating to 9047 Garland Rd. as a consignment-style shop for artisans, while in the process highlighting East Dallas' immensely gifted arts and craft community.

In the three years they were on Garland Road, they hosted the work of more than 145 local hand crafters - "from armchair makers to full-on professionals," the store said in a going-away post. "We were proud to offer a high/low blend of products to appeal to as many buyers as there are makers."

The store was awesomely eccentric, featuring everything from tie-dye caftans to rhinestone pendants to fabric "snake" cat-toys filled with catnip. Unruh was frequently assisted by volunteers and artists.

"Now we've chosen to close our day-to-day retail operation - but plan to resurface from time to time in the form of pop-ups and community art events throughout the east Dallas area," she promised. "I am going to attempt to bring back 'retail' again but only as pop-ups and ditching the bricks, so to speak."

Supporters thanked the store for the gift they gave to the community, calling it "a loss for East Dallas' creative culture."

Unruh reassured them that she'd still be supporting the scene, just in a different way. There is also a new tenant for the location, identity still TBA.

"Please realize this is a good change and we will still be doing our best to cheerlead for our maker/vendors in Dallas and beyond who continue to excite and amaze our eyeballs all the time," she said.