Joan Babb has scoured local estate sales for charming odds and ends, such as old flash cards, clothespins, locks, keys, and faucet handles—all perfect tiny decorating touches.

At her studio in Ukrainian Village, Lydia Crespo uses vibrant dyes made from barks, roots, leaves, and even vegetable skins to beautifully color silk scarves.

Cicero resident Amy Stewart embroiders cute motifs and portraits of animals. She also crochets toys and stuffs them by hand. Great gifts for parents-to-be.

Amy Wilens curates vintage housewares and sells them from her apartment in Wilmette. She has an especially great eye for glassware from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.

Noble Square ceramist Susan Dwyer works mostly in porcelain, but she also likes to experiment with materials such as papier-mâché, plaster, and rubber.

Kayla Benedict and Erick Pausz stock gorgeously refinished midcentury modern furniture. In June, the couple opened a by-appointment store at 3726 West Montrose Avenue.

David Springmeyer digitally restores vintage maps and uses them as inspiration for his own artwork. The Wheeling resident can also make maps to order.

From her home in McKinley Park, Emily Wall creates cross-stitch pieces featuring classic Chicago architecture, including bungalows, storefronts, three-flats, and more.