Less than a decade ago, Shawn Smith was an art student sitting in his dorm room at Illinois State, making one-of-a-kind plush toys that he hoped someone might buy. Simple and unpretentious, Smith's designs won over a growing number of people, and he was able to turn his hobby into a full-fledged business. Today, Shawn and his wife, Jen Brody, own and operate Shawnimals: a character design studio, located at Damen and W. Carroll, that serves as the home address for Dracskulla, Chub Grub, Lazy Flopito, and more than 450 other characters who come from more than 20 different "countries" or lands. Cat Gremlands, Foodlandia, and the Grungle Jungle are just a few of the exotic places where Shawnimals roam; the Internet and stores like Rotofugi are others. more ›

Yet another great alternative to mall shopping, we bring you the Project Onward Holiday Sale. This artsy bazaar taking place on Saturday will feature drawings, paintings, embroidered crafts, soaps, jewelry and even holiday ornaments, all of which would make excellent gifts for the craftier friends on your list. Those behind these pieces are local artists with special needs supported by the Project Onward organization, whose mission is to support the creative development of visual artists with developmental, cognitive, and mental disabilities. more ›