If you can’t find something to brighten dreary winter days at the stores shown here (for you or those lucky friends on your gift list), then you’re just not looking.
Hazel
1902 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-769-2227, hazelchicago.com
This really is one-stop shopping for brightening our frigid sun-free zone. And if you’re looking for a present, owner David Vail makes it easy. In the three-room shop you’ll find small sections devoted to baby, men, plus lots of unique jewelry (vintage and costume), housewares, cards and — even — flowers. Seriously, Hazel has it all. If they served coffee and snacks you’d never have to leave.
Ravenswood locals have been shopping Hazel since it opened 6 1/2 years ago, but I just discovered it. Now, you can’t keep me away.
While I was there a customer walked in the front door and almost shrieked with joy, “This IS the store!”
Within my self-inflicted $20 budget, I found a trunkload of irresistibles, including white ceramic salt-and-pepper shakers shaped like modern art mini-boulders ($10). Also, magnet bud vases made from test tubes ($7), and live and silk flowers to put in them; cuff links shaped like safety pins ($14); a pretty pink starburst rhinestone ring ($9.50) and on and on and … on.
Renegade Handmade
1924 W. Division St.; 773-227-2707, renegadehandmade.com
If you love D.I.Y., handmade, etsy.com, this is the place to shop for instant gratification (though the store recently opened an online component as well). I didn’t find as many under $20 items as I’d expected, but there still were plenty including “kitsch plates” switch plates and outlet covers made from vintage wallpaper ($12); cross-stitched pins of hearts and little girl heads ($18); and a brightly colored hardbound mini memo pad with pen ($17.50). There’s a large selection of posters, art, T-shirts and onesies for infants. Many of the crafters are Chicagoans.
Ten Thousand Villages
121 N. Marion St., Oak Park; 708-848-4572, tenthousandvillages.com
This fair-trade retailer, with several shops in the Chicago area, stocks handmade jewelry, wearables, decorative items, toys and more by artisans from around the globe at prices that make you think they’ve left a digit off the tag.
I confess I broke my $20 limit when I saw three handsome plastic bangles from India in colors I coveted in a pretty drawstring bag ($24). But there was loads of jewelry — and everything else — well within my budget, including other bright bangles from Africa ($6 each); miniature magnetic picture frames made from recycled chip bags (4 for $16); prettily wrapped clove and honey soaps from India (3 for $10); hand-carved onyx pears and apples ($14) and candle holders (starting at $6) from Pakistan.
The volunteers who staff the shop are informative and welcoming and they wrap your gifts with heart.