With a mother who was an artist, Leah Nobilette says creating things was an integral part of her childhood. “My mother introduced me to art early, and we were always either taking art classes or just creating things,” says the ceramic artist. “I’ve always loved making things. When I was a child, I was really into making little pieces of furniture out of sticks. I called it Fairy Furniture. I’ve always been very tactile in my art. I like art where you can touch the materials.”

For mixed-media artist Yoshi Aoki, working in a variety of media is one of the main reasons he enjoys being an artist. “I love materials,” he says. “Only after coming up with a design do I choose the materials I’ll work with to create it.”

Feel like adding a little grit to your holiday shopping experience? Head for the anti-’burbs, inner Southeast Portland, and shop S.E. Division St. from S.E. 11th Ave. out to S.E. 50th Ave. There you can satiate your fancy whether that means ordering an Edwardian-styled handmade suit or scoring a vintage Czechoslovakian glass necklace. Wait. Is that a Red Tailed Boa on your list for your favorite boy? This main drag has that—and Bearded Dragons—too!