Maker: Candice Hartsough McDonald
Based in: Indianapolis, IN
Price range: $8-$400
Website: CordialKitten.com

Candice Hartsough McDonald studied illustration at Herron School of Art and after graduating, “I realized that if I wanted to work as an illustrator, I would have to become my own one-woman show,” she says. “I now work as a freelance illustrator, a portrait artist, and have infiltrated the indie craft show circuit.”

McDonald makes illustrated portraits of families, pets, families and their pets in watercolor, has worked on several children’s books, and also makes pendants and plush animals based on her work.

Fun facts: I have an extensive vintage owl collection that spans several rooms in my house. I only have one cat, and she lives outside in her little kitten condo my husband built for her. Sometimes I have to run up a flight of stairs as fast as I can or else the ghost will catch me.

Maker:  Allison Ford
Based in: Indianapolis, IN
Price range: $30 to $400
Website:  StudioAMF.com, StudioAMF.Etsy.com

Allison Ford took her first jewelry making class when she was 11 years old and has been “dabbling ever since,” she says. Ford is a full-time mamma of two daughters and moonlights as a jewelry maker making wearable sculpture for ears, neck, wrists and fingers from wood and has achieved the designation of Indiana Artisan.

Studio AMF Fun Facts: I once traded a car for rent.  My fingers are double jointed.  Once upon a time I loved Elvis, used to try and sing like him, and called myself Al-vis.

Maker: Jessica Near
Based in: Ellettsville, Ind.
Price range: $2 to $50
Website: Oppositeoffar.wordpress.com

“I have been making and selling toys for children for four years now,” says Jessica Near. The poor quality of store-bought dolls inspired her to give it a try herself. “I started out making ‘Smart Owls,’- a smallish owl I created- and continued to build my repertoire with other animals such as bunnies, elephants, rhino’s, penguins, and others.”

Near uses vintage, re-purposed and new fabrics, and designs all the patterns she uses in her handmade toys and accessories..

Opposite of Far Fun Facts: I am a Certified Massage Therapist in California! I want to raise goats and chickens. I cry when I watch Glee. And movie previews.  And live performances. And animal videos. And anything with babies.