One-of-a-kind merchandise, shopkeepers who still have the Chatty Cathy gene and a nice variety of restaurants (from pizza places to bistros) make Beaumont Village a good place to meet a friend for lunch and a boutique crawl.

Mother Nature's Floral Designer
Pussy willow baskets finished off with feathers. Twig furniture sized for fairies. Poppy pod thrones fit for a 4-inch-tall queen. Duck into BELLA FLORA (4439 N.E. Fremont St., 503-493-2330) and basketmaker and floral designer Elaine Falbo (right) will transport you to your girlhood. Remember those fantabulous days when your mom let you play dress up in her violet strapless prom dress and hand-sewed a pair of fairy wings to go with your tutu (girls age 3 to 90 buy Falbo's wings for $65)?

Buyers from New York City are among Falbo's fans. "Last year a woman from ABC Carpets bought 45 of my pussy willow baskets to display in the store's windows during the holidays," says the self-taught artist. "I'm into tactile beauty. I see beauty in things that other people don't. Like, I love vintage French flowers, so I make my own chenille flowers ($5) out of pipe cleaners, which I turn into headpieces. I collect my own moss, flowers, twigs and pussy willows for my projects, but I also go to estate sales to find things like vintage fabric flowers. I've paid $36 for a hat just to own one flower on it!"

Is this street big enough for two bellas?
Who knew eco-friendly products could be so luxe? At BELLA LULU'S (4323 N.E. Fremont St., 503-493-9522)—a bed, bath and home furnishings shop—we spotted 250-count twill bamboo sheets ($95 for a flat or a fitted queen-size sheet; $63 for two pillowcases) that would perfectly finish off your favoriite environmentalist's bed (one you really, really liked!). In the children's corner, a five-piece Sugarbooger baby dish set ($22) would make a sweet shower gift for a stylish little one.