Unique hand-crafted gifts cram the shelves at Connecticut River Artisans Cooperative (5 W. Main St., Chester, 860/526-5575, www.ctartisans.com, noon–5 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Jan.–Mar., Wed.–Sun. April–June and Sept–Oct.; noon–6 p.m. Mon.–Sun., July–Aug. and Nov–Dec.). Take your pick from oil and watercolors, silk clothing, fused glass dishware, quilts, and loads more.

The owners of English Accents Antiques (4 N. Main St., Essex, 860/767-0113, www.englishaccents-ct.com, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Thu.–Sat.; noon opening Sun.) make frequent trips across the Big Pond to buy period pieces and collectibles from British country estate sales for their friendly showroom.

There’s no shortage of excellently kept silver, crystal, porcelain, art, and rugs. Let the friendly yellow awning over Silkworm of Essex Village (23 Main St., Essex, 860/767-1298, www.the-silkworm.com, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; closed Tue.; noon–4 p.m. Sun.) be your first indication of the service you’ll receive here. The extra-helpful staff assists patrons in finding the perfect fit from women’s clothing designers such as Nicole Miller, Philippe Adec, and Theory.

Ever-so-cutely retro, Moxie Vintage (466 Main St., Middletown, 860/638-0030) pulls its clothing and accessories from every decade of the last century—from semi-precious brooches and 1920s silk Chanel jackets to 1940s Gucci dresses and burnished leather totes.

The antiques, artifacts, jewelry, and handmade carpets at Little Tibet (680 Main St., Middletown, 860/343-1975, www.littletibet.com, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tue.–Fri.; 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun.) are first-quality and very well priced. Don’t be surprised if you walk in looking for gifts and souvenirs and leave inspired to decorate your own home.