Shopping in Winnipeg

Brush Fire Ceramic Studio hands over the creative reins to its customers, who browse a selection of more than 300 ceramic pieces while choosing the perfect figurine or plate to personalize. Then, would-be van Goghs select stencils or sketch a design freehand, flipping through books or eating the pages for inspiration. The studio time clock starts as painters dip their brushes in as many colours as they like, but visitors are never charged for more than two hours of studio time per visit. Professionals glaze and fire creations, and customers can return to pick them up in about a week before placing their pieces on mantels and gifting them to family members.

Contemporary home decor gathers on shelves alongside tasteful accessories and helpful doodads inside Small Indulgence's urban-themed gift shop. Vibrant vases and frames from Vera Wang cradle cherished mementos; Lug totes, travel bags, and makeup bags protect belongings during commutes to work or expeditions through low-gravity lunar-test labs. Sales associates stand ready to help customers discover their ideal pair of Bebe sunglasses or the sharpest cleaver from the store's collection of Global knives.

The framing experts at But Is It Art slip pictures, memorabilia, and keepsakes into flattering homes to keep them intact while bringing out their tones and textures. Staffers pride themselves on sealing unusual items such as ballet slippers and runaway hamsters into professionally glass-encased displays. Sports jersey framing is a specialty here, and mats can be customized to match team colors. The crew can also find the most stable way to frame medals or to dry- or float-mount paintings, photos, and needlework with an expansive lot of frames and mattes, and their work has earned distinction with a Consumers' Choice Award.

The optical experts at Osborne Spectacle Centre assess eye health and vision before outfitting patients with classic or avant-garde frames from designers such as Calvin Klein, Porsche Design, and ooh la-la de Paris. The professionals slip antireflective, scratch-resistant, and UV-protective lenses into these sleek outlines, and also fit patients with contacts, including tinted lenses in more than 25 shades for those who like to match their irises to the weather. During its nearly half a century in business, Osborne Spectacle Centre has continued to evolve, keeping abreast of modern trends such as polarized glasses and cordless monocles.