• Vibrant Mexican oilcloth items

Price: $12-$65

Where you can get it: Web site

Business owner: Stephanie Hilvitz Location: Longmont

Tidbits: Inspired by the bright, lush colors and patterns associated with Mexican art, Hilvitz took her textile design and artwork background and formed her business one year ago. She specializes in designing and handcrafting items using oilcloth, selecting the material imported from Mexico. "I started with place mats, table runners and chalk mats for kids, which feature a chalkboard on one side and the oilcloth on the other," Hilvitz said. "I put them out there for my friends, and the response was so positive I started making bags. I now have 12 styles with more to come. The bags have taken on a life of their own." Hilvitz still offers the table-top items, and also adult and kid-size aprons. Additionally, the Web site provides a link to her blog, inviting customers into her personal life and passion for all things Mexican through anecdotes and photos.

For more information: hotdecorandmore.com

JuJu Central LLC

• JuJu Stx

Price: $2.99

Where you can get it: Web site, Vitamin Cottage and, soon, Whole Foods

Business owners: Tracy O'Shaughnessy and Carol Wilke

Location: Highlands Ranch

Tidbits: Their mission is to energize the spirit - and to help more than 1 million people quit smoking and chewing tobacco by August 2009.

Ambitious? Definitely. But the JuJu girls are excited and ready for the challenge.

"We created our original product to help a best friend quit smoking," said co-JuJu O'Shaughnessy, "but our other friends were so impressed with the samples they wanted their own. That's when the adventure really began."

O'Shaughnessy traveled to Taiwan to find the right bamboo to serve as the toothpick. She and Wilke then spent two years experimenting with all-natural essential oils, flavors and "secret ingredients" to find the right combination that would not only appeal to taste buds, but curb the tobacco craving, relieve stress and revitalize the spirit.

"Bamboo has unique absorption properties, and each stick is infused with flavors cinnamon, mint ice, licorice or clover that last over an hour," O'Shaughnessy said.

And where did the name JuJu come from? "It's a West African word that means 'sacred spirit essence,' " she said.

For more information: jujustx.com