If you're like most of us, you take the glorious adventure that is holiday shopping down to the wire. Ever notice the increase in the number of stores open late on Christmas Eve, or even on Christmas morning? Yeah; we're a culture of procrastinators, and retailers know it.

Starting early, however, can have some pretty nice advantages. Discovery World's first ever Artisan & Entrepreneur Holiday Market happens this weekend, Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, and offers the kind of gifts you definitely won't find on the clearance rack during the final Christmas countdown.

Featuring handcrafted works from 13 local artists and entrepreneurs, the market is a mall-free shopping sanctuary for one-of-a-kind fair trade crafts, textiles, jewelry, hand-made paper goods, fine art prints and all sorts of other unique goodies.

Dina Kashou runs the gift shop Discovery World and says that her idea for the market came not only from wanting to offer something different, but also to promote the tourist destination as a place to highlight Milwaukee's creative talent.

"I am an artist myself and I like to promote local art," she says. "Being in the retail business now, it is really, really hard to get around 'Made in China' all the time. I try to carry as many locally made products as I can -- not just novelty items and toys."

Through the market, Kashou hopes to get an idea of what shoppers are interested in and then carry those locally-made items year-round. Next year, she says, the Holiday Market will grow to more than 40 artists.

"So many people think that Discovery World is simply a children's science museum, and remember us from their class field trips -- the whisper dishes and the laser light shows," she says. "We have grown. Discovery World is a center for creativity and ingenuity -- we want to promote entrepreneurs and forward thinking minds. I am hoping this market will bring a wide range of people down here to see the amazing variety of programs and experiences we have to offer. We are so different from any other museum in the world, and not enough people know."

The marketplace runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days in Discovery World's promenade, which will be bustling with refreshments, complementary gift-wrapping, a make-and-take activity table, live music and silent auction.

Want a sneak peak at what's in store? Here's a brief profile of each of the Milwaukee-area artisans involved in this year's market:

Poppy Browning -- "Statement Maker"
Tallpoppiesjewelry.com
What she makes: Hand-crafted jewelry

Tanatnan Chaipang -- "Designer of Worldwear"
What she makes: Hand-crafted jewelry

Matt Cipov -- "Affordable Illustration Wizard"
Mattcipov.com
What he makes: Illustrations, T-shirts, graphic trinkets

Liam Hughes -- "Dish Breaker Jewelry Maker"
Lamplighterstudio.com
What he makes: Shard jewelry

Carolyn Kinney -- "Making Art Making Scents"
Candlesbycarolyn.com
What she makes: Palm and soy wax candles

Sherry Magner -- "Vignette Architect"
What she makes: Architectural wall displays

Angela Marshall -- "Nature & Beauty Synthesist"
Bohemianhouseproductions.net
What she makes: Natural soap, skin, nail and haricare products

Michelle Moughmer -- "Crafter of Shape and Color"
What she makes: Pottery

Leah Parkhurst -- "Worker of Utilitarian Art"
Rustbeltfiberwerks.com
What she makes: textiles, paper products

Tracy Potrzebowski -- "Creator of SEWN Treasures"
Zewinggirl.com
What she makes: Hand-sewn accessories

Paul Stephan -- "Glass Master"
Paulstephan.net
What he makes: Handmade glass jewelry, paperweights, marbles, stemware

Franco & Danny Trampe -- "Timber Transformers"
Speakeasypens.com
What they make: Hand-crafted pens. Key chains, wine bottle stoppers