HUDSON -- You won't find many businesses in MetroWest where the inspiration for their creation comes from a Chickasaw woman from Oklahoma.

You also won't find many businesses in MetroWest where the inspired products for sale include whimsical baby clothing complete with instructions on the do's and don'ts of cradling infants. The "don't" illustration shows a baby being picked up by its head. Don't try that at home.

Then again you won't find many businesses in MetroWest like Lottie Ta Dah, and Kim Gilligan, the Hudson store's founder and owner, likes it that way.

"We sell one-of-a-kind items," says Gilligan. "It's a place for people to come instead of going to the mall. They can support a local business and local artists."

Gilligan describes Lottie Ta Dah as a chic gift boutique that sells gifts art and pizzazz. In addition to baby clothing and handmade children's clothes, the store sells handmade jewelry, handpainted furniture, handpainted collages, vintage and new handbags, windup toys for grown-up boys, greeting cards, playing cards, scarves, theme soaps, biker books and all-natural soy candles blessed by the artist. You can also buy martini glasses on top of Matchbox cars.

In its gallery right now is the three-dimensional assemblies of artist Steven Pascal of Hudson while painted tables come to the store from Hudson resident Alice Clattenburg -- aka Hot Alice of Bluehead Designs. "Her grandchildren call her a bluehead," relates Gilligan. Thanks, young-uns.

"We support artists from all walks of life," Gilligan continues. "It's a place that embraces the arts. We support small businesses, too. I look for people who are just getting started."

The store's pizzazz comes from its eclectic mix of items. "I just wanted a space that was really funky and did a little bit of everything," says Gilligan. "We have antiques and hip modern stuff, all the stuff I love."

The idea for Lottie Ta Dah came to Gilligan in August during dinner at Chloe, a restaurant in downtown Hudson. "While I was eating, I kept thinking, 'Wow, this would be such a great town to open a business,'" says the Acton resident. "'I wish I could find a space that looks similar to Chloe -- with an old tin ceiling. How great that would be.' Later, I walked out of the restaurant and saw this space with a 'For Lease' sign in the window. I made a phone call and it was history from there."

The locale, situated at 17 Main St., had been home to a florist, a rug store and a crafts store before Gilligan set up shop in the 1,365-square-foot space on Oct. 25. She had previously been an at-home mom -- her son Liam turned 2 the day before the store opened -- and an administrator with the Boston public schools.

Gilligan was thinking about starting the business later when Liam was older but the space was too good not to take advantage of.

The store's name derives from Gilligan's great-great grandmother, Lottie Durham, the aforementioned Chickasaw. Gilligan went to Oklahoma this summer to research her ancestors. She also had Durham's diary.

"She was widowed, raised five children on her own, owned two farms, sewed, made jams, leased her property," Gilligan says. "She was a businesswoman who was really involved in the community and she inspired me. I wanted to do something where I'd be involved with a community and do something creative."

The store was going to be called "Lottie" something, Gilligan continues. The "Ta Dah" part came next. "I loved the whole sense of la-di-da, being carefree, so I wanted to play with that," she says. "I thought, 'We can be carefree but we can also be spectacular.' So the name became Lottie Ta Dah -- Lottie here it is!" Fun with a little fanfare.

Gilligan is putting together a story on her great-great grandmother which customers will be able read when they enter the store once it's finished.

Prices at Lottie Ta Dah range from $2.50 to $100 with most items in the $20 to $35 bracket. "One customer recently bought 10 items for $35 and used them as stocking stuffers," says Gilligan.

The owner describes business as "great," estimating sales have increased about 50 percent since the store's opening. "People have said they're doing all their holiday shopping here because it's stuff they can't find anywhere else," says Gilligan.

In the future, Lottie Ta Dah's owner says she would like to open other stores in other towns that also have "a real sense of community." Nearer to the now, the store will also be going online soon.

In the present, Lottie Ta Dah is more than happy to spread holiday cheer 365 days a year. "We want this to be a place where people can relax when they walk in, finds things that are different and feel happy," says Gilligan, standing near the store's 13-foot-tall Christmas tree made out of chicken wire and decorated with handbags and vintage jewelry. "One of the things I say is, 'This is for my great-great grandmother. May she dance in heaven everytime someone laughs or smiles in this store.' That keeps me going."