After nearly three years of discussing the idea of going into business for themselves, friends Suzie Wall and Mary Symonoski turned that idea into reality under a month ago.

Elizabeth’s Gift Shoppe and Shiny Things are two separate businesses rolled into one location, under Wall’s garage roof on Cheetah Lane.

After working together at Michael’s Arts and Crafts, Wall said the idea was always there for the two of them to go into business together.

“We always said to each other, ‘Let’s do this (arts and crafts) for ourselves,” Wall said. “Now we’re two co-horts in crime.”

Wall said the condensed name of the business is the ES Gift Shop.

As for the niche of the business, Wall said 90 percent of all the items they sell are handmade by them or family members.

Keeping to a Northwest theme, the duo also have branched out to other small businesses.

“We’re a small business, so we like to support other small businesses,” Symonoski said. “There’s a family in Sequim that makes homemade maple syrup, so we’ll include that in our gift baskets, for example.”

The selection of gift items is vast, and includes gift baskets, pillows, stuffed animals and wreaths.

There are also hand-painted China, soft sculptures, ceramics, home decor, and baby blankets.

There are too many different items to list, but Wall said she has gotten a lot of praise for her handmade snowmen.

“I was tired of buying snowman that were too small,” she said. “Each snowman I make has a different costume. All the (Seattle) Mariners snowmen are gone. I’ve got football snowmen, cowboy snowmen, and (we have) a tea party couple.”

It’s the feedback of customers and family members that will always keep the items at the ES Gift Shop fresh, Wall said.

“We always have something unique,” she said.

ES Gifts isn’t just a gift shop, either.

Wall and Symonoski also offer various classes, whether it be sewing, crochet, or basics about tailoring.

The needlework courses cover needle point, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery.

Though they have gone into business together, Wall and Symonoski have regular 40-hour jobs besides this one. That explains the store’s hours of operation.

The store is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. While they will look to find an office, Wall said there is an advantage to working out of home. “We don’t have to worry about overhead but we’d like to find a building near traffic,” she said.

Wall said lit signs are being posted off of Mullenix Drive so customers will not have a problem find the gift shop.

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