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Purple Door Gifts

Art For Everyone Mimi Vanderhaven's best buys- August 20, 2003

As you may recall from my last column, Aunt Mimi has asked me to seek out and deliver to her readers-art. But, what is art? It is such a broad term. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder, and one person's art is another's "What the heck is that?" So let me begin by defining my purpose as introducing to you handcrafted, individually made items.
My quest to bring you the artistic and unique hasn't been as easy as I had thought. I flipped over a number of items that seemed to fit the bill only to be disappointed by a "made in China" sticker on the bottom. I felt my resolve to "just say no to knick knacks" weakening because some were nice, cheap and I wanted them! But I cringed when I thought about what Aunt Mimi would say.
So my desire for immediate gratification had to be stopped and with dedicated resolve I put them back on the shelf.
A bit discouraged, on the recommendation of a friend I visited a shop I had passed by many times-and found a winner.
The Purple Door Gift Store is nestled right in our own backyard. I opened a purple door and walked into a little world of the unique and whimsical. Owner Gary Bernauer, took over this gem 14 months ago, and is working to bring you the best in unique handcrafted items. He frequently attends major art and craft shows to search for items, you won't find anywhere else. Pottery, jewelry, wind chimes, watercolors, even handmade greeting cards by an artist with multiple sclerosis- all at affordable prices. The list could go on, but be sure to ask him to show you about an unusual egg separator. Children will love to help you cook with this little gadget.
The Purple Door Gift Store also brings you special services like the "Register Your Husband" program. Fill out a simple form, and you needn't worry again that your significant other will forget a special day. Or you won't need to return some sweater because it's the wrong size or a color that makes your skin look like mud. Instead, Gary will give your sweetie a call and awaken him to those items you liked during your visit.
The Purple Door Gift Store can be opened at 5500 Wallings Road (at State), North of Route 82 in North Royalton, Ohio 44133. The phone number is 1-440-230-9330

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Sun Papers

At Your Leisure Recommendations from our staff!

What: Purple Door Gifts
Where: 5500 Wallings Road (at State), North of Route 82 in North Royalton, Ohio 44133-Phone: 1-440-230-9330

Open the purple door and you'll spend the next 45 minutes fascinated with the functional and made-in America gifts hanging, resting and swinging throughout the quaint little shop. Not to mention the whimsical tour that owners Gary Bernauer and wife Debbie provide. Each piece tells a story of its functionality and purpose. Every item is a possible solution for that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative.
Ceramic cat bird feeders are art, as well as food providers. Birds sit on the cat's tongue and peck into its mouth where the seeds are kept.
Floral vases have faces.These are great for wedding, anniversary and newborns gifts!
Booger Boy Boris, a small pottery accessory, separates the whites and yolks of up to four eggs. Tilt the face-like earthenware and healthy egg white ooze from its scientifically designed nasal orifices. It's a fun item for the people on your list that can't take a yoke A great housewarming gift. But don't forget to look at the 350 year guaranteed house warming wind chime or bell.
Hand-warmer mugs let you wrap those chilled fingers around the ceramic cup. They're microwavable and come in left and right handed versions.
Jewelry, cat sketches painted on old pieces of tin roofing-known as cats on a hot tin roof, ceramic oil candles, celestial globe paper weights each containing Mount St. Helen's volcanic dust, wine bottle stoppers, musical chimes, fan pulls, party food picks made from old style hat pins and glass beads, the list goes on..
You'll find a solution for every gift situation, especially with Christmas arriving next month!
-Joanne Berger DuMound, staff writer

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Brecksville, Gazette

Open the Purple Door

If you have driven past this Purple Door without making the extra effort to stop, you have missed out on something unique and whimsical. The first thing you will notice when you enter is that this is something very special. The owner - Gary Bernauer will immediately greet you. Gary and his wife Debbie, a Brecksville teacher, are working to bring you the best in unique handmade items at affordable prices.

They feature the works of over 100 local and not so local artisans. You will find one of a kind pottery pieces, birdfeeders with faces, mobiles-celestial and gemstones. Wind chimes-brass and gemstones-ceramic-bamboo with animals-copper-bells that have wonderful story cards. Swarovski crystal bracelets, jewelry, bracelet buddies and more. You can casually browse for a long time. They welcome all the past customers of Skilled Hands (North Royalton) and Lah Dee Dah Studios (Macedonia).


Going to Purple Door Gift Store is like going to a juried art and craft show everyday.

You can also register your husband-a special service. Fill out a simple form, and you need not worry again that a significant other will forget that very special occasion. Or you won't need to return some kitchen appliance or a sweater because it is the wrong size or color. Gary will give your sweetie a call and awaken him to the items you loved during your visit.

When you need a special, personal gift item for that special person stop by and open The Purple Door. Located in North Royalton, Ohio at 5500 Wallings Road (at State), North of Route 82 in North Royalton, Ohio 44133. Please call 1-440-230-9330 for more information, current hours or directions.

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