KINGSTON — The looks of Pine Cone Gifts are somewhat deceiving.

The well laid out shop appears to have been an integral part of the Kingston Kountry Korners shopping center since it first opened along Highway 104.

Instead, Paula Erickson’s small business “fell off the tree” less than 20 days ago and has already grown dramatically.

“We basically got all this done in a month,” Erickson said, noting that painting and putting down the carpet for the Dec. 1 opening required some very late nights. “We were definitely burning the midnight oil.”

Fortunately, she added, her husband likes all things dealing with hammers, nails and wood and was a tremendous help sprucing the new site up. But even with the couple’s able hands working away, Pine Cone Gifts barely opened on time for its much-anticipated debut.

“We took the paper off the windows and doors, looked at the clock and it was six minutes to 10 a.m.,” she said with a laugh. “We gave each other a good luck kiss and opened the door.”

Erickson, who is in the process of selling her former business, Pickets on the Cove in downtown Kingston, said the additional space offered by the new site will definitely be put to good use. She’s already moved in some of her favorite not-for-sale-items, like an old washing machine she nicknamed R2-D2 because it looks a lot like the portly but heroic robot from the 1977 hit “Star Wars.”

And while Pine Cone Gifts didn’t have to travel from a galaxy far, far away… but rather just up Highway 104, many of the unique items offered at the store are definitely far out — and fun.

Microwaveable cats and moose, which are plush animals meant to keep their owners nice and cozy, are just the beginning of Erickson’s long list of gifts. Bacchus, the mythical “God of wine” is also on hand, as are pizza slice plates. Pine Cone Gifts also features numerous local foods ranging from honey to hot peppers created by folks from Kitsap County and the greater Pacific Northwest. The store has fishing fly art from Kingston’s Niklaus Morin, hand-tied brooms, mini buns and cookbooks from the local chefs at Stillwater and Kingston Co-Op Preschool.

Erickson ran Pickets on the Cove for more than a year, but said Elaine Bragg will take over the business and will be selling antique books at the site next to The Coffee Exchange. While business at the old building was doing fine, she said she felt it would do even better at the Kountry Korners shopping center.

“We’ve been thinking about moving for about a year,” Erickson added. “There’s no more pickets for us and no more cove — we’re going to focus on great gifts for the cabin.”

By JOE IRWIN

Senior Reporter

KINGSTON — The looks of Pine Cone Gifts are somewhat deceiving.

The well laid out shop appears to have been an integral part of the Kingston Kountry Korners shopping center since it first opened along Highway 104.

Instead, Paula Erickson’s small business “fell off the tree” less than 20 days ago and has already grown dramatically.

“We basically got all this done in a month,” Erickson said, noting that painting and putting down the carpet for the Dec. 1 opening required some very late nights. “We were definitely burning the midnight oil.”

Fortunately, she added, her husband likes all things dealing with hammers, nails and wood and was a tremendous help sprucing the new site up. But even with the couple’s able hands working away, Pine Cone Gifts barely opened on time for its much-anticipated debut.

“We took the paper off the windows and doors, looked at the clock and it was six minutes to 10 a.m.,” she said with a laugh. “We gave each other a good luck kiss and opened the door.”

Erickson, who is in the process of selling her former business, Pickets on the Cove in downtown Kingston, said the additional space offered by the new site will definitely be put to good use. She’s already moved in some of her favorite not-for-sale-items, like an old washing machine she nicknamed R2-D2 because it looks a lot like the portly but heroic robot from the 1977 hit “Star Wars.”

And while Pine Cone Gifts didn’t have to travel from a galaxy far, far away… but rather just up Highway 104, many of the unique items offered at the store are definitely far out — and fun.

Microwaveable cats and moose, which are plush animals meant to keep their owners nice and cozy, are just the beginning of Erickson’s long list of gifts. Bacchus, the mythical “God of wine” is also on hand, as are pizza slice plates. Pine Cone Gifts also features numerous local foods ranging from honey to hot peppers created by folks from Kitsap County and the greater Pacific Northwest. The store has fishing fly art from Kingston’s Niklaus Morin, hand-tied brooms, mini buns and cookbooks from the local chefs at Stillwater and Kingston Co-Op Preschool.

Erickson ran Pickets on the Cove for more than a year, but said Elaine Bragg will take over the business and will be selling antique books at the site next to The Coffee Exchange. While business at the old building was doing fine, she said she felt it would do even better at the Kountry Korners shopping center.

“We’ve been thinking about moving for about a year,” Erickson added. “There’s no more pickets for us and no more cove — we’re going to focus on great gifts for the cabin.”