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"Last spring I came close to los- ing my life," mused Janis St. John over a cup of coffee. "I had cardiac arrest and almost died. Now I just figure I was given a second chance. It turned my life around." It's hard to believe someone as full of life as this dark-haired, dark-eyed Port Perry woman could come so close to dying, but Janis feels the experiece was a positive one--giving her fresh energy and a positive outlook on life. EEN WEE yo tient. I spend at least four hours a day in the basement, puddling She also has a busy job in the dietary department of Community Memorial Hospital, but over the years has managed to fit in time for a myriad of craft classes, in- cluding rug braiding, rug hooking, folk art, quilting, apple head dolls and woodworking (which she actu- ally studied in high school). But she didn't start making crafty items until fairly recently, 'Talented Janis St. John has opened up a crafty new business called "Grandma's Closet", which features a myriad of beautiful items Janis has made herself (in- . cluding her hat and the grapevine wreath). For more . (her husband) about Janis's basement business, see story. This positive attitude has given her the courage to do something she has always wanted to do--open her own business. Called Grandma's Closet, be- cause many of the antiques in the shop come from her late grand- mother, the craft store is located in the St. Johns' spacious and prettily decorated basement, at 245 Simcoe St. North (at the corner of Paxton St.). Janis opened the shop Novem- ber 1st, after filling it to the brim with hand-painted and whimsical folk art, ruffled country pillows, handmade grapevine wreaths, stuffed calico cats, braided wool rugs, rag wreaths, flowered straw hats--in short, a little of just about everything one might need to decorate a home with warm country spirit. To top 1t all off, Janis has made just about everything in the shop- -with some help from her family. "The kids help me paint. Bill ints--he helps out a lot," she said. "He's been so pa- when she'd walk into a store, eye the price tag, and decide, hey, "I could do that." "I shouldn't say I'm cheap, but I go to a store and see the price, and say, I'm not paying $29.95 for that. That's how I got started, be- cause of the price of stuff," she explained. Her biggest inspiration came from her fellow staff members at the hospital. She'd bring her pro- jects to the hospital and work on them during hier lunch hour. "The nurses at the hospital have really encouraged me more than anybody," she told the Star. "It's nice to be able to do something to make other people happy." Although most of the items in her shop are made by Janis, a few others were made by a group of mentally challenged people from Oakville, including wooden farm animals, and "Looney Dollar Pig- gy Banks." While Grandma's Closet is open "by chance or eppainiment', Janis is introducing a home party plan, 985-9791 | SHEPHERD '@ POWELL __ Chartered Accountants -- specializing in -- SMALL BUSINESS, CORPORATIONS & FARMS 250 Queen Street, Port Perry 985-7031 where she packs up her goodies and takes them to people's homes for an informal look. "I don't get up and preach or anything," she says. "But I will answer questions." Janis doesn't teach classes ei- ther, except during a workshop Monday nights for children. For $20, kids are given materials and lessons enough to make four Christmas gifts. "The kids are so excited to learn," Janis said. "I think it's im- porant for kids to want to make their own gifts, rather than run out and buy them." A tour through her shop reveals prices lower than in most retail stores, mainly because "I don't have any overhead." "I'm not out to make a whole lot of money," Janis said, and then added with a big laugh, "but I would love a RED SPORTS PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 6, 1988 -- 39 Fresh start on life prompts new business CAR SOME DAY. WITH A T- ROOF!" She laughs about this for a min- ute or so (actually, she laughs fre- quently), before becoming serious again. She wondcred, when she first hatched the idea for Grandma's Closet, about renting a store somewhere downtown, but discov- ered how high rents are, and decid- ed to start off in her basement. Besides, she said, "[ think the best businesses in town are started in someone's basement!" For more information about Grandma's Closet, call Janis at 985-8108. We offer a wide Classic Catering Let us help you with your special occasion .. * SHOWERS IR * CHRISTMAS PARTIES "3 JA * MEETINGS variety of Hors d'Oeuvres, Fancy Sandwiches & Desserts. FOR A COMPLETE SELECTION CALL: "We Prepare with Professional Care." J 985-0782 FOR ALLYOLL ( NEEDS iz Ii: Port Pe Good news tray your gift-buying hy spend your running around? NO NE THE BEST SHOPPING'S A? ROAM .. els fast! Why spend dollars on gasoline? valuable time HOME PORT PERRY A.