Utilizing her "space and time," Jeanie Hodges has opened a T-shirt and gift shop. High Country T-Shirts and Gifts is adjacent to High Country Storage at 27518 E. Highway 160 — a business Hodges has owned with her husband, Vic, for several years.

"I had the space and I had the time," Jeanie Hodges said of her gift shop, which opened in April. The shop features Colorado T-shirts and caps, fleece vests, and the original "Red Dirt" T-shirts.

Mixed into this regional apparel selection are stuffed animals, creations from Mesa Verde Pottery and a variety of metal artwork. Under a soothing atmosphere provided by the trickling of table-top fountains, unique pottery piggy banks peek out from the shelves, along with the occasional "ducky" bank.

Most notable of all is the scent of Gold Canyon Candles. The candles are designed to burn longer and to maintain consistent fragrance. High Country T-Shirts and Gifts offers a wide selection of sizes and fragrances to give as gifts or to accent the home.

Hodges currently "orders from everyone," as she tests the markets to discover what wholesalers will best meet her customers’ needs. She plans to go to merchandise and crafts shows this fall.