By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—Bright colors, delicious treats and eye catching items are what the Gingerbread Lady is all about, store owner Ellen Morris said. Currently located in Irondale, the shop will soon bring its cheer to U.S. 280, relocating to the Greystone Center.

“It’s a regular gift shop and then some,” Morris said of her shop, which carries an assortment of items for nearly everyone.

For the avid sports fan, Morris carries a number of college team-themed goods; for the wine enthusiast, the shop offers a selection of wine caddies from Germany; and for the cook, there are gourmet foods, edible glitter, melting chocolate, professional baking utensils and more. And of course, there are gingerbread houses.

Morris’ creations are not your average gingerbread house, they’re works of art. Morris has been making gingerbread houses for more than 50 years, and her work has graced the Christmas set of the television show, “The Young and the Restless.”

“(As a child) I wanted to be a famous artist… I never envisioned I would be famous for gingerbread houses,” Morris said. “You stumble into things in life.”

Gingerbread houses are available for purchase year round. Shoppers can buy premade houses or request a customized design. Morris’ gingerbread architecture has included castles, merry-go-rounds, trains and mansions.

Customers can expect to find quality items and good prices at the Gingerbread Lady, Morris said.

“I have always not done normal retail markup and I will continue to not do that,” Morris said. “There is a difference between a small profit and greed and I’ve always gone for the small profit.”

After a difficult year, Morris said she is looking forward to the new year and moving to U.S. 280. Her husband passed away in August 2015, and Morris said before he died, he requested she relocate back to U.S. 280. The shop had previously been located in the Colonnade near U.S. 280.

“Two weeks after he died is when I signed the lease,” Morris said. “It’s a new beginning for me, it’s something I need to do after the death of my husband.”

Although an exact opening date has not been determined, Morris said she expects the shop to open soon.

For more information about the Gingerbread Lady, visit Thegingerbreadlady.com.