SOUTH POINT - Mendy McMaster spent a lot of time in her grandmother Annabell Lightner's country home as a child, and she has taken those special memories and turned them into a business that is close to her heart.

McMaster is the owner of Days Gone By, located on Solida Road in South Point. The store sells primitives, dolls, antiques, country collectibles and many other items.

McMaster said that that she "got the bug" for collecting antiques from her grandmother.

"She had a big old country house and a lot of antiques," McMaster said. "I remember helping her clean the house, it was so special. I have so many wonderful memories."

What started as a hobby became an obsession. McMaster said that she started collecting antiques in a barn as a hobby. Later she started an antique shop there, but moved the shop into the village where she has been since June and where she said she is, "here to stay."

McMaster said that the things in the shop are things that she loves.

"Women are great entrepreneurs because they do things they love," she said.

She makes a lot of her own items, including dolls. The dolls are very popular with customers and each one always includes at least one item sewn on them that is old. She said that she tries to make them unique by creating a story about each one.

Not only can customers buy the folk art that she creates and antiques, they can learn something as well. McMaster offers classes on furniture restoration and other offerings.

"Tatting was done by young girls at the turn of the century, it's a lost art," she said.

The shop also offers a decorating service. McMaster charges $15 an hour for the service, but if a customer buys $100 worth of items, they will get one hour free. She said that she likes to set her store up in displays, so her customers can get decorating ideas and tips.

"Once they purchase something their experience isn't over, they can call for help or advice," she said.

McMaster has also opened a sister store, Bittersweet Lane, in Chesapeake Flea Market. The shop is opened Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Days Gone By, located at 414 Solida Road in South Point, is open Tuesday-Friday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 p.m. until 4 p.m. The phone number is (740) 377-4256.