Sleeperwoods is a unique gift shop selling a variety arts and crafts made on the continent of Africa. Named after railroad ties (called sleeping wood in South Africa), it specializes in custom furniture made from them. From the Sleeperwood shop one can order custom cabinets, tables, chairs, bars, beds, stairs, wineholders, or mantles, among other things. It also carries in store beautiful African sculptures, carvings, musical instruments, clothing, jewelry, painted ostrich eggs, and even monkey balls. These are citrus fruits the monkeys throw away that are then decorated with resin. Started by Ken and Carol in 2010, it has two locations: one in Saint Petersburg and one in Dunedin. The stores keep them busy and are a lot of fun. Stop in sometime, meet their dogs, and hear how they went from selling Czech glassware to African art. Buying from Sleeperwoods helps people and helps the planet. Through Sleeperwoods Ken and Carol support a large network of businesses and non-profits that supply them with merchandise. The bags they buy from a company in Africa that hires those infected with HIV, which would otherwise have difficulty finding employment over there. The money raised from selling bags in turn supports a local orphanage. The hazelnut-cranberry chocolate bars are made by a cooperative in Ghana that protects the small cocoa farmers from large companies. Many of the products are made from recycled materials such as the telephone wire baskets and the paper beads. The paper is tightly rolled, cut it into beads, and then glazed. The furniture is made from old railroad ties so that more living trees need not be cut down. Sleeperwoods.net 10-6th street north, St. Petersburg, Florida 720 Broadway, Dunedin, Florida Written by Daniel Noe, InkDoodler.com
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