AUBURN - The syllables, much like the merchandise, fit together to form the personality of a new shop on State Street in Auburn.

But even though the two owners, Terri Ukolowicz and Sharon Blaisdell, scissored their first names and glued them together to cleverly come up with the name TreaShar Street Shoppe, they fear the reference may pirate away some potential clientele.

“We think we may have trouble with our name. We think some people might think we're a thrift shop” Blaisdell said.

And, true to their friendship of more than 40 years - and the name of their store - often one will make a statement that is completed by the other.

“No! We're not second-hand. We're not a thrift shop. Once in a while you may find an antique or two. But it's not used merchandise,#” added Ukolowicz.

And that is true, with items such as a Bavarian China set more than 80 years old, paired together with homemade lavender bath salts, crib bedding, and personalized books and snow globes. Also true is that the items found in the wide-ranging inventory fit together like puzzle pieces from different pictures to create a unique, pleasing surprise.

“We want to be different - that different little piece of the wheel,#” Ukolowicz said.

And with the addition of several other partners, each contributing their own personalities and taste in merchandise to the ambiance, the concept is successful.

Utilizing prewritten hardcover children's books, wedding, anniversary, and various other celebratory publications, even pet pedicures, shop partner Greg Hypes can, from his area of the store, insert personal names and situations into the text. Also, the birth of a customer can make front-page news.

“The Birthday Chronicle is the paper from the day you were born,” Hypes said. “I can go from January 1, 1900, to the year 2005.”

With frames available, the front page of an imaginary newspaper, printed on white cardboard, includes the appropriate United States president of the time announcing the birth. Elsewhere, the news of the day from all over the world is printed.

Walk a few steps to another display, and there will be an intricately constructed miniature Christmas tree, handmade with beads.

Christmas balls, candles, and even an angel on the treetop are fragile and beautiful.

Still further in the store, there is a Civil War chess set, with figurines of the north and south replacing the traditional chess pieces.

Even the floor a customer crosses is a labor of love.

Mindful of the inherent beauty of the building, the group spent hours laying the golden hardwood oak flooring and painting the walls prior to opening in mid-August.

“It was really in bad shape. The only thing we were gifted with was the beautiful tin ceiling,” Blaisdell said.

“There's a lot of us in this building. A lot of our hearts and souls went into this building,” Ukolowicz added.