After nearly 39 years as the owner of The Little House, Bettie Edwards has announced she will close the shop at the end of this month.

Edwards, who will turn 70 in May, originally intended for the Christmas season of 2012 to be her last, and she put the building — which she calls part of her retirement package — up for sale the following spring. But it did not sell, and she kept the shop open, deciding just two weeks ago to close before this holiday season.

“It’s a new door, and we’re opening it, baby,” she said.

Edwards said she does not do anything halfway, but she was not feeling enthused about this holiday season. With a job offer to work part time at Capers in West Seattle, she made the decision to close, cancelled merchandise orders and began spreading the word. Now, she said, the store will offer a 10-day sale that will culminate on Halloween, when she will don her witches’ garb, as she has done for years, sit on the steps of her shop and greet the children who come by.

“Then I will jump on my broom and fly away,” she said.

Some Little House traditions will continue, such as the letters to Santa, and some of the Vashon-specific gift items from the store will still be available, though Edwards does yet know where.

Edwards noted that she will miss the shop and will likely shed some tears in the coming days, but after years of 60-hour weeks, she is looking forward to a change.

“I’m excited,” she said. “It’s a new challenge, a new direction.”