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Whiting, Indiana: Sun Catchers Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts AKA Artist at Work

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:56:59 +0000

Whiting, Indiana: Sun Catchers Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts Work in Progress

Have you ever seen anyone make anything with stained glass? I hadn’t either, at least, not until little Indiana and hubs walked into Sun Catchers Inc. Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts in Whiting, Indiana!

Sun Catchers Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts

The owner kindly let us check out the back of her shop. Hubs and I saw stained glass works in the making! Sun Catchers actually has art lessons in stained glass–isn’t that an unusual craft to learn in a small Indiana town?

Is that incredible or what! Apparently she also does repairs and custom orders. It was really neat (as you can tell from the picture to the left).

Besides the long tables, there were carefully labeled boxes of various glass in all sorts of colors. Half-finished work of art in progress scattered here and there and the walls held images of other well-known stained glass art for inspiration.

Indiana Stained Glass and More

Besides everything to do with Indiana stained glass, Sun Catchers in Whiting, Indiana is also a gift shop! Talk about a fun shop to browse around in. Very cute.

She had quite a few really nice gift items and more than a few one of a kinds. Pierogi-shaped soap, anyone? Why Pierogi soap? Whiting, Indiana is known for it’s annual Pierogi Festival. It’s a really big deal and very big, even for a small town.

Sun Catchers would definitely be a good go-to choice for Pierogi Festival souvenirs! They had a dancing perogi trivet and soap in all sorts of scents. Seriously, all sorts of scents! Whiting, Indiana folks love their pierogi. But then again, who doesn’t?

Jewelry Store Turned Glass Shop

Whiting, Indiana: Sun Catchers Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts Pierogi Festival Trivets

The building itself is absolutely beautiful. Once upon a time it was a jewelry store! Those days are long since past though you’ll see something here and there that hints at this building’s past.

Now the owner uses the old walk-in safe as her office! Does that make an awesome office or what? And yes, the safe locking mechanism has been removed (good idea).

This was definitely one of the more unusual shops we’ve seen out there in little Indiana.

See Sun Catchers Stained Glass and Gifts images and other pictures in Whiting, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Sun Catchers Stained Glass Supplies and Gifts
1348 119th Street
Whiting, Indiana 46394
219.659.6666

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Lowell, Indiana: Tish’s Antiques

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:30:15 +0000

This is an amazing building – lots of woodwork and tons of really nice antiques! After you step inside, well, you won’t be surprised to hear that it has been in business for 35 years! What’s more – they are a second generation shop! Now – you definitely don’t come across that everyday!

That’s pretty heartening news to hear anywhere – but especially for a small town like Lowell, Indiana. So, I had to find out more about the family business – here’s the story, from the Tish’s Antiques owner, Patricia.

My mother and I really enjoyed going to flea markets, auctions and garage sales together. We seemed to be buying a lot of colorful glass and other treasures. In 1975 we walked into an antique shop in Lowell and discovered some of the items we had been buying were in fact Depression glass. We immediately bought a book about the glass of the depression era.

Our next step was to rent a selling space in Lowell. My mother named the business Tish’s as Tish is short for Patricia, which is both of our first names. I was young and a new mother and could not run a business. My mother and my father built this shop in to one of the nicest antique shops in NW Indiana specializing in furniture.

They bought all the oak they could find because they loved the look of oak. They also purchased furniture containers from England. I recall the excitement of looking at all the wonderful pieces they bought. Estates were another way they stocked the store. I was there at every opportunity to help. I always loved the business.

My mother had a love for and an interest in antiques long before going into the business. I studied and learned the Depression glass first. Then started learning about other areas and I did a lot of buying for Tish’s over the years. For more than a decade I have worked side by side with my mother to keep Tish’s open. It truly is a labor of love.

In 2003 my mother was struggling with the idea of closing Tish’s. I knew she really did not want to let go but she wanted the freedom from the responsibility. My children were grown and I really didn’t want to let go of this truly great shop my mom and dad built. My husband and I offered to buy the store.

I have learned a great deal from my mother and father and will keep quality in the store. If you haven’t visited us in recent years you need to. We have been very busy buying and stocking the store with wonderful treasures from all over the US our upstairs is open and the entire store is filled.

Our 4000 square foot building, two floors, is filled with furniture and accessories dating back to the mid 1800’s and we have been able to find the occasional piece from 1700s. Our line includes Primitive and Country, Victorian, Art Deco, Arts and crafts/ Mission & etc. 99% of our pieces are ready to go into your home. Furniture, clocks, lighting, museum quality lace, linens, cap guns and 1920s dresses and hats are among our favorite items.

And they sure do! Lowell, Indiana is packed with shops of various kinds – so stay tuned for more!

Tish’s Antiques
201 E Commercial Ave (St Rte 2)
Lowell, IN 46356

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Mark This Date Down in History! It’s little Indiana’s Special Day!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:25:28 +0000

There's nothing better than an Indiana Spring!

Heidy ho neighbor – and welcome! Today is a very special day! It’s little Indiana’s SITs Day! For those of you who don’t know, SITs, or The Secret is in the Sauce, is a blog recognition and comment support site. It’s a great way to network – and discover awesome blogs!

Whomever says a small town is boring just doesn’t know where to go! Check out these posts about everything small town – and enjoy the best of little. Indiana is the crossroads of America – maybe some day you’ll find yourself driving through – and you’ll need to know where to stop along the way!

You can dig into actual Indiana towns, mom and pop restaurants, family owned bed and breakfasts – even recipes — by using the categories down the sidebar, but for this one? I’m keeping it simple.

Plain and Simple: Old Order Amish in Nappanee, Indiana

Small Towns: What to Know Before You Go!

Nourish Your Inner Goddess Yoplait Giveaway: Hoosier Style!

Delphi, Indiana: Shop ‘til You Drop!

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:30:06 +0000

Delphi, Indiana: Calico Plus Shop

Delphi, Indiana has a lot of shops for a small town. No sad, empty buildings in this little place!

I was urged to visit the three antique shops in this small Indiana town. All three were conveniently located right along the Courthouse Square. But somehow? I managed to miss one.

Delphi, Indiana Shops

I admit, I have a few standards when it comes to Indiana antique shops. I like them dirty.

If I browse an antique shop and don’t get a little dusty? Well, where’s the fun in that?

There’s absolutely nothing better than unearthing some treasure hidden beneath a pile of stuff. A spic and span antique shop is not the shop for me. Happily–Delphi, Indiana antique shops seemed to agree!

Indiana Antiques

I fell in love with Delphi Antique Mall. They had a ton of wonderful old board games, lots of glassware, and just neat things in general. There’s even a second floor!

Too bad I didn’t make it that far–the natives were getting restless. I decided that dragging them through breakables against their will might not be the best of ideas.

Mom’s Old Stuff Antiques

Delphi, Indiana Antique Shop

On to Mom’s Old Stuff! You’ll find larger pieces here. Think: furniture, though I’m sure that fluctuates (it’s kind of the nature of the “biz”).

Apparently the owner used to have booths all over the state –even over at Greene’s in Rensselaer, Indiana and scattered around the state.

When the corner shop opened up, he pulled them all out, and is now all in one place. You’ll find him at the North East corner of the tidy little Courthouse Square.

Calico Plus

Then there was Calico Plus, a cute little shop crammed with all sorts of goodies. Rows of candles, rugs, country knick-knacks and lots of great little things to jazz up your walls. Aren’t those just FUN?

Find more Delphi, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Delphi Antique Mall
117 S. Washington St
Delphi, Indiana 46923
765.564.3990

Mom’s Old Stuff
101 W Franklin St.
Delphi, Indiana 46923
No Phone
Open: Thursday – Saturday 11 AM – 5 PM

Calico Plus
114 W. Main
Delphi, Indiana 46923
765.564.4397

Delphi, Indiana in Carroll County

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Small Towns: What to Know BEFORE You Go!

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:30:22 +0000

Why only nine tips? Well, I guess I am what some would call a rebel. Everyone else does top ten lists, from Jay Leno to the blogger next door. So, here’s my top nine tips on things to keep in mind when visiting a small town!

1. Animals Happen. Country roads have slower speed limits for a reason. Indiana is one of the top ten states for deer and car collisions. Keep your eyes peeled for animal critters in and near the road like squirrels, deer, and the random coyote or fox.

2. Breathe. Road rage will not make Farmer John in his shiny new tractor toodle along any faster. It won’t move that little family of geese either. It cannot fix potholes, repair flat tires, or pave a road. Simmer down and go with the laid back country flow. Really, what’s your hurry?

3. Cash and Carry. Small towns are notorious for cash only shops, as are restaurants, and even the occasional gas station! Always bring enough cash “just in case.” A good word of advice? If a diner is cash-only, get ready for the best home cooked meal of your life!

4. Call Ahead! If you have your heart set on visiting a particular antique shop or awesome attraction: call ahead! Small town shops and restaurants are notorious for closing early, taking off on vacation, and just generally having bizarre hours that don‘t always make a whole lot of sense…to outsiders that is.

5. Don’t Fence Me In. Small town does not mean small minded. Don’t assume I am a country yokel without a serious thought in my head. Just because we chose small town life doesn’t mean that we don’t travel the world or have our own investment portfolio. You’d be surprised.

6. Bring The Breadcrumbs. Grab a GPS or a current map, something that can tell you how to get around without getting lost. Locals may know these streets like the back of their hands but they also assume that you do too, and with alleyways or unusual layouts…it gets complicated.

7. Timing Is Everything. Check out the town’s big events and try to hit a couple. There is a lot more to a small town than meets the eye. The area Chamber of Commerce or Welcome Center is always a good first stop. Otherwise, watch for signs advertising the current goings-on.

8. Shop Mom and Pop! C’mon, what is the point of visiting a small town if you are going to go to the same tired big box shops of the big city? Think little. Let’s keep small towns the cute and quaint places they are and support the little guy!

9. Country Kitsch. Plastic or concrete, get ready for statues of deer, squirrels, pigs, ducks, angels, gnomes, even Jesus, in many, many a yard. Hey, I once saw a giant 3 foot horse! I don’t get it either, but there you go. Consider yourself warned.