I’ve read many magazine articles where decorators with perfect imagination acuity can sniff out bargains and decorate a room to look worth a million bucks.

I’m certainly nowhere near that ability, but with my husband’s keen eye, we have managed to add a few pretties to our home.

Our inexpensive but prized possessions have come from nowhere else but the Shipshewana Flea Market, which opens for the season TOMORROW, May 1, at 8 am.

We found this little string of beads at the booth called “Comfort and Joy.” As of last year, they still carried these beads, and I hope they still do, because I need more. We hung them around a mirror first; now, they’re draped around a curtain.

This beauty came from “Blue Nova Gallery.” This vendor has been at the Flea Market for 26 years, and in my opinion, she has the prettiest pictures in the whole place. This one hangs for quite some time in our living room during our long Northern Indiana winters. Jenny, who owns the gallery, carries a line of Nancy Noel photos, an Indiana artist famous for her Amish children paintings.

This antique window came from somewhere in the Flea Market (I can no longer remember where), and we have had a blast decorating with it. First, we used it as a coffee table top. Then, we thought it was pretty enough on its own, so we just leaned it in a corner with a plant behind it, sort of like a terrarium. Now, it’s hanging in our entryway with a piece of fabric and shells to remind us of the beach. We change out the décor according to the season.

I have had numerous compliments on this little flowerpot I picked up at the booth, “Lilly’s Flower Cart.” It first decorated a school desk; now, it’s in my home office. The blossoms look real, and best thing is, I don’t have to remember to water it.

This purse isn’t actually a decorative piece, unless you consider the fact that is has decorated my arm for two years now. It came from Cornucopia, which has a Flea Market booth AND a retail store downtown. I especially love the knowledge that this purse was locally made by an Amish lady.

I’ve already got my list going for this year’s décor, starting with upholstery fabric (I have some projects for my husband, too, but don’t tell him).

What items are you hoping to find at this year’s Flea Market?

Note: The Shipshewana Flea Market is our May Business of the Month. We will feature one blog a week for the month of May on this Shipshewana attraction, also the Midwest’s largest Flea Market.

The Shipshewana Flea Market has over 900 vendors selling virtually every product imagainable. From t shirts to toys, car wax to candles, fabric to furniture, you’ll find what you need—and want—and have great fun in the process.

The Flea Market is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 am-5 pm, with an antique and livestock auction also held Wednesday mornings in the Auction Barn.

This LaGrange County and Shipshewana, Indiana attraction is located at 345 South Van Buren Street (SR 5), Shipshewana.

For more information on the Flea Market, click here.

LaGrange County and Shipshewana are home to the third largest Amish community in the nation. This community’s simple way of life is the reason many people visit our area—to observe, learn about, pay tribute to, and purchase items from the Amish.

With the travel season upon us, here are a few things to remember as you travel to our area and interact with the Amish:

1. Upon your arrival, you will notice the roads filled with bikes and buggies; many people will be walking, and kids will be riding pony carts.

Please slow down and take extra caution as you travel. Buggies follow the same road rules as vehicles, so they are allowed to be on the road.

2. Please don’t honk at the horses pulling buggies. The sound easily could spook the horses.

3. The Amish in our area understand the fact that visitors come to get to know them. Within limits, they will visit some with you, but if they choose not to, that’s okay. Even if you don’t get into a conversation with them, they will provide a smile and a nod.

4. As part of their religious heritage, Amish believe photographs are “graven images,” so please do not take photos of their faces…grown-ups or children. It’s tempting, we know, but please honor their culture by not taking photographs.

5. DO stop in at their home businesses on the Amish backroads. Many of these businesses help sustain the Amish way of life. You’ll see many signs on our county roads advertising these small “cottage businesses.” When you see a sign, you’re automatically invited to stop in; you’ll be welcomed.

6. Most shops are closed on Sunday so the Amish can honor the Sabbath with a day of rest and spend uninterrupted time with their family. Plan your schedule accordingly.

Welcome to LaGrange County. We’re so glad you’re here!

The Blue Gate Theater is hosting two famed musical names in concert during the town wide Mayfest celebration this May.

Ricky Skaggs, illustrious bluegrass, gospel, and country artist, will be in concert Friday, May 4, at the Town Center located at 760 S. Van Buren Street
(SR 5).

The group Sawyer Brown will hold a concert, also at the Town Center, on Saturday, May 5.

Both concerts begin at 6:00 pm.

Other than just a couple of member changes, this group has been around since the 1980s.

That’s when I had big hair. And stirrup pants. Neither of those styles are en vogue, but Sawyer Brown always has been. Good things never go out of style. That includes good music.

Sawyer Brown boasts a five-man band that has performed for 23 years and held over 3,500 shows throughout its tenure. Their unique country sound lends this group its own blend of music and song as well as a large following of fans.

Three ticket packages are available for each show:
Single tickets for general admission seating begin at $19.00.
Dinner and ticket begin at $34.00.
A hotel package begins at $310.00 and includes the concert, dinner for two, a carriage ride, overnight hotel stay for two, and a gift basket.

Special thanks to Blue Gate Theater for hosting Sawyer Brown AND Ricky Skaggs. To see the entire schedule of concerts and shows, click here.

Mayfest is an annual townwide celebration held the first weekend of May. Special events and discounts are held throughout the town.

I grew up on bluegrass music. Bluegrass is part of my heritage. However, when I left my beautiful Appalachian hills, I also left behind bluegrass music.

Now, thanks to my teenage son who seems to know every piece of music in every genre, I’m back on the bluegrass train, as this style has experienced a renewal of interest.

I might have left bluegrass for awhile, but Ricky Skaggs never did.

Ricky Skaggs in concert May 4 in Shipshewana.

Ricky Skaggs, illustrious bluegrass, gospel, and country artist, will be in concert Friday, May 4, at the Town Center located at 760 S. Van Buren Street 
(SR 5).

The concert begins at 6:00 pm.

2012 marks the 53^rd year since Skaggs struck his first chords on a mandolin, and this fourteen-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. Along with his musicians known as Kentucky Thunder, Skaggs promises to provide an eclectic mix of dynamic, exceptional music for the evening.

Three ticket packages are available for the show:
Single tickets for general admission seating begin at $19.00.
Dinner and ticket begin at $34.00.
A hotel package begins at $310.00 and includes the concert, dinner for two, a carriage ride, overnight hotel stay for two, and a gift basket.

Mayfest is an annual townwide celebration held the first weekend of May. Special events and discounts are held throughout the town.

Special thanks to the Blue Gate Theater for bringing in this amazing musical talent. To visit the Theater website for an entire list of concerts, click here.

Raber Patio on State Road 5, Shipshewana

The April Business of the Month celebrates Raber Patio Enclosures and Furniture, a locally owned and operated business. This blog is the third installment of the series. To read the first blog, click here. To read about Raber’s Open House, click here.

In 1985, with a vision for quality and an entrepreneurial spirit, Amish businessman Ervin Raber opened the doors to Raber Patio. He started the business simply because he couldn’t find any other company in the area that could build a sunroom with the quality and standards he wanted.

Fast-forward 27 years, and Raber Patio is still going strong. It is still family owned and operated, now by son-in-law Chris Schlabach, and it continues to offer the same quality and standards Ervin originally envisioned.

The list of testimonials from customers is extensive; people who buy from Raber Patio quickly become loyal customers because of the relationships they form with the staff. Customers speak highly of the quality of the construction, the kindness extended by the employees, and the “extra mile” Chris and his staff go to create a positive experience for the patrons.

If anything has changed throughout the business’ history, it would include an increase in the products offered and the fact that Raber Patio now has a second location, on the lower level in the Davis Mercantile, downtown Shipshewana.

Today, a variety of products are offered at both stores, with everything still focused on creating a memory-making outdoor environment.

Poly-vinyl furniture made from recycles milk jugs

“Our hot items right now are the pergolas and the patio furniture made out of recycled milk jugs–the poly furniture,” said Chris. The business sells three types of pergolas in several sizes: wooden; aluminum; and vinyl.

One type of Pergola plan offered.

Chris adds one bonus of being a locally-owned business is getting to sell a variety of products. “We sell pergolas right alongside flip flops, spices and barbeque sauce along with campfire rings and playground sets.”

Raber Patio Contact Information:
Website: www.RaberPatios.com
Phone: 800.768.2740
Location: 655 S Van Buren Street (State Road 5), Shipshewana, 46565
or in the Davis Mercantile, Downtown Shipshewana

In LaGrange County and Shipshewana, we’ve got our buggies on high speed. Turbo charge. Fifth gear. Jet fueled.

What this means for us is that we’re galloping into our “busy season.” This week, we begin offering many top-notch events, and we work hard for many, many months to bring you memory-making opportunities to see, hear, and experience concerts and festivals in unforgettable ways.

What this schedule means to you is that you can come to our neck of the woods with family and friends, enjoy the Amish backroads, take in concerts or musicals, and leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and entertained.

We work hard so you don’t have to.

Welcome to Shipshewana and LaGrange County: We’re Open for Business!

At-A-Glance Schedule:

Tuesday, April 24: “The Confession: The Musical” opens. Click here for more information.

Thurs.-Sat.,April 26-28:  National Clydesdale Sale at the Michiana Event Center (MEC). Click here for more information.

Saturday, April 28: Kite Komotion free event. Click here for more information.

Tuesday, May 1: FLEA MARKET opens for the season! Open every Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 am-5 pm. Open Monday-Wednesday Memorial Holiday, Independence Holiday, and Labor Day. Click here for more information.

Friday-Saturday, May 4 & 5: Mayfest Celebration, downtown Shipshewana. Click here for more information.

Friday, May 4:  Ricky Skaggs in concert. Click here for more information.

Saturday, May 5: Sawyer Brown in concert. Click here for more information.

Saturday, May 5: Land & Lakes Outdoor Garden Show. Click here for more information.

Mon.-Wed., May 28-30:  Memorial Holiday Extended Flea Market. Click here for more information.

Sat., June 2: Antique Market on the Antique Gallery grounds. Click here for more information.

Sat., June 16: Cook’s Bison Ranch Calf Day Celebration. Click here for more information.

Sat., June 16: Pumpkinvine Bike Ride. Click here for more information.

Wed.-Sat., June 20-23: Shipshewana Quilt Festival, a top 100 event by the American Bus Association. Click here for more information.

Are you registered to receive our blogs in your e mail inbox? We’ll keep you informed andup-to-date regarding all Shipshewana and LaGrange County events! We keep all your e mail information confidential, never selling the information to other parties.

To register to receive our blogs, click here.

The day was almost too blustery last year when I went. Once I arrived, I quickly forgot about the wind and instead grew captivated by all that was flying in the wind.

Professional kite-flyers were flying heavy, more than your run-of-the-mill dollar store kites, holding tightly, making maneuvers professional fighter pilots would envy.

Kite flyers with one of the organizers of the event.

This year, this amazing event proves to be even better, as Shipshewana retailer “Head Over Heels” and other local sponsors are teaming up with the LaGrange Communities Youth Centers to offer “Kite Komotion” on Saturday, April 28.

This free clinic and festival begins at 11:00 a.m. and continues until 3:00 p.m. behind the Shipshewana Town Center located at 760 S. Van Buren Street (SR 5).

Two internationally acclaimed professional kite teams, The Detroit Windjammers and Chicago Fire, will wow the crowds with kite-flying stunts synchronized to music.

Kids can chase bubbles from a bubble-making machine.

Kids can make and fly kites, and a candy drop will occur at noon and 2:00. Food vendors will also be selling local fare.

Last year, adults and kids alike were watching in seeming disbelief at the way four or five kite flyers would work together and manipulate their kites into and back out of positions for a choreographed routine similar to dancers on a stage. Not only did image of the kites captivate me, but also the kite flyers demonstrated strength and precision as they turned their kites one way, then another, then in circles or other shapes. At times, I wondered if the kites themselves might pick up the flyers and carry them away.

This is a unique event everyone in the family will enjoy.

For more information on Kite Komotion, call the LCYC at (260) 499-6359, or Head Over Heels at (260) 768-7764.

To watch a video, click here.

Confession is good for the soul. This “Confession” is good for everyone’s soul.

Drama for the girls, mystery for the guys, laughter for the kids, and a great story for everyone sums up “The Confession: A Musical” playing April 24-August 18 at the Blue Gate Theater.

"The Confession: The Musical" Last year's cast

This show, now in its third year of production, was created, produced, and directed exclusively for Shipshewana audiences. The musical is held in the smaller, more intimate venue of the Blue Gate Theater located inside Blue Gate Restaurant, downtown.

"Secrets"

Combining beautiful song and voices with appropriate costuming and a few lessons in human nature, the musical tells the story of a young Amish lady who sets out to discover some things about herself. Along the way, she meets a number of interesting characters, including a comical butler and housekeeper.

The first time I saw “The Confession,” I was riveted. Sure, the musical takes some creative licenses for the sake of entertainment—you’d never find the Amish square dancing at a barn raising in real life, for example—but those touches of entertainment enhances rather than detracts from the plot. Plus, the songs are magical. My personal favorite is sung during that barn raising square dance.

"Friends"

Furthermore, if you are looking for a “G”-rated performance, “The Confession” is it. The plot is based on three combined stories written by nationally-acclaimed Christian novelist Beverly Lewis.

I am really proud that our town of Shipshewana offers “The Confession” for you to enjoy. The story truly is captivating, and the acting is of the highest quality that can be found in musical theater.

In past years, “The Confession” has run up until the Holiday season. This year, the musical goes until August 18.

A number of ticket packages is available, from the musical only up to a premiere package including an overnight stay, dinner for 2, carriage ride, a rose & gift basket, and musical tickets.

Check out this video of other comments made about “The Confession: The Musical.” Click here.

To learn more, visit online at http://www.riegsecker.com/shipshewana/bluegatetheater/the-confession-musical/

To view video features about show packages, click here.

To celebrate the LaGrange County Barn Quilt Tour, we are devoting two blogs a month on information regarding a specific mural you will see dotting the Amish backroads in Northern Indiana.

Even though we have numbered the blogs, the order in which we present the murals isn’t terribly important, as you can begin your own self-guided tour anywhere you would like. Just stop by the CVB at 350 N. Van Buren Street, Shipshewana to pick up a brochure with a map.

We hope you enjoy each blog at it provides a sneak peek into the background of each barn quilt mural and location.

Lone Star Barn Quilt Mural

Barn Quilt Murals # 2 & 3: “Lone Star” and “Flower Basket”
Two murals are displayed on the Amish farmstead owned by Lyle and Betty Helmuth just west of Shipshewana at their Amish business, B & L Woodcrafts.

According to Betty, these two quilt patterns were chosen for their simplicity in order to represent the simple ways of the Amish lifestyle. And, like the Amish culture, these murals reflect the beauty of that humble life.

Flower Basket Mural at B&L Woodcrafts

Location information:
The barn on which the “Flower Basket” mural is displayed presents a rare opportunity for those who want to see the making of a 1940 post-beam constructed barn. Hoof prints remaining on the barn floor tells the tale of horses using their horsepower to pull wagons of hay into the barn.

You will also discover on the property the family business, B & L Woodcrafts, where today the barn is filled with antiques, gifts, and wooden drying racks. Outside you will see an abundance of playground equipment and outdoor furniture, including bright colored Adirondack chairs.

Location of Murals:
B & L Woodcrafts
10045 West 250 North, Shipshewana
GPS: N 41° 40.595 W 085° 37250

For more information on this and other LaGrange County Barn Quilt Tour blogs, visit www.VisitShipshewana.org by clicking here, and then click on any blog link under the category “Barn Quilt Tour.”

The April Business of the Month celebrates Raber Patio Enclosures and Furniture, a locally owned and operated business. This blog is the second installment of the series. To read the first blog, click here.

It’s one way of saying “thanks” and another way of saying “welcome.”

It’s offered with a smile and a handshake, along with a grilled burger, homemade potato salad, and Amish baked goods.

It’s their way, the Raber Patio way.

Raber Patio Enclosures and Furniture is holding its annual open house April 19-21, 9 am-5pm at their State Road 5 location.

People from all over Indiana and neighboring states visit Chris Schlabach, Ervin Raber, and their staff because after all, they are now friends, more than customers, after having been serviced by these businessmen.

Customers from last year's open house enjoying coffee and snacks.

“The main thing we enjoy about this open house is getting to be with the customers, both old and new. We work hard to create a relationship with our customers, who then tell their friends about us, and so on,” said Chris, founder Ervin’s son-in-law who now manages the business.

Chris expects somewhere between 700-800 visitors, expects to serve 1,200 hamburgers, and is eager to give away items each day.

Those giveaways include:

• $300.00 Gift Certificate;
• Folding picnic table;
• Single seat glider made out of poly-vinyl;
• Cornhole game.

“We will also be making kettle corn outside our store,” adds Chris. “We sell the kettles here, and this is a good chance for the public to see what they can do.”

The open house celebration extends from their store on State Road 5 to their new location on the lower level of the Davis Mercantile, downtown Shipshewana.

Inside the Davis Mercantile location

“We have lots of furniture up there,” said Chris. “That store is convenient for people who spend a lot of their shopping time at the Davis Mercantile.”

Not only will customers see big-ticket items such as pergolas, sun rooms, porches, and swing sets, they will also see locally-made items.

Find local products at Raber Patio

“People are asking more and more for locally-made and American-made products,” Chris comments. “That way, you get much better customer service.”

Those local items include bird feeders and poly-vinyl furniture made from recycled milk jugs, wooden windmills, and included at the Davis Mercantile location, lip balms and lotions.

These locally-made bird feeders are made out of recycled milk jugs.

Chris said he likes doing business the old-fashioned way, staying in touch with letters, phone calls, or face-to-face.

“We enjoy working with our customers. That’s important. We just want to tell them thanks.”

For more information on Raber Patios:
Go online to: www.RaberPatios.com
Call: 800.768.2740
Come to their open house at: 655 S Van Buren Street (State Road 5), Shipshewana, 46565,
or in the Davis Mercantile, Downtown Shipshewana