The Pilot News - Lilypad Antiques and Gifts a showcase for Hoosier talent

The name of Kary’s business is Lilypad Antiques and Gifts and it’s located at Bass Lake, just three doors down from Sportyz.
Kary’s has such a vast collection of goodies in her business that it takes up an entire residence. However, that’s not the primary reason she chose her location.
“I liked the idea of having an antique shop in a house because I liked the idea of having things in a room setting,” she said.
“I think it’s visually overwhelming for people when everything is stacked on top of the other — they can’t take it all in because it’s just too much.”
Antiques are a main attraction at Kary’s Bass Lake business, but they are not the only goody she features.
“I have all types of antique furniture, glassware and accessories. I also have crafts because a lot of my customers may not be interested in antiques,” Kary said.
Kary looks for several qualities when shopping for items and one of them is rather unique. “All of the crafts I carry are well-made and affordable. There is also something else that’s unusual about my crafts — they were all made in Indiana,” she said.
“I think there are a lot of beautiful well-made things in Indiana. And a lot of people may not have the exposure for their product. We have a lot of talented people in our area and I just want to feature the local talent,” Kary said.
Locating treasures for the Lilypad often requires searching in several different areas, but sometimes it takes no effort at all.
“I pay attention when I go places... I go to other craft shops, check out labels, go to craft shows, and I’ve gone on the Internet. Since I’ve opened, people also come up to me,” Kary said.
“I also ask a lot of people who do they know that does something,” she said.
Kary carries products that are made from items that most people use regularly, but discard as useless once they are finished with them— one such product is woven rugs.
“I have people who make crafts out of plastic bags. They’re waterproof, environmentally friendly and it’s recycling. These people also know what stores use what colors so they know right where to go,” Kary said.
“I try to have as many all-natural products as possible. My soaps and lotions are all natural, with no synthetic dyes,” she said.
One of Kary’s products is about as natural as it can be, because its main ingredient comes from the soil.
“I carry soybean candles. They hold the scent better than wax. The best thing is they burn cleaner — there’s no soot,” Kary said.
Like the other unique and unusual crafts carried by The Lilypad, these too are made locally. “The candles are made by a woman in Indiana. She uses unusual containers: Brandy snifters, Coke glasses, tea cups and other unique things. I just think they’re fun,” she said.
Kary also tries to support businesses who promote worthy causes. “I buy my fudge in Valpo at a place called Opportunity Enterprises Inc. This is a not-for-profit organization that helps challenged individuals,” Kary said.
“I also carry soup, brownie, cookie and dip mixes. I sample most of what I buy and they’re all wonderful. These products come from Soup of Success — an organization in Elkhart who takes women who are on welfare and trains them in businesses so they can get off of welfare,” she said.
Freshly baked goods are something that can be found at the Lilypad as well. The store even has an area set aside to enjoy a cup of coffee, cappuccino or other tasty treats.
“I carry the bread from Earthworks which is made by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) in Donaldson. They deliver on Friday morning so for freshest bread, people would want to come Friday or Saturday morning,” Kary said.
Some of Kary’s products not only have an amazing flavor, but their product designs are just as much a craft as the goodies inside.
“I purchase several things from Brookston, Ind., which is 20 miles north of Lafayette. They promote made in Indiana products too,” Kary said.
“They call their business ‘Two Cooking Sisters’ and they make things like salsa, jams, relishes and apple butter. Their salsa is pepper based instead of tomato and they call it ‘Big Sister Salsa — It’s loud and it’s bossy.’” Another one of their products is called ‘Cherries and Hooch.’
“The hooch is an amaretto flavoring — they’re very creative with their packaging,” Kary said.
Some of the Hoosier talent that Kary features in her shop comes from Donaldson, Hebron, Valparaiso, Elkhart, Knox and Bass Lake, but that’s nowhere near the locations that are represented in Kary’s cozy shop.
All natural spices are also a special item carried by The Lilypad
And once again, they’re made in Indiana. “The gentleman who carves my fish (another item on display) is a chef in Monticello. And he makes spice blends — no sugar, salt or MSG added. They’re very healthy and all natural,” Kary said.
Since the spices do not have preservatives, people would want to buy them and use them within a reasonable amount of time. They’re not able to be stored on a shelf for months at a time.
Sometimes a business’s name is enough to warrant the possibility of being included among Kary’s special treasures.
“I buy English Toffee from Hebron. They have a sign that says the ‘World’s Finest Homemade English Toffee — they’ve been in business for 75 years. I think for them to have had that logo for 75 years, it has to be darn good or people would challenge them on the name,” Kary said.
Besides the joy that comes from supporting artists in her home state, Kary also enjoys the hunt for the product itself.
“It’s been so much fun finding everything. When I find something, it’s like an unexpected gift,” she said.
Kary had an idea of what she wanted her business to be like and so far, she hasn’t been disappointed. “It’s everything I envisioned it would be. I wanted something that could be family run. And I have my niece Sara and nephew Nick as
employees. Upstairs I have a mix of old things and new; I have vintage T-shirts; handmade scarves (made in Bass Lake); handmade purses (some made in South Bend, some in Knox); my jewelry is made here at the lake and some in Chesterton; I have vintage as well as new baby things; I have hand knitted baby sweaters which are about as pretty as you can imagine...,” she said.
The reason Kary carries such an eclectic assortment of items in her shop is simple. “I try to have a large variety of things because I have a variety of customers,” she said.
Price is also something that Kary considers when selecting an item for her shop. “I want to have prices that are affordable for anyone who comes in
here. I’m trying really hard to have a variety of things at realistic prices,” Kary said.
Lilypad is open Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.