About Us

Most people wouldn't be thankful for time they spend recovering from a car wreck. Marvin and Karen Wolfe, however, say the two months of required bed rest for Marvin following a semi truck colliding into Marvin's truck, allowed the couple the time they needed to sort out details of their new family business. Karen's Kountry Krafter, a Christian gift shop is located at 4713 N US Highway 31 in Seymour, IN.

Marvin is now doing fine and back to work at his own electrical business that was started in Columbus,IN and he has owned and operated since 1968.

The couple had been talking about starting a shop carrying Christian gifts and crafts for quite some time. The time off was the catalyst they needed to sit down and make some decisions.

"We were in the pre-stages, but I guess it was mostly talk," Karen said. "It gave us a lot of time to look at catalogs and decide things. I guess it was meant to be."

The shop carries a variety of Christian gifts. Some of the items carried in the shop are Rhythm Clocks, Demdaco, Willow Tree, Prayers and Promises, Jim Short Heartwood Creek, Enesco, Kitchen Fairies, Foundations, Precious Moments, Roman's Seraphim angels, figurines and dolls, t-shirts from Know Him, Choice Shirts and Son Teez, puppets from Folkmanis, One Way Street, and Sunny & Company, CD's, DVD's, children's books, bibles, bible covers, tote bags, angel figurines, baby items, Breast Cancer items, and many more.

The shop also carries handmade baby quilts, baby afghans, jewelry and doilies.

VBS (Vacation Bible School) kits are in stock from Group Publishing, Standard Publishing, and Gospel Light by the first of February when Karen holds a VBS Workshop for all local churches within the five surrounding counties. All churches get a discount on all items purchased.

Karen's Kountry Krafter also gives a special discount for churches trying to start a Puppet Ministry. "This is so important and needed in churches today. Children hear and understand everything that a puppet tells them. And the adults, of course, are usually the biggest audience. It is so exciting when you get the kids involved in doing the Puppet Ministry."

Karen's Kountry Krafter opened the day after Thanksgiving in 2002 from the couple's home. The business started out in two rooms. Then a third room was added to the shop. And then a fourth room. By the time a fifth room was added on, the Wolfe's had to build another home attached to the back of the shop.

It's a very casual setting on Highway 31 (1/2 mile south of Highway 50) in Seymour, IN. "Since we live in the back of the shop, we're never in a hurry to get home," commented Karen. "You never have to hurry off a customer."

Karen's Kountry Krafter has started setting up at several festivals in which they do very well, especially with the puppets. You can see their booth and meet them at the following festivals: The Fiddlefest - Greensburg, IN in June Hope Heritage Days - Hope, IN in September Tree City Festival - Greensburg, IN in September Canal Days - Metamora, IN the first weekend in October Greenwood High School Craft Fair in November

Recently, Karen changed her business phone number to a cell phone. That way if someone needs something after hours, she can always try to help them. The customer can always pick up their items after hours also.

Opening in time for the Holiday Season was no accident and it seems to have been a good decision. Marvin and Karen were shooting for opening then and did pretty good opening day for not advertising prior. "It was just kind of people driving by, I guess," Karen said.

Karen's Kountry Krafter is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is closed Saturday through Monday, but always available by calling (812) 524-0151 any time.

Recently Marvin and Karen Wolfe have added becoming Foster Parents and now have a five year old girl. You spend a lot of time going to classes, doctor visits, therapists, school meetings and visitations but there are so many children out there needing a home. Along with their foster child, they are raising a blue and gold macaw, cockatiels, black-masked lovebirds, peach faced lovebirds, cream faced lovebirds and two Shih Tzus named Kelby and Diego. "It's a zoo here," commented Marvin.

In the mix of all this, Marvin and Karen Wolfe, with a group of close friends, have started a Christian outreach called "Souled Out" ministries. "Please pray for us that we may do what God intends for us to do and that we may reach people that do not know God and bring them to Him."