Kaitlyn’s Kutters

The beautiful village of Koroneburg opened its gates to visitors, Mother’s Day Weekend and will be open every weekend thru Father’s Day. We will also be open all 3 days of Memorial Weekend. This is our 11th year at the permanent site in Corona, CA and the village has evolved into wonderful and distinctive neighborhoods. Our street is called the Way of the Bells – you can find out why whenever our parades come by. The cottage has grown up too, with a new canopy and new snail vines planted to replace the ones that froze in 2006.

The Arizona move is still going on schedule. It looks like we really will be moving out there by August of this year. But, rest assured, we will still be coming out to the festivals in Corona. It’s a wonderful place to relax and play.

Hope to see you all there. You can get more info at renaissanceinfo.com

January 26, 2008 was the date for the most recent Cookie Cutter Collectors Club meeting. The cookies were phenomenal, as usual. What is even more amazing is that the cookies were as delicious as they were beautiful. The California chapter met to plan for the upcoming National Convention in La Crosse, Wisconsin in June. I’m excited about it, never having been to Wisconsin. And, I’ll get to meet the other tinsmiths who actually still make cookie cutters. According to CCCC members, there are about 20 in the country. I’ve also heard that I’m the only one who makes cutters with pliers, rather than a jig. It will certainly be interesting to see how others practice the craft.

The weather was amazing all the way up the coast for the meeting. I took the 101 instead of the 5 from Orange County to Northern California. The 5 was actually shut down due to snow. A lot of water fell on the 101 and 60 mph winds had trees down on the road between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara on the way back.

We’ve been taking elderberry extract (available at health food stores), and it really makes a difference with colds and flu. Especially if you start taking it the moment you suspect you might be catching something. I’ve given bottles of it to friends and relatives this year and it is getting raves.

We are still moving forward with the move to Arizona. The goal is to be living in Camp Verde, AZ by August of this year. I will have my own office in the new place and my husband will be relieved NOT to have cutter clutter in the rest of the house. I just love soldering and flattening cutters on the kitchen counter and my office will have the counters I need. Please know that I am working on building up my depleted ebay stock. The CCCC members were quite enthusiastic about my unique cutters, and I thank them. Thank you also for the delicious cookies, the art of cookie making and decorating displayed, was truly amazing.

Ok, I’m officially back from Arizona. The old wreck that was on the 1/4 acre is gone. It was a 1975 manufactured with non-permitted additions, built without knowledge of codes. The demolition started late and finished late, but it is done. Laid back is kind of an understatement, when describing parts of Arizona and the way they do business. The lot is beautiful – can’t wait to actually be living there.
I’m putting my latest “Pi” Kutter (#2) up on ebay at auction. Scott in San Diego has number 1. Bidding will start at $12. I’m having trouble getting my pics up. It is up on ebay.

This is not the best picture, but the Pi cutter for Scott in San Diego came out so beautifully, I wanted everyone to see it. Of course, you’d want to use the Pi(e) Crust Goodies recipe with this cutter. I’ve been in Arizona a lot. We’ll be moving there by August of 2008. My husband is retiring, but I’ll still be bending metal and we will be coming back to California for selected faires and festivals. And, there’s the internet. We’ll still be able to communicate and the ebay store is going strong. Check out the new kutters I’ve just put there.

June 17 was the last day of Koroneburg Renaissance Festival. The weather was perfect, the people were wonderful and gnomes started coming out of hiding. It was great to see new people visiting and hear their reactions to our village. There really is nothing like it.

We had a great time at the postponed Galactic Playground. Tom and Patty provided refreshments. Black angus burgers with all the trimmings and great beverages. Even greater were the friends who showed up to play and a few sci-fi fans who seemed to have fun. Dishes were broken – it was a good time. I haven’t built up the courage to put my pic up in my little Jane Jetson getup. We’ll see when the next Galactic attempt is made. I’ll make sure you know about it.

The fun thing about the Galactic fair is that I can display things from the future (or the future as science fiction sees it). So, I can put out cutters shaped like rockets, or shuttles or anything else that says space…

The Enterprise is one of those shapes that just doesn’t work at Renaissance events. As of 11:25 today, it is on ebay. We’ll see what happens.—–

Unfortunately, Tom Wilson was forced to postpone the Galactic Playground indefinitely, due to a lack of interest from vendors. That’s the bad news. Now the good: he is opening the site for free on Sunday, October 8, 2006 to anyone who may be disappointed and wants to come play. Some of us still like to do that. Kaitlyn’s Kutters and Fairapy will be there disguised as “Milky Way Kookie Kutters” and “Flying Saucers”. (thank you Susan and Doormouse) I will be wearing my fun Jane Jetson type outfit. Hubby will be a hitchhiker with his guide and a towel. So put some aluminum foil on your head and come on out to Corona. Refreshments will be served.

San Diego’s Comic-Con was amazing, as always. The “Superman” kutter set (Superman & his logo shape), “Wonderwoman” & logo and Cat Woman all went home with people at the Art Show. I didn’t get to meet them. So did “Batman” (& 2-piece logo). I did meet the darling girl who bought it and asked me to autograph the back of the frame. That was a first. Thank you.
Meeting the people who buy each cutter has always been such a joy. It is something I miss in situations like the con, where I set up my kutter displays and just leave them. But, I did meet a huge number of other people – record crowds! The picture below is just one of the many intersections used by conventioneers.

September 10-11, 2005, we opened the village of Koroneburg to visitors from modern times. Although the turnout could have been better, we had beautiful weather, beautiful village, beautiful people and an absolutely wonderful time with our neighbors and visitors alike.

The pictures that follow are of: 1) Amanda and Hookah, two sweethearts who are a joy to be around, 2) “Fairapy” (our plate breaking booth across the street) has new safety equipment. A tiny dish breaker is modeling the stylish hat and safety glasses, 3) Weebul, the Giant Gnome waters the road every morning to keep down the dust.

Kaitlyn’s Kutters Cottage

Koroneburg European Old World Festival