Meet the Gustins

As we recently passed the seven-year mark in Brown County, Indiana, we stopped to reflect on the changes that have taken place in our family.
Erin graduated cum laude from USI with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2001 and complete her master of art in Clinical Psychology at Spalding University (Louisville) in 2004. She is working on her doctorate now and expects to be Dr. Erin in 2008. Her doctoral internship will be in Minnesota.

Andrew just graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a major in geology. He graduated from Brown County High School in 2002 where he was one of the top students in his class. He will be spending most of this summer in Montana teaching a geology summer class. He enjoys playing guitar, listening to music, and recording. He also enjoys chatting on the computer and talking on the phone to his friends.

Bob continues to work as managing editor at The Republic newspaper, which has a staff of about 35 editors, reporters and photographers. He spends his "spare" time working in his library and pole barn and turning his old vinyl LPs into CDs. He's made major headway in finishing the basement, giving us an extra bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom plus a place to put the pool table.

Chris spends time building her Internet business, realizing that some of her customers do not want to travel to the wilds of Brown County, Indiana. Weekly, she ships packages to customers around the county, and occasionally to far-off lands. She's become well-acquainted with the UPS man, the mail lady and people at the post office. Chris sings with the Brown County Community Choir and is active in the Art Alliance Brown County group. Chris is treasurer of Brown County Craft Gallery and sells her weaving there, as well as Nashville Gallery and Spears Gallery and Homestead Weaving Studio. The craft gallery is located at 58 Main Street, and Nashville Gallery is on Van Buren Street in Nashville, Indiana. Spears Gallery is on 135S near Story.
Her handwoven rugs are wholesaled to shops around the US.

Chris' business is located in a 1,500 sq. foot weaving studio near the house. It is constructed mainly of native Indiana poplar. Yarns and fibers are constantly being organized, but Homestead Weaving Studio also houses looms, spinning wheels, tons of yarn and spinning fibers along with books and weaving equipment. With the addition of the "loom room" this winter, there is a wonderful classroom space and day lessons and weaving and spinning instruction will be offered.

Family History

Bob and Chris were married one unseasonably warm and sunny day Dec. 1, 1973, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Chris (Diener) grew up in Lansing, Mich., attended Everett High School and graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in journalism. After trying life in New York City and East Berlin, Penna., she traveled to Boulder, Colo., to teach weaving at a small shop there. Bob grew up in Colorado Springs and met Chris while attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he also obtained a journalism degree.

Both worked at the Colorado Springs Sun, he as a copy desk editor, she as chief photographer until moving in 1974 to Scottsbluff, Neb., where he was a reporter and later news editor at the Star-Herald. Chris worked as a copy editor at the newspaper before resigning to begin Homestead Gallery, an arts and crafts supply store in downtown Scottsbluff.

Erin was born April 4, 1979, at Scottsbluff, and spent her early days as a shop rat.

The Gustins moved to Evansville, Ind., in 1982. Bob took a job at The Evansville Courier before moving to The Evansville Press in 1986, where he was managing editor until the newspaper closed on Dec. 31, 1998, the victim of an expired Joint Operating Agreement. He is currently managing editor of The Republic in Columbus, Ind. Chris spent some time raising a family and getting her weaving business restarted before rejoining the journalism world with a copy desk job at The Press in the late '80s. She "retired" from the Press as lifestyles editor when the paper closed.

Andrew was born Aug. 18, 1984, in Evansville, and spent his early days honing his baseball skills with a Wiffle ball in the front yard.

Both Erin and Andrew were excellent students at Marrs Elementary School, where Erin won the sixth grade spelling bee, and Andrew placed fourth in the same contest. Both inherited their mother's singing ability, and have participated in choir and drama activities.
Andrew also excelled in baseball and soccer.

Other members of the family include cats named Ahbe, Andy, Smitty, Pikey and Blackkitty.

We'd like to hear from old or new friends, or make some cyber-acquaintances. Give us an e-mail.

Email: Bob bgustin@gmail.com

Email: Chris chris@homesteadweaver.com

Email: Andrew derelict17@gmail.com

Family Links

Brown County home
Andrew Gustin's Homepage
Bob Gustin's Homepage
Chris Gustin's Homepage

Email:
chris@homesteadweaver.com