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An Amish order located in Ohio, where they continue to live their lives according to beliefs and practices from a past century, produces individually-made wood crafts and furniture. The families of this order choose to live a simpler lifestyle, which means they do not have many of the conveniences found in non-Amish households. The wood crafts you will see are the same crafts these families use to furnish their homes. From wooden benches to hardwood chairs and beds, the people who live in the Amish order make everything they own.
The Amish learn from a young age that, if they are going to do a task, it has to be their best effort. Far from being simple, their lifestyle requires that they work from dawn to nightfall in order to complete all of their tasks they have for the day. The Amish do not use electricity, which means they have no refrigerators or freezers. They still cut their ice in the same way that pioneer families used to do. -
The Amish handcraft their own wood crafts from furniture to wall hangings. They cut the wood, timber, plane and build the items themselves, then they sand and finish each item individually. Look for furniture that has been individually made rather than mass-produced. Each piece will have its own qualities, different from any other piece made by the same craftsman.
The Amish are well known for crafting their own wheels for their buggies. Some of these buggy wheels have been made into wooden chandeliers, sporting the spokes and individual lanterns for each light. Because the Amish do not embrace a consumer lifestyle, each item they make and sell helps them to make a living sufficient to provide for everyone in their families.
The bench bought by a New Mexico couple (see the Amish Wares Photo Gallery link below) displays the craftsmanship used to make the piece. - Amish wood crafts appear to be a sought-after amenity. People from all over the country either order or buy individual pieces straight from the Amish family's home. Look for wood crafts that have been made one at a time and, if decorated or painted, given their own special look.
