Amish Country.org 2009 Visitors Guide - (Page 5) Oneof-aKind Finds The Amish – Living Simply in a Complex World The first glimpse most visitors get of the area’s 20,000-plus Amish is an almost postcard-perfect picture of families living in harmony amid pastoral beauty that harkens back to the mid-1800s. There’s a lot of truth in that view. But there’s a lot more to know about the Amish. These descendants of Switzerland’s 16th century Anabaptist movement lead a modest life that’s fascinatingly different than ours in many ways, and comfortably familiar in other aspects. The Amish center their lives on the family and their group. They believe modern conveniences detract from family life. Yet the restrictions on those conveniences are often negotiated, and vary from community to community. That’s why during your visit you’re apt to see Amish kids riding mountain bicycles and buggies wheeling through drive-in banks. The Amish take pride in being intrepid and hard-working entrepreneurs who serve up some of the region’s best food and produce heirloom-quality quilts, furniture and other items that demand skilled hands and disciplined minds. What do custom designed quilts, hand woven rugs, shoofly pie and sugary cinnamon rolls have in common? Here in Northern Indiana Amish Country, they represent a treasured tradition of hand crafted artistry in the workshop and kitchen. You’ll be taking home a bit of the heart and soul of Amish Country when you buy locally fired pottery or gingerbread made from a recipe older than America. You’re helping preserve Elkhart County history when you pick up a bag of stone-ground flour milled daily at Bristol’s 1830s Bonneyville Mill. And if you love antiques, browse our many shops and attend one of the frequent auctions. Handcrafted Hardwoods – The Art of Furniture Making Comfort, exquisite attention to detail and heirloom quality construction are hallmarks of Amish Country furniture for good reason—our furniture artisans have been honing their skills for generations. Each sleigh bed, armoire, dining set and kitchen cabinet reflects the pride of old-world craftsmanship handed down from father to son at our mostly family owned and operated workshops and galleries. Selecting the best native oak, walnut, hickory, ash and maple, artisans rely on mortise-and-tenon joinery, precise dovetails and tried and true finishing techniques. If you don’t find the perfect piece on a showroom floor, help one of our designers create the perfect custom heirloom. 800.517.9739 AmishCountry.org http://www.AmishCountry.org
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