Latest posts

An Arbor for Any Space

Debra Gingerich 24/03/2016

There may still be some patches of snow here or there, but summer is just around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about your outdoor spaces. You can create a magical, fairytale feel for your personal oasis with an American-made arbor.  To some that may be an enchanting garden arbor with a swing to enjoy nights gazing at the stars, and for others it might be a crisp white wedding arbor overgrown with red… An Arbor for Any Space

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Amish Quilt Making

Debra Gingerich 18/03/2016

March 19 is National Quilting Day. It celebrates quilts and those who make them, which means it is an important day for us at DutchCrafters since the Amish are well known for their quilt making. I grew up with a quilt frame in the dining room, where my mother would applique pieces of the Tree of Life quilt pattern during brief moments of free time. Every year, the women at the Mennonite church we attended… Amish Quilt Making

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Meet the Amish Woodworkers: Albert Barkman

Debra Gingerich 09/03/2016

Sometimes customers ask us how a company selling Amish furniture ended up in Sarasota, Florida. Though the furniture we sell is not made here (it’s made by Amish woodworkers in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio), Sarasota has a thriving Amish and Mennonite community. That’s one of the reasons why we’re here. During the winter months, the Sarasota enclave of Pinecraft busts at the seams with Amish taking breaks from austere winters up north. Tricycles (the mode… Meet the Amish Woodworkers: Albert Barkman

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Big Ideas for Small Spaces

Debra Gingerich 03/03/2016

Like many, I have been fascinated by the tiny house craze that has taken America by storm. I watch my share of home improvement and home buying TV shows that feature tiny homes and wonder where I’d store all my shoes or sundresses. Making the best of small spaces is nothing new, though. People have been living large in big city cramped apartments for generations. Whether you’re pulling your house like an RV or in… Big Ideas for Small Spaces

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8 Personalized Amish Valentines Gifts for Her to Cherish in 2016

Jayca Pike 05/01/2016

We know. You’re fresh off the most Wonderful Time of the Year. But keen eyes and dedicated hearts like yours are should already be on the lookout for Personalized Valentines Gifts for her to adore this February 14th. Related Posts 8 Personalized Amish Valentines Gifts for Her to Cherish We know. You’re fresh off the most Wonderful Time of the Year. But keen eyes and dedicated hearts like yours Read more Top 14 Valentine’s Day… 8 Personalized Amish Valentines Gifts for Her to Cherish in 2016

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Inspirational Calendar Wallpaper: January 2016

Jayca Pike 28/12/2015

It’s Monday after a long holiday weekend, and the last thing you may want to think about is your January schedule. But how about thinking of kindness? Related Posts Everything You Want to Know About: Amish Church We’re welcoming Erik Wesner, author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive,  back to the Read more Everything You Want to Know About Amish Beliefs We’re so pleased to welcome Erik Wesner back… Inspirational Calendar Wallpaper: January 2016

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Rustic Log Furniture in 3 Unexpected, Modern Lodge Spaces

Beth Rice 16/12/2015

Bring the organic beauty of nature into your home with genuine, luxurious rustic log furniture.  The list of enviable finds this season include pieces and placements that help you capture the look of a modern lodge without veering into the banjo-strumming territory. Read on to see how! Related Posts 5 Questions About Log Furniture Let’s face it. Log furniture helps us disconnect. Its natural rugged look represents another time long ago, when things were Read… Rustic Log Furniture in 3 Unexpected, Modern Lodge Spaces

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Amish Holiday Tradition: Epiphany or Old Christmas

Jayca Pike 10/12/2015

On January 6th, the Amish get an extra dose of Old Christmas cheer. So what is this Amish Holiday Tradition all about? Related Posts Holiday Guests: How to Create an Inviting Guest Space Got guests?  If you’ve got friends and family planning to stay with you for the holidays, we’ve got the goods Read more Father’s Day Gift Picks We’d like to offer a warm welcome back to Interior Designer Emily Wignall, presenting her favorite Father’s Day… Amish Holiday Tradition: Epiphany or Old Christmas

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Warm Your Heart and Hearth with Two Easy Fireplace Mantel Styles

Jayca Pike 30/11/2015

This post was updated on November 15, 2019. A fireplace can act as the focal point in just about any room of your home. How you choose to decorate the fireplace mantel and the wall that disguises the chimney can balance the room and further establish the fireplace as a focal point. Related Posts Space Saver: Corner Fireplace This blog post was updated on October 29, 2018 with new corner fireplace suggestions. We love a… Warm Your Heart and Hearth with Two Easy Fireplace Mantel Styles

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How to Season a New Cigar Humidor

Jayca Pike 23/11/2015

Note: This blog post was originally written in November 2015. While we no longer sell Amish-made, solid wood humidors, the information in this post is still helpful for seasoning a new humidor. The use of a finely calibrated cigar humidor will ensure your favorite stogies never go stale, keep their intended taste and aroma, and are ready to smoke when you’re ready to enjoy them. [Tweet “Read this before you store a single cigar!”] Related Posts 8… How to Season a New Cigar Humidor

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Plain Pleasures: Fall Traditions inspired by Amish Heritage

Jayca Pike 02/11/2015

Diving through piles of leaves, stretching for the shiniest apple, inhaling the cinnamon and pumpkin spice in the air — fall captivates your senses like no other season. The Amish have long practiced these kind of simple fall traditions, each growing in meaning as the years pass. Take your family for a whirl with these four fall traditions before you’re snowed in for the winter! Related Posts 5 Log Cabin Essentials There’s something simple and appealing about rustic log furniture. It symbolizes a simpler time… Plain Pleasures: Fall Traditions inspired by Amish Heritage

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Get Vertical: Bunk Beds that Take Space Saving to New Heights

Jayca Pike 15/10/2015

This post was updated on October 21, 2019. Broken links were fixed and some minor changes were made to the copy.  Sure, you can look at bunk beds as the ultimate tower of fun for the little ones. But why not use the escapism inherent in bunking up to your advantage? Here, some very grown-up ways to make bunk beds a part of your home’s charm: Related Posts Making Room to Grow: Furniture for a Shared… Get Vertical: Bunk Beds that Take Space Saving to New Heights

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Which Zillow-Approved Dining Room Speaks to You?

Jayca Pike 12/10/2015

3 Beloved Digs, 1 Voice to Listen to Do you think you know what your dining room style is? We’ve made it easier to recognize by helping you to listen to your gut, not the label. We’ll show you the picture of the room before identifying the style. A little tricky? Maybe, but we think it’ll help you decide on a style that is genuine to you, not to a preconceived notion. Word of caution: The photo that inspires you most… Which Zillow-Approved Dining Room Speaks to You?

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Amish Furniture Makers: Meet the The Yoder Brothers

Jayca Pike 02/10/2015

In the Amish community, talking about “the Yoder brothers” is a bit like us English folk (as they refer to us) talking about “the Jones boys” or “the Smith sisters.” Related Posts Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: The Mt. Eaton Collection The Mt. Eaton Collection Meet the Amish Furniture makers at the Amish woodshop that crafts our Mt. Eaton Collection – one Read more Meet the Amish Furniture Makers: Mark & Sons Mark & Sons A… Amish Furniture Makers: Meet the The Yoder Brothers

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Why We Love Murphy Beds (And You Should, Too!)

Jayca Pike 28/09/2015

This blog post was updated on February 4, 2019 with additional Murphy bed designs. Older homes are notorious for their compact, often complicated little bedrooms. Don’t let layout discourage you from creating a multi-functional room to use for exercise, overnight guests or–with the example below– an amazing work space. Read on, and see how Murphy Beds are a surprising solution to any number of bedroom bummers! Related Posts 5 Ways A Murphy Bed Saves You… Why We Love Murphy Beds (And You Should, Too!)

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