Q&A with Janneken Smucker, Author of Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon

Q&A with Janneken Smucker, Author of Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon

ByErik Wesner
43 Comments

Janneken Smucker, author of the newly-released Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon, answers your quilt questions today. Janneken is Assistant Professor of History at West Chester University, consulting curator for the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and author of a number of publications on quilts and quilting. Johns Hopkins University Press is giving away a copy of Amish Quilts.  If you submitted…

Why don’t Amish talk about God more often?

ByErik Wesner
60 Comments

Over the past few months, one of our readers in the Midwest has gotten to know an Amish family dealing with a trying circumstance.  He shares an interesting observation/question: I know that the father… told me that the Amish he is with believe they are supposed to be the light of the world but that they should not try and blind a person’s eyes with…

An Amish “Go-Kart”

ByErik Wesner
20 Comments

A reader sends in the following set of photos, of an improvised vehicle in northern Indiana.  I guess we could call this an Amish go-kart. “It was quite a custom job,’ he explains.  “The steering wheel was fabricated of round steel stock powered by a Honda engine with a drive belt to the rear axle. Whoever assembled it was quite creative.  I have no idea…

Topeka Clinic Opens; Chemo Case Update

Topeka Clinic Opens; Chemo Case Update

ByErik Wesner
9 Comments

There have been quite a few stories involving the Amish and health-related issues lately.  Let’s start with the story of a new clinic in Indiana. Community Health Clinic Following a visit to Indiana this summer I mentioned the soon-to-be-opened genetic clinic in Topeka, Indiana.  A week ago was the official opening of the Community Health Clinic, though it has been seeing patients since September. Operations…

Inside an Amish-Built (English-Owned) Home – 16 Photos

Inside an Amish-Built (English-Owned) Home – 16 Photos

ByErik Wesner
75 Comments

We’ve looked inside Amish homes many times before. Today, something a little different: an English-owned home, inspired by the design of Amish houses and built by an Amish contractor. My English friends who live in this home near Shipshewana, Indiana, previously lived at Arthur, Illinois.  They had this home built three years ago with a distinctly Amish flavor. As you can see below, the exterior…

Visiting the Amish of Pinecraft (41 Photos)

Visiting the Amish of Pinecraft (41 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
72 Comments

Last week I made a short visit to the Pinecraft Amish community at Sarasota, Florida.  I wanted to share that visit with you via a series of photos.  If you haven’t heard of it, Pinecraft is an unusual Amish community for a few reasons. It is located in a city (Sarasota, population 52,811–technically just outside city limits). It is more of a vacation destination for…

Halloween Questions Revisited

ByErik Wesner
29 Comments

I am working on a big Pinecraft photo post for tomorrow and, phew, have finally finished “traveling season” (for a few months, at least).  I just did a quick tally – over the past 5 months I’ve rented a total of 7 cars, making 6 trips to Amish communities in 4 states. And since most Amish communities are some drive from North Carolina, I don’t think…

10 Amish Quilt Buying Tips

ByErik Wesner
31 Comments

I know we have a lot of readers interested in Amish quilts and many with experience buying them.  We’ll be hearing more soon on the subject from Janneken Smucker, author of the upcoming Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon, including a chance to ask Amish quilt questions. In the meantime, reader GamGam recently left an insightful comment full of tips for Amish quilt buyers.  I thought any…

Bill Coleman’s Images of Autumn

ByErik Wesner
22 Comments

I am in Florida for a few days and heading to visit the Pinecraft Amish community in Sarasota for the first time today. Palm tree foliage doesn’t seem to change much around these parts. Everything is green here and it feels like July. I like the warmth but I appreciate the change of seasons too. With that in mind today we have some autumn photos…

The Appeal of Amish Markets

The Appeal of Amish Markets

ByErik Wesner
22 Comments

Why are people drawn to Amish markets? Kevin Shelly examines the question in a recent article about Amish markets in southern New Jersey.  Shelly counts seven in south Jersey alone, despite there not being any Amish in the state. A few points to consider: “The quality is a lot higher here and I’m willing to spend a premium,” says one shopper.  Amish-sold goods are commonly…