Amish Originals Furniture Co.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Floor Model Available

2012-01-06T09:31:00.000-05:00

If you see a floor model you love and you see this sign - ask us for details!

Amish Originals Furniture Co. floor models are custom-made for Amish Originals and showcase the best features of our furniture.

Amish-crafted furniture reflects innovation, method, expression, and hands-on dedication to time-tested technique and excellence. Each piece of furniture, in its essence and purpose, is durable, responsive, interactive art.

Amish-made furniture is responsive to consumer trends, so furniture style and design is fluid and Amish Originals Furniture Co. features new furniture pieces on a regular basis, so from time-to-time, we make floor models available for purchase so we have room to display others.

Haven't been to Amish Originals? Stop in. We believe our beautiful hardwood furniture is best experienced in person - look, touch, interact. We pride ourselves not only on our furniture, accents, accessories, and furnishings selection, but also on our dedication to a great customer experience.

It's never a mystery - all prices are clearly marked. Our knowledgeable staff is available to answer questions, make suggestions, and guide you through the custom design and purchase process, but if you want to come in and browse at your leisure without interruption, be our guest.

While our furniture is custom-order, Amish Originals Furniture Co. carries a limited selection of stock items, like Amish-crafted household (lazy susans, trivet baskets, and our customer favorite, serving trays), seating (benches, rockers), and kid-friendly (high chairs, rocking horses, toys) items.

We love our nature-inspired art, home accent, and furnishings selection and encourage you to think about Amish Originals for home decor and gift ideas. From soy candles to flower lights to table lamps, Amish Originals carries an uncommon selection of everyday and aesthetic lighting.

Our store environments change on a regular basis so stop by often - a trip to Amish Originals Furniture Co. can inspire great ideas along the way as you make your house a home.

As we start our 20th year, the welcome mat is out, and we invite you to shop, visit, or browse at our 8 and 38 N. State St. locations.

Click here to see the Amish Originals Furniture Co. location layouts.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Welcome 2012!

2012-01-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

Best Wishes for the New Year!

Take a break from the armchair quarterbacking! Amish Originals Furniture Co. is open for business on Monday, January 2nd.

Stop by.

Browse. Visit. Shop. Enjoy.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Best Christmas Wishes!

2011-12-24T07:13:00.000-05:00

Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall,

the genial flame of charity in the heart.

Washington Irving

Wishing you and your loved ones Joy, Peace, and Prosperity

this Holiday Season and throughout the Coming Year.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Amish Originals Furniture Co.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: On Display

2011-12-14T07:19:00.002-05:00

Looking for single ornament stands?

We currently have two types of stands in stock - our gold spiral stand (above, $5.99 each) and our silver stand (below, $3.99 each).

Amish Originals Furniture Co. also regularly carries plate racks and stands, ornament trees, table-top easels, wreath stands, and display shelving and blocks.

Stop by our 8 N. State St. location for our off-beat, affordable collection of ornaments, table-top trees, reindeer, stockings, oversized decor, Santas, snowmen, snowflakes, wreaths, signs and words, candles, candlesticks and holders, reindeer, stars, and all sorts of holiday accents and accessories.

Check out our Holiday Gift Guide 2011, just click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2011 Holiday Hours

2011-12-12T13:25:00.000-05:00

Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

Amish Originals Furniture Co. locations at 8 and 38 N. State St. in Uptown Westerville are open regular business hours through December 23rd:

Monday & Wednesday : 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Sunday.
Also by appointment.

For Christmas:
Saturday, December 24, 2011: Closed
Sunday, December 25, 2011: Closed
Monday, December 26, 2011: Regular Business Hours Resume

Saturday, December 31, 2011: Open
Sunday, January 1, 2012: Closed
Monday, January 2, 2012: Regular Business Hours Resume

Click here to check out our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: New! The Crank Table and Stools

2011-12-12T13:16:00.000-05:00

New at Amish Originals Furniture Co.: the Rustic Wormy Maple Crank adjustable height table and swivel stools.

Our Rustic Wormy Maple industrial-style furniture is made of Canadian-grown hardwood by Canadian horse and buggy Mennonite artisans and finished, here in Ohio, by Amish carpenters.

To learn more about industrial style, click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Bedroom Elements

2011-12-03T16:07:00.002-05:00

You spend 1/3 of your life using one piece of furniture - a bed!

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we sell beautiful Amish-made bedroom furniture.

As you plan your bedroom, consider the elements of a great bedroom environment:

Amish Originals Furniture Co. Bed Options:

▪ Low footboard
▪ Headboard only
▪ Twin, full, queen, king’
▪ Cribs, with conversion options (literally a great hardwood bed that can follow a child through life).

Bed Details and Features:

▪ Fitted slats (dovetailed or doweled)
▪ Matching solid wood siderails
▪ Lag bolt attachment

Bedroom Storage & Display Options:

▪ Dressers
▪ Chests
▪ Armoires
▪ Nightstands

Bedroom Storage & Display Details:

▪ Solid hardwood
▪ Dovetail drawers
▪ Solid wood drawer boxes
▪ Any style can be matched with any bed

Bedroom Furniture Options:

▪ Bed Steps and Stools
▪ Rockers and Gliders
▪ Consoles, Cabinets and Pie Safes
▪ Benches
▪ Upholstered Seating
▪ Mirrors
▪ Desks
▪ Bookcases & Shelves
▪ Occasional and Accent Tables

Bedroom Style & Expression: Amish Originals Furniture Co. features a selection of accents, accessories, lighting, art, and finishing touches.

Stop by our 38 N. State Street location to browse, visit, and shop.

Read more:

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews Holidays 2011 - Bedrooms.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. Bedroom online.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Special Hours on December 3rd

2011-12-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

It's Home for the Holidays in Uptown Westerville!

Saturday, December 3rd, join Amish Originals

for special hours - we're open until 8 p.m.

Best Wishes!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Stepping into Something More Comfortable

2011-12-01T09:59:00.005-05:00

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Like any home project, doing your homework first and creating a good (yet flexible) plan will help create great DIY stories to share with friends and family (as they admire your good work) instead of horror stories.

Some of these facts, tidbits, trends, and tips may help you create an extraordinary bedroom space...

▪ When considering a new look or new furniture for a bedroom space, step back and take a good look at how you (or the bedroom occupant, like your kids) actually sleep, use, and move around in the room.

▪ When considering a new bed, think about bed height and style (including how easy it is to get in and out of bed), the physical characteristics (height, weight, etc.) of the people sleeping in the bed, bed placement (how easy will it be to change the sheets?) and how the bed is structured to bear weight (the bed supports the mattress (and possibly box springs) and the mattress supports you).

Note: Take advantage of online reviews and customer comments as you plan your bedroom space purchases - they can help confirm your choices, provide new ideas, or more importantly, avoid a bad experience because someone else has already been there!

▪ The National Sleep Foundation offers some interesting facts and tips for creating a good night's sleep:

- 78% of Americans look forward to going to bed when they sleep on sheets with a fresh scent.

- 67% of Americans believe a dark, quiet, clean bedroom is best for sleep.

- Comfort, quiet, fresh air, and cool temperatures are the building blocks of the best sleep environment.

- When you consider your sleep environment, think about the following "challenges" to a good night's sleep: partners and their movement and sleep behavior (ie, snoring), kids, pets, and allergies.

- Expert tips to help you achieve a good night's sleep include regular exercise (anytime, but try to avoid 3 hours before bedtime); trying to avoid turning your bedroom into a multipurpose media room; make beds a no work zone; good sleep is biologically connected to light (and the lack of it) so the darker a bedroom can be for sleep, the better; establish a consistent day's end wind-down routine (including stepping away from techology) and be consistent also with bedtime and wake-time.

▪ At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we applaud any consumer wisdom that sets trends toward hardwood furniture and touches of nature. Here is a look at 2012's bedroom design trends:

- The bedroom atmosphere reflects nature and the outdoors. Colors are nature-reflective including deep jewel tones, warm & rich neutrals, earthtones, sky blues, and forest greens.

- Consumers have a strong awareness of the environment including incorporating low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and stains and hardwood, glass, or metal furniture (instead of furniture made of composites that may emit gases) into the home environment .

- Home decor is reflective of modern times, and bedroom decor and tone are no exception. In the bedroom we are creating an environment that touches on our heritage, our journey, feeling safe, and enlightenment (the bedroom is a place to make sense of the world at the end of the day).

A focus on heritage incorporates: natural pigments, a sense of timelessness, indigenous designs, fossils, fire, ice, hand-hewn furnishings, and repurposing.

Our focus on the journey incorporates: life experience, cues from nature, new concepts, functionality, sustainability, structure including art sourced from blueprints, renderings, and maps.

A focus on feeling safe incorporates: creating an atomosphere of comfort and safety, structure, the presence of strong materials that seem fragile in appearance, stainless steel, quilting.

A focus on enlightenment incorporates: a long-term attitude toward life, light and dark contrasts, freedom of thought and expression, metals, and brighter colors, like yellow, cobalt blues, and cloud whites.

To read more online:

Amish Originals bedroom furniture online.

Your Home Only Better blog.

National Sleep Foundation.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: A Good Night's Sleep

2011-12-01T06:52:00.004-05:00

Sleeping is a body-busy activity that is all about chemistry. No different
from food or water, sleep is a physi-cal necessity. Sleep helps the brain retain the day's lessons and helps the body heal, strengthen, and rejuvenate.

As grown-ups, we will focus on making sure our kids get enough sleep, but in that effort, along with our other daily responsibilities, we may forget to get enough sleep ourselves. The average adult needs between 7 to 8 hours of quality sleepa day. We lose that time, and one of the first things we lose is our ability to make insightful decisions. Pull an all-nighter to finish a project or pack for vacation, and your reaction time the next day will be the same as a person who is legally drunk.

Getting the right amount of sleep boosts your immune system and is a simple act that can help reduce your risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and stress.

In this busy world, our bedrooms are becoming our sanctuary away from the whirlwind events of everyday life. A safe environment, your bedroom needs to feel restful and calm.

Feed the Senses: Medium intensity earthtones and touches of nature in greens and browns nurture and satisfy the soul. Soft, comfortable bedding, scents and aromas, like lavender, and faint environmental sounds, like the ocean, evoke calm and invite sleep.

Limit Distractions: This includes clutter, work, and electronics (pesky electro magnetic fields). A bedroom retreat is perfect for reading, doing a crossword puzzle, writing, talking, and just calm quiet. Oh, and turn your alarm clock face away from your bed.

Incorporate Favorite Things: Our bedroom surroundings should represent a peace and calm that cradles our mind and spirit, so, include art, personal artifacts, and mementos.

Simply put, a bedroom should feel as good as it looks -- cooling in the summer, warm in the winter, cozy, restful, and inviting year-round.

Thinking about creating or updating your peaceful inner sanctum? Visit the Amish Originals Furniture Co. bedroom store at 38 N. State.

Click here to browse Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s bedroom furniture selections online.

From the Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews archives.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Outdoor Care and Indoor Air

2011-11-26T17:57:00.000-05:00

Central Ohio has managed to duck any real wintry chill so far this fall, and while we still have warmer temperatures and can sit outside, it's a good time to take simple action to keep your outdoor furniture in tip-top shape for seasons to come:

Tighten nuts and screws.

Tighten nuts with a ½”socket and firm up screws

with a #2 phillips or #2 square bit.

Wash poly furniture with a power-washer if available.

Use a good quality preservative on wood items.

To save a little time and effort use a hand held sprayer to

apply wood preservatives and sealers. Spray a fine mist and the

only brushing you’ll need to do is to even out the application.

Cover with a tarp...

if you won’t be using your outdoor furniture

this Winter and you’ll be ready to jump into Spring.

Indoors, remember to create atmosphere while heating your home.

For more information, check our blog post on indoor

heat & humidity and hardwood furniture care, just click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Best Thanksgiving Wishes

2011-11-22T08:21:00.002-05:00

Forever on Thanksgiving Day

The heart will find the pathway home.

Wilbur D. Nesbit

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is open on Wednesday, November 23rd until 3 p.m.

We are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th.

Regular business hours resume on Friday, November 25th at 10 a.m.

From all of us at Amish Originals Furniture Co., Best Wishes for a safe, happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Let's Eat!

2011-11-22T06:44:00.006-05:00

Looking for tableware for the holidays? Stop by Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s 8 N. State Street location.

Amish Originals features Tag Sonoma ironstone dinnerware and serveware. From serving platters to coffee mugs, our Sonoma ironstone dishes are sold by the piece in a variety of nature inspired colors to mix or match.

Click here to learn more about Tag ironstone dinnerware.

Amish Originals also features a selection of Amish-crafted cutting boards, trivets, serving trays, and lazy susans.

Our flower lights, metal and natural baskets, and accents add to any welcoming ambience.

(Add a touch of Ohio home-made and pick up a selection of Mrs. Miller's jams and spreads.)

And, for holidays, special events, or hosts, we think our tablescape and dinner-and-serveware make very thoughtful gifts.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is open until 3 p.m. Wednesday, November 23rd.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Thought Process

2011-11-01T08:46:00.002-04:00

Plan ahead for your media and media furniture purchases by researching not only the purchase, but how it will fit into your home.

▪ Would you like your television to blend into the room or be the focal point of the room?

▪ Think about how you’ll be using your media and who will be using your media (home theatre, sports, gaming, workouts, online, activities, DVR, etc.). Will you have a sound system?

▪ What type of media furniture best supports your needs? Wall unit? Console? Stand?

▪ What furniture style are you thinking about? Do you want storage or display space or both? How do you want to use the furniture? Do you have something specific in mind or will you know what you want when you see it?

▪ How will you place and use seating? Will you have dedicated media space or will the TV blend into a multipurpose room? Do you want chairs to swivel to access both media and conversation areas?

▪ What is the viewing height and proximity to the TV? (You want to avoid front-row-in-the-movie-theatre neck!)

▪ Are there any obstacles in the room to impede viewing?

▪ Are you planning on wall-mounting or placing your TV on a surface? Do you want any movement (or swivel) once the TV is in place? If you are wall-mounting will the space be recessed or flat against the wall?

▪ Do you have a plan to manage cabling and wiring? Is there an available electrical outlet? Is the area you've chosen for your media well-ventilated?

▪ How does your television placement compliment the architecture and scale of the space? What about the length and width of the room and ceiling height?

▪ How does television placement fit in with your existing furniture?

▪ Do you want your media furniture to just fit the television or do you want more surface space?

▪ Do you know the measurements of the flat panel (width, height, depth, foot width, foot depth)? Do you know the measurements of the media furniture? Do those measurements accommodate each other?

We're sure our questions will inspire more, but hopefully this will fire up the process!

The most important part of your media-related purchases is to enjoy them!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Decorating with Modern Media

2011-11-01T01:11:00.004-04:00

We found a helpful article on the House Beautiful website about what top interior designers have done with their flat panel televisions:

Here are a few suggestions...

▪ For wall-mounting, consider an adjustable bracket.

▪ Set aside a media space and a conversation space.

▪ Take advantage of concealed storage for media components and cabling.

▪ It is important to know what you think the focal point is for your space – it might not always be the TV.

▪ Be aware of where your seating is relative to the TV.

▪ Are you placing the flat panel above the fireplace? It looks great, but there’s much to consider, like comfortable viewing and additional carpentry.

▪ No matter the age of your house, the neutral flat panel can feel like a natural part of vintage features and architecture.

▪ Consider recessing the flat panel and covering it with sliding doors or sliding art.

▪ Think about all the places in the room where you sit and would like to watch TV (do you want to stretch out on the sofa, but also see the TV when you're in your workspace?).

▪ Use a bench for a footed flat panel and create a personal vignette (wall, floor, bench surface) around it.

▪ Use a display stand or flat panel easel.

▪ Consider a dark background (even black) for the space where your flat panel hangs.

▪ A console beneath a mounted flat panel makes a great sideboard for get togethers.

Click here to read the article and check out the photographs.

Anish Originals Furniture Co.: Mad Value

2011-10-28T10:50:00.001-04:00

We really enjoy this time of year - the beautiful colors of the falling leaves, the crisp autumn air, football, pumpkins, beggar's night, and events, large and small, where people gather, including, the spooktacular Midnight Madness in Uptown Westerville. The annual Uptown Westerville merchant showcase, is today, October 28th from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Besides decorating our 8 and 38 N. State Street locations, this week, we're getting ready for the Midnight Madness floor model markdown weekend.

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., our floor models are custom made-to-order, for us, to present the best features of our furniture. From time-to-time, we simply need to make room for new furniture in our showrooms, so we offer select floor model merchandise at special prices. Our need for space means extra value for our customers.

Amish Originals is a proud sponsor of the Midnight Madness horse-drawn haywagon ride and we invite you to visit our 38 N. State Street location where Amish Originals hosts the Westerville Public Library Story Reader for some kid-friendly Halloween tales.

Stop by our 8 and 38 N. State Street locations starting at 6 p.m. Browse, visit, and shop... if... you...dare!

Click here to check out our floor model markdown specials.

(Midnight Madness prices run through October 29, 2011.)

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Halloween and Harvest Touches

2011-10-25T11:04:00.004-04:00

From classic & traditional to spooky fun, we see skeletons, pumpkins, black cats, haunted houses, ghosts, boos, and Thanksgiving tablescapes in your future.

Harvest and Halloween Switchables

Velveteen Pumpkins

Stylish and Spooky Metalwork

Wreaths and Wreath Stands

Stop by Amish Originals Furniture Co. for Halloween and Harvest accents, decor, and accessories!

The Spooktacular Midnight Madness is nigh! Stop by Amish Originals Furniture Co. locations at 8 and 38 N. State to shop, visit, and browse during spooky and special hours starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 28th... if... you... dare!!!

You never know what tricks... or treats you might find!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Banner Up

2011-10-25T10:28:00.000-04:00

The old State theatre marquis has been a part of the Uptown Westerville landscape for decades.

The City of Westerville's new fall lamppost banners are brightening Uptown Westerville with autumn colors and Uptown images, including... the historic home of Amish Originals Furniture Co. since 1992: the old State theatre at 8 N. State.

From the Local History Archives of the Westerville Public Library:

The State Theatre circa 1951.

Uptown Westerville in 1966 - Coming Soon: Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, The Great Race. First run ticket prices in 1966... 50 cents!

In the 1970s into the 1980s, the State movie theatre closed and the theatre was repurposed to become the home of The Clothes Show (formerly The Last Straw, located on the west side of State).

In 1992, a new idea: a store featuring made-to-order, made-in-Ohio by skilled Amish-craftsmen solid wood furniture - Amish Originals Furniture Co.

Photos courtesy of the Westerville Public Library Local History photo archive.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Plane Speaking: Mortise and Tenon Joinery

2011-10-20T00:07:00.001-04:00

It's like fitting a square peg into a... square hole! Your Amish Originals Furniture Co. dining chair is constructed with a furniture-making technique that has been passed through the ages called mortise and tenon joinery.

Mortise and tenon joinery creates a simple and strong, angled, load-bearing joint in frame construction like chairs, beds, bookcases, doors, and tables.

A mortise is a recess (a hole) that is cut into a piece of wood designed to accept a tenon. A tenon is a tongue cut at the end of a board that fits into the mortise. Once the tenon is joined into the mortise (a perfect fit), the joint is fortified with glue, wedges, or pins (usually a dowel). A mortise is either exposed or hidden, and the joint can be round or square.

It's just math and science! The thickness of the joint is one-third the thickness of the wood and the joint is designed to withstand tension and twist. Any wider or narrower and the joint will succumb to pressure. The tenon length is the same as the mortise depth, the tenon width is the same as the mortise length, and the tenon thickness is the same as the mortise width.

Aside from constant pressure from gravity, the mortise and tenon joint handles different types of stress - first, from use (when we lean back in a chair or push a table), and then, as we've mentioned before, the molecular activity of wood in its environment - wood shrinks and expands across the grain in response to the humidity.

A mortise and tenon joint is strong enough to carry shear (application of stress from two opposite directions that can cause the wood to move along the grain) and compression (a downward pressure force that can compress the wood) - compression can include gravity or sitting down to dinner).

Some tenons are shouldered which means the tenon is "framed" by the end of its rail wood. A shoulder can be as small as 1/8" to handle the job. (Consumer tip: shouldered tenons can cosmetically hide ill-fitting or weak joints!) A tenon without a shoulder is referred to as a barefaced mortise and tenon.

There are three main uses for mortise and tenon joinery in furniture: two-dimensional usually used for doors, mirrors, cabinet door frames, and wall panels, three-dimensional is used for chairs and table bases, and carcasses, used for bookshelves.

About the only thing that has changed about mortise and tenon joinery in thousands of years is the tools - while some wood artisans still painstakingly use chisels, now, special mortising machines (with chisel/drill bits) and tenon cutters create precise joints through technology and... more power!

Built to last: Amish-crafted furniture from Amish Originals Furniture Co. reflects a dedication to integrity, skill, technique, and expression that's literally thousands of years old... the good bones of great style.

Mortise and Tenon Joinery in History:

▪ Human joints and their tolerance and resliency inspired mortise and tenon joinery.

▪ As long as 6,000 years ago, Chinese architects used mortise and tenon to connect large wood beams to build secure houses and structures that could handle intense earthquakes.

▪ In ancient Egypt, mortise and tenon joints were secured with an adhesive composition made of cheese.

▪ Mortise and tenon techniques have also been used by stone masons and blacksmiths.

▪ Mortise and tenon joinery was used in the construction of Stonehenge.

▪ Hand-made mortise and tenon techiques were used with a chisel and mallet up until about 1840. (It's a way to get an idea of the age of an antique chair.)

▪ Dovetailing is a form of mortise and tenon joinery.

▪ The word 'tenon' has Latin and Old French origins and the word 'mortise' has Arabic and Old French origins.

Learn About Wood Strengths

Learn More About Types of Mortise and Tenon Joints

Fine Woodworking

Smithsonian Magazine

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Dining Chair Stories

2011-09-30T19:22:00.007-04:00

It isn't so much what's on the table that matters, as what's on the chairs. -William S. Gilbert

Generations upon generations ago, before farming and before villages, we slept under the stars, warmed by an opened fire, and longed for something to sit on.

And, through human innovation, for thousands of years, we sat on... three-legged wooden stools.

Through empires, eras, and ages, informed by migration, culture, and technology, seating design ebbed and flowed along with civilization.

As tools and technology progressed, woodworking became an artisan skill with standards and techniques passed-on through the ages. With skilled craft, chairs became more thought-out, more expressive, more comfortable, and... something only for the privileged.

Just a few hundred years ago, the dining chair, as we know it, started to become a regular part of everyday life. Historians credit the French with advancing dining chair design, creating a comfortable four-legged piece of free standing furniture, with back and shoulder support, that could accommodated seating at a table or desk.

The new every day dining chair designs debuted in the American colonies in Philadelphia.

America

embraced the dining chair and American cabinetmakers began to craft chairs in New York and New England, as well, adapting European style to American needs.

As the

United States

progressed, American chair makers, utilizing indigenous materials and responding to American needs, continued to improve chair design producing the uniquely American Shaker Ladderback chair and Arts and Crafts movement-inspired Mission style chair.

As "the good bones" of basic chair design have pretty much remained the same for centuries, wood dining chairs have become a form of artistic expression as well as a staple in the American home.

History Tidbits

If a man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles, or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

▪ Romans sat on a foldable X-shaped chair called a curule. Curules were very similar to modern folding lawn chairs.

▪ Early chair artisan skills and standards developed in Asia and Egypt. These skills, like dovetailing and mortise & tenon joinery, have been passed on over thousands of years and have yet to be improved upon.

▪ During the renaissance, chairs ceased to be for the privileged and became more affordable and more of a form of expression.

▪ Also during the Renaissance, chairs became more open, like modern dining chairs to accommodate the billowy material and designs in women’s fashions.

▪ The Windsor style chair we know today was originally called a Philadelphia chair.

▪ The original chair style for the Windsor chair was designed as a 3-legged chair, often fastened to the wall, to hold the full weight of a knight in armor.

▪ The founders of America sat on Windsor chairs in the 2nd Continental Congress.

▪ A chair leg with a distinct animal design like a claw clasping a ball, lion’s paw, or deer (or goat) hoof is called a cabriole leg.

▪ French king Louis XIV actually regulated a chair hierarchy for French citizens based on status: arm chairs, back support chairs, stools, hassocks. People in the king’s presence could only sit on stools.

▪ As far back as the Neolithic Era, archaeologists have found building sites that suggest the presence of chairs and benches.

▪ Woodworking skills like sophisticated joints, veneering, cushioning, folding capabilities, curving wood, and inlays existed as far back as 1352 B.C.

▪ The turns of the spindles and molding of the seats of early American Windsor chairs were region specific and made from indigenous woods.

To read more online:

Random History: From Benches to Barstools

Collectors' Weekly: The Windsor

Fine Woodworking: A Short History of Chairs

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Amish Originals Rolls Out the Red and Wins!

2011-09-24T12:15:00.003-04:00

It's Homecoming Weekend 2011 at Otterbein University and Amish Originals Furniture Co. welcomes students, parents, alumni, staff, faculty, friends, and family to Uptown Westerville.

This year, Uptown Westerville merchants participated in an Otterbein Homecoming Roll Out the Red store window decorating contest and Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s window (designed by our own Melissa Gilmore) won first prize!

We encourage you to Shop Uptown Westerville on homecoming weekend. Check out runner up Westerville Antiques' window at 2 N. State for some great school spirit nostalgia.

Stop by Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s 8 and 38 N. State St. locations - browse, visit, shop!

Go Cards!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 4th Friday September 2011

2011-09-23T14:31:00.001-04:00

Tonight Uptown Westerville celebrates School Daze as the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau presents 4th Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Enjoy street vendors, exhibits, the City of Westerville's Plan It Earth expo, and more.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. will be open tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Fourth Friday. (We close from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

We've got new Harvest and Halloween decor and more, so stop by to see what's in-store!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Nuts and Bolts of Industrial Style

2011-09-13T23:53:00.001-04:00

Architectural salvage... industrial aesthetic... the scrap of luxury... loft... urban... rustic... or, as home decor blogger Layla Palmer puts it - tossed and found.

Industrial style is a clever, resourceful furniture style that took root in the late 1960s inspired by the Centre Pompidou - an inviting, interactive arts center, complete with a public library, designed and built by a team from Italy, France, England, and Ireland, and informed by the urban environment of its Paris neighborhood.

America recognized and enthusiastically embraced the "new" High Tech style in the 1970s. What's in a name? Over the past few decades, High Tech style has weathered with patina to become Industrial style.

For thousands of years, furniture design and production was a very personal, artisan process, involving hands-on, piece-by-piece construction. And, in the 20th century, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, while furniture artisans continued their work, furniture building became a commercial, mass-production-focused industry from materials to design.

While there was certainly innovation in modern commercial design, there was also a cookie-cutter economy approach to home and work interiors that over time seemed impersonal and cold; more fitting people to the environment instead of an environment responding to the needs of people.

But, in the 1990s (around the time Amish Originals Furniture Co. opened its doors at the old State theater for the first time) and into this century, likely in response to technology-driven lifestyles and environmental concerns, consumers developed a desire to rediscover nature and look to the past (but not too far into the past), turning back to hand-made and hand-forged furniture, accents, and furnishings with context and personal appeal.

The concept of home design and purpose started to shift to comfort and connection with a more eclectic mix of old and new furniture, architecture, and personal expression.

The hallmarks of industrial-style are simple and functional furnishings (new, repurposed, or vintage) with strong lines, mixed elements (like wood and iron), texture, and loads of time-worn character and patina.

There is a warm, tactile personal appeal and strength to industrial style that spans all ages.

Industrial style furnishings seem to have a story to tell. They complement and blend with other furniture styles, adding warmth, and interest to any room; perfect for an active household.

Aged or new, here are some industrial style features:

▪ Raw and rough surfaces

▪ Steel supports

▪ Exposed bolts
▪ Trollied furniture pieces
▪ Rustic feel yet a touch of elegance

▪ Purpose and function

▪ Unfinished look
▪ Minimalist
▪ Earthiness
▪ Foundary feel
▪ Hand-forged

▪ Character

▪ Aged and time-worn with patina, distressed surfaces, and rust

▪ Strong lines

▪ Mixed elements and materials like steel, iron, wood, and ceramics

▪ Repurposed or reclaimed

▪ Pieces and parts like gears and hardware

▪ Driftwood appearance and tones

▪ From textiles to metals, materials in a natural state

▪ Architectural lines and features (corbels, finials, signs, letters, doors)

Amish Originals Furniture Co. introduces a new collection of industrial-style inspired furnishings and accessories. This collection is made of Canadian-grown hardwood by Canadian horse and buggy Mennonite artisans and finished, here in Ohio, by Amish carpenters:

▪ Wormy Maple Ironworks Occasional Tables: Coffee Table, Sofa Table, End Table

▪ Rustic Wormy Maple 6-drawer Sideboard

▪ Weathered Ash Timber Island

Furniture is something best experienced in person. So stop by often, touch, look, and interact - pull out drawers, open doors, sit in chairs, visualize.
Let us know what you think of our new furniture, accents, and accessories.

Learn more. Gain inspiration...

Industrial Chic

The Scrap of Luxury

Industrial Style Interior Design on a Budget

Creating an Industrial Design Space

Tossed and Found

When Shabby Chic Meets Industrial Chic

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Local Links - Cops and Kids Day

2011-08-31T22:29:00.001-04:00

A family-friendly favorite (last year, 4k people attended!), the 18th annual Cops and Kids Day takes place on Sunday, September 11th from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hoff Woods Park, 556 McCorkle.

Admission and parking are free!

Cops and Kids Day features more than 40 participating law enforcement units: K9 units, helicopters, cruisers, DARE cars, activities (including dunk a police officer!), refreshments, and prizes. The first 1,100 children receive a Cops and Kids Day canvas tote.

A great way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.

For more information, including how to become a sponsor, contact Westerville Police Division Officer Randy Bailey at 614.901.6472 or Crime Prevention Specialist Carrie Ryan 614.901.6490.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Fireside Table

2011-08-31T22:08:00.002-04:00

It's small but mighty! Our Amish-made Fireside Table makes a perfect laptop surface. It's also portable... it folds to 3.75" storage-width for easy access, transport, or storage.

The Fireside Table is stylish and elegant as well as useful and is a great work surface for everything from jigsaw puzzles to coffee and the crossword puzzle.

Much like the little "easy fold" plastic step stools, the lightweight Fireside Table unfolds into a secure locking position easily and folds with little effort (just lift to fold) and doesn't need latches or buttons to lock in place. The table has aprons on the end and tapered legs; a hinged center joint closes to an almost invisible seam.

The table folds to 26" long by 15" wide, and when in use, the Fireside Table stands 26" high.

We carry cherry and oak finishes in-store, and the Fireside Table is available, custom order, in any Amish Originals finish.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Fourth Friday - Dog Days of Summer

2011-08-26T13:34:00.003-04:00

Woof! Wag! It's the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau's high energy Fido-focused August 2011 Fourth Friday: Dog Days of Summer.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. will close today at 5 p.m. and then re-open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Fourth Friday.

What a great evening to visit Uptown Westerville.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. locations are dog-on-a-leash friendly during tonight's Dog Days of Summer.

We have new furniture and new art, accents, and accessories including some inspired industrial style pieces like wall art, trollied occasional tables, and a steel pipe wine rack!

Stop by our 38 N. State location for the Westerville Public Library's Storytime Reader! Tonight the library reader is going to the dogs!! Click here for more.

Made especially for Amish Originals and a value for you. Check out our select floor model markdowns.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: All About Autism

2011-08-16T10:51:00.004-04:00

If you've stopped by our 8 N. State St. location recently, you may have noticed a colorful, special edition, adirondack chair right in the middle of our entry way.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is proud to contribute two special edition, Amish-made, adirondack chairs for auction at the upcoming All About Autism 5th annual Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show and Cruise-In on Saturday, August 20th at Quaker Steak and Lube at 8500 Lyra Drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An American original, Adirondack Chairs were designed in 1903 by a man named Thomas Lee, who wanted to create comfortable outdoor seating for his family at their vacation home on Lake Champlain in New York state. He wanted to design a chair that was not only comfortable but could also adapt to the Adirondacks terrain. After family-testing different designs, Lee came up with the classic, comfortable "plank chair" design that we still see today.

Our 21st century version of the Adirondack plank chair comes in both naturally-treated pine and poly (like the chairs presented for auction, available in a variety of neutrals and colors). Our poly adirondack chairs even fold for transport and storage.

The Car, Truck & Mortorcycle Show and Cruise-In features music, a silent auction and raffle, karaoke, trophies, free t-shirts to the first 100 registrants, food & drinks, kids' activities, and more.

There is a $10 participant registration fee and registration opens at 11 a.m

All About Autism is a Central Ohio-based organization and the proceeds from this event go to several local autism-related organizations. For details click here (pdf file).

For more information on Saturday's event contact Mike Hoover at 614.580.7300 or boydsgoodyear@aol.com.

Much thanks to event organizers Mike Hoover, Keith Braden, Kara Niles Sherry, Kim Howard Begley, Briana Tindall, and Steve Stinchcomb for their efforts for this event and for raising our awareness about the autism spectrum.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Workspace 101

2011-07-31T20:36:00.003-04:00

The 2011 - 2012 school year is just on the horizon. In Westerville, school starts on August 17th and Otterbein University classes begin on August 29th.

Student or grown-up, studies show that a dedicated workspace is a big part of the formula for accomplishment.

Your workspace, library, or study should reflect you as much as any space in your home. So, whether your style is eclectic or traditional, Amish Originals Furniture Co. featurs a selection of office furniture in matching collections or complementary styles, including file cabinets, hutches, credenzas, hutch tops, and bookcases.

Our 8 N. State Street location includes a selection of desks, office furniture, bookcases, and work surfaces including Home Central - a workspace with storage, a hidden power strip, and optional hutchtop with cubby holes, open storage, and bulletin board cork that fits perfectly into kitchens, high traffic areas, kids' bedrooms, and media rooms. No matter your work or study style, stand (it's 36" tall) or sit (a 24" stool (optional) is just right).

Amish Originals workspace and office options:

Executive Desks
Corner Desks
Queen Anne Desk
Depot Desk
Paymaster Desk
Writing Desks
Student Desk
Deco Desk
Bookshelf Tops
Hutch Tops
File Cabinets
Credenzas
Chairs
Bookcases
Art
Lighting
Accents
Desk Accessories

Made-to-measure Economy: Think about made-to-measure custom bookcases - home or office, they look just like built-ins.

Looking for study help? Check out Mr. Carr's Study Tips, click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Local Links - Westerville in July

2011-06-30T21:21:00.003-04:00

Best wishes for a great July 4th Weekend.

Westerville's Independence Day Weekend features:

June 30 - July 4th: Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman visit Westerville! It's Ohio Chautauqua at the Sports Complex on N. Cleveland near W. County Line.

July 2nd: History Exhumed! Ohio and the Civil War including the Underground Railroad and battlefield medicine. 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland.

July 4th Events:

8 a.m. (registration begins at 6:30 a.m.) Westerville Rotary 5k Run/Walk at Hoff Woods at 556 McCorkle. here is a children's race at 9:15 a.m. Awards at 9:25 a.m. (This is an entry fee event.)

1 p.m.: The Parade - Freedom: A Gift From Our Soldiers - presented by the Rotary Club of Westerville, the parade starts at 1 p.m. turning onto State St. at Schrock Rd. this year. Amish Originals Furniture Co. is a proud sponsor of the 2011 July 4th Parade.

9 p.m.: Westerville Symphony Patriotic Pops at the Sport Complex on N. Cleveland near W. County Line.

10 p.m.: Fireworks start are at Park Meadow off Schrock Rd. Excellent viewing also at the Sports Complex on Cleveland Ave. and Heritage Park at W. Main and N. Cleveland.

Note: The W. Main St. bridge is still under construction.

(Amish Originals Furniture Co. is closed on July 4th.)

No matter where you celebrate, have a safe, happy holiday weekend.

The 38th Annual Music and Arts Festival:

The Westerville Chamber of Commerce 38th Annual Music and Arts Festival is Saturday, July 9th (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, July 10th (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Heritage Park (60 N. Cleveland) at N. Cleveland and W. Main.

Art, live music, food, and a wonderful youth art display.

For more information, click here.

Photos: Westerville, Ohio, July 4th 2010 at the parade. Music and Arts Festival photo courtesy of Westerville Chamber of Commerce.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: i-Glyde

2011-06-30T20:39:00.002-04:00

The i-Glyde upholstered chair is designed for comfort and style. With a nod to Mid-Century furniture design, the i-Glyde features a memory foam backing (in two heights) and comfortable seat cushion.

The i-Glyde chair is a most pleasant surprise in more ways than one - besides comfort, it looks like a standard throwback four-legged armchair, but it glides. Furniture Designer Ron Corl teamed up with the Hershbergers at Buckeye Rocker to work on an idea to engineer a modern-looking glider. After six months of working and testing, they created a new glide mechanism for this twist on classic comfort.

Second, the i-Glyde has hidden storage... in the arms of the chair!

Perfect for media controls or reading glasses in your family room, or extra pacifiers and burp cloths in the nursery.

Best way to research the i-Glyde? Stop by our 8 N. State St. location and sit a while - so, so, ahhhhhh, comfortable!

(Ask us about iGlyde upholstery options.)

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Resting Easy - Crib Safety Information

2011-06-02T13:19:00.000-04:00

Our hardwood, hand-crafted crib and crib mattress makers adhere to all federal standards and requirements, including crib varnishes.

From Denver American Baby Classics:

Certificate of Compliance

KVAR-PLUS Conversion varnish products exceeds the regulation of certain phthalatates for use with child care articles which includes bds, furniture, other articles, ad children's toys.

The Consumer Product Improvement Safety Act of 2008 (CPSIA) limites the use of certain phthalatates. Levels are not to exceed 0.1%.

KVAR-PLUS products are pthalatate free and are allowable for use on children's furniture and toys.

The CPSIA Act of 2008 was established/published on August 14, 2008. The Act making these pthalatates illegal became effective February 10, 2009.

This act also leaves open the option to illegalize more pthalatates at a later date.

KVAR-PLUS products are manufactured by Gemini Coatings for exclusive use by Keim Lumber.

Note a listing of pthalatates ad the type of products that typically contain them is available from Keim Wood Finishing Division of Keim Lumbre.

Additional regulatory information

KVAR-PLUS Conversion Varnish also meets and exceeds all federal & state air quality laws & regulations.

+ Non-photo chemically reactive

+ Contains no leads, chromates, or other heavy metals

Want to learn more more about cribs? Click here for a selection from the Amish Originals eNews archives.

Amish Originals cribs can change to follow your child from nursery to their first apartment. Ask us about our crib conversion options.

Stop by our 38 N. State St. location for our crib, nursery, and children's selections.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Reflect, Remember, Honor

2011-05-27T14:06:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day specifically set aside on May 30, 1868 as a day of remembrance for those "who have died in our nation's service."

In 2000, President Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution to designate 3 p.m. on Memorial Day as the "National Moment of Remembrance" asking "...Americans everywhere, to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day, to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all."

Memorial Day is also the kick-off to summertime, our flower and vegetable gardens, and a great time to celebrate and enjoy our families, our friends, our freedom, and our lives!

The weather forecast for this weekend is certainly a welcome change - sunshine and temperatures in the 80s.

Here is the schedule for Westerville's Memorial Day Weekend 2011...

Friday, May 27th the weekend kicks off with the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau's Uptown Westerville celebration 4th Friday: Back to Nature from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Uptown Westerville. Amish Originals is open during 4th Friday (note: we are closed from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), so stop by to visit, browse, and shop.

Click here for more information on 4th Friday.

Saturday, May 28th

9:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony for Field of Heroes (open through 5 p.m. Monday, May 30th). Presented by the Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise, Field of Heroes features over 2000 American flags at the corner of N. Cleveland and W. County Line. There is no admission to Field of Heroes and the installation can be visited anytime over the weekend.

11 a.m. Make a big splash! Grand Opening of the Highlands Park Aquatic Center at 245 S. Spring

Sunday, May 29th

10 a.m. Non-Denominational Service at Field of Heroes

Monday, May 30th Memorial Day

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is closed for the holiday.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Westerville Community Center is open.

9:45 a.m. Westerville Memorial Day Parade starting at State and College.

The parade moves south on State to Bishop Drive to S. Knox to Otterbein Cemetery at S. Knox and W. Walnut for a Memorial Day ceremony (lots of folks come Uptown for the parade and then follow the parade to the cemetery).

5 p.m. The Field of Heroes 2011 Installation closes.

From all of us at Amish Originals Furniture Co., have a safe, enjoyable Memorial Day Holiday weekend. Welcome Summer!

Pictured: Metal wall sculpture at Amish Originals Furniture Co., 8 N. State location.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Deal Detectives on YouTube

2011-05-27T13:06:00.001-04:00

Miss Deal Detectives on May 22nd?

No problem! Just watch via YouTube (look for Amish Originals Furniture Co. around 4:50).

Click here!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Mark Your Calendar

2011-05-20T20:27:00.005-04:00

Mark your calendar... Our founder, Doug Winbigler, will be featured on the Deal Detectives this Sunday May 22nd. Watch or DVR the Deal Dectectives, ABC 6, Sunday May 22nd at 11:30am. It's good!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Nature of a Home

2011-04-30T17:15:00.003-04:00

No matter where we live, we carry with us the desire to create a safe, welcoming home environment that is simple, beautiful, useful, and a true expression of who we are. Flooring, walls, colors, furniture, and to accommodate the finishing touches: accents and accessories.

Accents and accessories finish a room, adding continuity, function, and balance. From fine art to refrigerator art, what we choose to display in our homes, is a form of expression that adds depth, interest, and meaning. And, updating accents and accessories are affordable ways to transform a room when it’s time for a change.

When creating a peaceful, relaxing haven, we draw inspiration just looking out the window, touching our primal connection to the natural world. The ancient art of placement, feng shui, takes inspiration from nature as a system that constantly ebbs and flows to find the balance to maintain life.

Environmental psychologists find that our direct interaction with nature, even for a few minutes a day, improves our ability to relax, think analytically, heal, and replenish.

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we are inspired by natural accents and accessories that represent or suggest the 5 natural elements of feng shui: earth, wood, water, fire, and metal.

Earth: Represents permanence, stability, and home with a color palette of muted hues, earthtones, yellow, olive green, earthy brown, granite, and sand. Earth shapes are square or low, flat landscape surfaces. Earth accents, accessories, and mementos can include ceramics, terra cotta, crystals, sculpture, porcelain, stone, globes, and earth images.

Wood: Our favorite element represents creative energy, growth, virtue, development, and endurance with a color palette of dark, woody browns and forest greens. Wood shapes have height and reflect upward movement. Wood accents, accessories, and mementos can include ladderback chairs, vertical storage, plants, wicker, rattan, sculpture, fresh or silk flowers, and cotton and natural fibers.

Water: Represents wealth, opportunity, confidence, and renewal with a color palette of dark blue, dark grey, and black. Water shapes are essentially without defined form, free flowing, or organic. Water accents, accessories, and mementos can include actual water features like fountains or aquariums and symbolic features like mirrors, glass, seascapes, shells, river rocks, and gazing balls.

Fire: Represents energy, passion, transformation, humor, and gentleness with a color palette of bright or radiant hues, reds, oranges, and yellows. Our pets symbolize the fire element. Fire shapes are starbursts, diamonds, triangles, and pyramids. Fire accents, accessories, and mementos can include lamps, incense, candles, fireplaces, wool and leather, feathers, and electronics.

Metal: Represents business, harvest, energy, success, happiness, and wholeness with a color palette of white, gray, and silver. Metal shapes are circles and arcs. Metal accents, accessories, and mementos can include stainless steel, bells, iron, copper, silver, gold, bronze, sculpture, bowls, rocks, and round tables.

No matter your inspiration, we believe the selection of home decor, accents, and accessories at Amish Originals Furniture Co. is uncommon, inspired, and a true complement to the nature of a beautiful home.

By the way, our accents and accessories make perfect gifts - offbeat, thoughtful, a pleasant suprise.

From the Amish Originals eNews archives, March 2010.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Local Links - The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

2011-04-30T17:14:00.002-04:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is proud to support the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Spring, summer, fall, home-grown, home-made, and all Ohio, the 2011 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market is open for business each Wednesday, May 4th through October 26th, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the corner of N. State and E. Home Streets in the Church of the Messiah parking lot.

Reverend Jim Wilson of Church of the Messiah, United Methodist will offer a special blessing for the 2011 market season at 2:45 p.m. on May 4th.

The market provides an ever-changing seasonal fare including farm-fresh certified organic, chemical-free, and conventional fruits and vegetables, an assortment of baked goods, breads, cheeses, jams, chutneys, salsas, sauces and rubs, pantry fare, raw honey and bee pollen, maple syrup, meats, poultry, and fresh eggs.

Market fare also includes a seasonal selection of flowering, herb, and vegetable plants, hanging baskets, potted flowers, and colorful fresh-cut flowers.

Early seasonal fresh produce selections include asparagus, rhubarb, lettuces, and swiss chard.

The 2011 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market will feature returning favorites throughout the season:

Amherst Greenhouse, Arjay Gourmet Foods, Batter and Bowl, Bildsten Landscape, Bird’s Haven Farms, Blue Jacket Dairy, Branstool Orchards, Bridgman Farm, Carousel Watergardens Farm and Cathy’s Tasty Treats, Chuck Evans’ Montezuma Brands, Dana Lee’s, Doran’s Family Farm, Eyestone Flower Farm, Flying J Farm, Honey Health Farm, Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Northridge Organic Farm, Pleiades Maple Products, Sue’s Kitchen, Sugar B Bakery, and Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Market Wednesday also welcomes limited engagement vendors Sugar Inc. and Ohio Farm Direct.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market celebrates the connection we make with friends and family over good food and drink with resident Chef John Skaggs of Two Caterers and Tatjana Brown of Uptown Westerville wine shop, Meza. Each week, Chef John serves up samples of market fresh recipes featuring ingredients selected directly from the day’s market fare. Each week, Tatjana will suggest wine pairings to complement Chef John’s recipes. John enjoys talking with market patrons, and answering questions like, “That looks great, but what do I do with it?”

A trip to the market is a great way to enjoy a Wednesday afternoon in Uptown Westerville - market patrons can dine Uptown Westerville for lunch, browse, visit, and shop Uptown Westerville throughout the afternoon, and then stop by the market to pick up farm-fresh ingredients to take home for dinner.

Each Market Wednesday visit is a personal experience - market patrons not only have the opportunity to meet friends, create traditions, and enjoy a family outing, but to also connect directly with the people who grow or make their market selections.

During the 2011 season, the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market will also host special appearances from Westerville community partners including Westerville Public Library and the Westerville Police Division.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market and Westerville Area Resource Ministry are teaming up, for the fourth year, for the WARM Fresh Green Program so farm fresh, healthy foods can be available to everyone in the Westerville City school district. Fresh Green participants receive vouchers from WARM to purchase fresh produce, meats, poultry, eggs, artisan foods, and fruit-bearing plants. In 2010, market vendors honored $2,975 in Fresh Green vouchers.

The 2011 Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market Vendors:

Amherst Greenhouse, Ada, Ohio: Adin and Mary Horst will be at the market starting late summer with their beautiful potted chrysanthemums.

Arjay Gourmet Foods, Columbus, Ohio: starting May 11th, Rohini Mulchandani will be at the market with her delicious chutneys, garam masala, and baked goods.

Batter and Bowl, Columbus, Ohio: Sara Yates will bring her fresh-baked cookies, protein bars, brownies, no bakes, and bars throughout the market season.

Bildsten Landscape, Columbus, Ohio: Like the hanging baskets you see in Uptown Westerville throughout the summer months? They come from Bildsten Landscape. Mark and Karen will be at the market during May and June with hanging flower baskets, annuals, and potted herbs.

Bird’s Haven Farms, Granville, Ohio: The Bird Family will be bringing their seasonal market produce that includes everything from lettuce to garlic to sweet potatoes along with flowers and fall favorites like pumpkins and Indian corn.

Blue Jacket Dairy, Bellefontaine, Ohio: Jim and Angel King’s hand-made, farmstead cheeses include fresh mozzarella, cheddar curds, quark, chevre, and market favorite, Gretna Grillin’ cheese.

Branstool Orchards, Utica, Ohio: Marshall Branstool will be bringing orchard-fresh sweet cherries, peaches, and apples beginning late June.

Bridgman Farm, Washington Court House, Ohio: Mary Bridgman brings her produce to market that includes a beautiful assortment of cherry and heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil.

Carousel Watergardens Farm and Cathy’s Tasty Treats, Marion, Ohio: Mark and Cathy Krist will bring a selection of fresh produce, pantry fare, fresh hot peppers, vegetable plants, and fresh eggs and poultry to the market.

Dana Lee’s, Pataskala, Ohio: Dana Landrum features a selection of fresh-baked savory and sweet crackers, breads, rolls, coffee breads, scones, muffins, and dog biscuits.

Doran’s Family Farm, New Albany, Ohio: Michelle and Jim’s produce is a popular market stop throughout the season featuring a broad selection of vegetables, melons, tomatoes, and seasonal favorite, sweet corn.

Eyestone Flower Farm, Bloomville, Ohio: Chris and Andrea Schimpf grow beautiful, organic blooms that include gladiolas, sunflowers, lilies, and tulips.

Flying J Farm, Johnstown, Ohio: Dick Jensen features a selection of grass-fed beef cuts, organic vegetables, freshly-milled wheat and spelt flour, and maple syrup.

Honey Health Farms, Marysville, Ohio: Dale Benedict brings his raw honey, bee pollen, and honey products to market throughout the season.

Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard, Jeromesville, Ohio: Mike Dippold will be bringing fresh, chemical-free peaches and apples to the market. We should see Mike with his first truckload of peaches sometime in July.

Northridge Organic Farm, Johnstown, Ohio: Mike and Laura Laughlin bring a selection of lamb, fresh basil and seasonal organic vegetables that include broccoli, sweet potatoes, radishes, peppers, eggplant, and heirloom tomatoes.

Ohio Farm Direct, Fredericktown, Ohio: Doug Daniels brings cheese and drinkable yogurt made from milk from his organic, grass-fed herd and also features nitrate-free trail bologna, beef sticks, and summer sausage.

Pleiades Maple Products, Mt. Gilead, Ohio: Eddie Lou Meimer will be bringing her award winning maple products to market throughout the season that include maple syrup, maple sugar, barbecue sauce, vinaigrette dressing, and kid-favorite maple leaf suckers.

Sue’s Kitchen, Pataskala, Ohio: Sue Renner bakes pies! Sue will be bringing a selection of fresh baked-goods that include family recipe cookies, coffee breads, and pie.

Sugar B Bakery, Galena, Ohio: Angela Bowman makes daily bread a special event. Sugar B features loaf breads, bagels, scones, and flatbreads.

Sugar Inc., Columbus, Ohio: Ava Misseldine creates cupcakes that feature sweet and savory flavor combinations and blended teas with tea leaves from her family’s tea plantation in Hawaii.

Sweet Thing Gourmet, Bexley, Ohio: Mark and Kyla Touris feature a selection of delicious home-made jams and biscottis.

Prior to market open, the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market continues its tradition of inviting the Franklin County Auditor’s Office of Weights and Measures to come to market to check and certify vendor scales and answer any vendor questions.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a fluid community. Market vendor weekly appearances may vary. Produce and product availability may vary throughout the season.

In-lot and on-street free parking is available near the market and throughout Uptown Westerville. There is bike-friendly parking in Rotary Park at the southeast corner of N. State and E. Home Streets.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is Ohio Proud.

For more information on the Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market:
info@marketwednesday.com
http://www.marketwednesday.com/
http://uptownwestervillefarmersmarket.blogspot.com/

Market address for online mapping and GPS directions: 74 N. State St. (Church of the Messiah’s The Gathering Place, next door to the market).

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Rest Easy

2011-04-30T17:13:00.005-04:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. bedroom furniture features a complement of hand-crafted touches and details so you can rest easy, including mattresses and box springs.

▪ Made in Ohio
▪ Quality Components
▪ Firmness Options
▪ Traditional, Euro Top with Latex, or Memory Foam
▪ Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King
▪ All Mattresses Warrantied

Our mattresss are comparable to brand-name mattresses at about 2/3 the price.

Details:

FIRM MATTRESS (BASIC MODEL - ONLY BUILT IN TWIN & FULL)

312 COIL COUNT - Innerspring unit covered with Flex-O-Net, Insulator Pad, ¾” 1.3# Medium quality and ½” quilt cover. Also availble with Bunky Board to use on bunk beds.

• 5 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)
• Not recommended for adults.

DELUXE MATTRESS (ULTRA FIRM - OUR FIRMEST)

368 COIL COUNT - 6 Turn, 13 GA. Coil, 6 GA. Border Rod Innerspring unit with extra edge support. Covered with Flex-O-Net, Heavy Insulator Pad, 1" 1.8# High Quality Firm Foam and ¾” quilt cover.

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)

SUPER SOFT MATTRESS (COMFORT REST - MEDIUM SOFT TOP W/FIRM SUPPORT)

368 COIL COUNT - 6 Turn, 13 GA. Coil, 6 GA. Border Rod Innerspring unit with extra edge support. Covered with Flex-O-Net, Heavy Insulator Pad, 2½” 1.8# High Quality Firm Foam with Convoluted Foam with 1” quilt cover.

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)

PLUSH PILLOW TOP MATTRESS (COUNTRY CLOUD - FIRM SUPPORT WITH PLUSH TOP - OUR SOFTEST)

368 COIL COUNT - 6 Turn, 13 GA. Coil, 6 GA. Border Rod Innerspring unit with extra edge support. Covered with Flex-O-Net, Heavy Insulator Pad, 2½” 1.8# High Quality Firm Foam with Convoluted Foam, Inner Deck Non-quilted panel with 2" plush Pillow Top

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)

FIRM PILLOW TOP MATTRESS (FIRM BACK SUPPORTER - EXTRA FIRM WITH SOFT PILLOW TOP)

368 COIL COUNT - 6 Turn, 13 GA. Coil, 6 GA. Border Rod Innerspring unit with extra edge support. Covered with Flex-O-Net, Heavy Insulator Pad, 2" 1.8# High Quality Firm Foam with Convoluted Foam, Inner Deck Non-quilted panel with 2" Soft Pillow Top

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)

EURO TOP WITH LATEX MATTRESS (LUXURY REST - THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BEST!)

368 COIL COUNT - 6 Turn, 13 GA. Coil, 6 GA. Border Rod Innerspring unit with extra edge support. Covered with Flex-O-Net, Heavy Insulator Pad, 1/2" 2.8# Premium Quaity Foam, Inner Deck Non-quilted panel with 1-1/2" Natural Latex Foam, 1-1/2" Plush Pillow Top. Latex Foam adds that extra luxurious feel.

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On Sets Only)
• Natural latex is harvested from the rubber tree. The tree is tapped and drained in a manner similar to the way sap for maple syrup is gathered and is then filtered, emulsified with water and air bubbles, then slow heated and vulcanized. Natural latex is biodegradable, hypoallergenic, and naturally resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites. A natural latex foam is buoyant, responsive and sleeps cool.

MEMORY FOAM

This is an all foam mattress. We start with a 6" cor high quality foam and add 2" of SENSUS™ Memory foam on both sides. SENSUS™ is a viscoelastic foam that gives a soft, luxurious feel, thereby relieving pressure that can result in disomfort and sleep disruption. our memory foam is coverd with a soft knit fabric, so you get the true feel of the SENSUS™. This mattress is offered with an all natural wood foundation in regular and low profile heights.

• 10 YEAR WARRANTY (On sets only)
• SENSUS™ Memory foam is an emission-free synthetic foam created in a vacuum chamber with a process called Variable Pressure Foaming. Originally developed by NASA to handle take-off G-forces in astronaut seating, memory foam is designed to 'remember' its original shape.

BOX SPRINGS

All mattresses are available with a Regular Height (7½” Height) Coil Box Spring or Low-profile True-Flex (5" Height) Box Spring. Both are mounted on a heavy duty wood frame.

MAXIMUM BOX SPRING SIZES WITH 1/8" TO 1/4" VARIANCE

Twin • 38" X 741/2"
Full • 53" X 741/2"
Queen • 60" X 80"
King • 76" X 80"
California King • 72" X 84"

5 or 10 YEAR WARRANTY DETAILS

First (1) year is fully replaced. Thereafter it is pro-rated "under normal use."
This mattress set is guaranteed against manufacture defects, such as stitching coming undone, coils breaking and coming through.

Body impressions is considerd "normal wear." Any body impression over "1-inch in depth" would be considered a warranty issue.

Consumer is responsible to return to place of purchase at consumer's expense.

The manufacturer reserves the right to replace or repair any defective mattress set.

No warranty on mattress only.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The 2011 Fourth Friday Season Begins

2011-04-29T10:27:00.002-04:00

Tonight, April 29th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. is the first Fourth Friday* of 2011!

Each spring and summer Uptown Westerville sets the stage for the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau's Fourth Friday series. Each Fourth Friday not only puts Uptown Westerville center stage, but features street vendors, entertainment, and exhibits with a monthly theme. It's a great date night event and family friendly fun. April's theme is Uptown Alive!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s 8 and 38 N. State Street locations are open during Fouth Fridays. So, stop by to visit, browse, or shop.

Check out our new furniture arrivals, including our new Sydney Dining Collection, new accents and accessories. Our 15% off in-store jelly cabinets, linen cabinets, and pie safes special runs through April 30th - what perfect timing!

For more information about Fourth Fridays, visit the WVCB website at http://www.visitwesterville.org/.

(*Yes, yes, we know, it's actually the calendar fifth Friday, but the date was adjusted for April only since April 22nd was Good Friday. And... better weather tonight!)

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: In "Store" Savings

2011-04-21T14:02:00.004-04:00

15% off
in-stock
jelly cupboards,
linen closets,
and pie safes.

This offer is valid through April 30, 2011.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Light and Dark Luster

2011-04-21T07:56:00.002-04:00

Now at Amish Originals Furniture Co....

The New Sydney Collection

New! The inviting Sydney Collection is an Arts and Crafts Era inspired oak dining furniture collection with contrasting light and dark features.

Details: Table with leaves available in Morocco, low sheen oak only. Oak arm and side chairs in FW Black stain. 72" wide, 80.25" high oak hutch in FW Black stain with a contrasting back panel finished in Morocco, low sheen stain with accent lighting, plate ledge, leaded glass hutch door, and black matte hardware.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Stow Leaf Action

2011-04-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

New stow-leaf table eliminates the need for crawling under the bed looking for those extra leaves.
"Always room for one more" just became easier to accomplish.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Everyday Special

2011-03-31T19:49:00.004-04:00

The March 2011 Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews is now online. Click here.

This month, we take a look at storage and display for dining rooms in the form of hutches, sideboards, buffets, servers, and cabinets, realizing that most of our storage and display furniture works anywhere in the house.

Think about our sideboards, servers, and buffets when looking for a television console or media furniture.

We're really proud of the hand-made care and detail that informs our furniture including dovetail joinery (Click here to read our blog post.), knife hinges, ball bearing undermounts and drawer glides, and numerous custom options from glass fronts to hardware.

In spite of the fact that winter just can't seem to move on, spring really is here and that means new gifts, accents, and accessories. New items are arriving daily right now. So, stop by often!

For a soft touch, we've added Perfect Petzzz (pictured above) to our gift selection.

April Showers - Make way! We've got French Duck Wheeled Planters, above, perfect indoors or out - use for container gardening, hold books, magazines & e-readers, wheel around picnic supplies, or line the planters and serve up snacks or ice down your favorite beverage and... an Umbrella Umbrella Stand!

And, for those of you who love our Light Garden Flower Lights, a new red bud flower light has arrived.

Our new 48" Metal Topiary Potted Tree Photo Holder is great for displaying photos, postcards, cards, art, love notes, even take out menus! And, beautiful, delicate, wispy Seasonal Wreaths of all sizes (starting at $11.99) - great to hang, display on a stand, or use flat with table decor.

Finally, we are marking down select floor models at both locations, including the Kensington 2-door Buffet pictured above and in our eNews. Amish Originals Furniture Co. floor models are designed by Amish Originals to reflect the best of a piece of furniture or style and are marked down to make room for new floor models.

No worries, warm spring days are just around the corner!

Prices:
French Duck Wheeled Planters: $39.99 (small), $59.99 (large)
Umbrella Umbrella Stand: $89.99
Tripar Home Decor Photo Topiary: $59.99
Perfect Petzzz: start at $34.99

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Plane Speaking - Dovetail Joinery

2011-03-30T18:00:00.007-04:00

You've heard the sage adage, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Well, thousands of years ago, woodworkers tackled the design challenge of finding a way to make a right angle joint that could bear the stress of use and the stress of the environment. (You know, long before air conditioners, humidifers, and furnaces.) As we've mentioned before, even though you have beautiful hardwood furniture in your home, wood and water are still intricately connected. In spite of being sawed and shaped, there is still a lot of activity on a molecular level going on inside your furniture, including expansion and contraction in response to the immediate environment.

A dovetail joint is, according to woodworking.com: a very strong joint formed by mating one or more angled, fan-shaped "pins" to correspondingly sized and shaped notches, called "tails." The joinery can be visible from both sides (through), from only one side (half blind), or invisible (blind).

Archaeologists have found evidence of dovetail joinery in ancient tombs in both Egypt and China. Pioneers in the new world of America built cabins using dovetail joinery. And, craftsmen since the 17th century have used dovetail joinery to secure the neck to the headlock on stringed instruments like mandolins and violins. Today, experts use the construction and style of dovetail joints to determine the age and era of antiques.

A dovetail joint gets its name from its appearance - it looks like a bird's tail. The dovetail joint works because the two interlocked pieces (the pins and tails) expand and contract at the same rate. The pull of wood in response to the environment is always against the locked joint, so what we end up with is a perfect and precise fitted joint.

(Once the tails and pins are interlocked, a touch of glue seals the bond. Note - no screws, no nails.)

Though time has passed, it's tough to top the effectiveness of the dovetail joint. And, even in modern times, many dovetail joints are still painstakingly sawed and chiseled by hand. With the power tools we have today, dovetail joints can also be effectively machine-cut via router and jig. Either way, they take vision, practiced skill, planning, and composure. Even dovetail joints in today's furniture can last as long as several hundred years.

On your next trip into Amish Originals Furniture Co., pull open a drawer and look a little closer - it's nice to take a beat and appreciate the history, balance, ingenuity, and artistry in such an age-old and simple idea.

To read more...

eHow: History of Dovetail Joinery

The Harp Gallery

365 Tao: Dovetail

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Local Links - SOS Day & 4th Fridays

2011-03-29T23:47:00.009-04:00

Serving Our Seniors Day

In it's fourth year, the Westerville Police Division, in partnership with the Westerville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, presents Serving Our Seniors (SOS) Safety Day. This year, the event is Saturday, April 2nd at Westerville North High School, 950 County Line Rd. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SOS Day is a free event designed to reach out and offer support to seniors and caregivers. Features include information, demonstrations and education/awareness on safety, crime prevention, and health and wellness. Safety seminars conducted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office and Ohio Insurance Department will include topics such as identity theft and scams and how to avoid predatory sales practices.

More than 60 Exhibitors will be present and there's free lunch, and door prizes! The Westerville Senior Center is providing transportation to and from SOS Day. The cost is $3 and deadline to register for bus transportation is March 31st. Click here for more information.

It's a celebration! From April to September the fourth Friday of every month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau presents 4th Friday, a community block party in Uptown Westerville. Shop and Dine Uptown Westerville, check out street vendors and exhibitors, and enjoy live entertainment. Each month has a theme:

▪ Uptown Alive: April 29th (yeah, not the 4th Friday of April, the date changed this year since Good Friday is on the 22nd).

▪ Back to Nature: May 27th

▪ Safety Fest: June 24th

▪ World Bazaar: July 22nd

▪ Dog Days of Summer: August 26th

▪ School Daze: September 23rd

Click here for more information.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is always open during 4th Friday hours, so stop by to visit, browse, and shop.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Everyday Special Serve, Store, and Display

2011-03-29T22:50:00.001-04:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. features a selection of everyday household convenience items, like cutting boards, bread boxes, trivet baskets, and trash bins that are Amish-crafted, made-in-Ohio hardwood just like our furniture. Most are "Take Home Today" items and make great gifts.

Quick Turnaround.

Our Lazy Susan is made from Oak, Brown Maple, Cherry, or Quarter Sawn White Oak. Each Lazy Susan has a rounded wooden base with a felt bottom and ball bearing turning mechanism. Handy all around the house and great house warming and wedding gifts. Available in 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 inch diameters. Prices start at $30. for railed Lazy Susans and $19. for flat top Lazy Susans.

Utility Infielder.

Our simple, elegant wood tray features dovetail joinery, raised sides, and handles. Great as a decorative accent, special service, or as an everyday work horse around the house for everything from breakfast in bed to materials for school projects. Our serving trays also make great gifts for any occasion. Available in a variety of woods and finishes from oak to cherry. Prices start at $25.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: What's In Store? Perfect Petzzz

2011-03-29T22:18:00.001-04:00

Shhhhh... they're sleeping. Brand new to our collection of gifts and accents: Perfect Petzzz. Soft as real-life, these sweet sleeping baby animals make great gifts for any pet enthusiast or animal care provider, and are perfect for kids bedrooms.

Perfect Petzzz are sweet, huggable, soft sleeping puppies, kittens, and baby wild animals that are animated to breathe like they're in a sound sleep. Our soft, snuggly petzzz come with a cozy bed (pile lined inside and corduroy outside), buckle collar with tag, brush, adoption certificate and 1 "D" battery. (Perfect Petzzz can be registered online, too, at the Perfect Petzzz website.) Oh, and Perfect Petzzz are made of 100% synthetic materials.

Starting at $34.99, our selection includes a baby Panda, Boston Terrier, Pug, Bulldog, Boxer, Collie, Jack Russell, Golden Retriever, Black Lab, and Schnauzer.

Photos of Corgi puppy and Bull Dog puppy courtesy of Perfect Petzzz.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Amish-crafted Small Comfort

2011-03-05T15:48:00.001-05:00

New! Our Petite Mission Wall Hugger Recliner with panel sides is a space conscious and comfortable way to relax and recline. Stable, wide arms are a perfect spot to rest remote controls, cell phones, books, and ebook readers.

With the wall hugger design, the smooth, ball bearing reclining mechanism built into the chair moves in a downward motion and takes up minimal additional space to the back of the recliner as it extends.

The petite recliner is 32" wide with 21.5" of cushioned seating between the arms.

Or stop by and take our Mission Wall Hugger for a comfort test recline. The Mission Wall Hugger is 36.5" wide with 37.5" deep seating.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. upholstered seating features an extensive selection of durable fabric and leather options for any taste, mood, or style.

Available in oak, cherry, quarter-sawn white oak, maple, or hickory.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Settlers Plank

2011-03-05T15:13:00.000-05:00

New! The Settlers Plank Table features a signature hand-planed top and hand-hewn edge.

Available in oak, cherry, quarter-sawn white oak, maple, hickory, brown maple, and rustic cherry with two leaves.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Height of Casual Dining

2011-03-05T14:41:00.000-05:00

New! Belly up to the bar or cozy up to a pub table. Our Laker 24" Bar Chair is available in oak (pictured), cherry, or brown maple with wood, fabric, or leather seat options. And, we've got the perfect accompaniment - our 36" X 36" Shaker pub table.

Perfect for the man cave, homework, or family game night! Amish Originals Furniture Co. carries a wide variety of pub tables, bar chairs, and stools.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Select Chair Pad Markdowns

2011-03-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

50% off discontinued Chair Pads at Amish Originals Furniture Co. 8 N. State St. location. (While supplies last.)

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Local Links - Honor Flight

2011-03-01T22:25:00.002-05:00

Honor Flight is a wonderful way to honor and thank the Greatest Generation.

Through Honor Flight, World War II veterans take a free flight to Washington, DC for a tour-of-honor including the World War II Memorial.

Each flight leaves in the morning and returns the same evening. Since 2007, more than 2000 WWII veterans in greater Columbus have taken the Honor Flight.

Honor Flight is funded entirely by donations and volunteer support from the community.

There are many ways to donate to 2011 Westerville's Honor Flight (currently scheduled for September 10th):

- Purchase a Memorial Day Field of Heroes American flag and earmark your donation for Honor Flight.

- Attend the third annual Pancake Breakfast on June 18th from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall at 393 E. College.

- Join Honor Flight at the August 26th Fourth Friday for the Pork-a-Palooza from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

- Contribute directly to Honor Flight.

To learn more about trip details, visit Honor Flight Columbus, just click here.

Like Honor Flight Westerville on facebook!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: What's New!

2011-02-02T20:30:00.000-05:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. features accent pieces that both complement the beauty of wood furniture and echo natural and earthly elements.

Here's what's new!

Stop by to browse, visit, and shop at both locations - 8 and 38 N. State St. in Uptown Westerville.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Salt of the Earth

2011-02-02T19:52:00.004-05:00

NaCl... Sodium Chloride... Table Salt.

Once a commodity so valuable, it was used as currency, salt has been a part of the human experience for thousands and thousands of years.

While in use long before recorded history, the earliest records of salt date back 4,700 years.

In ancient times, salt played a role in pharmacology and is a part of folklore fables, superstitions, and fairy tales. And, the word 'salary' is derived from a Latin phrase (salarium argentum) named after the salt rations paid to Roman soldiers.

In medieval days, Venice, Italy, rose to financial prominence with a monopoly on... saltmaking. Actually, nations have fought wars over access to salt, and high taxes on salt helped precipitate the French Revolution.

Biologically, salt is necessary for us (for all animals) to live. The body cannot produce sodium on its own, and the sodium chloride combo is a non-toxic way for the body to access sodium.

Sodium is important for maintaining the balance of pressure between the inside and outside of our cells. Our bodies use sodium to help with important processes like regulating the balance of water in the body, absorbing nutrients, controlling muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and blood coagulation.

Once the body is done taking what it needs, any extra sodium is secreted by our kidneys and when we sweat, we lose sodium.

Sodium is naturally present in a lot of the foods we eat. Adults need about 1,500 to 2,000 mg of salt a day (that's 3/4 to 1 teaspoon a day); children require even less.

Awkward pause in conversation? Try sharing these ice-breakers:

▪ Salt melts ice by lowering the freezing temperature of water.

▪ In the early 1900s iodine was added to table salt to help offset an iodine deficiency. Iodine is key to the function of the thyroid gland. Sea salt naturally contains iodine, but effective content can be depleted in processing.

▪ Ages old practices - we obtain salt in quantity through mining and evaporation.

▪ Adding salt to water (like boiling pasta) raises the boiling temperature of water (but not drastically) - it's just the best way to bring flavor to pasta by seasoning it internally as it absorbs the water.

▪ Salt is a mineral and has an indefinite storage-life.

According to the Salt Institute, there are over 14,000 known uses for salt, so we've narrowed the list down to uses that can help you around the house:

▪ To remove coffee stains from the inside of a glass coffee pot, add 4 teaspoons salt, 1 cup crushed ice and 1 tablespoon water. Gently swirl until clean, then rinse. Coffee pot should be at room temperature before cleaning. Do not use if pot is cracked or chipped.

▪ So hard to clean up - spilled eggs. Pour salt on top of the spill to cover the eggs. Then wipe the eggs up with a paper towel.

▪ Remove rust from household tools by using salt and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Apply the paste to rusted area with a dry cloth and rub.

▪ Spilled wine? Immediately blot up all moisture from the spill, then sprinkle the area with salt. Let the stain sit for 15 minutes. The salt should absorb any remaining wine in the carpet (turning pink as a result). Then clean the entire area with a mixture of 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup water.

▪ To help remove odors from garbage disposals, pour 1/2 cup of salt directly into the garbage disposal. By running the disposal following manufacturer's directions, you'll send those odors down the drain!

▪ Remove fish odor from your hands with salt - just rub your hands with a lemon wedge dipped in salt, then rinse with water.

▪ To help cut odors off of your wooden cutting board, simply pour a generous amount of salt directly on the cutting board. Rub lightly with a damp cloth. Wash in warm, sudsy water.

▪ To get rid of a carpet spot, run in a mixture of equal parts salt, vinegar, and borax. Let this dry and then vacuum it up.

▪ Tossing a handful of salt on your fire on occasion is supposed to keep the chimney clean.

▪ Use a mixture of salt and vinegar to remove garlic or onion scent from your hands.

▪ To remove soap build-up from faucets, clean with a mixture of 1 part salt to 4 parts vinegar.

▪ Remove grease spots in a rug with a mixture of 1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol. Rub hard, going in the same direction as the nap of the carpet, then rinse with water.

Want to know more? Just click.
The Salt Institute
Networx
Morton Salt
TLC - How Stuff Works
Fine Cooking: Cooking Pasta Properly
Dr. Andrew Weil on Sodium

Originally created by accident thousands of years ago, vinegar is another handy household ingredient. Click here to read more from our blog archives.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Holiday Hours

2010-12-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

Our regular store hours will change so that our families can celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays. Please note the following days will vary from regular hours.

Friday, December 24: Close early at 3pm
Saturday, December 25: Closed
Friday, December 31: Close early at 3pm
Saturday, January 1: Closed

Hoping your holidays are blessed with family, friends, and fond memories.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Holiday Entertaining - Wine and Wood

2010-12-02T01:46:00.008-05:00

Whether impromptu potluck or RSVP, 'tis the season for the relaxed simplicity and casual elegance of entertaining at home. From cheese plates to dessert - simple tastes, simple service, and simple wines bring rich flavor to the season.

Tatjana Brown of Uptown Westerville's Meza (48 N. State St.) shares some simple suggestions for choosing holiday wines and entertaining:

▪ Keeping a selection of both red and white wine on hand during the holidays will help when it comes to unexpected guests or last minute gifts. Keep a few whites in the refrigerator or wine cooler for guests and keep reds stored at room temperature where they are easily accessible.

▪ Have your wine store clerk help you to chose wines that are crowd pleasing options for every palate. Purchasing wine by the case allows you to create a mix and match of different wines - some of which can be saved for your home and your guests, and others can be given as gifts.

▪ Stock up on simple items such as gourmet cheeses, nuts and dried fruits and olives. They can make entertaining easy and elegant, and can look impressive, even when you are crunched for time.

▪ Have one or two bottles of a nice sparkling wine or Champagne during the holidays - starting out a meal with some bubbly adds a festive touch. There are many reasonably priced options from Spanish Cava to Italian Prosecco that are perfect to serve but won't break your budget.

▪ Use items with a nice rustic feel - wine corks, pine cones, branches, etc.. as beautiful arrangements and centerpieces that can transition from fall to holiday. Branches can be transformed into a beautiful centerpiece with simply a coat of silver or gold spray paint, and wine corks and pine cones are simple and beautiful when displayed in vases and glass cylinders.

▪ Having a beautiful wine decanter is the perfect way to serve wine at your holiday dinner table. They also allow red wines to open up in their flavor.

▪ Finish off your meal with a beautiful dessert wine or port. They can accompany dessert or stand alone as a decedent way to end an evening.

With a tasting room ambience, Meza features a selection of fine, affordable wines. Owners Jason and Tatjana Brown share a passion for friends, family, foods, and fabulous wines. Known for imaginative weekly tasting events, Meza is a favorite Uptown Westerville stop for any wine enthusiast.

Meza also features a private gathering space perfect for private wine tastings, showers, parties, meetings, and gatherings. Contact Tatjana at 614.259.3101

Click here to connect with the Meza blog.

The perfect pairing, wine and wood have an organic, artful, and human connection. Amish Originals Furniture Co., features a selection of hand-crafted wine storage, service and display furniture, accompanied by our wine-inspired art and accessories.

▪ The Graham Buffet features diamond wine rack storage.

▪ The Windsor Ridge Wine Server features both concealed and display storage for wine and wine glasses with an Arts and Crafts era prarie-style stained glass door.

▪ The Ocean Side Wine Tower is a space-conscious wine console that features a drawer, stemware rack and open wine storage racks.

▪ The Napa Valley Wine Cabinet (pictured) features concealed and display storage including a 24-bottle rack and stemware racks. This cabinet is available in different sizes.

Simple, uncommon touches from wine bottle stoppers to beautiful, Amish-crafted wine storage - visit Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s 8 N. State Street location to check out our select wine-inspired furniture, art, accents, and accessories.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: November 2010 eNews... Expressions of Gratitude

2010-11-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

The November 2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews is now online.

This month we take a moment to reflect on how good furniture becomes a part of our home environment. Whether it's homework on a Tuesday night or Thanksgiving dinner on a Thursday afternoon, quality furniture in your home blends into everyday life.

We're looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christimas and have started to decorate our locations at 8 and 38 N. State Street for the holidays. (We also notice that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas throughout Uptown Westerville!)

Christmas is so special for children and this month we've taken a look at the history of the rocking horse - a toy that's remained a kid-favorite for centuries. Stop by our 38 N. State Street location to check out our Amish-crafted rocking horse selection.

If you scroll down through the next few posts on the blog, you'll find our 2010 Gift Guide. Whatever the season, Amish Originals Furniture Co. takes pride in our selection of art, accents, accessories, and little touches that help you make your house feel like home.

Silver and red snowflake ornaments, songbird holiday bottles, a sled-riding moose, acrobatic skiing snowmen (they hang on springs), table top trees... from elegant and classic to light-hearted, we're having fun unwrapping this year's collection of holiday accents.

We encourage you to stop by both locations during the holidays to visit, browse, and shop.

Finally, the holiday season is a time to express appreciation and gratitude, and in our Local Links, we offer three local options to help everyone have a special holiday season.

Best Thanksgiving and Holiday Wishes from the Staff at Amish Originals Furniture Co.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Gift Guide - Holiday Spirit

2010-11-20T15:45:00.013-05:00

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we love the holidays! We're just now decorating the stores and new holiday accents are arriving daily.

Our simple, offbeat, and affordable ornaments and decor range from classic to retro to modern.

Our tree theme this year is Scarlet & Gray, so stop by the store, visit, browse, shop (and by the way, the ornaments on the tree are available for purchase!)

▪ Tabletop Christmas Trees of All Kinds

▪ Candle Holders

▪ Ornaments from classic to comic

▪ Balancing and Tabletop Rocking Horses

▪ Ceramic & Metal Reindeer

▪ Small Nativity Scenes

▪ Holiday hangers for Switchables

▪ Soft-sculpture Santas, Moose, Gingerbread People, Snowmen & Reindeer (pictured)

▪ Stockings

▪ Songbird Carol Bottles (pictured)

▪ Snowmen and Santas of All Shapes and Sizes

▪ Retro Style Christmas Decor

▪ Holiday Words

▪ Holiday Wine Bottle Stoppers

Holiday decor and accents make great gifts!

We invite you to stop by our 8 and 38 N. State St. locations often and wish you happy shopping and happy holidays!

Photo images: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Gift Guide - Staff Favorites

2010-11-20T14:52:00.006-05:00

What's on our Amish Originals Furniture Co. Wish List?

Here's a list of Staff Favorites...

▪ Gateway TV Stand

▪ Leaning Ladder Shelf

▪ Bennington Desk

▪ Heartland Mission Bookcase

▪ Williamsburg Hutch with Tavern Table

▪ Quarter-sawn Oak Arts and Crafts Display Cabinet

▪ Grid Door Bookcase

▪ Snowball Snowman (Holiday Decor)

▪ Kensington Table with Windsor Chairs (pictured)

Photo image: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Gift Guide - Small and Thoughtful

2010-11-20T13:44:00.006-05:00

Take a walk through Amish Originals Furniture Co. and you'll find all sorts of little luxuries that help make a house a home.

Perfect for host gifts, gift baskets, and stockings...

▪ Flower Lights (a customer favorite, pictured)

▪ Switchables

▪ Wine Bottle Stoppers

▪ Polish Wooden Boxes

▪ Mrs. Miller's Jams and Spreads (start at $1.99)

▪ Beanpod Candles

▪ Home Accents

▪ Wall Words

▪ Bottlelabras

▪ Vases and Ceramics

▪ Billy Joe's Kitchen Strainers

▪ The Infamous Old Legendary Outhouse

Photo image: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide - Wine Inspired

2010-11-20T13:00:00.004-05:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. wine-inspired art, storage, display, and accessories make excellent gifts for the wine enthusiast in your life.

▪ Wine Bottle Stoppers (pictured)

▪ Wine Racks

▪ Wine Shelving

▪ Windsor Ridge Wine Server

▪ Napa Valley Wine Hutch

▪ Wine-themed Art

▪ Bottlelabras

▪ Wine Glass Candles

Photo image: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide - Everyday Gifts

2010-11-20T12:42:00.010-05:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s spin on everyday household items make great gifts.

Everyday practical with a touch of style.

Amish-made...

▪ Lazy Susans (pictured)

▪ Serving Trays

▪ Shelves and Pegs

▪ Cutting and Serving Boards

▪ Charger Caddy

▪ Banana Holder

▪ Paper Towel Holder

▪ Trash Receptacle

▪ Coat Trees

▪ CD Storage

▪ Bread Box

▪ Step Stools

And...

▪ Tag Sonoma Ironstone Dinnerware and Serveware

▪ Cookbook Holders

▪ Metal and Nature-inspired Baskets

▪ Display Ledges and Cubes

Photo images: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide - Kid-Sized

2010-11-20T10:01:00.005-05:00

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we feature some pretty cool kid-focused furniture, accents, and accessories.

Oh, and our kid-focused stuff is imagination and kid-powered!

Stop by our 38 N. State location to find kid-point-of-view gift ideas, including...

Amish-made...

▪ Rocking Horses

▪ Kid-size Rockers

▪ Youth Chairs

▪ Alphabet Train, Caboose, and Cars

▪ Youth Table & Chairs

▪ Benches, Chests, Media Chairs

▪ Puzzles

▪ Checker Board and Game Pieces

▪ Chess Board and Game Pieces

▪ Chinese Checkers

And...

▪ Gecko Lights

▪ Monkeez-brand Sock Monkeys

▪ Scramble Squares Puzzles

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide - Old School

2010-11-20T07:57:00.002-05:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. features a collection of old school accessories that add a touch of nostalgia for home and office.

▪ Ready for the beach Woody (pictured above)

▪ Fire trucks

▪ Cars and trucks

▪ Airplanes

▪ Cameras

▪ Amish-made Chess Board and Game Pieces

▪ Amish-made Checker Board and Game Pieces

▪ Amish-made Chinese Checkers

Photo image: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Gift Guide - Team Spirit

2010-11-20T07:44:00.003-05:00

We're feeling very Scarlet & Gray this holiday season.

Stop by Amish Originals Furniture Co.'s 8 N. State location to check out our Scarlet & Gray- themed Christmas Tree. (All ornaments on the tree are for purchase!)

▪ Scarlet & Gray "Buckeye Chicks"

▪ Ohio State-themed Handbags

▪ Logo Accents

▪ Scarlet & Gray Christmas Stockings

▪ Scarlet & Gray Tag Ironstone Dinner and Serveware

▪ Scarlet & Gray Poly Adirondack Chairs

Go Bucks!

Photo image: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide - The Amish Originals Furniture Co. Gift Certificate

2010-11-20T07:28:00.003-05:00

The Amish Originals Furniture Co. gift certificate - any amount, anytime.

We think giving someone a shopping trip to Amish Originals is the best gift ever!

Stop by, email us (info@amishoriginals.com), or call 614.891.6257.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Our Horses Rock

2010-11-20T00:12:00.007-05:00

The presence of horses in children’s play historically parallels the presence of horses in our lives. Evidence stretches as far back as 400 BC in Egypt and Greece, where literature describes children playing with hobby horses.

In the 16th century a simple, log “barrel horse” became popular. As woodshop tools and technology developed over time, carved wood rocking horses evolved into the art form of the bow-style sculptured horse. Borrowing from cradle design, the bow-style rocker, developed because it was resistant to overturning during kid-powered play.

In the late 1700s into the mid-1800s, rocking horses were the work of master craftsmen. The rocking horse became a toy for children in affluent families. Each horse was detailed to include real-horsehair mane and tails, leather saddles with stirrups, reins, glass eyes, facial expressions, and iron horseshoes.

Family rocking horses were passed down from generation to generation.

In the 1850s, the rocking horse hit a popular peak when Queen Victoria toured a rocking horse workshop and picked out a dapple grey rocking horse for her children (she had nine kids!). The dapple grey rocker was even packed along with family belongings for vacations.

In the mid-1800s European craftsmen immigrated to America and started their own rocking horse workshops. Hand-crafted rocking horses became popular with the post-Civil War emerging middle class. Many of the major craftsmen moved away from rocking horses in the late 1800s, finding more money in carving carousel horses.

Rocking horses were mass-produced for the first time starting in the late 1800s. Consumer interest in the everyday rocking horse carried forward into the early 1900s, but with workers called away to service in World War I and then the austerity of the Great Depression, demand for rocking horses pulled up short.

In recent years, there’s been a resurgence in interest in imagination and kid-powered toys, including hand-made rocking horses.

Today, our relationship with horses is essentially recreational and very individual, and children relate to their rocking horses the same way. Master rocking horse craftsman, Mark Stevenson observes, “There is something magical about rocking horses that’s missing in today’s toys. A rocking horse frees a child’s imagination. A child can jump over the moon and be back in time for supper. He can soar across the Grand Canyon, chase down and capture the bad guys — and always win the race.”

A child’s independent play on a rocking horse sparks imagination, expression, self-motivation, and self-esteem. Kid-powered ride-on toys, like rocking horses, help develop motor skills and sense of balance; riding a rocking horse engages the skeletal structure and mind-body connection. Activity habits established at a young age carry forward and ease physical transition to tricycles, bikes, skateboards, roller blades, and regular physical activity.

Both kid-size and over-sized rocking horses are used in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.

Modern hand-made heirloom-style rocking horses can run as high as $25,000 for, say, your own life-size rocking Secretariat or Zenyatta.

Rocking horse tidbit: As a child, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sanded rocking horses for spending money at a workshop in Abilene, Kansas.

The Amish culture maintains a traditional, purposeful relationship with the horse. Horses provide transportation and power the work in the fields and on the farm. And, Amish Originals Furniture Co. features a selection of Amish-made, kid-powered, classic painted and natural solid wood, bow rocking horses.

Our herd includes horses with:

▪ A wood saddle seat (padding option available).

▪ Wool yarn mane and tail.

▪ Bridle, eyes and leather ears.

▪ Foot rests and handles.

▪ Horizontal supports between the rockers.

▪ Natural oak horses are 13-1/2 inches wide, with seat heights at 13-1/2 inches, 17 inches, 22 inches, or 27-1/2 inches, standing up to 40 inches high.

▪ Custom hand painted horses are 12 inches wide, with a 17 inch seat height, standing at 25 inches high.

▪ Custom hand-painted horses can be personalized and feature hand-painted image options from soccer balls to butterflies.

▪ Also, ask about our 3-in-1 high chair – it’s a high chair, a play table, and a rocking horse all in one!

Right now, a limited number of rocking horses are available to Take Home Today at our 38 N. State location.

To read more about rocking horses:

Smithsonian Magazine
Stevenson Brothers
Hennessy Horses
Rocking Horse Emporium

Nehushtan Antiques

Pictured: Look for our life-size (display only) rocking horse in the window of our 38 N. State St. location during the holidays and rocking horses from our collection.

Photo images: ©2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. All rights reserved.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Mad Value

2010-10-29T17:20:00.001-04:00

Midnight Madness is here and so is our Midnight Madness Floor Model Markdown Price List!

Doors open at our 8 and 38 N. State St. locations for the Madness at 6:30 p.m. - stop by for Halloween treats and great buys!

Click here to check out our price list.

The Midnight Madness Floor Model Markdown Event continues through business hours on October 30th.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Midnight Madness Floor Model Markdowns

2010-10-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

Look at the calendar and Halloween is just days away!

At Amish Originals Furniture Co., we really enjoy this time of year - we find it downright festive - so we feature some quite uncommon fun, seasonal decor and accents including wreaths, hammered pumpkin lanterns in three sizes (small pictured), folk-style skeletons and black cats (pictured), candles and candle-holders, and stand-alone plaques.

On Friday, October 29th, the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association presents the spooktacular annual merchant showcase, Midnight Madness, from 7 p.m. until the bewitching hour of midnight. Amish Originals is a proud sponsor of the evening's horse-drawn haywagon rides and we're hosting Westerville Public Library's story reader at our 38 N. State Street location for some kid-friendly Halloween stories!

Since we think Halloween is a time for more treats than tricks, we also hope you will join us for our Midnight Madness Floor Model Markdowns beginning at 7 p.m on October 29th through 5 p.m. on October 30th. Amish Originals floor models are custom built for us to showcase the best features of our furniture, and occasionally we mark down select floor models to make room for new furniture models. Get some scary great value on some beautiful Amish-crafted furniture.

Check back with the blog closer to Midnight Madness for our floor model markdown price list.

Reminder - Beggar's Night in Westerville is Thursday, October 28th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. by the way.

Happy Halloween, see you Uptown for the Big Boo!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: October 2010 eNews... It's Elementary

2010-10-24T10:47:00.001-04:00

The Amish Originals Furniture Co. October 2010 eNews is now online!

This month's focus is Elementary Style, taking a look at children's furniture, accents, and accessories.

In this issue, we look at Amish Originals options for kids' rooms and nurseries. Our cribs are classic and beautiful, meeting and exceeding safety requirements. Amish Originals convertible crib can also, with optional sideboards and conversion boards, become a daybed and full-size bed, following your child from nursery to their first home.

We are featuring our Hudson youth bed in this issue, and keep in mind that most full-size beds you see in our showroom can be sized to twin size.

You may be pleasantly surprised to know that Amish Originals Furniture Co. features Amish-made mattresses from traditional to latex to memory foam, including mattresses for cribs.

Our kid-focused accessories include rocking horses, high chairs, kid-sized rocking chairs, and media benches, all at our 38 N. State Street store. (We carry a limited quantity of Take Home Today youth chairs, high chairs, and rocking chairs as well.)

Amish Originals is also featuring a spooktacular selection of Halloween and Harvest accents and decor. Stop by 8 N. State to check out our folk-style black cats and skeletons, cool and stylish metal witches, hammered pumpkin lanterns (in 3 sizes), candles, and more... if you dare!

Stop by both Amish Originals Furniture Co. locations when you're in Uptown Westerville for Midnight Madness on October 29th (7 p.m. to midnight). Amish Originals is a haywagon ride sponsor and is hosting the Westerville Public Library reader for some kid-friendly Halloween stories at the 38 N. State store.

If it's Midnight Madness, it's also time for our floor model markdowns (prices are valid October 29th, starting at 7 p.m. and all day on the 30th), so stop by both locations to see what's in-store. Amish Originals loves Halloween, so stop by and be prepared for some surprises - it could be more fun than a barrel of - oops - drawer full of monkeys!!

By the way, check out our blog post on decorating ideas from a kid's point-of-view. (Just scroll down or click.)

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Decorating from a Kid's Point-of-View

2010-10-23T12:33:00.008-04:00

From nursery to teen crib, the best basic, classic bedroom furniture can grow along with your kids. Kids today have a sense of style at a very early age and enjoy participating in creating their environment.

“Kids spend so much time in their rooms – even if it's sleeping – they need a room where they become important,” says home and decorating columnist Kathryn Weber.

Designer Candace Olsen recommends purchasing quality core pieces of furniture that follow your kids through life, including into their first homes. If your child is interested in a theme, say Thomas the Tank Engine or Barbie, go that direction with affordable accessories.

Usually between the ages of 9 to high school, kids become ready for a change in their bedroom and want to create a more mature environment that expresses their personalities. Celebrate the milestones in life, like starting middle school, or hitting 16 as nice rituals for new touches in their bedrooms.

In a big, structured world, where they don’t have a lot of choices, being a part of the decorating process can really energize your child’s creative bent, create a sense of ownership and responsibility, and add dimension to your relationship with your child as well. A teen with a cool apartment style bedroom may end up staying home more and having the house where all his or her friends want to hang out.

If your child is receptive, you can even act as decorator with your child as the client. It’s an opportunity for “structured self-expression.” You can create and work within a budget, create a sample board with swatches, paint chips and photographs, and work together to manage your creative project.

The Good Bones – Simple furniture that suits your child’s needs as they grow.

Beds and Cribs – Most Amish Originals beds can be customized to twin-size. A bed like the Hudson, featured in this month’s eNews, can include storage drawers that slide under the bed. With options, our convertible cribs can grow with your child all the way to their first home.

Mattresses – Amish-made mattresses for beds of all sizes, including cribs.

Storage - Including dressers and armoires and storage benches. Amish Originals features a changing table/dresser that can be converted to a standard child’s dresser just by flipping it upside down.

Mirrors – With hidden storage or floor easels, Amish Originals mirrors reflect the changes in a kid’s life as they grow.

Nightstands – A place for a good reading light and a place for their stuff

Workspace – Having a workspace in the bedroom is a place for your child to deal with the business of life. A workspace like Amish Originals own Student Desk gives value to education as well as your child’s interests and hobbies.

Media – From laptops to music to video, all the electronic “kid interactive” should have a special place in the bedroom as just one aspect of a kid’s life.

Seating – Amish Originals has rocking chairs, comfy chairs, and kid-sized seating (including a media bench).

With the furniture in place....

Paint – With computers, your local paint supply store can pretty much match and create any color in the spectrum. Kids' favorite colors can go up on the walls, or go with neutral walls with favorite color accents.

Babies first see black, white, and gray (they see red next, but red in a room can be confusing to them - that eye and brain connection is brand new!) and find soft tones of blue, green, and pink pleasing.

Depending on the age of the child, if they’d like to participate in the painting process, all the better.

Lighting – From our quirky, fun gecko lights to full spectrum task lighting to string lights and our Switchables night lights, switch out lighting to go with the seasons and your child’s changes in age, aesthetics, or tastes.

Adding a dimmer switch is not only fun but helps especially at bedtime for little ones or offering calm comfort to fall back to sleep after a bad dream.

Accessories – Sky’s the limit! Set the tone with bedding, fathead style removable graphics, wall words, paper lanterns, thrift shop finds, mementos, pillows, bean bag chairs, wall coverings, or area rugs. Use your child’s lifestyle and tastes as a guide.

Storage – From dressers and armoires to benches and chests to baskets and storage cubes, chests, trunks, bookcases, or concealed, storage can be imaginative and offbeat or traditional.

Experts recommend that storage should be within reach for kids depending on age (“kid POV”) and that it be durable and washable.

Art – Kids love to utilize display. Use chalkboard paint to add a chalkboard stripe around a room or create a chalkboard wall, go urban and add galvanized metal sheets to the wall for magnets, create a display wall to frame your kids’ artwork, frame children’s book covers and pages, buy blank canvases and paint for your child to create their own art.

Expression - Add a fitness area with a yoga space or ballet bar, incorporate nature or feng shui, erect a shelving border around the wall for mementos and keepsakes, use wall words to inspire. With the new no stick/no wall damage hooks and hangers available, kids can feel free to display their favorite decor and change their minds with ease.

Finally, bring your kids with you to Amish Originals Furniture Co. at 38 N. State to check out our kid-friendly furniture and accessories. Truly, classic, truly built for a lifetime.

More information online:

Harmony at Home on go.family

Seventeen Magazine Bedroom Design Quiz

HGTV Design Style Quiz

Great Bedroom Decorating Ideas

From the eNews archives:

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews October 2010: Elementary Style.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews August 2009: Kid Stuff

Amish Originls Furniture Co. eNews November 2009: Breathe. Relax. Sleep. Dream.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Always Room at the Table

2010-09-24T18:22:00.001-04:00

The September 2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews is now online.

There is Always Room at the Table: this month Amish Originals eNews features Dining Furniture, Accents, Accessories, and Serveware.

Whether homework, family finance, game night, coffee & conversation, or meals, the dining table is often the heart of household activity.

A new dining table purchase should fit your lifestyle, gaining a touch of character and purpose with age and use along the way.

Amish Originals selection of beautiful, Amish-crafted dining furniture ranges from contemporary to traditional styles. Amish-made furniture isn't a style of furniture, it's about craftsmanship and the integrity and care of the time-tested methods of hands-on construction and that makes your dining room furniture a lasting part of your home-life.

From finish to features, Amish Originals Furniture Co. staff will work with you as you custom design your dining room furniture.

Stop by Amish Originals for art, accents, and accessories, like our new olive jars (pictured above on the right), our Tag Sonoma dinner and serveware, or offbeat seasonal accents.

Scroll down to check out our posts on our newest dining table - the Stow Leaf table and for details on our Tag Ltd. Sonoma Dinner and Serveware.

As the seasons change, all remaining in-stock outdoor furniture is now 20% off.

To subscribe to the Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews, just click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Stow Leaf Dining Table

2010-09-22T02:46:00.007-04:00

New at Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Stow Leaf Table.

The Stow Leaf Table features self-stowing leaves that easily and simply pull out and raise in place to add 18" of table on either end.

Stop by Amish Originals at 8 N. State to check out The Stow Leaf Table in person!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Welcome Autumn

2010-09-22T01:36:00.002-04:00

Welcome autumn with Halloween and Harvest decor.

Amish Originals Furniture Co. features some offbeat, fun seasonal boo including our popular hammered jack o' lanterns and spooky candles, as well as harvest-themed seasonal accents.

New items are arriving, stop by often throughout the season!

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Fourth Friday School Daze

2010-09-22T00:57:00.002-04:00

Each month from April through September, Uptown Westerville celebrates Fourth Friday.

Presented by the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau, Fourth Friday celebrations run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each month has a special theme from safety to a celebration of dogs, and includes entertainment, shopping, street vendors.

September's Fourth Friday, School Daze, is this week, on September 24th.

On Fourth Friday, Amish Originals Furniture Co. stores (8 & 38 N. State) close at 5 p.m. and reopen for Fourth Friday hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

And in October... Amish Originals Furniture Co. celebrates Halloween during the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association's spooktacular Midnight Madness from 7 p.m. to midnight on October 29th! With treats and spooky surprises, come visit us during the madness... if... you... dare!

Fourth Friday logo courtesy of the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Serving Suggestions

2010-09-22T00:21:00.002-04:00

Simple, classic, and versatile, Amish Originals Furniture Co. features Tag Ltd. Sonoma dinner and serveware.

Families have gathered together for meals served on ironstone dinnerware since the early 1800's.

And, Sonoma dinnerware, with its distinctive, hand-painted distressed strokes, opaque glazing, and touches of tonal edging are the perfect complement to your everyday or holiday table settings.

With an open stock, and coordinating palette of neutral and nature-inspired colors to choose from, you can set a traditional tone with one color or mix and match to suit the season, add atmosphere to an event, or match your moods.

Our Sonoma selection includes: cereal bowls, serving platters, serving bowls, dinner plates, mugs, rimmed bowls, and salad plates.

So artful, you'll want to put them on display.

And, Sonoma ironware is an excellent starter set for newlyweds or new homes.

We think Sonoma dinnerware looks beautiful on our Amish-crafted wood serving trays... and dining tables!

Oh, and, it's not the 1800's anymore - Sonoma dinner and serveware is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market

2010-09-22T00:00:00.003-04:00

Amish Originals Furniture Co. is proud to support the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is open for business each Wednesday at N. State and E. Home Streets in the Church of the Messiah parking lot, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., through October.

Visit the market online at marketwednesday.com

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: St.Paul Students Raise $ For WARM

2010-08-30T13:02:00.000-04:00

St. Paul School 7th graders, Nick and Josh, raised over $500 for Westerville Area Resource Ministry selling raffle tickets for two pine adirondack chairs at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market. For four weeks in August these young men, with some help from brother and sister, offered up their afternoons in an effort to make a difference for families experiencing difficult circumstances. WARM Executive Director, Scott Marier, was on hand to draw the winning ticket and accept the check.

Special thanks to Farmers' Market patrons for their generous support of Josh and Nick, to Amish Originals for the donation of two adirondack chairs, and to the UWFM management for the use of market space.

Congratulations boys, and thank you for your efforts.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Back to School - Mr. Carr's Study Habits Checklist

2010-08-23T09:33:00.000-04:00

Mr. Carr's Study Habits Checklist

The keys to success are setting goals and establishing healthy habits to achieve them.

Good homework/study skills, coupled with positive relationship skills, help students to achieve in school and in life.

Below are statements related to positive school skills. Circle a number for each statement: one (1) for almost never, two (2) for sometimes, or three (3) for almost always.

I smile and greet fellow students and adults. (1) (2) (3)

I have a regular time that I do my homework. (1) (2) (3)

I start with the subject I like least and save my favorite for last. (1) (2) (3)

I study in a quiet place away from interference such as talking, TV, or loud music. (1) (2) (3)

I make sure I have all materials I need before starting my homework projects. (1) (2) (3)

My goal is to complete all homework assignments as neatly as possible and on time. (1) (2) (3)

On tests, I do every question and fill in every blank, even if I’m not sure of the answer. (1) (2) (3)

I am well organized. I keep all my notes and papers in secure folders. (1) (2) (3)

I participate in class discussion and listen attentively. (1) (2) (3)

I use test taking study techniques such as making up possible questions or practicing questions with a parent or friend. (1) (2) (3)

I plan ahead for long term projects, setting step deadlines. (1) (2) (3)

I come to school each day determined to do the best I can do on my work and to be as nice as I can be to everyone I see. (1) (2) (3)

Check your answers. If you have mostly threes and some twos, you are probably doing well in school. If you have a number of ones, think about making changes.

Special thanks to Mr. Joe Carr, Guidance counselor, Westerville City Schools, Westerville, Ohio.

For a PDF version of Mr. Carr's tips, click here.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: August 2010 eNews

2010-08-23T09:31:00.000-04:00

The August 2010 Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews is now online.

Hard to believe but, the summer is winding down and our focus is on Back to School and this month we look at our workspaces.

In Local Links, Amish Originals celebrates local sports, featuring our School Spirit poly Amish-made adirondack chairs in the school colors for Westerville South, Westerville North, and Westerville Central high schools.

(We also feature poly adirondack chairs in scarlet and gray and, for our customers up north, maize and blue.)

For custom glass tops for desks, tables, and surfaces, Amish Originals Furniture Co. works with Crafted Glass Concepts. For new orders, Crafted Glass Concepts will measure your furniture piece as soon as it arrives at Amish Originals, prior to delivery. If you'd like to top an existing piece of furniture, we'll connect you with Crafted Glass Concepts.

Check our archives for additional information on Workspaces & Accessories:

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews, September 2008

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews, September 2009

Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews March 2010

If you'd like to subscribe to the Amish Originals Furniture Co. eNews, just drop us an email, click here.

Please note regarding archived eNews, prices may be subject to change.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Planning Ahead

2010-08-11T13:31:00.001-04:00

While the summer sun beats down it may seem a bit premature to start thinking about Thanksgiving, or, Heaven forbid, Christmas. But if your holiday plans involve entertaining the whole gang at your home, now is the perfect time to start planning ahead.

Our repeat customers know and you should too. Handcrafted tables, chairs, storage pieces, etc. require time to build. Summer business has been strong as people continue to change and upgrade their home environments - everyone wants to create a beautiful living space - and our Amish partners are busy. We encourage you to come in soon if you plan on adding pieces before the holidays are upon us.

Our non-commissioned sales staff is happy to help with choices regarding size, style, hardwood type, and color. No two families celebrate exactly the same so we know everyone's furniture needs are different as well.

Come on in and visit - the AC is on. Summer hangs upon us but fall is right around the corner.........

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Win 2 Adirondack Chairs

2010-08-05T14:43:00.000-04:00

Need knows no season.......

And in an effort to help, we've joined forces with two St. Paul School 7th graders to raise funds for Westerville Area Resource Ministry's Fresh Green Program.

You have an opportunity to help. We've donated two treated pine adirondack chairs to the cause. These two students will be selling raffle tickets every Wednesday through August at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market. The students have a goal to raise $500 for WARM.

Tickets cost $1 each, or you get 6 chances for $5. The winning ticket will be drawn Wednesday, August 25. Please help these students reach their goal, and you may find yourself sitting pretty in one these Amish-made adirondack chairs over Labor Day weekend.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Open During 7/31 Bike Race

2010-07-28T09:06:00.000-04:00

The 7th annual Garrett Wonders Memorial Bike Race will be held Saturday, July 31 from 8-12:30pm in Uptown Westerville. State St. (Rt. 3) will be closed from College Ave. to Park Street. Uptown will be accessible from the north. For information concerning parking and street closures, contact the Westerville Police Dept. at 614-901-6453.

We will be open from 10am - 5pm, regular business hours, and hope to see many of you Uptown to enjoy the bike race, shopping, and dining on what we hope is a beautiful Summer Saturday.

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: Where's the Fire?

2010-07-17T14:36:00.003-04:00

No matter your age, there is something about a fire engine!

On your next trip into Amish Originals Furniture Co., check out our old school reproduction tin fire truck fleet. The details are cool - right down to ladders, hoses, and spotlights and they are a perfect nostaligic accent for home or office.

Several different fleet models to choose from and check out our metal fire chief helmet to complete the collection.

Some Uptown Westerville Nostalgia:

2010 is the 150th anniversary of the Westerville Fire Department - that means Westerville has had a fire department since 1860, the year Abraham Lincoln was first elected president.

The city's first fire truck was purchased in 1923.

We appreciate WFD's years of service to our community. To learn more about the Westerville Fire Department Anniversary, click here.

The picture of Westerville's first fire truck was taken in 1923 on E. Main Street in Uptown Westerville and is courtesy of Westerville Public Library. The group is standing in front of a water tower that is no longer a part of the Uptown Westerville skyline, but is at the parking lot that is now next to the Amish Originals Furniture Co. warehouse (where the mural is).

Amish Originals Furniture Co.: School Spirit Adirondacks

2010-07-15T12:59:00.000-04:00

Now available for the first time, Westerville Schools adirondack chairs. Our outdoor furniture provider has agreed to make these chairs available in the colors of Central, North, and South high schools.

Made of recycled plastics, these poly chairs are virtually maintenance free. Special ordered, allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.