The Makers
Pottery
Our husband and wife potters have been crafting with clay for over 25 years in their small barn-turned-pottery-shop which sits next to their home. Their skill, attention to detail and patience is evident in each hand-thrown piece. Together they prepare, form, throw, handstamp and fire each one of our exclusive pottery pieces.
Cutting Board, Cheese Wedge + Knife
A very special connection was made with this maker when our old farmhouse was purchased by he and his wife. He handcrafts all our cutting boards, cheese wedges and stainless steel hand forged knives in their small woodworking shop in Lancaster. He has been crafting masterpieces from wood and iron for over 35 years. His main expertise is building high-end heirloom kitchen cabinetry. It is such a joy to carry a few of his creations here at Millstream Home.
Ice Cream Scoop + Wine Cork
Our woodturner is a local husband and Father of 3 who makes our custom ice cream scoops and wine corks. He loves a good piece of wood with a strong grain and crafts all sorts of creations out of his small shop! His masterpieces will be with you the rest of your life if property cared for.
Wooden Toys
Our second generation Amish Toymaker tells the story of how, as a young boy, he would sneak out to the barn to build toys using his Father’s tools. This great love is now poured into each and every exclusively designed piece here at Millstream Home. Our Toymaker creates his toys completely off the grid using generators and air compressed tools. All the toys created for Millstream Home are made using non-toxic materials of the highest grade and compliant with all CPSIA regulations.
Aprons
Lancaster Sewing Company operates out of a charming, local barn built in the late 1800’s. Their shop specializes in sewing traditional and modest clothing for Amish and Mennonite families all over America. Recently they’ve started sewing small production runs for independent makers and designers and remain committed to working with American Manufacturers. Our seamstresses are members of the Amish and Mennonite communities where sewing clothing has been passed down for generations and remains a valued skill in Lancaster County.
The Leather Bag
Our leather bag is entirely handmade by Liz Riden, a local designer/stylist and graduate of SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design. She designs and sews each bag in her loft home studio. She was so kind to hear our vision for a classic and elegant bag, full of texture and warmth. We wanted this bag to be an ode to the horse and buggy. Each of our leather bags is outfitted with genuine equestrian hardware and American sourced leather.
Brooms
This family owned business has been weaving brooms at their farm for over 45 years. Their shop operates using diesel-powered air compressors and kerosene lanterns. They work with their hands and specialty looms to make each individual broom. A process which requires splitting the corn, soaking it, weaving and finishing. Each family member helps as able and watching their shop in action is quite amazing! The young boys help keep the shop clean while the older gentlemen continue weaving into their old age.
Baskets
Our husband and wife basket weavers have been making baskets within their family for many decades. Together they soak, weave, dye and assemble every basket entirely by hand. Only several tools are used to create these masterpieces. The small brass nail tacks are hand-hammered. Each Millstream Home nameplate is securely attached along with the horse-reins turned basket handles. This husband and wife team work tirelessly into their old age in the small barn beside their home. When visiting we pass their horse and buggy to enter their warm shop heated with their wood stove. It is quite nostalgic and comforting in its own right.
Bath + Body
For over 15 years this small town Mother and Daughter duo have been manufacturing small batch and hand crafted bath and body products, (a hobby turned small business). Together they work hard in their commercial kitchen to create each customized piece of our Bath and Body Collection. They hand pour each Meadow Tea Candle and blend, measure, test, pour and label each product that goes into our collection. They care deeply about their craft.
Wooden Kitchen Tools
Our wooden spoons and rolling pins are made by hand in Pennsylvania by expert craftsman. Our Maker’s use only Pennsylvania woods, specifically Black Cherry and Walnut which offers an extra level of durability. Each spoon and pin begins as a block of wood and is cut, turned, carefully hand sanded and finished to perfection in their shop.
Hand-Dipped Candles
Our candle maker has been using the same traditional production methods for over 40 years. Each candle is hand-dipped in the basement of an old barn. It takes about 25 dips into the melted wax to make a single taper candle. These candles come in an assorted array, but we like the classic colors that feel like home.
The Hat
For close to 90 years our Amish hatmaker has been manufacturing hats and sending them all across America to Amish and Mennonite communities. You can imagine our delight when he obliged to working with us on a custom-made hat. Each of our exclusive hats are crafted by hand in his small and simple shop which exists entirely off the grid. As with many of our Amish Makers, there is no music or news playing in the background. Women sit at their sewing machines, little ones at their side, talking about their family and friends and sharing recipes and remedies. Apart from the occasional whistling tune or sound of work, it is truly a quiet place.
Quilts
Our expert Amish quilter has been working with fabric for over 36 years. As a young child she and her family had a small sewing company making mattress covers. After she was married she managed a local sewing factory until she began having children. While they were still quite young, she and her husband invested into beginning their own sewing company. Each detail passes under her steady hands, each perfectly straight line, stitch and meticulous binding. We enjoy our visits together in her makeshift shop above her family's barn, next to her simple home, abundant grape vines and greenhouses.
Napkin Rings + Coasters
Our Amish Leather Makers work in their small shop, which is powered using solar, wind and diesel-powered air compressors. Efficient and kind problem solvers, they are gracious with our ideas and hand-drawn sketches all while keeping their attention to detail and precision in every stitch, cut, seam and hand-hammered rivet.
Copper Candle Holder
Our copper candleholder is made locally by a gentlemen who has had a decades old love for Early American lighting. For over 30 years he’s been crafting with metal in his small local shop, using the same machines, patterns, tools and techniques of the 18th and 19th century. He is meticulous and mindful and so fascinating to watch while he hand crafts and solders his creations.