I am surprised that you didn't reference the Watervliet Shaker village just outside Albany NY. I know they have a fund-raising craft fair before Christmas each year and a website.
Marjkri

My parents were huge fans of the Shaker village in Kentucky and we spent more than one (boring, at least for us kids!) family vacation there in the 70s. The highlight/entertainment was usually hanging all the furniture on the walls.

But now as adult, I, too, appreciate the good, solid design and I'm the proud owner of one of their fabulous brooms - and some handmade shaker boxes (made by my Dad).

Please don't forget ebay for real, Shaker made antiques. I've been a collector of Shaker artifacts for 40 years, and I've been offering duplicates from my collection on ebay. By the way, this is spam - I've not posted my ebay ID. :-) Despite common perception, you can afford the real thing. By from trusted sellers, who offer a return policy.

Hmm, I meant to say "not spam"! Freudian slip? Anyway, carry on...

I too am an admirer of the Shakers, both for their work, and for their feelings about work. This is about the best post I've seen here, thank you for these links.

"I am surprised that you didn't reference the Watervliet Shaker village just outside Albany NY. I know they have a fund-raising craft fair before Christmas each year and a website. Marjkri"

I am also surprised it wasn't mentioned seeing this is where Ann Lee is buried and considered the first Shaker settlement in the United States. It was a local field trip for me as a kid.

LOL on "boring trips to Shaker villages."

I myself respect and admire the siimplicity and the form.

However, a few years ago, an older teacher suggested we take the 8th grade students to the Hancock Shaker Village on a field trip. These were the kids who couldn't go on the big DC trip - either for lack of interest, lack of funds, or consistent misbehavior throughout the school year. (Let's just say, our most motivated students were not with us.)

So, it was May, and the black flies were out, an I was in a hot field in glaring sunlight with 10 14-year-old boys, while an older (very older) man stood and explained the basics of shaker philosophy. The kids were twitching in boredom and swatting at the flies, and the older man admonished us all: "Now, there's NO REASON to be swatting at the flies. It's just part of nature."

AIIEE! Listen here, buckaroo - I bet the Shakers swatted at the flies, too!

I will never take anyone under the age of 30 there again. :D

Lots of connection for me as I've lived in Shaker territory (Capital Region of NY, Western MA etc.)

I admire the shakers for many things (their work ethic, their entrepreneur skills, devotion to faith etc.) although Mother Ann and her followers did have some strange beliefs to me (I side more with Paul, Augustine and Calvin that man can never even come close to perfection and that we are all depraved but that's straying from the point.)

Anyway, after visiting Hncock Shaker Village in Pittsfield (hilarious that it's not, ya know, IN Hancock but I digress ... ) she fell in love with the "Sisters' Cloaks" on display and spent a good portion of last winter trying to find one.

Any ideas? http://mississippisisters.blogspot.com/2010/12/shaker-hooded-red-cape.html

Love Shaker furniture. I think it works well especially in smaller homes (like mine) where the clean lines make the place feel more breathable. Thanks for these sources, I've been looking for some good dining chairs!

The Shaker furniture reminds me of furniture designs from South East Asia. The use of rattan and bamboo adds to the wood theme prevalent in those designs. The good thing is,even though the materials are not made of hard wood, the pieces lasts a long time.