There are only six pewter studios open to the American tourist, and if you're coming to visit Amish Country, youre in luck. One of them is right smack dab in the middle of Millersburg.

This shop is owned and operated by a charming couple, Three Feathers Jones, a Master Craftsman, and his wife, Willa Hollingsworth, a Journeyman. The business has been in operation for twenty years, seven of which have been at the downtown Millersburg location, right across from the county courthouse on the square.

Years ago, in an entirely different business, Three Feathers searched for miniature soldiers and horses. Suppliers of these collectibles became scarce, so he taught himself to cast his own ... over his hibachi grill, no less! Craft shows soon became the way Three Feathers and Willa peddled their crafts, and people eagerly bought the handmade figures, buttons and jewelry.

An advertisement in a craft magazine led Three Feathers to purchase tools and equipment from a seasoned pewter maker. Three Feathers apprenticed with him before "the gentleman passed on," learning the fine, ancient art of making pewterware. He also journeyed with other pewterers to learn more.

"Pewterers don't like to share their secrets very well," Three Feathers said (maybe that's why there aren't very many pewterers around).

One thing led to another, as the saying goes, and Three Feathers and Willa found themselves opening their store in Millersburg. They love rural Holmes County and the quietness it offers. Centrally located between Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburgh, plus being in the heart of Amish Country, the store has enjoyed much success. Their Web site has also increased their business.

"People get on our Web site (www.threefeatherspewter.com) to check out what we have," Three Feathers said. "Then they check to see if we have a 'brick and mortar' location. That lets them know were legitimate."

Approximately 96 percent of the business at comes from tourists. When I asked why that would be (thinking of all the beautiful items the locals are missing), Three Feathers explained.

"This is a rural area, and pewter, today, is not a 'rural' taste," he said. "Many centuries back, the rich had gold and silver utensils, the poor had wooden and everyone else had pewter. It's sort of carried over.

Now, since you know all about the business, I guess I'd better tell you what you can find at ! Of course, everything pewter at the store is handcrafted there, and much of it is influenced by a mix of the couples' heritages: Three Feathers himself is Welsh, German, French and Native American (adopted Shawnee, Yuchi, Winnabago), and Willa is Irish, Jamaican, Cherokee, Creek and Seminole. How's that for a real mix? Anyway, you'll discover pewter tableware (bowls, chargers, plates, drinking vessels, saltcellars and salt spoons, napkin rings, dining utensils and other table pieces), vases and candleholders lead the list of handmade items at the store. Delicate jewelry, fantastic buttons, handsome desk accessories, historical reproductions, medallions and ornaments are also sold.

If you need to order an item, either in the store or off the Web, you'll be told it will take six to eight weeks to complete, but Willa says it's usually much less than that. Certain items take longer to make than others, of course. has shipped items to New Zealand (Jefferson cups were sent there to be taken to Antarctica for a New Years Day celebration), Europe, Canada, Australia and all over the United States.

"A large part of what we do here is educational," Three Feathers said. "It is imperative for our survival in the arts to educate people of the value and ethics of handmade pieces."

One area of concern to Three Feathers and Willa is the authenticity of some so-called "pewter" items sold elsewhere. They showed me a statement adopted by the American Pewter Guild in 1996 stating, "It is unfair or deceptive to mark, describe, or otherwise represent all or part of an industry product as 'Pewter' or any abbreviation if such mark or description misrepresents the products true composition" (that means it must be at least 900 parts per 1000 Grade A Tin).

In other words, when you're shopping for pewter, make sure you're getting the real thing, as you will at . They use the "Crown" formula developed in Great Britain during the late 18th century. This formula does not now, and never did, contain lead, so all tableware is safe to use with food. Just thought you'd want to know!

One question I nearly always ask people when I interview them is what would they be doing if they weren't working at the business they're in. I usually get a variety of answers, from "fishing," to "taking a long vacation," to "nothing." Well, Three Feathers said, although he started out as a math and science teacher, he would always want to be creating something, trying to get people to understand his craft. That didn't surprise me; he's just that sort of fellow. But I got the shock of my life when I posed the familiar question to Willa. She said she'd probably still be performing ... as a belly dancer! Now that's one I've never heard before. And in fact, the store even makes and sells pewter jewelry for belly dancers!

So, if you're in the market for a pewter jingly-jangly belly chain, or any of the other beautiful made-on-site pewter items, now you know where to find them. On your way to or from Amish Country, don't just pass through Millersburg. Make it a destination, and stop at for beautiful handcrafted pewter. Don't forget to tell Three Feathers and Willa you saw this in Amish Heartland magazine (theyll probably ask you anyway!).

, 12 E. Jackson St. (US 62 OH 39), Millersburg, OH 44654,(330)674-0404, www.threefeatherspewter.com; hours: Tue. thru Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. Mon., by chance or appointment; GPS - N40 33.254, W81 55.011.