"Worketh Willingly With Her Hands" ~ Proverbs 31 Series

"Useful and ornamental needlework, knitting, and netting are capable of being made, not only sources of personal gratification, but of high moral benefit, and the means of developing in surpassing loveliness and grace, some of the highest and noblest feelings of the soul."

~Author unknown, from The Ladies' Work Table Book, 1845

We all read about the Proverbs 31 woman but how many of us actually possess the skills that are mentioned. I personally lacked many of them when first married and found my mother in law teaching me plenty.  Because of this, I was determined to pass these homemaking skills to my daughter.

We have put together some small teaching booklets, tutorials, resources, spiritual inspiration, pretty paintings, poetry and other fun activities in order to build an interest and home economic foundation for young ladies. We will also be hosting a link up per subject so that you can share your expertise with us! I hope some of this may be useful to our dear readers. We will begin this series shortly with "simple sewing skills". I hope that you can join us!

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

~ Proverbs 31:10-31

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Teach Me Tuesday, Raising Homemakers, Make Bake Create, Wise Woman Link Up, Christian Homemaking, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Hearts for Home Thursdays, and Growing in Grace Thursdays. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.

Inspirational Gardening Journal Planner ~ Free Printable

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it:

with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

~ Proverbs 31:16

Spring is in the air, soil is waiting in the earth and visions of grandeur are in the hearts of those who desire to provide "food for her family" (Proverbs 31:15). To aid in this proverbial pursuit, we are sharing our garden planner printable with you. This was originally shared on our homemaking blog. Ideas for using this Regency-inspired journal are here. Simply download from the menu below and print. May your harvest be plentiful!

You may also be interested in our other (printable) organizational tools: "Good Steward Record Binder", "Inspirational Recipe Book", Pantry Labels, Laundry Room Labels, and/or a Baking Basics Jar Set. Artwork for this project was provided by The Graphics Fairy, Reading, Roses & Prose along with lovely drawings by Kate Greenaway. 

This post may be shared with some or all of the following lovely link-ups: Modest Mom Monday's, Teach Me Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Wildcrafting Wednesdays, Simple Living Wednesdays and Deep Roots at Home. Thank you, dear ladies, for hosting these!

Collecting Cookbooks ~ The Hope Chest

As a young maiden, preparing for the future is very necessary. Something you can do today is start a cookbook collection. You can begin practicing new recipes on your family now and make notes on which ones were favorites and which were failures… Then, dear hubby need not be the experimental victim. These single years are an excellent time to sharpen your kitchen skills and become a culinary queen!

Cookbooks make an excellent addition to a hope chest because they are always in "style" unlike some items you may place inside and lose interest in. If you already have a repertoire of recipes but need a storage system for them, you may be interested in making an "Inspirational Recipe Book" (free printables are included with the link).

Some of our favorite cookbooks are:

• Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today
• King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grains
• With Heart And Soul (Among Friends Series)
• Keeping Good Company: A Season-by-Season Collection of Recipes, with Entertaining & Homemaking Ideas (Among Friends Series)
• Mrs. Fields I Love Chocolate! Cookbook: 100 Easy & Irresistible Recipes
• Fix Freeze Feast

"When young people marry they are rarely troubled with many thoughts about the details of housekeeping. Their dreams are high above all such common place issues. The mere mention of such things as cooking, baking, sweeping, dusting, mending, ironing—jars upon the poetic rhythm of the lofty themes of conversation. It never enters the brains of these happy lovers—that it will make every difference in the world in their home life—whether the bread is sweet or sour; whether the oatmeal is well cooked or scorched; whether the meals are punctual or tardy. The mere thought that such common matters could affect the tone of their wedded life, seems a desecration.

One of the very first things they discover is the intimate relation between the kitchen and wedded happiness. That love may fulfill its delightful prophecies and realize its splendid dreams—there must be in the new home, some very practical elements. The palace that is to rise into the air, shooting up its towers, displaying its wonders of architecture, flashing its splendors in the sunshine—to the admiration of the world, must have its foundation in commonplace earth, resting on plain, hard, honest rock. Love may build its palace of noble sentiments and tender affections and sweet romances—rising into the very clouds, and in this splendid home two souls may dwell in the enjoyment of the highest possibilities of wedded life; but this palace, too, must stand on the ground, with unpoetic and unsentimental stones for its foundation. That foundation is good housekeeping. In other words, good breakfasts, dinners and suppers, a well-kept house, order, system, promptness, punctuality, good cheer—far more than any young lovers dream—does happiness in married life depend upon such commonplace things as these!"

~ Except from The Family by J.R. Miller

The Hope Chest (What to Put Inside?)

Marmee's Hope Chest

Preserving Food in Jars

Learning to preserve the bounty in a jar is easy and very rewarding. Canning is an excellent way to keep your garden year round as food for your household without taking up precious space or energy of a freezer. It is also pleasing to know that the food you are eating is fresh from the garden and without all the added pesticides and preservatives which you may find in store bought products. Canning is also very economical once you have invested in the initial supplies. A woman with a pantry full of goods has an excellent sense of accomplishment and knows that a gift for a neighbor or friend is always at hand. The Proverbs 31 woman is always learning and continually looking for new ways to bless her household. Skills such as these are excellent to pass down to the next generation for we never know what the future holds. The act of canning itself offers wonderful memories for mother and daughter.

Here is the basic information you will need to get started (these are published from my sister site):

Introduction to Canning

Canning 101 ~ Supplies

Canning 101 ~ Terms
Canning 101 ~ Step by Step Procedures

Canning Day Checklist ~ Six Ways to Plan and Prepare

Some Recipes to Try

Beets (Pickled) ~ A Tutorial

Cucumbers ~ Bread & Butter Pickles

Lemon Honey Marmalade (No Sugar, No Pectin)

Lemon Marmalade (Traditional)
Sweet and Sour Pickled Peppers

Tomato Puree for Pizza Sauces & Soups

To Further Your Adventures

Canning Labels ~ Free Printable

Canning 101 ~ Five Interesting Canning Tips and Tricks

Canning 101 ~ Pantry Inventory Notes and Lists

Preservation Planner ~ Free Printable

"She looketh well to the ways of her household…"

~ Proverbs 31:27

(pictures are linked)

 

An Inspirational Recipe Book ~ Free Printables

Would you like to create an "Inspirational Recipe Book"?

Scroll down to view the reason for the "inspiration"...

A set of free printables are available below should you like to try this.

The cover page is shown above and is included in the collection.

 However, you can modify it and make it your very own.

A special thank you is given to the The Graphics Fairy for 

many of the pictures are gleaned from her site.

There is a spine insert on the second page of the printables so

that you know what contents are inside when resting on the shelf.

Just cut to appropriate width and insert into spine of binder.

I place the recipes along with the subject dividers inside plastic page protectors

so that the recipes can be wiped after in case you have specks of flour,

pasta sauce, etc., which tend to splatter on your pages.

Of course, you can add any other categories you think useful.

I have included main dishes, side dishes, salads, appetizers, breakfast, yeast dough/breads,

desserts and food preservation in my free printables.

The stick on tabs make it easier to find a recipe.

Just attach them to the proper category page.

I also included a back cover page to insert inside your binder for

extra decoration and divine inspiration.

Running a household with purpose and skill requires planning and organization. One of the main tasks of the keeper at home is meal making.  In order to make this an easy operation in your future home life or current household, it helps to have a storage of supplies. In this case, a selection of tried and true recipes along with some inspiration. I used food and hospitality inspired Scripture (hence the name "Inspirational Recipe Book") to personalize my collection into a binder which is a great reminder that when we prepare a meal for our loved ones, the fellowship around that table should be in remembrance of our Lord.

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.”

 ~ Luke 22:19

Dear maidens, now is the perfect time to glean all those good recipes that have been useful in your current household and prepare it for your own home one day. This will be a priceless treasure to possess in your future home.

Dear mothers, you may want to create such a book for yourselves or start now with your younger daughters. Every time they learn a new recipe, add it into the book and they will have a repertoire to use for dinner making practice.

Print out your favorite recipes, place them inside plastic page protectors, attach subject tabs to title pages provided and place them in a three ring binder, filed in the proper categories.

List of recommended supplies:

• Three Ring Binder
• Plastic Sheet Protectors
• Index Tabs with Printable Inserts
• Printables (see below)

Simply download and print. Please let me know if you have any problems printing.

Noah's Knowledgable Daughter-in-Laws

The Dove is Home with Us by Mary Jane Q Cross

Noah's daughter-in-laws have a special place in my heart as the unsung heroes of the Bible. What can we say about them that is actually written?

We can focus on this truth:

These maidens were godly or they would not have been spared from the flood...

God warned them of the trials that would be coming. They would be going inside an ark and beginning life anew! What do you think they did until that final and fatal moment? My guess is that they prepared diligently with their hands and prayed with all their hearts. They learned skills. They were virtuous women. They were of the lineage that could have inspired the Proverbs 31 woman!

They undoubtedly acquired knowledge in sewing, gardening, animal husbandry and food preservation. They must have been educated in the uses of herbs and plants (which they were probably quite proficient in as it was the only God-given food source at that time) for medicinal purposes. Let us not forget the art of making oil from olives, creating pottery for dishes and weaving for clothing.  These women must have been intelligent and skilled for didn't their very lives and loved ones depend upon it for survival?

Dear ladies, we must glean what we can from these godly women. Though little is said, much is known! Hard times were on the way and they were prepared. We are placed in a similar position. Is not Christ's coming closer each day? Are not the signs on the wall? Our future as His return comes closer, is actually likened unto the days of Noah:

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." ~ Matthew 24:37-39

Jesus tells us that some intense moments will appear as His return draws closer:

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." ~ Matthew 24:7-8 (The list goes on but I have shortened it for the sake of space.)

We are warned of the spiritual battle that will be taking place as well:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." ~ 2 Timothy 3:1-7

Are we prepared spiritually? Daily we hear of natural disasters, loss of jobs, sickness and immorality... Are we grounded in the Scriptures to stand strong when calamaties come and test our faith?  Fill your heart, soul and mind with His word. His truths will sustain you (John 8:31-32).

We are promised that it is not easy to follow Him (Luke 14:26-27). Ask Noah's daughter-in-laws if those days aboard the ark, mourning the loss of family members, with the waves crashing against them, pungent smell of animals twenty four hours a day and a lack of fresh earth under their feet was easy. When they landed, the hardships were not over, they had to begin civilization from scratch. These women were warriors of God!

In recent history, we can learn from the matriarchs who lived during the Great Depression. Many of the women were modern at this point in time, relying on the cities and stores to provide their needs. But, hard times came and they were able to put their tucked away skills to use. They planted victory gardens, preserved the bounty, brought small live-stock back into their decorative yards, fashioned clothing for their children out of feed sacks, they patched, scrimped, remade and repurposed.

We don't know what the future holds for any of us but the woman who is prayerful, prepared, skilled and works willingly with her hands, "has no fear for her household"… (Proverbs 31:21 NIV)

"She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come."

~ Proverbs 31:24 NIV

Dear reader, my purpose is not to scare you but to inspire you to embrace those lost arts and skills of the homemaker for we never know when they may prove useful in these uncertain times.

Will be linked up with the following:

Handful of Heart Link Up

Domestically Divine Tuesday

Raising Homemakers

Wise Woman Link Up

Deep Roots at Home

Homestead Blessings DVD Series

If you haven't yet heard of these videos, then I must introduce them to you since they have truly been a blessing in our household… (We own every single one!) I call them the "Proverbs 31 DVD's". The West ladies show mothers and maidens all kinds of homestead arts such as candle making, sewing, quilting, crafting, herbs, gardening, bread making, cheese making, etc., and all in an easy to understand way. You will walk away encouraged and inspired to implement some of these lost arts into your household. If you are already a veteran homemaker, then you will walk away with some great ideas. These young ladies are excellent examples for daughters which I really appreciate. Their modest dress, industrious hands, and their smiling faces presents very pleasant role models. So far there are 11 DVD's in this series. They are:

• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Bread Making
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Gardening  
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Canning  
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Herbs  
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Soap Making 
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Cooking
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Sewing
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Dairy Delights
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Candle Making
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Quilting
• Homestead Blessings: The Art of Crafting

They have also come out with a Homestead Blessings Cookbook that looks fun!

"She looketh well to the ways of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness."

~ Proverbs 31:27

The Hope Chest

GIRL INSPECTING HER HOPE CHEST by Poul Friis Nybo

These days, the thought of a hope chest leaves people thinking old fashioned thoughts. However, there is still a great use for these lovely boxes of carved wood for your daughters. They can be a special place to store special things for their future. Perhaps it won't be the exact items you would find a century back but it can be just as prized. Here are a few ideas of what you can store in them...

• Mother's favorite books of encouragement for her daughter to enjoy as an adult
• A special family Bible
• Scrapbook of her childhood pictures to treasure
• Scrapbook of family ancestors with interesting facts about their forefathers to share with future generations (like a picture style family tree with narration)
• Quilts that have been passed down or other family heirloom treasures
• Mother's wedding clothing
• Recipe book for her future household with all the family tried and true recipes (Printables here)
• Items that reflect your family culture (For example, if you are Russian you may want to put in some Russian nesting dolls, etc…)
• Store handmade objects that mother and daughter have prepared like potholders, tea towels, etc.
• A tea set

Some books that may enhance this project are:

• The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love by Rebekah Wilson (for older girls)
• The Running Rooster (Grandmother's Hope Chest, Volume 1) by Rebekah Wilson (picture books for younger girls)
• Lucie's Snowflakes (Grandmother's Hope Chest, Volume 2) by Rebekah Wilson (picture book for younger girls)
• Personal Help for Girls Hope Chest Series Volume 1 (Ages 9 & Up) by Pearables
• Preparing Your Hope Chest Volume 2 (Building a Foundation of Godly Character for Tomorrow's Mothers) by Pearables

"Faith is the very first thing you should pack in a hope chest."

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach


(Linked up to: Raising Mighty Arrows and Raising Homemakers)