PrincipledMom™

I have been pursuing art in the paper medium, but lately I have been very interested in something more, shall we say, domestic? I have been perusing the web for some vintage patterns for my kitchen towels and other projects. Some links I have found myself frequenting include:

Primrose Design Stitch School has amazing tutorials on about twenty stitches and they are not to be missed. If you have wanted to teach your daughter or granddaughter some needlework, don't miss it (check her sidebar).

Pattern Bee vintage redwork and needlework patterns. They also offer some freebies and also an embroidery primer to teach you several stitches while creating some cute projects. Your daughter might enjoy them.

One Hour Craft has lots of great things to make. Not all needlework, but fun to check out.

Nordic Needle has many types of supplies and books. I am interested in the Hardanger embroidery, as my great-grandparents immigrated from Norway and Denmark and this type of embroidery is very Scandinavian.

As for sewing inspiration, please, please visit Posie. Her little textile goodies are too yummy to miss!

And while we are on the sewing subject, I must mention one of my favorite mags on the topic--Quilting Arts.

I will post some great links for knitting (especially for you lefties--like me!) and other wholesome pastimes.

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I have been reading through a book online and was so pleased with it that I have ordered a copy from Amazon. The Mother at Home; or the Principles of Maternal Duty by the Rev. John S.C. Abbott is wonderful. You can see it all online here.
Flip through it and enjoy his instruction.

It is full of practical help and insight into the role and importance of the mother in the home (as our first sphere of government, right?).

Here is a quote concerning Washington that gives all mothers cause for pause:

The mother of Washington is entitled to a nation's gratitude. She taught her boy the principles of obedience, and moral courage, and virtue. She, in a great measure, formed the virtue of the hero, and the statesman. It was by her own fire-side that she taught her playful boy to govern himself; and thus he was prepared for the brilliant career of usefulness which he afterward pursued. We are indebted to God for the gift of Washington; but we are no less indebted to him for the gift of his intestimable mother. Had she been a weak, and indulgent, and unfaithful parent, the unchecked energies of Washington might have elevated him to the throne of a tyrant; or youthful disobedience might have prepared the way for a life of crime and a dishonored grave.

 I love the language of liberty in this description. We should all keep in mind what Ms. Dang referred to as "the power of one." Mrs. Washington understood this principle and a nation was born as a result.

This also reminds me of a passage in T&L by Rev. S. Phillips: "'...when there is a Sarah in the house, there will be an Isaac in the cradle; wherever there is a Eunice teaching a Timothy the scriptures from a child, there will be a Timothy teaching the Gospel to the rest of mankind....'" (p. 11)

I cannot wait to get my copy to mark up and highlight!

Anna-Marie

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