An Easy Leisure Craft

Reading By A Window

by Charles James Lewis (c. 1850)

To make a box similar to the old confectioner boxes, it is just a matter of making a card a little larger than the top of the box. Use any box you wish, from a shoe box, to a tea box. On heavy scrapbook paper or textured card stock, trace around the top of the box. Click on the picture above, of the finished box, for a larger view.

Now cut with shaped scissors, a short length away from the lines, at least 1/2 inch.

Click on the picture for a closer view of the faux diamonds used as dewdrops on the roses.

To give the card a lace look, use your hole-punch near the scalloped edges. Place your art and scraps and paste down. Here you see those little glass stickers that look like diamonds, placed on the dew drops of the rose bouquet in the picture. Choose the shade of paper and the kinds of scraps you like. Here, I have used a ribbon rose bud, a clear glass button butterfly, and some scrapbook papers. I have outlined the middle picture with glitter glue.  On a strip of paper is a written verse, which is then torn around.

Wrap the box in wrapping paper or thin paper, to cover it up. Paste it on the lid of the box, and fill it with the things you wish to give (or keep).  This one is going to be a small afternoon tea for one: a tea bag, and some little bites of tea foods, wrapped in a pretty paper napkin. I will be giving it to a widowed friend.

This is done with a large square paper lace piece, glued on to mauve card board. There was a slight imprint of an oval, which I outlined with glitter glue. The roses are cut out of scrap paper, found at So Shabby Pink. This is then glued on the top of a square box, which is just a little smaller in size.

Here is what the vintage confection box replica looks like, from Victorian Trading Company. I have not seen it up close so I do not know what kind of materials it is made from, but this can give you an idea of what you can use to make this box: ribbons and bows and metalic pieces, crepe paper and cut-outs. Glitter paper from the glitter stack might work for this topper, if you use lots of thick white glue for the doo-dads.

Replica of Confectioners Box From Victorian Trading

with satin ribbon, mica flakes, silk flowers,scrapbook papers $12.94

On family vacation times, even at home, time was spent in leisure crafts. Whether it was a sewing or knitting project, or a paper craft, it was one of the highlights of vacation times. Even a day at the lake or ocean warranted a bag full of these wonderful leisure supplies, to pass an hour away while enjoying time off.

 It is a great benefit to children to find things to do for relaxation, such as reading, writing, or art work. A good book for boys, any time of year, is "The American Boys Handibook," a reprint of the original boy scout book, which has a lot of basic and good activities for boys, from building a bridge, to constructing a brush shelter. You could easily make a boy busy every day of the year with these kinds of projects:- The handibook for boys includes making a kite, a sturdy hammock,  making outdoor furniture, creating a large balloon, making a tent, and many more, some which are very adventurous.  Girls can use some projects in "The American Girl's Handibook."  Both are reprints from Dover. which you can order or find in your local museams.

There are a couple more great boxes like this, here  and here which use good scrapbook materials.
Check this out for supplies. It has everything you need to make the lid of one of these confectioner's boxes, including the punch that makes the edges look like eyelet, sparkling butterflies, and some decorated boxes.
This glitter painting is interesting.  Any kind of card makes a good top for a gift box.  These are all a lot more advanced. I have posted a quick an easy recipe for relaxation and leisure. I believe if the craft takes a lot of time and effort, it can become more like work. The ones I have made here were much more relaxing, and easy to teach children.  I have seen some of these on sites for schools, where children have made gifts for their mothers. Here is a beautiful box top  made with the faux jewels. This one has the scalloped edges. Watch the entire slide show for more paper ideas for box tops resembling the vintage confectioners boxes. This one is more complicated, and interesting.

I still remember carrying a box of sewing and knitting supplies, books, writing materials, and craft goodies, on a trip or just summer holidays at home.

Paintings by James Hayllar, 1829-1920

A Family Grouping

This might possibly be the family of the artist. The wood structure is a painting holder. The father is showing paintings to his child. A structure like this was in a scene of one of Emma movies, where she was showing some of her paintings to Mr. Elton.

Paintings of previous centuries tell stories of the way people lived. They were quite like us, in so many ways, especially in their loyalty to the family. I appreciate James Hayllar's portrayal of family members. The men look strong and trustworthy (respected and revered) and the women look beautiful and understanding: devoted to their homes.

All The World Over

Notice how he painted a replica of his own painting, "All the World Over" on the wall in the background, in this painting called  "The Letter."

Keeping Out of the Cold

I like the tenderness showing on the face of this woman, and I enjoy the simple staircase and window in the background. The clothing is not elaborate, yet it is very dignified. 

The Only Daughter

I also enjoy seeing the inside architecture of paintings like these, and the paintings in the background portraying relatives that lived before them. It was a custom to show respect for the grandparents by displaying their likeness.

Where The Good Way Is

A picture from a nearby view looks just like scenes from times past.

The theme of this blog is the old paths. Following the old paths means to place a high value on the teachings of the Lord. No matter how modern we get, and how many conveniences we have, and how smart a generation is, they still have to be reminded to go back to the old paths, where the good walk is, when it comes to living.

More scenery from a road shows the beauty of God's handiwork in the sky.

Here is a quick and easy project for the home. It is a verse that will always be true, throughout the generations. It is worth meditating on daily.

Click on the picture, above, and then highlight it or save it. It can then be printed to put in a frame.

Remove the backing and padding of an 8inch by 10 inch frame for this project. There is no need to remove the staples; just bend them back with a butter knife, and when you finish the project, take the handle of the knife and press them down again. Wood frames are available at the dollar stores. This is an old one that will be re-painted.

Paint with craft paints of any kind. This one is painted with a plastic type of paint that shines. Before it dries, sparkle or any kind of texture can be added.

To understand the concept of this verse, you have to go back to the time of Jeremiah. The old paths to the Israelites were, of course, the commands to live by; the warnings, admonitions to be wise, understanding and to seek knowledge of the scripture.  The term old paths in the context of this verse, means the trodden path of God's faithful people, with regard to their souls. Those who cannot understand the depth of this verse will erroneously conclude that it means you have to wear sandals and walk through the desert for 40 years and only eat manna.  It is a spiritual lesson, that implores God's people to stay with His divine teachings in choices and in thoughts and in deeds and obedience.

Framed verses like this speak to the heart of everyone in the home. For a boy's room, tinker with your own fonts and find an appropriate background and frame.  This one sits on my desk.'

For more cheerful ideas and enterprises, you can go to places like Make Mine Pink or Cottage of the Month

and Mantel of the Month and look through the archives for the month you are interested in. I am sure there are more home tours and house tours each month online.   

Treats for the House

You might enjoy making this simple little treat for the home. I used it in the last class for girls. It is made of cotton terry washcloths,  to resemble a delicious cream pastry.  Pair it with some hand made soap with shaped fruit bits in it, or get one of the bars at the dollar store. Serve it in a container that will sit nicely in the bathroom. It is a very cheerful thing for a home maker gift.

Here are some of the ingredients you can use. If you cannot find the washcloths you need, just buy a big pack of 12-24 for a mere $4.00 and use liquid or powdered dye to get them the shade you want.

Pick two cloths and fold each in half the long way.

Fold in half again, the long way, and roll up tightly, securing the ends with a little bit of clear tape.

To make this look nice, make sure the puffy folded sides are on the upper side which shows, and the seams are on the other side.

Then, tie a coordinating shade of satin ribbon, or a wired ribbon, around it, and insert some artificial fruit or berries to match. If you do not want to purchase anything like that and you are creative with fabric, try making a felt lemon slice, a cherry or strawberry, or a chocolate cookie, to use as a topper. Lacking that, you might be able to make something similar from fancy scrapbook papers and glitters, to tie on the top.

If you make your own soap, just insert a small fruit-shaped soap such as apple or lemon slice,  under the ribbon, and you have a lovely gift for your ladies Bible class or your next tea fellowship.  If the recipient is not adverse to scent, you could spray some chocolate or cherry spray on them, which is also something you can get at dollar stores.  There is one called "Cinnamon Roll" which would be nice with a matching cloth roll, topped with some cinnamon sticks.  Place each roll, seam side away from sight, in a plastic dessert dish that will not break, or in a tin of some kind. You can get quite imaginative with the kinds of containers you use for this gift.

I do have several more easy crafts, but as easy as they are, they sure are complicated to photograph and put on the blog, so it takes a lot more time than I had calculated.

Pretty Decoration or Gift

The Leisure of Home

1862  (English)

One of the many goals of house keeping is to allow time for other interests.  A woman at home can choose the best time for her work, to enable free time when she needs it. One suggestion that I had a few posts ago, was to leave the house fairly neat before retiring at night, allowing more time to relax in the morning.  

Since most people are trying to save money rather than spend it, it is important to make the home a place to relax and enjoy life. It is sad to see people work so hard for their homes and then have to take an expensive vacation to get away from it all.  In the past, women at home took part in many interesting activities. Housework was gotten out of the way in a reasonable amount of time so that they could sew, paint, write letters, read a book, or visit someone. 

Time should be taken each day to have a mini-vacation in the home or the surrounding area, without a great cost.  Instead of spending money on expensive vacations, why not purchase a few things that would bring greater pleasure at home: a new hobby or craft, new bath towels or sheets, a tray and tea set, and other luxuries that you would pay much  more for in a hotel.  This adds to the appeal of the home and to the enjoyment of the family.

Reading by a Window, by Charles James Lewis

(Women always knew how to find a bright corner in which to read, an occupation that is as relaxing as a vacation.)

Today there is a false view of leisure: that it must cost something. Yet, in the 1940's and 50's, even the poorest woman knew the joy of sitting in the shade of a tree, taking tea, sketching, or reading to her children. Knitting, sewing, and other crafts  have always been a relaxing, and women who did not have much in the way of material things, took great pleasure in them, without guilt or shame.

I grew up in the wilderness without the modern distractions, yet we knew how to be comfortable and how to find pleasure in nature and the things around us. Women at home have a better opportunity to find leisure in small ways. It is not something you have to "afford." It is something you make time for because it re-creates and refreshes your spirit.

Painting and different types of needlework, seemed to be common activities in the past.It seems that almost all young ladies in previous centuries  either knew how to paint or draw, write in journals, and sew. Young people became almost art-illiterate in the 20th century, as these courses were not offered any more. It is interesting to see the contentment in the faces depicted in the paintings by the artists of the times. Quiet hand work always brings a sense of serenity, if approached in the right way.

We can learn to relax and enjoy leisure time, even in hard times, by simply enjoying the beauty of life and the love of the family at home.

At First Glance

Isador Verheyden, 1890

Edmund Blair Leighton, 1896

Edmund Blair Leighton, 1894 

A few 18th and 19th century paintings, which show the contrast between the male and female appearance.  A class for young ladies was held recently, in which some of these kinds of pictures were shown to illustrate how opposite they dressed, and how we can immitate the beauty of the garments of the past for dressing today. At first glance, can you identify the men and women as male or female? Is it easy to tell the difference or do you have to look closer?  What is the difference between the way men and women dressed then, and now?  What kind of clothes create the manly appearance, what kind create a female appearance?  These were some of the things discussed in the class. Photographs from the period, and links, with further comments, to follow soon.

Edmund Blair Leighton, 1882

The Railway Station by William Powel Frith 1819-1909

Frith in His Studio , by Ballantyne 1815-1897

Edward Frederick Brewtnall  1846-1902

Alfred Augustus Glendenning 1861-1907

Alexander Rossi 1887 "Harford Couple and Their Children"

Senators in the mid-1800's

The Bible as Psychology

Homes as Art

Quiet Corner, a Cottage Near Dieppe

These paintings of homes, by Louis Aston Knight, (1873-1948) son of Daniel Ridgeway Knight, are amazing. Click on each picture for a larger view.

Flowers in Bloom

If you are homeschooling your children, this artist, and his father, would make good study material. Just look at the colour and the movement of the water. How did he do that? Some of the 19th century artists could make you smell the scent of spring or feel the temperature, by their careful brush strokes and placement of plants and streams.

 Apple Blossoms

These little scenes captured by the artist are just as precious to families today. They are symbols of what the word home really means: life and peace, happiness, loyalty, strong values taught by fathers and mothers. 

 Summer Garden, Normandy

The sentimental love and respect for the home, house and family is evident in so many paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries.

 Summer, Beaumont-le-Roger

It is possible that women do not understand contentment because they have never experienced real home living, as it once was.  These paintings bring back some of the memory of those days when women  were home.

 A Bend in the River

It is interesting to look at the houses and imagine what life was like when being the lady of the house was an honour and a high calling.

The Blue Cottage