Things the Colonists did as a way of life are becoming a lost art. They often worked on these projects in the evenings as they sat in front of the fire and relaxed from a hard day's work. Now, we have television to entertain us.
Calligraphy
Calligraphy was the form of writing in colonial days. Handwriting practices now are barely legible, let alone beautiful. There are books that teach people write in the fashion of the colonial times. You can also find video series and classes that offer instruction into this delicate form of handwriting. Practice your calligraphy when sending notes, making place cards for seating arrangements and or as decorative writing underneath framed artwork.
Punched Tin
Punched tin has become popular in kitchens today. Tin was something that was inexpensive to the colonists. They used it for dishes, lanterns and for decorative cabinet doors. You can now purchase kits that come with the tin, tools and templates for making your own punched tin cabinet door fronts or other decorations.
Quilting
Quilting was a way for the colonists to recycle old fabric and torn or outgrown clothing. They would meticulously save any scrap of fabric that still had wear left in it. Quilts were a necessary part of life in the colonies as they prepared for cold winters. The batting of the colonists was not the polyester batting of today. It was often a blanket or several blankets that had worn thin. Visit craft stores to find books on quilting and make a cover for your bed or just a small lap quilt to use on cool winter evenings.
Cross Stitch
Many colonial young girls spent their evenings in front of the fire practicing their cross stitching. Most of these girls started with a sampler and worked their way up to harder projects. They embroidered cross-stitch patterns on pillowcases and linens of all types. These linens were then carefully packed away in the girl's hope chest to await the day she became a wife and needed them for her own household. Craft stores offer all sorts of cross stitching patterns from small pieces for the beginner to large works of art for the seasoned cross stitcher.
