| Author | |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 2:04pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
... is celebrated throughout a gorgeous book I just spent time "devouring"! The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art and the Comforts of Home by Jane Brocket is a book I wished I'd written. It glories in being domestic, making the home beautiful and comfortable and lovely and cozy and just a joyful and joy-filled place!
Brocket is British and both her writing style and domestic style are sophisticated and quirky and lovely. She talks about paintings and fibers and cooking and gardening and loving being home when the kids are home and giving them warm-from-the-oven real cookies ... and encouraging the kids to be creative.
Brocket raises the domestic arts to a true art form -- the book is gorgeous with amazing photographs of the simpler things but in a stylish, bright and lovely way.
I love what she says about domesticity:
Quote:
The gentle art of domesticity is the felicitous application of practical skills to the spaces in which we live. It requires a desire to make instead of consume, a triumph of activity over passivity and a return to using our hands and imaginations rather than a reliance on screens and technology. It's part of that wonderful, traditional, often undervalued skill of making our own entertainment. |
|
|
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sarah
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1624
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oooh, Mary I like that quote. I'm definately going to look for this book. Thank you. Maybe after I get it and read it we can come here on the forum and discuss specifics of what we do in our own homes and other specifics.
Thanks!
__________________
Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
trish
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 11 2007
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1538
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Sounds like a book after my own heart! Thanks Mary...I'm off to look for it. 
__________________
~ Trish ~
Wife to Les
Mom to 8 Wonderful Kids
+AMDG+
Saintly Soaps
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 4:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you for such an uplifting mention of this book, Mary.
I have had it in my Amazon basket for awhile, having seen it mentioned somewheres. I've put off ordering it because:
1) There's always another book to order
2) My husband thinks I'm eccentric because I order books about pantries and aprons and cookbooks
3) I wasn't sure how "good" of a book is was
I trust your opinion though and will keep it bumped up on my shopping list.
I can always tell my dh that my bday is in two months. 
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
missionfamily
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1859
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, it looks just lovely....so many pretty images on the cover alone! I think I may have to save this one for my birthday in April, the price tag what it is and all...but if a little extra cash shows up, I'm all over it!
__________________
Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Feb 14 2009 at 6:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
As soon as I saw this I requested it from the library! Looks wonderful!
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: Feb 16 2009 at 2:01pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I personally didn't really like the book. To me it had a very smug, middle-class tone. The domestic artists I know all do their "art" on TIGHT budgets and still do it beautifully, each in her own unique way. I get much more encouragement (for free!) from the blogs of Christian wives, mothers and homemakers, who do it for God's glory and because it is their "job" not just a fun hobby. I think if you read her blog you get the same things in the book, for free - it seemed that way to me: I was quite shocked that the book was so much her blog on paper. Not knocking anyone else's opinion - just sharing mine.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Waverley
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 12 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 476
|
| Posted: Feb 16 2009 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Now I really can't wait to read the book and the blog!
My library has the book. Lucy, do you have a link to her blog?
Sarah, I think your idea about reading it and then discussing it together is a good one.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 16 2009 at 8:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think this is the blog - Jane Brocket.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: March 10 2009 at 8:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just got this book from the library (there were a few holds in line ahead of me!).
I have really enjoyed it. I realize its probably all on her blog, but I really like that its like a blog in a book  I find it so much more cozy and peaceful to curl up with the book than to navigate a blog. Flipping pages instead of waiting for them to load  I find it inspiring even though my tastes aren't exactly like hers--it seems to encourage individiual creativity instead of activities to replicate. And I love all the book and movie recs and the grown-up picture studies. Its a nice balance of good taste and intelligent insight/discourse without being hoity-toity, iykwim.
Thanks for the recommendation, Mary!
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Servant2theKing
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1505
|
| Posted: March 10 2009 at 4:45pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you for sharing about this book, Mary! My brain, and budget, have been overtaxed lately, while working on book purchases for the upcoming homeschooling year (thanks to tax refunds). I just requested the book from our library and am looking forward to some inspiration in the area of domesticity...I've been somewhat exhausted and less-than-inspired during the past year. I really appreciate you passing this along!
__________________
All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Loveliness of being domestic ...
