The Seed Packet by Seed’s Gate Print Shop
The Seed’s Gate Print Shop Newsletter
Issue 02
Motherly Wisdom: The Proverbs 31 Woman
Motherly Wisdom Print - Cornflower Blue
Proverbs 31
“An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:10-31
A Road Map
The Lord works in mysterious ways. I have had a draft for this issue written for weeks - carefully edited and revised. Here at the time for it to be sent, I find I am in the midst of the exact struggle at the heart of this passage and my draft is no longer satisfying.
Proverbs 31: 10-31 describes a woman that is wise, honorable, and steadfast. She is not lazy nor indulgent but industrious, ambitious, and skilled with her hands. She lives her life with a proper fear of God, respects her husband, and provides for those under her care. Her conduct raises her in the eyes and hearts of her husband and children and the fruits of her works speak for her at the gates of Heaven. What a thing to strive for!
In the midst of a season where I have been struggling to desire the presence of our Father, choosing my own path instead of the road map His word provides us with… I must confess I have not been wise, honorable, or steadfast. I have felt buried by the stresses of the last few weeks: the physical stress that comes with growing a baby, preparation for that baby is moving at a snail’s pace, perpetually behind with the daily household chores, sicknesses requiring doctor visits and antibiotics, being stuck at home through all of it - missing the community the Lord has blessed us with…
If you are not rooted in the Word as seasons like these come around, it is easy to let the enemy whisper in your ear - to cause frustration and strife in the household. I have not been rooted in the word and I have allowed the enemy to speak into how our family has functioned the past few weeks. I have been shifting blame, accountability, and responsibility away from myself. A divided house cannot stand and the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. All that to say, I write from a place of having fallen short consistently over the last few weeks and even in just the last 12 hours. My shame at my conduct, so unlike the Proverbs 31 Woman, is fresh and my repentance ongoing.
I have read before that the Proverbs 31 passage is a descriptive passage, rather than prescriptive. Even so, there is quite a bit to unpack. I have to actively dismantle lessons of our culture to embrace the scaffolding of character our Father has provided here. It is a road map contrary to what the world would teach us is important in womanhood. This particular road map is not about the destination, as she is an aspiration that is rather unattainable. We should not expect perfection of ourselves as we will always fall short of the glory of God. However, if we use this path to inform our conduct as wives and mothers, I think we’ll find that the home we help make in the process will be one that is pleasing to God, full of joy - even in hard times. We regularly get it wrong. Even still, our marriage has been transformed by the Lord as we seek Him and we seem to find our way back to each other more quickly each time we stray from the path.
My last tidbit is a piece of advice I try to employ. Though it can sound somewhat secular, the matriarch of a family holds a special power. As the heart of the home, a wife and mother has a unique access to the family emotional thermostat. While Dad is leading the family righteously towards the Kingdom of God, Mom is helping set the tone for the journey. Ironically, the old adage of “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” holds a light of truth! When mom is gracious and steady, standing firm in Christ, the entire household is more apt to be gracious and steady as it follows Dad toward God and the pair form a stronghold that binds the family together. If mom is ungracious and rigid, rebelling against the leadership of her husband and not seeking conduct that glorifies God, the family will also rebel and things can quickly fall to pieces. So be a thermostat - not a thermometer - and set the temperature of the home to something pleasing to the Lord.
Easier said than done, I know! When the dishes are piling up, the kids are fighting, dinner is late or burnt (or both), and the husband has irritated us with something we won’t remember in a month… The Lord is our strength, our peace, our firm foundation. When we are empty, He can fill us. - We need only to look up, ask, and surrender.
This is the meat behind the small single flower that is the Motherly Wisdom Print. The first run of prints were finished in June of 2024. The print features an Aster flower, which symbolizes wisdom. I chose wisdom above the rest of the qualities because wisdom from the Lord undergirds her whole character. The original image in my head is the aster flower in cornflower blue. I hadn’t figured out or attempted two color prints at the time, so I finished it with watercolor. I love how the blue version with the corresponding blue matte and gold trim turned out.
I currently have a stock of around 21 Motherly Wisdom prints in various colors available for pickup asap (likely next week since we are still harboring illness). Customizations of color are available for a $10 fee and would have to be printed fresh so they come with a two week minimum dry time. If you wish to get one for yourself - or a friend - as a reminder to look up, seek the Lord, and the path He has set before us as wives and mothers, let me know!
I promised perks for my subs so if you’d like one, Seed Packet subscribers can get 40% off any MW Print. I couldn't find a way to make this discount work automatically on Square so DM for the discount! Before discounts - loose, unmatted prints are $15 and matted prints are $20.
Motherly Wisdom Prints
Ministry Note
This shop is first and foremost a ministry. If you know someone going through something that one of my pieces speaks to and might help them seek the Lord, please let me know! I would love to join in prayer for them and to be able to gift such pieces in hopes they put it where they will see it and be reminded of the Goodness of God in the depths of their struggles.
Sneak Peaks
Things around the household post June Market have been pretty quiet. The studio saw a small restock of the Stone Fort print and quite a few restful days full of resting, nesting and drawing, and not so restful days, full of sick kids, scheduled medication, and cancelled playdates. With a pending family addition, it will be a long while before anything but commissions see ink but here are some sneak peaks anyway!
A Lovely Commission Order
A bouquet of flowers representing a customer’s lovely children. A limited version of this print will be available in the shop eventually. I am so excited to see this one come to life!
Bible Story Minis!
I have aspirations of a cute little vending machine with mystery prints to have a market! I think it will appeal mostly to kiddos so what would be better than children’s bible stories? I am working to add a Gospel mini and a Loaves & Fishes mini! What is your favorite Bible story??
Piece 1 of Nacogdoches Series Part 2 - Azaleas
I am still tweaking but it will likely be another jigsaw piece.
Literary Posters!
Literature inspired fun pieces! This will probably never make it to lino but they have been fun design!
Upcoming Events
Baby Prep!!!
Seed’s Gate will NOT be at any upcoming markets as I am wrapping up a list of to-dos then the studio (and house as a whole) is transitioning over to baby prep! We are more than half way to baby boy’s arrival and there is so much to do!
Studio wise, I will be working on progressing with Commission Orders and keeping this email running. Otherwise things will slow down until well after baby gets here. I think a social media break is in the near future. I am looking toward potential markets maybe as early as December, maybe with some new stuff. If not, look for me around March or April next year!
Thank you so much for signing up and tuning in! I feel so blessed to be part of such a wonderful Jesus-loving community.
God be with you!
-Katlyn
Share & follow
Know someone who you think would love my art? Feel free to forward this newsletter!
Email: seedsgate@gmail.com
Website: Seeds Gate Print Shop
Etsy: SeedsGatePrintShop
Insta: @seedsgate
FB: @seedsgate
