The last empress, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, was a great artist. During her spare minutes she always embroidered, knitted, painted. She was always in the work.

This is confirmed by numerous sources, including photographs of the time.

The Empress was engaged in needlework during the trips on a yacht, and in her chambers, and any time when she had the chance. Hence it becomes evident that she loved needlework.

The Empress also taught her daughters not to sit idle.

The grand duchesses were to be always busy, always being in the action.

Their fast hands made wonderful works, embroideries.

The most skillful craftswoman in the family was Tatiana, tsar's second daughter. She loved to sew, knit and embroider.

Maria painted well.

And even naughty Anastasia sat quietly knitting.

The Empress founded the society of needlework, whose members had to make for the poor a certain number of things per year.

Since 1911 in many cities of Russia "Days of Flowers" were held, there were charity bazaars, buffets, concerts.

The Empress herself organized four big bazaars in favor of tuberculosis patients in 1911–1914; they raised a lot of money.

Along with the grand duchesses she thought about crafts, painted and embroidered for the charity bazaar in advance.

"Exhibition bazaars are very good. Our things are bought even before they are shown; each of us manages to produce a cushion and a tire every day," she wrote in her letter to the Emperor.

Perhaps there are families in which hand-made things of the Empress and her daughters, purchased at these fairs are stored and passed as heirlooms!

I would love to look at them!

Today, the Day of the White Flower is revived and is held in many cities of the country.

In the south imperial residence — the Livadia Palace — the holiday is held annually on the second Sunday after Easter, on the Day of the Myrrhophores.

I want to believe that the once-lost tradition will be reborn in our country and our families in full measure, the love of crafts, creativity and charity will return, we will be able to transfer this knowledge to our children, spending more time with them over the loved and useful activity.