put your hands to work and your hearts to God said Ann Lee to her followers Those words were taken seriously by the Shakers who were very hardworking people In order to be self-sufficient the shakers grew their own food wove their own cloth and made their own tools utensils and handicrafts They made chairs buttons tubs baskets smoking pipes pens brooms brushes hats shoes and handwoven coats Although simple and plain these were of the highest quality and the Shakers soon became famous for their superior products.