What's so significant about the resources she collects? Plenty! There was great wisdom in the choices that she made. You'll see both not only have many uses that benefit her family, but they also have a strong Biblical sigificance as well, providing us with some awesome spiritual parallels.
WOOL
Wool comes from sheep. Lanolin can be gleaned from wool in it's earliest processing stage (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool). Lanolin is used in a lot of creams and lotions and has healing properties (it's actually used as a cream for breast feeding moms). Wool is hypoallergenic, has dual thermal properties (holds heat in, keeps heat out), flame resistant (firefighter garments today are made from wool), absorbant (the earliest cloth diapers were made from wool), breatheable (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool).
The spinning process of wool helps "the individual fibers attach to each other, so they stay together" (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool). The little fibers are coarse and help them stick together when spun. Because of it's thickness and durability, wool was used by Roman soldiers as a breastplates. There is strength in unity!
Hold on while I toe the line of cheesy--I want you to grasp this! God's Word gives us the picture of Jesus, The Lamb of God. He's our Provider and He does so in many unique ways. He's not limited to Savior alone. He clothes us in His own garments, the "wool" of Himself. He's the Healer Who soothes us with His healing balm. We who are clothed are able to soak in His Spirit, to "absorb" all He has for us. He provides us with our Breastplate of Righteousness because He gave His life for us. It quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy. He holds us together in the fibers of His love. We are strengthened because of Him.
FLAX
Flax is planted in winter and harvested in late spring. It has "long strong fibers" that can be used for many things. lt also has "sky-blue flowers that open only in the morning...one of the most beautiful of all crops when flowering" (https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/flax.php). One of the best times I personally can meet with God is the morning. There is something to be said about starting my day in presence of God, giving Him the first fruits of the day that seem to set the tone for the rest of the house ("If mama ain't happy...").
There is a tedious sun bleaching process flax must undergo before it can be worked into something new. A woman of noble character is not above the process; the harvest of blessings she is able to give her family is worth the effort. Physically and spiritually--do not despise the process.
"The scientific name of flax is Linum usitatissimum. Usitatissimum means 'most useful'" (https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/flax.php). Flax seed is a food source, linseed oil comes from this plant, it's stems can be used as wics for lighting, measuring lines, and the most important linen.
"The Scriptures teach explicitly the significance of linen when used as clothing; it is the righteousness or righteous acts of saints. Put another way, it represents personal holiness and suggests that the person clothed in linen is in a condition suitable to approach God. In fact, one of the synonyms for a priest is one who 'wears the linen ephod'" (https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/flax.php).
A woman of noble character helps oversee the holiness in her home. We are not off the hook letting our husbands (or even the church) take full responsibility.
In wisdom the woman of noble character selects the right resources that will benefit her family in a variety of ways. Specifically clothing. How we clothe ourselves matters to God. Wrap yourself, your family, in Him.
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:13-15)
"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)
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