houston was an avid gardener. she was also active in the local community. houston founded "the mothers and daughters' club" with another woman of the cornish community, laura walker, wife of henry o. walker. the group was started with the goal of allowing the women who lived in cornish seasonally to become closer to the wives of the local farmers. the club involved group readings, travel talks, rug and carpet creation, and weaving. houston made designs for rug weaving, and those made by the club were sold starting in 1903. part of the purpose of weaving the rugs and carpets was to teach women about art.