The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-27

On examining the long delicate curs that
form beneath the carpenters plane as he
swiftly passes it over the slab of white pine, we
can easily imagine that q naturally inventive
genius might readily create some ornamental
class OF work from such. fine material. 1t was,
therefore. with real satisfaction and but little
surprise that, upon looking at number of ele-
CANT fancy articles short time since, we
found they were made of pine shayipgs bv
German artists.
Thsee articles consisted Of a pair of photo
graph frames, card basket, set of toilette
cases, and large jardiniere; but many other
household elegances may be ornameuted with
the delicate and exquisitely colored wood shaw
ings, and fertile imagination will readily con.
ceive and create new forms of beauty after once
learning the art.
The materials and implements. required for
this beautiful work are neither numerous or
expensive. consisting of the shavings them
selves, some fine white glue, sharp-pointed
knif-, the smallest-sized brad-awl or stiletto a
pa'r OF sharp-polnted scissors, needle and thread
and the best daRmar varnish
person with some artistic skill NAV IN AXE
the articles still more effective by finishing
them up with colors either in Indian ink and
Sepla or UNITS IN Water-colorS,
Aa the most simple piece Of work we will
nrss describe the card-basket, to make which
take number of half inch shayings, or divide
those cut with one-inch plane, and having a
wooden or china bowl of size desired, and with
rounded bottom, use 1t as mould over which
TO FORM the basket Take two strips of shaw
ing, and measuring round the top of the b wi.
allow little for overlapping, and form tn EN-
into hoops, sewing the ends together. Place
the shaviDgs in clear cold water for fifteen
minutes, then dry out the superfaous moisture
Dy placing them in the folds of a soft cloth !:
this will render them SO piiable that thew can
% readily curved into graceful form and easily
sewed with needle and thread.
In selecting the shavings take those of the
pest color and uniform thickness for it will pe
golden, pale straw and bnff-with rich mark.
ings OF orange and brown, which when finished
are as hne as rich autumn leaves
Gut Cardboard pattern of a leaf, using some
sun conventional form rather than an irregular
natural one; for instance, let it be tor basket
one foot in diameter) about four inches long.
TWO inches wide at bottom, gradually sloped
and gracefully curved out to four inches at two
tniros OF the length, then cut straight (horzou-
aai'y) Ior haii an inch, and gradually rounded
up to point in the centre.
-Four OF these are to be glued together plsc-
ing rough and smooth side together, and put
ting the TWO upper ones on a smooth board. A
midrio is cut out from the centre, the incision
ooine aoout tuo sixteentn OF an inch in the
ceItre, and gradually diminishing to a mere
slit about half inch from each end. OF course
these leaves must be very accurately cut aud
carefully glued, using enoug liquid to merely
cover the surface, then applying a heavy
Weignt to press out all supertaous moisture,
which must be wiped off with damp spou ge
or cloth. While damp these leaves should be
carved into graceful shape, so that when sewcd
round the hoop at the top they will turn over
toward the bottom.
.mjd chap
which is formed in double layers, and woven
into "lattice'' or "baskel" work over the bowl.
and sewed between the hoops at the top, A
long one (thlrty inches, more or less) extends
across the centre, and over the top to form a
handle, the ends being united in the centre,
and leaves OF three sizes sorDamentipg each side,
commencing with two large ones at the edge of
the basket, and two smaller ones above, and
the third and smallest near the CENTRE ali the
points turning downward, and the ends united
at top. where band of shaving, notched out
on each edge, covers the ends and stitches The
basket thus formed, paint it over with layer
OF thlck, smooth gum-arabc mucilage, aud
place In tbs bowl until dry, when it will be
quite Stiff and firm; then finish with two coats
OF dammar yaruish, and when dry, adorn with
Dows of ribbon on each side and on top, and
fu.l quilting or ruching of inch. wide ribbon
around the inner edge.
A shallow basket six inches in diameter,
made over round dish, makes a beautiful
carc-recelver, aud wooden bowl, ornsmented
as Just described, will form an elegant hanging
basket for growing plants, the white wood pre-
sentlDg charming contrast to the verdure and
bloom falling about it.
|. The picture frames were made of plain pine
wood, and were embellished with narrow
edge OF shaving cut in points one inch iu
length and half an inch wide; then clusters of
marguerites, made by sewing the damp pliable
shavings, cut into innumerable slender petals
on circles of Acknowledgements Bazaar