The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-06
DECORATIVE NOVELTIES.


At arecent dinner party the ladies amused them
selves in the evening by making imPromPiu lamp
shades, go novel, so easy, and 80 pretty that will
begin my paper by describing them. sheet OF
ordinary coorcd tissue paper is taken, folded once
and held IN the thumb and finger Of the left hand,
like . pocket handkerchief. IL Is then drawn
through the right hand. from top 10 bottom, over
aud over again, till il Is mere wisp. An inch is
cut Of the point at the top 10 form the hole for the
chimney oi the lamp TO pass through. The paper
u then spread out, and falls in four graceful crimp
ed points. The shade Is complete and when dex-
tcrously put over the globe before the lamp 10
turned up very bright throws pretty, subdusd
light. Flax, pale green. yellow, or violet are all
favorite colors; and when two or moro coors are
put over each other, the effect is very pretty. IL
is thus easy 10 vary the lamp shades, and 10 have
selection Of NIL colOrs In reserve. The soft, sub
dued light Of the shades 10 pleasant, and at the
same time becoming. Pretty shades can be made
Of gold paper. with delicate fern fronds or ivy
leaves, first pressed and partially dried, and then
gumm ed on anu vanished, an edge Of light lace
added round at the last. Old diseoored shades
can be re covered, and thus renovated. with ad-
vantage. Gold paper 10 much used for decoration
just now. | saw veiy handsome glass standing
screen the other day with ferris on gold paper,
between the glass. aud smaller one arranged in
the same way with scawceds Both were the work
Of a lady. The panels of door and cupboardin in
n .mail sitting room were filed in with gold paper.
and were covered with fern specimens and ivy
leaves. artis,ically arranged and vanished. The
elect was exceedingly good. Little table mats.
with border of small ivy leaves either real or
artificial. look pretty under glass vases. The gold
paper must be gummcd on TO cardboard and well
pressed. The cotninon. cheap rush. or Zulu hats.
which have been 80 popular all the summer for
country and seaside wear. are now being turned
To- account a. work baskets They are lined with
color. held by broad ribbon attached 10 the
crown AMI sides. finished on in a bow. and orna-
mcntei with some floral dcsign in odds and ends
Of wool. Most oi them gidc'l. and the favOriie
decoration is bunch Of poppies on one side
Liquid gold il quite electual for gliding them
Sometimes they have u wire round the edge and
are bent and instead Of worked flowers have n
cluster of artificial one. sewn on. The other kind
oi rush basket which la. been in vogue for some
time now. can be improved By running broad
c,iorcI ribbon or velvet in and out, and adding
bows AZ the handles. some an;imacassars were
.hoNn me the other Day. half Of blue satin and half
e black, edged with gold lace. and large mono
gram worked in gold thread in the centre. The
two pieces of latin were cut like half handkercheis
and joined. The monogram was between four and
five inches long. and almost a. broad. In the sanc
rsoin the curtains were of broad blue and black
strirc.. with pattern worked IN gold ami jet beads
on the black stripes and on each broad band loop.
Ing back the curtains was the same large gold
monogram On the an;imacassars. The effect.
especially a. night. o.. the bead embroidery was
beautiful. The lace curtains were biue. in.
stead Of being white. i novelty in the way Of
curtains the lace ones. in colprs. Dask blue
and brown are the only cploTs ] have seen a. yet.
except the l.,ht blue ones. which were specially
dyed for tie roon. /; i. easy enough TO gs, the
white ones died almost any color. according 10
fancy. and the eioc; i. very pretty. well as un
common. Velvet panels at distances round the
room look wcl! 10 arraagc china aal cuTiosiies
The velvet can either be simply stretched over
wool. or finished of With narrow gold beading.
A narrow up the side of mirror a man
tclsheli looks well. and shows Oa choice bits of
china To advantage. Velvet painting is beginning
TO attract attention. and on panels is most elective.
II is TO be seen now on valances, cushions. small
panels Of cabinets. and framed on walls. ! saw u
very beautiful quilt the other day. composed of
painted stripes Of cream velvet. and plain alter
nate stripes of dark red. IL was intended as q
wcidin; present. The centre stripe had been
painted many wears ago. and served as copy for
the others. Dados on celored sheeting. worked
with purple iris. or u design oi bird.. water ami
rushcs look well in small rooms. These worked
daios are particularly suited 10 a navel officers
cabin. and would be n very acceptable present.-
Pcrhap. this may be suggestion. a. inquiries
have appeared from time Go time asking tor nov
cities. White window blinds are rendered very
ornamental by having two rows Of crcwcl work
traced ami worked down them. lnn; Of green
;ammy should be added a; the back. and piece
Of lace a; the bottom. some kind, look well with
q horizontal banl Of work Just above the fall Of
lace. a bani q muslin insetiion sewn on. and
broad colorcl ribbon passed IN and out. Painting
the panels OF warirubcs i. being much ioae jus;
now. and in order 60 facilitate the work. and make
IL convenient for the artists, the panels cut out
and made 10 ias;cn in from the back by a carpen-
ter. Little curtains Of chiniE hung in the empty
space till the panels are ready. Il is very pleas
ant work.