Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-23
Tasteful Trines.

"HOw wish l could make some Of
the many pretty things in the way Of
baskets, boxes and other dainty triiles
that are Just now displayed in the shop
windows" was the remark we heard
one lady make to another a few days
ago. She continued, "Of course the
expense of buying one or two is not
great, but as soon as you have had a
chance to admire the pretty effect OF
one, you want another 10 beautify some
other spot, and before half the selec-
tions one would like TO make are de-
cided upon, the sum demanded prevents
her completing the list even mentally"
Now we heartily sympathize with this
lady in her desire to possess a share OF
the tasteful articles of use and beauty,
which at this particular season of the
year are so prominently displayed, and
think that the directions we are enabled
to give her in regard to the construction
of some of them will be duly appreci-
ated by many others, especially those
who are where such things are not to be
found.
Among the articles that attract us as
much by its convenience as for its
pretty effect, is scrap basket. The
latest style is made of rattan, and is
round, hexagonal, Octagonal or cubical
in outline. The shape that is most pre-
ferred is from ten to fifteen inches in
height and flares slightly towards the
top. 1t is four-sided, and sometimes
has handles and sometimes has not. 1t
is plain enough affair before it is or
namented, but the addition of the
decorations changes its appearance very
much.
Make any combination of ribbons,
either gros-grain or plain, of harmonic
ing or contrasting cOlors. Draw around
the outside of the base and upper edge
ribbon of the same or different colors.
Both of these should be embroidered
with colored silks or worsteds, in some
fancy odd stitch. Between these the
basket should be trimmed with alternate
embroidered and plain bands. The
plain is slipped in and out the frame
work of the basket.
Blue, gold and black; garnet, gold
and pink gold and navy blue are pretty
combinations of colors, and all of then
will bear contrast with the tints used il
embroidering floral designs. But &
small quantity of ribbon is required fol
such basket, and the foundation cost
only a little, and so for a very small
sum one may be procured that, i
bought already trimmed, would cos
from five to ten dollars.
Strips of cashmere, flannel, silk, oI
some similar texture, with the edge
turned in and feather-stitched, anI
having some odd figures embroidered
along the center, may be used insteaC
of the wide ribbon for the Outsid
bands; and narrower braids in contrast
ing colors may take the place of thu
interlacing ribbons. The expense o
the latter mode is still less than tn,
former-indeed, outside the cost of tn
basket itself, amounts to but a few cents
while the effect is very attractive. Ant
even the small expense of the baske
may be avoided by taking an old 70
new) peach basket and polishing it ul
with paint or varnish. The latter tinisl
is preferable because 1t retains its woo'
color.
Satin ribbon is one of the most fash
ionable decorations, and is usually Sc
lected in two or three widths and thu
same number of colors. One very prett,
example is bordered around the bas
and all along the upper edges with
quilting of narrow blue ribbon, an'
close to the bottom a band of garne
satin ribbon, two inches wide, is draw
around the outside. Next to this blu
ribbon about an inch wide is laced il
and out through the rattans, being LEI
loose enough to appear like little puffs
A band of black velvet, embroidere'
with daisies in silk floss, is now draw
about the outside, and next 10 this
another lacing of blue satin, follOwe
by another band of embroidered velvet
} and lastly another row Of the broad gar
net ribbon. Upon two corners of tn
: basket are fastened bows of garnet an
! blue ribbons. If the basket has han
! dies, the bows may be fastened upo
! them. The Countryside.