The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-01

'CAy o'SAiy 'uAS, ssuS vi dCCouH'
of its size, the color being generally
white, it is apt to attract the eye. The
fashion for decoration has helped to
beautify many homes. and those who
have artistic taste and training may be
able to produce very beautiful designs,
and carry them out successfully. 1t is
not for such, however, that the follow.
ing suggestions are made, but for those
amateurs whose love for the beautiful
is unaccompanied by proficiency in art
execution, and yet who are willing to
take little trouble to decorate their
homes, if the doing of it be within their
capacity.
To begin with, therefore, the first
thing to be thought of in regard to a
door is to render it less conspicuous in
tone than the surrounding walls. and
to consider what color will best har-
monize with the furniture and general
aspect of the room. A newer and more
graceful fashion than painting directly
on the woodwork of the door is that Of
making a hanging, or piece of drapery,
to be fastened to the door, covering the
plain and uninteresting panels, and add
ing greatly to the beauty of room.
Need e-work, though always available,
has been so much written and talked
about. also practiced. that it is hard to
find anything new in that department;
but this idea recently introduced OF
ste,sciting, SO to speak, the patterns up.
on the material, gives beautiful effect
when carefully done, and is within the
power of any one to undertake, as not
the slightest knowledge of drawing or
painting is necessary, when the method
is clearly explained and understood.
In the first place, measure the door
to be ornamented, and in calculating
the size of the hanging remember that
it must be large enough to entirely
cover the panels, and should come to
within few inches, say six, of the out
side measurement of the door. Next
choose the material for the foundation
of the designs.
A beautiful effect is produced by Sc
Letting fine cheese. cloth, which is
very inexpensive; or, if economy is not
a consideration. still better, a soft,
partly silk nuns yelling, either to be a
soft ecru in color. If the material is
wide enough to allow of its being in
one piece, SO mncn the better; if not,
make the seam as invisible as possible,
remembering always that the drapery
is to hang slightly full when finished,
and that there must be an allowance of
an additional three:eighths of yard in
length beyond the actual space to be
covered on the door, for what use
shall be shown presently.
Next, stretch the material carefully
and smoothly on large wooden table,
and fasten it by paper or thumb tacks
so that the surface will no: be wrinkled;
then take some simple design which
will have good effect in outline, such
as daisy or sunhower, a ileur-de-lis, q
butterfly, a bird, or a star. Let us say
daisy, to begin with. Draw an out
line neatly on piece of card board,
the leaves as much as per-
missible; then cut it out carefully with
a sharp knife or scissors. Now there
are two ways of proceeding: one, which
is perhaps the easiest, we will describe
first After cutting out the flower so
as to leave q perfectly-shaped opening
in the cardboard, use this after the
manner of a stencil, laying it on the
cloth, and with fine sable or cancels
hair brush paint over the open space
with liquid gold paint. and remember
to follow the outline of the leaves care
fully with the point of your brush. Re-
peat this pattern at convenient inter-
walls all over the body of the hanging
until within three eighths OF q yard Of
the top. This space is to be turned
nuor onA vvn,,ot ho Inooroknl s. L.
same manner on the other side.
The other way of proceeding aand
which we think will be preferred by
some-is to take the cardboard flower
which is cut out, and trace its outline
with . pencil on the cloth; then ill in
this outline with the gold paint, cover
ing the pencil-mark. In either case the
design may be varied by making sew
eral flowers in different positions.
This, however, is matter of taste.
When the whole surface of the hang
ing is covered, that is to say, sprinkled
over, with golden daisies, several rows
of feather stitching in different colors
may be added at the bottom for q bor-
der, and one row in coral-color all
around the edge. Turn over the three
eighths at the top, and sew on a num-
Der of small brass or ivory rings. Fin.
ish both top and bottom with bullion
fringe, and fasten the hanging on your
door by means of q brass rod run
through the rings, seeing that there is
an equal distance from the outside of
the door on all sides. This new and
beautiful manner of decorating doors
must not be COMPOUNDED with the por-
there in its uses, which Is entirely diff
ferent. 'S w
These door hangings are very beauti-
fully made of plush or satin treated in
the same manner, the ground color
to accord with the rest of the
room. and the designs always in gold.
-HG,per's Bazaar.
Strong soft soap left q little while
on paint will usually soften it SO that it
can be washed of from wood or cloth.
Ing.