Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-15
HOME TOPICS.


Notes on Household Decoration.
A handsome and yet simple, easily
made soia-cushion cover is made Of one
square of satin on this smbroider n
spray of flowers; it may be done with
Kensington stitch and crewels or with
the popular ribbon embroidery. Finish
the edge with cord or with fringed
silk.
| Pretty and odd chairbacks are made OF
squares of linen and Of satin. This seems
| at first II strange combination, but the
effect is excellent Where the squares
are joined, cover the seams with fancy
stitches. The satin squares may be left
without ornamentation, and all the work
be put on the linen ones. Embroidery,
or painting, or etching are the favorite
methods employed.
A pretty way to cover chair cushion
is to knit stripes OF zephyr worsted or OF
yarn in different colors. Suppose you
have three stripes, one Of red, one of
blue, and the third Of black, knit them
together put them over the cushion, and
at each corner fasten q scarlet bow, or,
instead of bows at the four corners,
cord and balls made of worsted look very
pretty at the two front corners This
cushion has soft, warm look which is
appreciated in winter.
1t is sometimes hard to know Just what
to put at the windows in basement din
ing room shades make the room too
dark, and much drapery has the same
bad effect For this purpose one salts
factory way is to get two breadths of dot
ted white muslin for each window, make
bo1-pleats ut the top, have the muslin
about three-quarters Of yard deep, and
let it hang loosely at the bottom. They
look very pretty from the street, and there
is no objection to them in the house.
A tasteful way to arrange the narrow
curtains at each side of hall door is to
make them of muslin or Of lace gather
them at the top and bottom have the
muslin full. About midway between the
top and the bottom tie q ribbon around
the muslin, maze pretty bow and let it
come next to the glass. Tie the ribbon
so close that the muslin will be drawn in
at the centre f; let the muslin hang loose
ly and gracefully, not in stiff folds. If
there are no other windows in the hall,
plenty of light will be admitted by this
arrangement. Dotted muslin is prefer
red to plain.
An ingenious way to make pair of
vases appear to be larger than they really
are is to get two blocks of wood, in size
and shape about like quart bowl, leav-
ing space large enough to get the vase
in and have little margin cover them
with plush, and put one at each end of
the mantel Curious vases OF bronze or
brass show to good advantage on these
little pedestals. The base must be large
enough to give an impression of strength
and safety. A round piece of plush may
be used to cover them, laying it in plaits
where it Is necessary.
A pretty hair-pin box is made by taking
four of the small Japanese fans, which
are about eour or five inches across. Tie
the handles together close to where they
join the fans. These handles make four
little legs for the box to stand on. Catch
the fans together with a few stitches of
black thread, and you have delicate but
very pretty ornament for the dressing
table. If you use fans trihe larger
than those mentioned here, small PASTE
board box can be set Within and 30 it can
be used to put small articles of jewelry
in.
A handsome sofa pillow il made of
plush the color of n robins egg. Take a
oluuie VI t'lo lpi tIc CtllbTe, hlu bIllhlleT
squares for the corners. The sides are
handsome when made of old-gold bro
cads or satin. Trim the edge with short
but full and feathery fringe, or fringe
made of small towels these may be of
silk or crewel. Make fiat cushion OF
ticking, and, if you can afford to do 80,
fill it with feathers even hens feathers
are better than the curled hair which is
commonly used for this purpose. Cover
the under side with felt, or with Canton
flannel of old goldor of the blue to match
the plush The reason for filling the
cushion with feathers is to give it an ap-
pearance of softness and pliability. The
day for hard, unyielding cushions is hap
PLY over, and to be in good form one
must at least look us if it may be used
for comfort The plush mny be orna-
mented with embroidery or painting, but
is handsome without.
miscellaneous Receipts.
Al