New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-01-18
HOLIDAY GIFTS.

uerS the Sut)ecC OF guCS one OF special
prominence in thousands of households,
since the custom of bestowing some little
present, however humble, upon the
members OF the family, is well-nigh
universal among civilized nations.
Materials for many economical and
tasteful gifts can be gathered from the
fields and woods, and you cannot begin
to make your collections too early in the
season.
Scarcely anything will come amiss-
MOSES, ferns, acorns, leaves, cones,
shells, ichen-bark, sea-mosses, ETC., etc.
From birch-bark a great number of
useful as well as ornamental presents
can be made, such as wall pockets,
holders for shaving paper, pockets for
whisk-brooms, card baskets, napkin
rings, etc.
A pretty set of table-mats can be
made by weaving the dark and light
shades of bark together, and edging off
with moss or fluffy worsted fringe.
Last year I made pair of vases of
birch-bark, cutting four shapes, and a
bottom piece for the stand, tying the
edges together with ribbon-loops, and
''pinking'' the bark at the top. The
face was ornamented with pressed
ferns, glued on, and when finished 1
filled each vase with bright autumn
leaves.
Covers for flower-pots can be made
in the same manner, with the exception
of the bottom piece, which of course is
not needed. The bark will bear split
ting many times when it is desirable to
have it thin.
Wall-pockets for music, letters, cards
or newspapers are tasteful and useful,
and easily made. There is wide range
of material from which to choose
cardboard, perforated board, in white,
gold, blue, silver and birch-bark.
have also seen very pretty wall
pockets made from the large, square
handkerchief-boxes, which merchants
are quite willing to part with when
empty. When the board or bark is to
be cut, one can choose any pattern
which pleases the eye.
Those who understand ''spatter-
work. can ornament plain white card
board to great advantage. A tastefully
arranged group of ferns gives, perhaps,
more satisfaction to the ''spatterer'
than cluster of leaves.
The ferns should be fastened on the
cardboard with small pins, at every
point, until the whole lies perfectly fiat.
Prepare in saucer some India ink,
moderately liquid; dip into it an old
toothbrush, and cause it to spatter, by
drawing it across the teeth of a comb.
If the ink is just right, the spatters
will be very fine and light; if too liquid,
they will be large and unequal. Begin
scattering at the center of the group,
making it darker just about the ferns
by successive applications.
The same kind of ornamentation up.
on linen, with indelible ink, is pretty
for tides, tOilet-sets, protectors for the
washstand and pin-cushion covers.
Inexpensive hanging baskets can be
made by covering goblets from which
the stands have been broken, with a
little net of crocheted worsted, gathered
with cord at the bottom, and hung up
with cords from the top.
A piece of pasteboard run about the
top of the cover renders it firmer. Wan
dering Jew, or Inch plant, will grow
finely in these goblets, if they are kept
full of water.
For a court-plaster case, take two
pieces of white cardboard, four by three
inches; work simple pattern around
the edge of each with split zephyr or
colored silk; put the initials of the one
who is to receive it on one side, and on
the other, work in small letters, Il heal
all wounds save those of love-" or;
II pin or knife should thee offend
This little case relief will lend.''.
Bind together the two sides and one
end with narrow ribbon, or overcast
them with worsted or silk. Attach
loops of ribbon to the TOP, so that it may
be hung on the bureau or gas-pipe.
To fill it, take two visiting cards of
the same size, put colored and white
court plaster between them, cut q hole
through them all on one side, and tie
with narrow piece of ribbon to fasten
them, letting loop hang out. Slip
this into the case.
Very pretty baskets can be made
from the crowns of old straw hats.
Bind the edge of the crown with rib
bons of any shade you like, or line the
whole as you would hat. Work a
stem on one side of green worsted, cut,
from red or green flannel, number of
leaves, and sew them on the stem,
working little tendril of a contrasting
color in the centre of each.
Press the crown together so that flat
side will hang against the wall. Put on
loops of worsted or twisted worsted,
and finish off with tassels. Filled with
dried ferns or grasses, this is beauti-
full ornament.
Cases for holding shaving-paper can
be cut from cardboard in any shape
stars, hearts, large leaves, or scoliops.
The white or colored tissue-paper must,
of course, be cut of the same shape,
and fastened between with a ribbon.
The case can be ornamented with trans
fer-pictures, pen-and-ink sketches, a
fOwer-painted in water-colors-or
spatter work.
Dolls that little folks thoroughly en-
joy can be made of cotton-batting.-
Have small roll of paper for founda-
ton. Cut frock from the wadding,
and sew it on the paper at the top, or
AAe@AAASAoAS OAO OuSC VI GAlC uCClc SklTt
with a chain-stitch of bright worsted.
A little shawl and hood, also worked
in chain-stitch, come next. Draw the
hood at the back with a cord of worsted.
Roll up small piece of wadding for
the body and head; sew on black beads
for the eyes, and work the nose and
mouth in worsted. Attach it to the
foundation, sew on the shawl and hood,
make little worstea bow for the neck,
and the ''snow dolly is complete.
To make fancy as well as peculiar
frame, take the frame of an old slate
and cover it with beans and rice, well
glued down, in any pattern you choose.
Corn and oats can also be used, if de-
sired.
A great deal of pretty work can also
be done on very limited amount of
money, if the girls will only make the