Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09
HOME TOPICS.
Notes OH Household Decoration.

Notes OH HOuschOId Decoration.
A pretty bag to hold cards is made by
taking two squares of pasteboard of the
same size and covering them with satin
on the upper part of the outside one put
edge with cord and hang by narrow rib
bons. The back need not be covered with
satin silesia of the same color can be
used. The bag should be lined
Handsome covers for sofa pillows and
cushions are knit of silk pieces. The
real foundation for the stripe-for it is
made in stripes-is knit of common cot
ton yarn, and is knit with medium-si
needles ; knit three rows, then draw
through each loop on the next row bit
of the silk. The silk must be cut in mar
row strips of equal length and width
The yarn must be drawn firmly down to
hold the silk in place. Old and even
soiled ribbons may be used in this way.
A table scarf of olive felt was made
handsome and tasteful by having on one
end n corner of plush. The piece of
plush was shaped like a triangle. Where
it joined the felt there were some fancy
stitches with bright-colored silks. The
other end of the scarf had n straight
band of plush put on with fancy stitches
also, and instead of being an inch or two
from the edge Of the scarf, there was
space left Of at least ten inches below the
plush. Both ends were finished with
row of fringe.
A handsome design for n patchwork
cushion is to make n large fan of velvet,
plush, or satin. 1t should be SO large
that it will cover nearly or quite half of
the cushion ; put velvet or satin over the
rest of the cushion the handle should
point toward one corner. Another pretty
way is to cover half the cushion with one
color; the material may be of silk, satin,
or velvet put this on diagonally. The
rest of the cushion should be covered
with the crazy patchwork. Plain pieces
of satin may be made very ornamental by
working some little design on them, or
simply by putting a small crescent OF
some contrasting color with fine button
hole stitch with sewing silk Of bright
hue.
| Feather flowers are comparatively easy
to make, yet it requires considerable pa
tience tShave them approach perfection.
Their effect afterwards in decoration is
excellent. Any one in the country can
easily procure bunch of white geese
feathers and amuse himself by cutting
out of these feathers leaves like the flow
ers that are to be copied. Make the bulbs
of beeswax and rosin mixed together In
equal proportions,to to this stick the leaves,
the stamens and centre parts of the wire
In painting the leaves, delicate touch
should be had in order to give n natural
effect. Get tube paints-such ms are used
for oil paintings. After painting the
leaves, lay them aside to dry Do not
use them for ten or twelve hours at least.
A tube each of chrome yellow, rose mad
der, clear white and Prussian blue will be
all the paints required to produce love
ly bouquet. Mix the yellow and blue to
obtain green for painting the leaves.
With little practice in mixing the paints
they can be made rs beautiful rs wax.
Household Hints.
! A charming way to flavor custards is to
beat fruit jelly with the whites of the
eggs ; red raspberry jelly and ounce iel-
ly are especially nice for this.
One way to economize and to produce
excellent results in cooking is to use suet
in place of butter or lard. For many
purposes it is better than either of these.
Some people who object decidedly to
cakes fried in lard, relish them when suet
is used for frying. Beef balls are very
nice fried in suet. Round stake can be
used for these. Chop the meat fine, sea-
son well with pepper and salt and any
herb you may choose, shape them like
flat balls with your hands, dip in egg and
fine cracker or bread crumbs, and fry in
hot suct.
A mixture WHICH is excellent for remov-
ing grease spots and stains from carpets
aud clothing is made of two ounces Of
ammonia, two ounces of white CASTLE
soap, one ounce Of glyccrine. one ounce
of ether cut the soap fine, dissolve in
one pint of water over the fire add two
quarts of water. This should be mixed
with water in the proportion of a teacup-
full to an ordinary sized pail ri water.
Mix thoroughly, aud wash soilcd gar
mcnts in it. For removing spots use q
sponge or clean flannel cloth, and with n
dry cloth rub rs dry as possible. Woollen
goods may be made to look bright and
fresh by being spongcd with this.
If the family is very small, and large
loaves of bread are likely to become stale
before they can be eaten, it is good plan
! to make two little loayes for one tin. They
will keep their shape all right. and will
, not run together or adhere any more than
rolls or biscuits do.
Nice salad can be made by using veal
+, aud the inexperienced housewife may be
reminded that there is as much difference
IT, veal as in beef or chickens. For the
+, salad choose firm and lean piece, boil il
4 until it is tender, and then proceed as il
. YOU are making chicken salad. 1t is {
o good plan to prepare this some day wher
YOU are to have chicken for dinner thei
S the veal can be boiled in the same KEITH
n and will be favored with the CHECKER
8 broth. Reserve .some of the broth whel
: making gravy for the chicken to moistel
the salad with.
Perhaps there is nothing in which cook
SO often fail as in boiling potatoes, whic
,e may be one reason why they figure SCI
L LIZ. l..