Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-27
HOME TOPICS.
Points About Pictures and Frames-a
Quaint Little BOok-Rack.

Very dainty phorograph frames may be
made at home out Of small pieces of velvet
and card board. First make the frame of
stiff paste board to fit the picture, lacking
the sides firmly together with strong linen
thread. The top piece may be cut in n
fanciful scallop if desired. Then cover
neatly with thin white muslin. The vel
vet is first put on with mucilage and is
then stitched smoothly to the muslin,
care being taken that no wrinkles show
sn the right side. The photograph is
placed in the frame and a piece of card
board as lsrge as the frame is placed on
the back of the pictore to hold it in place
The velvet is sometimes embroidered be-
fore it is put on, and crazy patchwork
frame also looks very pretty.
A Brooklyn lady has just made an old
mahogany table that was scratched and
marked very badly look as good as new.
She spent half morning "scraping" the
top with n little steel scraper, such as
painters use. After the surface was nice
and smooth she vanished it two or three
times, and polished up the legs and sides,
as being only veneer they would not stand
the "scraping.' The cost OF the varnlsh
and the loan of the scraper was %
cents and the table which was only tit
for the kitchen became handsome enough
for the library.
One of the uuaintest bookracks seen IN
quite while has Just been finished by a
young lady living in Harlem. Every one
admires its unique beauty, but herhaps
would not be 50 profuse III their praises
did they know it was made OF soap-box.
The box was obtained from corner gro
Ger, and was of quite nice, smooth wood.
The top and bottom were removed, one
of the sides placed down three inches
from the top and the top edges were pret-
tilv scalloped The whole was then coat
ed with oak varnish and strip OF cream
leather, pinked at the edges, tackled on to
each shelf. The shelves were kept firmly
in place by little iron rivets, and were
hung from the sides by means OF crlm
son cord passing through both shelves
and fastening into two screws IN the wall
A few little pieces of brlc-a-brac were
placed on the top shelf, while row
of handsome volumes beautihed the
lower ones. The entire cost was z
cents.
In A house where closet-rOom Is scarce
a handy house keeper has Just made ont
in an upper hall. \ little alcoye ha'
been left ut the back of the ballroom
and this space was curtained oil Will
prettily colored chlntz, matching the car
pet in colors. \ frame had been made
ont of two broom handles that had beel
nailed into the wall so as to form square
The curtains were run on red tape, whic
was tackled ut either end OF the broom
and they could therefore slide back an
forth. A top was made of the chint2
: and bow OF crimson satin ribbon place
ON the corners The housekeeper dc
| clares she likes it better than the regula
} closets, it is more spacious and easll
kept clean.
Useful Hints,
g To Bronze Feathers. Fashion has IL
a troduced gilt and bronzed feathers. l
= make these the process is very simple
= Dip the feather in weak gum-wate
and press nearly dry between clothe
1t is then dipped into bronze or gilt poy
der, left to dry, and then the loose poN
der is shaken off on paper and collectt
n for further usc. Cover all parts that a
,e to remain plain with paper. Almost Il
is Vulnerable effects may be produced |
at the different colored feathers and gil
silver, bronze and copper powders. Flo
IN ers are often improved by touching the
ne in places with bronze. To curl feathe
re First steam them oyer the teaket