The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-05
Gbe firesioe.
Suggestions for Home Made Christ
mas Gifts.


sisters. will make itself conspicuous"
We all place a greater value on gift
which friend has made than on one
which has been simply purchased, and
with good reason; for some of the
makers individuality will creep into
the gift and endue it with an atmos
phere of its own. / purpose suggest
ing various gifts, with the hope that,
when they have been modified or elab
grated to suit individual tastes, they
will prove useful, and will help to
bridge the chasm opened by the ques-
ton, " What shall i give on Christ
mas?n
A pretty pair of pillow-shams may
be made of eight hemstitched handker-
chiefs, of suitable size. Use four to
each sham, and join them with torchon
insertion. A border of torchon inser-
ton should be added. A sheet sham
may be formed of several handker-
chiefs placed side by side, also joined
by torchon insertion, and finished with
a border of torchon edging.
Much may be made from japanese
fans. Besides using the kind which
fold up in groups of three, placed fiat
on the wall, with or without ribbon
being run through the sticks, single
fan may be made into a pretty catch
all, to hang by bureau, by first remov-
ing the rivet and then bringing the fan
around in the shape of cornucopia,
weaving ribbon in the sticks, which
should be brought closer and closer
together, and terminate in a many
Topped bow or bunch of pompons.
A hand-screen may be made of fan
h, oh nf al A nv.
round block, with hole in it to stick
the handle of the fan into, will serve as
a standard. This should be about four
and half inches square, or as many in
diameter, if round. Cover this smoothly
with plush-a small piece will be suffi-
cient. When the handle has been care
fully fitted into the base, the fan may
be covered with satin, which can be
beautified with embroidery or painting.
A pretty shaving-paper holder is
made by fastening tissue paper, pinked,
behind japanese fan, which may
have a satin bow added at the place
where the handle joins the fan, or per-
haps the entire fan may be satin
covered and embellished with an en-
broidered monogram.
Large, stout fans, such as may be
purchased at any store for five cents,
may be made into lovely wall-pockets
by covering them with any material,
from cretonne to satin, and adding a
"pocket on one side, finishing off the
lower edge with row of silk balls or
pendants.
Some of the prettiest and most serv-
iceable whisk-broom holders are the
least expensive. The fiat " straw cuff !"
which is made for this purpose, and
can be purchased for few cents, is
entirely transformed and glorified by
being gilded and having few tiny pea
cock feathers placed upon it. Add a
ribbon to hang it by; also place bow
across the feathers, as if to hold them
in place. Palm-leaf fans treated in the
same way (gilded and having peacock
feathers laid on) are quite effective
when placed at the back of a mantel-
piece. 1t is as easy to use the copper
tint as the gold, for either may be
bought at trifling cost at any store
where artists materials are sold. Silver
and green also may be utilized, and are
less common than the gold. Glass bot
ties, such as are sold for covering with
silk, may be gilded or silvered, and,
painted in oils, make dainty gift.
A novel card-receiver may be made
at small outlay by using thick wooden
dish as foundation. This should be
covered with glue and then well GOV.
cred with coarse sawdust which has
previously been sifted, to rid it of dust
and very fine particles. When thor.
oughly dry, it may be gilded or cop.
pered or silvered; in fact, may be
treated in any way the fancy dictates
The bottom of the dish is, of course
left smooth. Picture frames of the
plainest wood may be treated in this
way with the most satisfactory results
A pretty case for cabinet photographs
is made of plush. A piece nine by
twenty-siX inches is required. Thu
should be lined with satin or silk, will
some wadding between the two fabrics
Sprinkle very little sachet powder OF
the wadding. Fold the ends over til
they are within full inch of meetin!
in the middle. This will make it mucl
after the fashion of the common fold
ing card-case. This is a change iron
the photograph album, which now de
serves to be classed among antiques
having seen so many years of service
Pretty tides are easily made out o
dotted Swiss muslin, such as have tn
dots large and far apart. Embroide
the dots over with yellow silk, MAXIM
them the centers of daisies The petal
are easily marked out and embroidere
with crewels, worsted, or silk. Her
the edge of the tidy, and finish off wit
some pretty white lace. A tidy for tn
back of lounge is made of long stri
of linen scrim, embroidered here an
there with purple thistle. Loop
up in the center with a bow of ribbo
of the colors used in the embroidery.
A shade for round lamp-globe
made of ribbon three or four inche
wide. A piece is needed just lon
enough to fit easily around the glob
after it is joined. The upper end Of tn
ribbon is gathered slightly, to make
conform in shape to the globe. Tn
lower edge is finished off with horde
of fine antique lace; and in the lowe
edge of the lace may be tied tiny silke
apples" To make this very dainty
the middle of the ribbon should be en-
broidered with a delicate vine an
flowers An altogether novel LAM
shade, and one more for ornament tina
utility, is easily and quickly made {
fine gilt cord very loosely crocheteC
and the lower edge heavily weighte
until, op,oll ,,;1t hollc