Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-10
M,stellantuus.
Pre.e,ts and canes for Chrlstnss.


ents to make the day merry one for the
children a. well as for every other mem'
Der of the household.
First, the gifts. These may De simple
or expensive but let no one be iorgol.en q;
Ingenious young ladies with skllliol
fingers may fashion variety OF pretty
presents at very moderate cost. Inc
field is wide for those who paint or en-
broider, but the unfortunate many VINO
cannot handle the brush and are not over
skillful with the needle, and. to crown all
possess slender purses, ind the Sc
lection of their Christmas gifts requires
much patient thought and study If they
would be satisfied with the result.
The designs for whish holders are al
most endless, but. as every gentleman
needs one and as it is so hard to think OF
a suitable present tor ones brother. or
some other girls brother. it may be well
to give still another pattern.
| First, you need piece of pasteboard
cut diamond shape. Let it be about eight
inches from point to point. Cover with
plush, velvet satin. or silk. The pocket
for the whisk is made by cutting second
piece of pasteboard the shape OF half a
diamond and after covering it, lay it on
the first piece so that the points come to-
gether. Edge with chenille cord or pleat-
ed satin ribbon and suspend from a BAN
ner stand. A spray of flowers in tinsel
would be an addition, or the tinsel could
be sewed on in some simple design. Two
materials might be used for this holder. a
bow OF satin ribbon of several tints, say
blue. orange and cardinal, or more DELI
cate shades, being a pretty finish for the
top. OF course the stand can be dis
pensed with, and the holder hung by a
loop of ribbon.
The decorated boards with hooks on
which to hang keys. shoe buttoner, etc. ARE
no longer novelties, but they are so pref
tv and convenient that many will be choS-
en- by the searchers for inexpensive Christ
mas gifts. An easy way to ornament one
is to cover it with bright satin laid on
smoothly, then add three gay little tassels,
two more balls drop from the bow of rib
bon that is fastened in each of the upper
corners. For 20 cents you can buy gilt
butterfly. and let it alight on the top Of
the board. The above present will not
cost over a dollar at the most.
A bag of silk, satin, or velvet makes a
most acceptable present for a young or old
lady. One way to make these bags is to
first cut two round pieces of Dashboard
about the size of the top of a goblet. These
are covered by taking long stitches across
the back and are then sewed together
The bag, which consists of straight piece
of silk. the ends being joined, is gathered
and overseamed to the pasteboard circles.
A frill is left at the top and cord or narrow
ribbon run in casing. These bags made
of velvet and lined with satin contrast
ing color are very snowy and convenient
to use instead of work basket. or they
may hold ones handkerchiefs. The latest
style of bags consists of four strips of rib
bon, two of them twice as wide as the re-
naming two. For instance, two strips of
pale blue satin ribbon about five inches
wide and twelve long are joined to two
strips of orange ottoman ribbon the same
length but not more than three inches in
width. They are sewed in seam at the
bottom and narrow frill is left at the top.
Falling over the frill and fastened inside
the bag are four short bows of ribbon, two
of the orange ottoman and two of pale
blue. Often the broad strip of ribbon is
painted or embroidered, but piece oil
handsome brocade or plush could take its
place and would make rich looking bag,
Orange is favorite color in fancy work
this year If you happen to have a small
basket, perhaps round one without a
handle. stain it with walnut stain or paint
it brown, then tasten on one side great
bow of orange ribbon. adding cluster OF
yellow flowers if you wish still more in
the way of ornament. You might sew a
strip of orange silk around the edge of the
basket, and gather it by running in mar.
row ribbon.
A small thermometer may be fastened
in the center of fan made of pasteboard
and covered with satin and velvet. rows
of tinsel initiating the sticks. This fan
should be so small that it will stand on
one of the five cent easels.
A very novel pen-wiper may be made
by those who are willing to take some time
and trouble upon so simple an article. Cut
two or more pieces of blotting paper say
four inches square. You will need three
pieces of chamois the same size. Law
them together in the following order
First, one square of channels skin,
then the leaves of blottino
paper, then the two remaining
pieces of channels. Tie the whole togeth-
err with narrow ribbon drawn through
two holes that can easily be made with q
penknife. Yon are now ready for
the ornamental part. Take small
piece of egg shell, perhaps it would be
best to use the end of the egg. and with a
fine brush and paint outline the nose,
mouth, and eyebrows of child. Paint
the eyes blue and give the cheeks a touch
of pink. Steal little hair from your best
bang-blonde hair is prettiest-and faster
on with mucilage. Procure pink or rec
artificial rose and in the centre Law the face
you have made, hiding the edges of the
egg by petal or two skillfully gummed
in position. A few green leaves NAV be
added to the rose, then turn back one cor
ner of the first of the two leaves of cha.
mois skin that form the cover of the book
and with q stitch or so fasten on the flow
er. With ink and in large fancy letters
write on the second channels skin leaf
EXTRACTS from the pen of -"
When the presents are all prepared
(hey should be finished if possible day
or so before hand, it is time to turn ones
attention to the Christmas dinner and The
arrangement of the decorations. If there
are no small children in the house you
will probably dispense with the tree, bu
a few flowers and few yards of ever
green tastefully arranged will give youl
~ Ia e