Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17
CHRISTMAS.
Rtnts for Homemade Holiday Pres
eDts
Brooklyn Eagle.

Christmas! Luis QueSbIOH COHu6S I'D
one from every side, and is a strong
reminder of happy days long since
past. when I, too, rushed about from
friend to friend and store to store, try
ing to find model for something I
had not seen before. 1t is trouble
some question to solve, and yet
pleasant one, Tor what more delight
full task can one De employed la than
some pretty surprise for those we love.
Most women prefer to make at least
few of their Christmas gifts, and TO
these / offer some suggestions.
A hairpin cushion is made of a
baby's blue OR pink shoe. Buy pair
Of shoes and use one for the hairpin
cushion the other for pincush1on,
the latter. for general use, and SO save
the large satin one, that is more for
ornament. TO make the top OF the
hairpin cushion knit square of split
zephyr and fasten 1t at the top, after
curIed hair. Then place a small bow
of ribbon in front and to make it
more ornamental paint little vine of
flowers around the top of the shoe.
The pincushion may be made in the
same way, only cover the top with
bit of SATIN or cashmere. The pin
cushion forms q pretty and amusing
gift for bachelor.
A cheap and effective wall pocket is
made of a common palm-leaf fan.
Cover one side of the fan with Gre
tonne, or any material that you may
like better, turn the edges over on the
other side and haste down. Take a
straight piece of the same about 25
inches long and wide enough to reach
three-quarters up the fan. Hem one
side of this and gather about one inch
from the top to form a ruffle.
Basic this across the fan and gather
the bottom so as to form pocket. Let
the raw edges turn over on the wrong
side and cover with the same mater
ial, turn In the edges and overland
the two sides together. The handle
should also be covered with the ma
terial, or wind ribbon about it, and
place a small brass screw ring In the
top to hang it by. Satin ribbon bows
in colors matching the material,
can be placed in many effective posi-
tons to make this wall pocket very
pretty.
A fancy foot-stool is a very pretty
present, and if the donor has plenty
of time lovely ornamental stool or
foot-Test can be made. Boys are sell
ing plain wooden frames about the
streets for twenty cents each; that is,
foot-stools. You can either blacken
the legs to look ike ebony, or gid
them, then stuff the top with hair
covered with coarse muslin, having
it smoot and even, and you are ready
for your outside covering. Elaborate
embroidery and lace may adCrn it or
1t may be covered with a rich color in
plush and decorated with a ribbon
bow or some effective lace appliqued
upon 1t. A black satin cover may
have pretty little spray painted upon
one corner, or gold lace may be ar
ranged around the cushion, the bow
being omitted and gold cord and small
gilt balls in a cluster substituted for
It.
Screens are not only ornamental,
but a useful present, and some OF the
designs are very rich. One just fra
ished is in black plush and ebony
frame, painted with an exquisite de
sign of water lilies and aquatic grass
strong touches, giving perspective
of mysterious woodland, with dim
rays of light piercing through and IL
Eliminating some sleeping water, A
very effectiye screen for drawing
room furnished IN lighter tints has a
frame of whitewood gilded, with pan
els of pale blue satin painted with
roses and cupids.
Ladies who are clever with their
pencils can draw flower designs on
dollies and work them with silver or
gilt thread, The sizes are very small.
To make perfumedrs sachet cut two
pieces of silk nine inches long and
four inches wide; sew the long sides
together; turn them. Ia the center
place a roll of cotton with perfumed
powder and tie together at each end
with ribbons. Embroider q small
spray OF flowers On the ends of the
sachet and fringe them. One side
blue and the other of gold is pretty.
A young lady having bits of ribbon
can use them IN this way with con-
siderable credit.
To make handkerchief or jewel
COX take an ordinary paper box and
cover the outside of 1T with
black satin. On the I'D paint floral
design IN water colors, having the
principal flowers in blue and crimson.
Around the side put antique lace, say
two rows, one at the upper edge, the
other st the lower Let the points of
the lace face each other. Finish all
the edges of the box with silk cord
matching in colers the embroidery
The inside of the box should be lined
with quilted satin, and quilting of
ribbon used to cover the unfinished
edges. For the feet use little gilt balls
which can be found at almost any up
holSterer's.
A pretty chair bolster can be made
of quilted satin. When the ends are
Joined together much the same as one
would give a muf, only closed, cover
the entire ends with quilted ribbon
placed round and finished in the CEN
ter with a heavy cord and taSselS