The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26
GIFTS FROM LADIES.
Some of the Artistic and Unique Presents
That We're Made by Feminine Fingers.


That We're Made by Feminine Fingers.
Aside from the gifts which are bought all ready
for the giving materials of every description have
been fashioned into things of beauty, both orna-
mental and useful, or in some cases having
neither the virtue of beauty. use nor ornament.
AS rule Christmas gifts are bought made
with the first idea of making good show, for
what person, giver or receiver, likes to name a
present of homels manufacture in recounting
| a list of presents2 The mouchoir- case will be
admired and praised, and the useful pair of
WOODEN mittens left out altogether. An idea of
a few presents made in this city may be made
known in short description of some Of the
tcles.
There will undoubtedly be revolution in
housekeeping, for there has been almost craze
for dust bags These are made of materials cor
responding to the use for which the dust cloth
is to be used Those for the parlor are
of surah. China silk, satin, ribbons. or bolting-
cloth, and ornamented with embroideries, beads,
tinsel, or painting. One very pretty one was of
China silk. of Oriental designs in three shades
of blue. The darkest blue figures were outlined
with gold thread The shape of the bag was
round, and fringe was made of silk of three
shades and to the end of each thread gilt
spangle was attached The facing was surah.
and drawn together with two shades of picot-
edge ribbon about an inch wide. The buster
was made of light-blue cheese cloth, catstitcned
| in the two dark shades of silk like the fringe.
| Another was made of ducking and ornamented
in circles, crescents, squares ovas and triangles
of different colored plush, outlined with tinsel
a. Aol;
tied with red groserain ribbons. Another
a fancy silk handkerchief, the four points
caught together with bow and suspended with
ribbons.
Party bags are made large enough to hold the
slippers. FAM handkerchief and box for bouquet
and materials in great variety used. For
one yard and a half of single width scarlet
cachmere was sewed together, and two large
brass rings served to keep it closed. A pink
satin bag was painted with spray of pink roses
and green leaves and tied with olive satin rib
bons. Another three colors of sash rib
bon-pink, blue and brown. A bunch of ripe
cherries was embroidered on one side and the
initials on the other.
Perfume sachetS have been the sole presents
made by some, and the parlor handkerchief
box and chiffonier will be redolent with sweet
odors.
Many dollar rocking chairs are not recogniza-
BILE in their dresses Of gold paint and up
hostered in plush and satin The silk in Gre
tonne designs, outlined in gold, were beautiful.
A maroon plush seat was secured with brass
headed nails, close together. large bow OF
gold and maroon satin ribbon. at the upper left
hand corner was carried diagonally across the
back to the lower right-hand corner, where it
was finished with another like bow.
Milkmaid stools have also been gilded and dec
grated with ribbons, and stools with three-cor
nered tops.
For work basket. medium sized choppine-
bowl was nailed to one Of the stools, and both
gilded The bowl was lined with blue sateen
and tufted brass nails being used. Pockets for
needles thimble, scissors and thread were placed
on each side, etched with yellow silk. The rim
was finished with half-inch gold cord.
The baskets, which come in every conceivable
shape, are left in their natural color, gilded or
painted in stripes and conventional designs
One side. finished with a huge bow, is further
embeshed with bunch of fruit or vegetables
strongly initiating nature The soft, China silks
were by some used instead Of ribbons
Throws or drapes, which are so fashionable
were made of soft materials. The head "Au-
rora," on one end, has figured largely in the de-
signs for these dainty articles. The head is
etched in black or brown and set in a medallion,
the intervening space being darned in silk
Conventonalized leaves, flowers and fruit are
| frequently seen on the opposite end. Those
| made of boiling cloth show beautiful designs,
| painted, the center being caught together with
| ribbons harmonizing in color.
Several sets of doyles or serviettes have been
seen; fne handkerchief linen is chosen and cut
! in eght-inch squares. the edges being hem
| stitched or fringed In the six pieces two de-
| signs were alike They were embroidered in
wash silks the pieces having buttercups, vioets.
| forget-me not, ragged sailors, narcssus and car
nations, the whole being etched with crackle.
| ware designs. A second set had the small fruits,
| u third circles, and yet another had cobwebs,
| spiders flies, etc. The work in each instance
! was exquistely DONE the wrong side being
equally as perfect as the right.
| In drawn work. one of the most tedious and
1 lab acarfe for aide. hoard dracainp-
| case and tables are among the pieces made, the
| ends being fringed and tied and the several pat
| terms making the ends anywhere from quarter
| TO three. quarters Of q yard long. Of the finer
! pieces of this work handkerchiefs decorat-
| ed from the narrow border of half an inch to
| the whole width of the latter. The pattern was
In small squares of two designs. alternating. The
perfect joining in the corners was quite as much
| of an art as the fine work done
The painting on boiling cloth, with its trans
| parency makes one of tho dantiest of decora
tons. and little squares with designs III flowers,
| fruits and landscapes are placed on satin.
sunset scene yellow satin, snow scene
on white and a water scene on blue. the satins
| intensifying the colors used. These materials
| were made into satchets and handkerchef cases.
Three exquisite pieces of BOLTON ware were
made by one lady The two square vases were
of gold and white. the flowers being the long
| slender blossoms Of the trumpet vine. and the
center vase, which was oval, held spray of
wild roses. The work was equal to any displayed
| in the leading jewely and china stores.
| While there has not been very much carving
done on wood, some few gifts were made of
| frames and plaques Lamp-shades were made
of craped tissue paper. with bunch of flowers
| on the side and fringe of paper as border
the light through the delicate coors making a
pretty glow in the room. Another was q broad
piece of valenciennes lace with deep fringe of
silk, and held about the globe by a ribbon run
| through the meshes of the lace. A third was of
lace insertions alternating with stripes of bolt
4 s.,f,n irfl.r I'D xyifh ~ md
/ pretty gilded basket was filed with salmon
| pink, mikweed. pompons, and the handle tied
| with large bow of picot-edge ribbon the exact
| shade of the pompons. and vas dainty and
| artistic present
| The china painting craze Of some two years
ago was not without its good effects, and many