The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-23
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS,
Simple Devices for Holiday Adjournment OF
Church and Home.

Simple Devices for Holiday AdOrnment of
Church and Home
Harper's Bazaar.
Besides the ordinary wreaths and clusters of
evergreen in the body of church, beautiful eff
fects can be produced at the altar and font with
some very simple devices. Very distinct and
perfect outlines in lettering can be obtained from
holly leaves, and when completed. the motto or
monogram may be made look as if frosted
This is done by brushing the leaves over with
mucilaga and then busting them with glass
powder which can be obtained for tride at any
glass works The glitter and sparkle give bril-
hancy that does not seem artificial.
Ferns can also be used to great advantage in
church decoration and quantities of them should
be gathered in the autumn and kept fresh in the
cellar by being packed In barrels, with layer of
earth and layer Of ferns alternately. The ever
green kind is found all winter, but heavy fall
of snow near Christmas will effectuaily hide
them from view.
The small ferns, or leaflets Of the larger ones,
make pretty letters, borders, and other designs
while the long, hght-looking fronds hanging over
the edge of the font have very good effect A
little country church. with scanty means of deco
ration, mad its one point of color in the font
which, in addition to fringe of ferns was filed
up with mound of moss, from the center of
which rose a Latin cross, with CLEANS of scarlet
| through veil of misty gray. The cross had a
foundation of wood, and this was irst wound
about with scarlet worsted braid, and then
draped with the soft gray Florida moss. AS the
font itself was of gray stone, the entire arrange
ment was very harmonious.
The proper Christmas flowers are white and
| red roses, white and red chrysanthemums;
the latter, which are very suitable for country
church, can be secured by pinching the buds in
early autumn to keep back the blossoms, and
frosts come. The large white chrvSanthemums
are very pure-looking, and appropriate for
church decoration, and when red roses are to be-
had, they will mingle very tremendously.
IL neither roses chrvsanthemums are
available everlasting flowers will answer the
purpose, and as these. although dry. are natural
| products, they do not seem out of place in the
| church. The small compact flower, known to
| country people as white-weed or lfe-everasting
| is very pretty in crosses. stars letters, espec
| tally on scarlet or crimson ground, relieved
with little of either color. The globe anna
| ransh, or bachelors button, in pure white and
| purplish crimson, also be used with very
| good effect in the absence of fresh flowers
| White cotton batting, If used in dark church.
| or when the effect has to be seen from dis
| lance. makes very ornamental lettering. The
| letter device ia cut from thick white paper
and an even piece of the cotton batting is then
pasted over it. When quite stiff and dry the
| wool is cut to the exact shape of the paper or
card board, taking care to make the angles sharp
| and the edges straight and even.
| The effect of rich gold embroidery can be pro-
| duced by covering = shape of cardboard with
the coarsest straw used for making bonnets. 1t
/ IL
to secure correct outline; the remainder is
then filled in by degrees, 80 that the middle row
! has a raised appearance.
| Rice work when we'll DONE is like carved
| ivory. The foundation Of substantial card
| board is first tackled in place. and then covered
| with coating of thick, warm paste The rice
| grains are dropped on this. and arranged so as
| to lie closely and regularly together; when stiff
and dry the ornamentation is complete
In the Christmas home dressing many devices
can be employed that would scarcely be suitable
for church. and ferns are particularly desirable
here as background and foil to autumn leaves.
j Sprays and branches of bright tinted leaves
mixed with long ferns have beautiful effect in
corners or over pictures; and in the former case
| tall vases are sometimes placed on the floor. and
filled with leaves, ferns ami grasses. arranged
with the help Of stout wires, as to nearly reach
| the ceiling.
Single leaves with Florida moss Very dec
orative as freze "Get up a step-ladder.
says our authority, land make an irregular
fringe of moss all around the room. Take ferns