The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-09
FOR THE LADIES.
How Convenient and Ornamental Fire
Screens Can DC Made-Isuttons and
Trimming for Spring Garments.
The Reign of Yellow with Rules Applying
to Combination COstumes-Change
I'm Table Arrangement.


HOMEMADE FIRE SCREENS.
A fire screen which will be unique
and tasteful may be arranged with an
ordinary clothes-horse as foundation.
The smallest size to be bought in any
house-furnishing shop is the most man.
ageable. Take oil one of. the folds by
untacking the straps that hold it. A
double fold or panel is left, which is
generally found sufficient for sitting
room. Ebonize the whole framework,
including straps; if preferred these may
be replaced by bright ribbons after
ward, though it is not necessary, as
the webbing takes the black coloring
very well, and bows of ribbon tackled
on alternate sides has the same effect.
The frame work may be decorated to
suit the fancy. A piece of felt, old gold,
or dark blue, drawn tightly and tackled
with gilt nails across one fold forms a
good background for design in en-
broidery or painting A bunch of pea
cock feathers, caught against the felt
with bright ribbon, is effective. For
the opposite fold or panel an artistic
curtain of surah silk, satccn, or some
thin Japanese material, with small
rings attached Mt the top to slide on o
brass wire. This wire is very firm, and
it is We'll to get the width of the top and
have both ends bent into hook ut the
hardware shop where it is bought. The
rod is fastened to the screen by these
hooks, which slip into n couple of metal
eyes screwed into the corners at the top
of the panel. The little curtain may be
finished by raveling and tying into q
1t will be found very pleasant to have
this curtain adjustable; it is made SO by
being on n rod, instead of fastened to the
framework itself. A few brass hooks
suited in size to the screen may be
screwed into the standards. The piano
duster, the bright little bag for holding
the embroidery silks, the diminutive,
walnut-mounted hearth-broom, will find
here place to be hung. where they
will be conveniently ready. Many ideas
of decoration will come to mind when
the framework is once out of its rude
state by the black varnish or ebony
paint, and no one will be disappointed
when the finished screen takes its place,
dTOuIlu ttlc COIllcT VI ~ Solst VI III lIOilt
of the too cheerful blaze. The old
fashioned, low, kitchen stool of white
pine may bear this artistic screen COM
pany by giving it Il coat of ebony and
some further dressing. Before using the
black paint, however, it is very necessa-
ry to join the parts by small nails, as
they are too apt to be held only by glue,
and when placed near the fire, in some
unexpected moment will collapse with
slight pressure. Layers of cotton wad-
ding on top, held in place by strong
cloth tackled over, make quite enough
of n cushion, A remnant of blue or
olive-grecn satin, Turcoman, or Gre
tonne, will do for the cover. Fastcn
with bright nails the tlcur de lis shape
is pretty-and the metamorphose is
complete. The ends of the cover may
BIO left to hang an inch or two, and
finished with fringe or tasscls if desired.
-UenOrcst for March,