The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-18
BROOKLYN LETTER.
Brooklyn, n. y, Feb. 1888.


ing some new ideas for fancy work,
etc, etc. To tell the truth, one is
really bewildered by the variety of
styles and adaptions continually
being contrived by the bright wo-
men who think for themselves, in
stead of slayishly following the fash
ions set by the stores. One of these
genluses, reading what l said few
weeks ago, about embroidered bed
spreads, resolved to have one, and
not pay twenty dollars for it either
She took an old fashioned Marseil-
les quilt, hunted up her bits of filos-
ellie, and worked over the Marseille
pattern, in the way the Cretonne
designs are touched up with silk.
Otcourse she did not attempt to en-
tirely cover the ground, but merely
to accent the outlines in side stitch,
with here and there a touch of gold
thread. 1t was a greal deal of work
OF course, but the cost Was insignifi-
cant, and the result was really
beautifully spread
A friend has just shown me some
lovely Easter and birthday cards she
has been painting on celluloid. Not
being able to draw, but having
love for color, and some skill in the
use Of the brush, she laid the cellu-
loid, which comes in transparent
sheets Of various sizes, over any
pretty design she fancied. and
sketched the outlines lightly with a
sharp pointed pencil. Conventional
borders, the simpler the better, are
appropriate for these cards. A wav-
ing line all around the edge, in blue,
crossed and recrossed by another
waving line in gold, and another in
dull red, has if artistically done, a
very pretty effect, and with an illu-
minated motto in the centre, makes
a dainty souvenir for friend
Crocheted napkin rings are anoth-
er taking novelty, a fine, well twist
ed cord is the proper material, and
band of the desired width is made
ofany close, firm stitch. The band
is then joined by a rosette. These
napkin rings should not be stiffened,
the cord giving sufficient firmness.
Why do not people appreciate the
blessings Of screen more than they
do? The idea that a screen is an
expensive luxury has taken such
firm hold Of the popular mind, that
outside of large cities, one sees very
few. But cheap clothes horse pro-
perly treated, is as good a frame as
any one needs. Sand paper the
frame well, and then either paint or
stain. The panels may be Of thin
material-the breadths of an old
fashioned muslin dress are Just the
thing--and if there are sundry rents
and darns, no matter, gather them
on a cord, and tack them at top and
bottom making them quite full, or
run them on a gilt banner rod. A
screen that was ofinestimable value
in child's sick room, was made of
unbleached muslin, covered with
Christmas cards, pasted so closely
together as to entirely hide the mus
lin. 1t not only kept annoying
draughts away, but afforded delight
to the eye, and occupation to the
weary brain.
Crazy quilts, am happy to say,
have had their day, but | saw new
silk quilt not long ago that was par
ticularly pretty. The pieces of silk
were made up into little bags about
two inches long, and an inch and
half wide After being sown up on
three sides, the bag was stuffed with
paper torn up in narrow strips, and
the fourth side Of the bag overland
ed A sufficient quantity of these
bags joined together, composed the
quilt which Of course peeded no
lining or quilting, but was both
warm and light, and really unique.
At a sewing circle lately, nearly
all the young ladies wore aprons
made of cheesecloth. and remark
ably dainty little affairs they were
too. A broad hem at the bottom,
and a narrower one at the sides
is hemstteheds and above the bot
tom hem are rows Of plain spaces
alternated with rows of drawn
threads. Narrow ribbon is run in
these spaces, or if preferred, they are
ornamentcd with drawn work slit
ches. The belt may be of ribbon, or
a drawn work band, which should
be lined with ribbon.
1t is not generally known that
the little blue jars in which preserv-
ed ginger is sold make very pretty
lamps Don't paint or decorate the
jar in any way, but leave it in its
wickerwork cover and fit an ordi-
nary lamn burner in the ton