Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-11-08
TIE HOUSEHOLD.
Articles which SkiIfuI Fingers Way
MnLe with smnIt Exuense


At this season when the whole world !.
getting ready for Christmas, present-mak
ing is occupying many brains and fingers
With some Of us the means are lacking for
buying handsome presents for our friends
and we can afford only those that cost a
moderate sum, or perhaps the materials
from which, with taste, skilful fingers and
a few good directions, dainty aud accepta-
bile gifts may be fashioned. With most
persons it is not the intrinsic value Of the
gift. but that i is the work Of another that
is appreciated OF course, it follows, as "A
rule. that the finer the material the pretter
the result but where handsome material is
beyond our means, the same idea can be
carried out in less costly stuff
For chair tidy the following is pretty
Take one yard or three quarters of scrim,
hem both ends, and about half an inch
above the hem draw the threads for the
space Of half an inch. In another inch
draw the threads for another half inch,
and so on till you have about five of them.
In the spaces run corn. colored ribbon, TAX
ing five threads and leaving five, hemming
each end of the ribbon and lacking it
slightly to prevent ITS pulling out. On each
end of the tidy gather any light, pretty
lace, varying in depth according to fancy.
A little above the middle, making one end
somewhat longer than the other, the whole
tidy is gathered up 10y corn colored ribbon
one and one half inches wide, which must
he tied in pretty bow. In all articles Of
fancy work where bows are used as a trim
ming, it is all-mportant that the bow be
well and jauntily tied. A limp, careless
bow, or too stiff a bow will ruin an other
wise pretty effect This tidy is still more
effective if yellow daisies with brown cen.
tres are worked above the ribbon for a
short distance.
A mattress for the top drawer is made
Of China or surah silk Take little more
Of the material than the length and breadth
Of the bottom of the drawer. Sew it to-
gether like a bag, leaving one end open
Place inside cotton batting to the thickness
Of one inch In this sprinkle sachet pow
der, and close the opening 1t had better
he whipped firmly. Tag the mattress with
very narrow ribbon, using "A pretty con
trast with your silk.
In this age one can hardly have too many
cushions, and what can be "A more charming
present! A handsome sofa cushion may be
made of cretonnc with II large lowered de
| sign Outline the largest leaves and flow
ers with gold tinsel cord and work the cen
| tres with French knots A rattan chair,
that is too big for comfort, may be made
comfortable Dy filling the bottom up with a
square or oblong cushion In the back,
| Just about where the shoulders come, place
a smaller cushion which must be tied on
with ribbons 4 very delicate ard pretty
cover for pm cushion consists of small
square Of soft creamy pink silk, which is
| embroidered with "A design Of primroses and
buttercups in natural colors, and then
| placed crosswise upon a square Of cream
colored silk. 1t is secured to this founda
ton 10y fancy stitches, and the edge Of the
| foundation itself is finished with frill Of
gold lace To cover another cushion, get
enough old gold plush for one side, and for
the other the same quantity of cream col
bred material that combines well with the
plush say some kind of worsted stuff In
the centre of the cream colored material
rmhroider with gold thread, in outline
stitch, rather large flowers, and from the
centre to the sides there may be lines like
rays of the gold thread. The corners of the
cushion are not square, but pressed in and
finished 10y large buttons, at least two inches
| in diameter, covered with the plush \
round cushion, six or seven inches in diam
eter may he made of plush silk, satin or
wurSted goods. sprinkle the filling well
with sachet powder. Gather one-half yard
Of lace three or four inches wide, and fas
ten in the centre Of the cushion. la k
completely through it. Loops of the mar
rowest ribbon should be placed in the cen
ire. Two yards are sufficient.
dainty scarf for bracket may be mad,
from a square of China or pongee silk or
a silk handkerchief of pretty pattern
sew small silk tasSels or balls across tive
ends and gather it II little at one side of the
centre. Cover the gathering with bow
Of ribbon, and drape tine scarf over one
corner Of your bracket.
A most convenient piece of bed room fur
niture is boot and shoe box. The width
of the box should be sufficient for the boots
aud shoes it is to contain, and % inches
long and nine high make about the right
size. 1t may be covered with plush or cloth
as preferred The inside should he lined
with cambria. The cover should he lightly
padded with cotton before covering with
the plush, which is embroidered. The box
can be placed before the dressing table on
fender, serving the double purpose of shoe
box and hassock.
cheap vet beautiful cover for the side
board may be made of fine linen crash. Cut
it long enough so that the ends will hang
over about quarter of yard, fringe tn,
ends deeply and knot the fringe differently
at each end then make three rows Of
drawn work above the fringe, and if wished
a simple vine in outline stitch may he
worked on each end.
A useful article is a receptacle for soled
clothes, which may be made from a common
wooden pail with cover. Paint it white
blue or any color desired, and gild the ears
hoops and bail.
A receptacle for collars is made from
round box such as mems collars come in
Cover the outside with pale blue silk anc
line with silk of pale yellow tint, placing
layer of perfumed cotton under the lin
ing. Cover and line the cover of box in the
same way, and paint on it a bunch Of but
tercups. A deeper box fitted up to mattel
may be used for cuffs. A case for carrying
collars and cuffs when travelling is usefu
present The outside may be made of any
material available, and the lining should b,
of silk but a stiff interining of buckran
should be inserted Make it like a music
roll, but not so wide, and fasten with fan
cy leather strap and buckle. Decorate the
outside with the initials or monogram of the
prospective owner.
Canvas or linen slipper cases and cases OF
shaving paper are useful presents.
A pretty ornament for the hall is made
of pine cones. Gid seven cones and Sus
pend them by narrow ribbons of different
emu lengths. fasJen together at the tOl
with bow of broad ribbon, making one long
loop, on which sew thermometer Anoth
er thermometer holder is made as follows
Take one half yard of two-inch ribbon
fringe the ends and tie the middle with
narrow ribbon, leaving loop to hang it by
Near one end fasten tiny thermometel
and ON the other end little calendar.
An old-fashioned, rush bottomed chair
is very pretty if the frame is ebonized Oh
painted black The seat is then uphol
stored in plush, or broadcloth with II set fig
ure embroidered over it in rope silks