The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-12-17
Christmas Hints.

plush. Etched upon it is the following
somnoent sentiment:
o slumber, gentle as the summer air!
Knit up the ravelled sleeve of care;
Unloose the knotted coil of thought
Whenever this pillowed couch is sought.
Pretty pncushions were made of a
very tightly-stuffed cushion of muslin
resembling hassock; this was covered
with China silk, with wide puff
tom were of embroidered shirt-bosom
linen, done in Roman cut work. The
two pieces were laced over the puff,
with cords of silk to match the silk
underneath. The stuffed cushion costs
thirlyfive cents; the linen cover,
stamped to embroder, twenty-five
cents. Larger cushions are covered
with velvet in the same way, and the
top and bottom made of chamois skin,
embroidered and cut in the same way.
These are used for foot-stools or sofa
pillows. Embroidered bed-spreads are
new. The material used is the old
fashioned dimity and the Bargarren
thread. The soft shades of one color
are used, and the designs are large and
effective. A honey.Co NIB cloth is used,
which comes two yards wide, at 81 so
yard. This is also used for table.cov-
ers, with heavy fringe of the thread
mix d with the material ravelled out.
A throw for the corner of table was
made of whole chamois skin left in its
original shape. The edge was cut in
snip fringe, and above this was heavy
line in metallic paints. A design of
flowers was stamped on, which was out
lined in very fine gold thread; the
flowers were washed in with oil paints
in very delicate shades, and these were
then studded over with iridescent
beads in the same cOlors the flowers
and leaves. The linen squares for table
centers were especially pretty. The
silk flo comes in wash colOis, and, being
very soft and fine, laws in the shading
very beau fully. One with sunset
roses upon it, and the loose petals
thrown all over it, was very effective,
the shadi G being as perfect as the nat
ural rose.
Large balls of worsted are made in
imitation of fruit, oranges and peaches,
and are used as hairpin receivers. Cut
two rounds of pasteboard five inches in
diameter, and hole in the center two
inches in diameter Hold the rings to-
gether and wind them tight over and
over with the worsted, until filled in the
center; it must be very compact and
firm. Cut the wOrsted all around with
sharp pair of scissors, then tie a string
around the center of the worsted be
1 seen the pasteboards, drawing it very
tight. Sip one eud of the wire under
the string, or a piece of baby ribbon
the color of the ball, to hang it up by.
Finish at the top with bows of ribbon.
If the wir" is used, it should be COW
cred with the hollow tubing used in
making artificial flowers.
Toilet bottles of quaint shapes are
also covered with cut-linen covers, en-
broidered with silk hpss, the bottle be-
inv first covered with silk and brought
around in a puff where the bottle takes
its t1Aring shape. The covers are
finished out with brass rings crocheted
with silk the same color as the en-
broidery on the linen. Ribbon the
color of the silk underneath is tied
around the neck of the bottle. A
cushion and bottles of this description
can have as accessories a bureau-scarf
OF embroidered boiling cloth over yell
low, finished at the edge with soft
lace, which is now so cheap, a good
quality being had for fifteen cents
yard, AT the corners place large, yell
low bows, or cross bands of yellow
ribbons. A hair-receiver is of strips of
ribbon and lace sewed around stiff,
covered circle of cardboard, and hung
by ribbons to the glass. Nothing is
pretiier to 90 with this than brush.
comb and handmirror with oXydizrd
silver mountings. These have quite
superseded the white celluloid ones.
Another nice gift for the bousekeeper
is a carving set with oxydized silver
handles, the fork-lines being silver
plated.
Thlmble-bags for thimbe parties are
in high favor. These are made of
lengthwise strips of ribbon of different
colors sewed together, and then decor
ated with fancy stitches. This is lined
and pockets put on the inside, and is
very handy 10 take for a short after
noon stay with friend.
A hanging cushion, with the sides en-
broidered on congress canvass and fin
ished around the sides with puffs of
silk and long ribbons of the same
shade, and trimmed with bows, is a
very pretty toilet accessory.
EYE GLASS WIPER.-Cut two circu-
lar pieces of chamois two and half
inches in diameter, and button-hole
elllCu Tue euge Oh eacn piece WIN col
ored silk. Fasten together at the top
with narrow ribbon bow. On the
face of one side the following words
may be printed
The world will never look just right
Unless You keep your glasses bright
HoUsEwIFE,-A very pretty device
for thimble parties is dainty affair
made of three lengths of No. ribbon
black and yellow Make the first a
quarter of yard long, the next one an
eighth of yard longer, and they, under
one another eighth of yard longer.
Place one over the other, and finish at
the top with bow of the ribbon. To
the end of the lower one, which should
be turned to form points, attach a pair
of scissors; to the middle one, a
CHI lmois needle-book; the top one, turn
tho nointe on tho undarsida nf tho rib