Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
No Radical Changes Need Be Made
From Year to Year.
HARMONY IS ESSENTIAL.
But a Few Artistic Changes Can Effect
That-Painfing Lace ard the Effects
It Produces-Nore About the Twenty
hve-Cent Present Arrangement.
Written for The EVENING stan.


that We notice what are the latest
fancies and freaks Of fashion, and this applies
equally to dress and household effects. Here
and there little arrangements are seen or
heard Of that we at once characterize as new,
and if suited to our tastes and way OF living we
proceed to adopt them for our own. In
the main, however, the same styles and
furnishings prevail as did the previous
year, but by fresh touches and COM
binations the old may become new enough
TO pass muster and yet leave US to the
comfortable enjoyment of things sufficiently
old to be homellke and to which we naturally
are attached. Who would-if they could-have
o house refurnished and decorated every year,
even to have the very latest and prettiest
ideas? Who would have a wardrobe 30 entirely
new as not to have one pair OF shoes ola
enough to be a comfort TO tired feet or gown
that ready to really rest ono By its easy hit,
acquired by long wearing?
HARMONY AND SYMMETRY DESIRABLE.
OF course one wants each season to replenish
and reft until all house is in harmonious con-
dition, and not fnery in one room and shabbi-
ness in another.
Symmetry in q house I like especially and
am always much interested in having the
upper and back rooms as attractive Ill their
i am glad that love OF ''grcenery" has taken
such . firm hold our city as 1t seems to
have done. Everywhere are palms and ferns,
rubber trees-though wherein Is the beauty OF
the latter j fail to see-and other plants. all
cultivated merely for their foliage and blossom
less. Nothing gives a more attractive look to
any room than a graceful growing plant,
and the way have now OF scattering
them about rooms slngly Is much more
effective than to crowd them together
mar rTIad
however. q conservatory is still considered the
proper place for plants, and TO put single jars
about the house would be quite unorthodox.
Maiden hair ferns promise 10 be as popular
this season as last and are the very dalntIest OF
all the foliage plants. In the low jars which
are now used Tor them they much more
manageable for the table than before in taller
ones. and consequently more used as center
piece than ever. A lovely center mat to place
under such a fern is of fine linen embroidered
in the same design of maldsn hair in the sOftest
shade of gray-green silk. only one shade being
used. The wash hoseiie III white or IN coiors
seems almost as If shaded when only one tone
is taken IN working from the glossy sheen OF
the silk itself.
FATAL WORK A FAvORITE.
Fayal work seems to be more OF q favorite
than usual this season. 1t is really beautiful.
and, considering the great amount of work on
even small pieces, the prices seem reasonable.
20 me II Is not so pretty nearly as Otner styles
OF work, for table use-even III the fine dOiiies
for finger bowls-it does not seem suitable. but
for toilet covers, table spreads and such things
il IS ever so pretty and durable.
Where ones means make II possible it is in
teresting to follow the fad :or collections
and have specimens of az many different kinds
and styles of embroidery as one can md for
the adjournment of the home. If one is trav-
eler there are many opportunities. OF course. of
picking up unique bits, and IN time may
have something interesting and valuable 10
display for her trouble.
OTHER KINDS or WORK WORTH LOOKING At.
Holbein work from Holland. something in
Russian cross stitch, cut work from Italy,
specimen in gay Spanish coIoring bit of
Turkish and Persian silk and tinsel work. some
ST. Gallen embroideries in all their exquisite
ness. some piece of French and South Eensing-
ton. Mexican drawn work. of course. German
decoration on table or bed linen and Irish
linen trimmed with Irish lace-alI these to-
gether would be worth looking at and possess
ing. In many other places as well representa-
tive work can be found, often with many
peasant characteristics about II, and tine more
out of the way the source the more interest
attaching to the specimen.
Many Of these styles of work can be bought
In this country by stay-at-homes but IT is more
commonplace to get them here. The German
spachtel work Is In favor here and is VERY good
as borders for tea cloths, table scarfs and bu-
reau sets
WRENCH TAPESTRY DYES.
It is remarkable what satisfactory results
can be obtained with the French tapestry DIVES.
They are beautiful in coIoring and, needing
only water as medium in mixing are easily
managed. They are so strong that they require
much difuting for delicate shades, so that one
bottle Will go a long way in using. Exquisite
shades may be gotten by combining different
eo!ors, and any shade almost in silk or wool
matched IN TINS way. They are very durable
too. and when faded can be easily touched I'D
again Nearly three years ego painted some
white lace yellow with '.Terre do Sienna natu-
relle" to trim a cream-coIored drapery for n
toilettable. This fall it looked rather faded and
deeper tone anyway was wanted TO CORE
spond with some other tones introduced into
the room, SO / mixed very little brown with
the same yellow paint and got the shade ex-
acfly, and the lace looks as fresh and pretty
Is can be. When almost dry had the lace
pressed with hot iron, over flannel as em-
broidery Is pressed. In painting laid several
thicknesses Of newspaper on a long table and
then put the lace on that and with bristIe
brush half an inch wide at the bottom put on
the paint freely, the newspaper absorbing the
moisture, and as II got too wet renewed it.
IT IS QUICK WORK.
It is very quick work if ali the lace ia to be
covered The lace in this instance had had a
little tassel fringe for heading around the
table and this was faded nearly white and ex-
perimented with it and also the cords and
tassels for holding the curtains back from the
mirror. i brushed the paint well over them
al md then had the heading o. the fringe
pressed and after they were dry merely shook
out the tassels and they were as fluffy as ever
and OF a good, strong yellow. As u renoyator /
have many times used these dyes with perfect
results. have stained little baskets of willow
30 that they Just matched the silks
to be used in decorating them end the
room where they were to be put.
When the pretty Indian baskets lose .heir sof,
coloring they can be retouched to their great
Improvement. Cotton and silk are the best
fabrics to use, as the dye does not spread on
them as 1t does on linen. have read of a
Nalenciennes Lace being painted in several deli
cate tints, all the pattern being brought out in
this way and the ground net only being left
white. This was used for a frill to e lamp shade
over a pinked white silk founce with the ton
OF white Japanese crepe shirred very full.
LOVELY AND EFFECTIVE SHADE.
think this would mako lovely and effective
shade and have thought Of trying 1t, but have
not as yet. The thinnest fabrics in silk or cotton
will take the dyes without having the pain.
overrun the outlines Of the design d particle
At the same time first painted the lace for the
yellow room dressing table; also painted a
curtain to hang from the brass rod attached
20 the back Of the washstand. The cur-
tain was made Of fine cream white batis:e,
and i simply marked disks with tho
sewx -. -