Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
HOMES.
Some Practical Suggestions About
China Painting.
AN ENTHUSIAST AT WORK.
Pretty De.ig ms for Decoration-A Unique
Tea Table and 10. Contents-HOw IL
was piscoyered-Eifective Mantel Cor.
ner-Corner shelves.
Written for THE EVENING srAp.

Written for TIVE EvENISo srAp.
- ING SONG Of china. closet deep and
iS wide
ANRows aud rows Of dishes. setting side by
~Nv side
KSIwheu the door is open. its goOdly to be-
N~ held
Dainty. shining crystalline tes set white and gold
Grandma's blue sprixzed china on the upper shelf
Grsndma used g. wash 1t and dry each piece herselD
Hoping. poor old lady, if living not to see.
That future generations might from the cups drink
tea
Humming these lines a friend rushed in the
other day TO beg me TO come at once and see
her latest acquisitions in china. She is an en-
thusiastic painter Of china, and having been
away from home had come back with collec-
ton Of pretty shapes and styles, some Of which
her eager brush had already besprinkled with
dainty decorations As / looked at them 1
warned her that all l saw was sure to appear as
copy" in the near or remote future, but assur-
ing me OF her Indifference to that she pointed
out the different pieces. Already her fancy had
planned most OF the designs suited to the
various pretty things, and as she had selected
the choicest bits she could find in two of our
largest cities she had a collection quite charm
ing 70 behold. even II most of il were still
in a colorless state. Some, however, had
proved too irresistible to leave in that
condition long, and were already left by the
kiln imperishabIe as to coIoring and most
fragile to substance. This particular painter
much affects the Dresden style of decoration
and from considerable practice has attained
quite a proficiency in scattering the dainty
little blossoms over the china. The way she
works is to have palette on which she pre-
pares a little Of all the half dozen colors she
will want for the different flowers on single
piece and then she keeps that palette for the
purpose exclusively adding more paint as a
shade is exhausted, or il returning to work
after the paint has become dry. mixing IN
enough turpentine to use the palette knife until
the desired degree of softness Is obtained.
Thus at any time she can paint even for an
hour to advantage. for the paints being ready
on the palette saves much time at each sitting.
For the tiny flowers. too, she keeps a separate
brush for each color of petals and leaves. leaving
them also from time to time and just softening
them in turpentine when she begins work and
then dipping them into oil of lavender as she
works. This is specially good way Of saving
time and by keeping each brush for its own
color there are no bad results from mad
vertent mixing Of colors through not cleaning
a brush thoroughly in changing from one
color to another.
PRETTY EFFECTS.
Some of the effects saw were very pretty.
A tiny candlestick for using sealing wax on a
desk had the gay little flowers IN each DIVISION
Of its shape, while the gold, which was plenti-
fully put on edge and handle, was not solid
anywhere. but in fine lines and filigree finish
quite in the Dresden style. A tray for hair
pins (Or cigar ashes) was touched lightly with
gold on the edge, while in the center a grace
tul spray of leaves and a few pink blossoms
was carelessly arranged. but carefully painted.
little puff box Md a close band of forget-me-
nOts encircling il. tied with blue bow and
ends, while a wreath followed the edge of the
round top. After my admiration had en-
braced all these small pieces, my friend. with
a great air of triumph. led me to the corner Of
the sitting room. where
NEW TEA TABLE
Of rattan was standing with all its dainty ap-
purtenances. 1t was really as pretty and withal
Convenient az any table for tea which l have
ever seen. and the accompanying illustration
presents its hgnt and graceful form. which also
Is strong and capacious. While was taking in
ali this l-,-;lless my friend laughingly ex-