Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Early Suggestions for Pretty Gifts
for the Holidays
THINGS TO MAKE AT HOME.
Bureau scarfs and Dainty Small Work Boxes
"A Basket OF Tea Chest Mating and How It
10 Capable Of Handsome Decoration-Photo-
graph Frames Of Varied Designs.
Written for The Evening Star.

graph Frames OF Varied Designs.
Written for The Evening Star.
A LMOsT MPERCEPTIBLY THE DAYS
"A are gliding along, and before it can be re-
allied the holiday season will again be upon us.
Some advance preparations are already being
made apparent in the way of special attrac-
tons offered to shoppers in our stores, and an
idea may thus be gained of what will be the
later offerings of all kinds. The household pa
pers are already beginning their yearly advice
| on what to do and how to do it in the way Of
Christmas presents. and, indeed, it is none too
soon, for before we know it the season of gifts
will be here. There is always the same desire
and intention Of being in the van in the matter
Of readiness, but generally there is q great
focking to the ipglorious rear with the belated
articles which were to have been waiting in Sc
| clusion for weeks before being called forth for
distribution. However, if any one begins as
early in the season as this there is every likei-
hood that a completed list will be the satisfac-
tory outcome, but maybe few suggestions will
give the needed impetus to really make q be-
ginning in the matter.
SOME PRETTY THINGS TO MAKE.
Taking it for granted that many people wish
to make some at least of the presents which
they bestow upon their friends will speak
first of some Of the pretty things that can be
done at home and which are neither elaborate
or expensive. Simple and pretty bureau
scarfs-and what hOusekeeper can ever accu-
mulate too many of these useful articlesf-may
be made of three hemstitched handkerchiefs put
together with lace insertings and lace edge
across each end. These may be put over a
colored lining, or where pretty wood consti-
tutes the bureau top may be left in the semi
transparent state SO as to show it of. II a
longer scarf is wanted than three handker-
chiefs will make-for a chiffonier for instance
four may be used in the same way. bringing an
inserting at the center. This requires so little
skill or exercise of taste that one might at
tempt 1t, though avowedly without either. The
pretty laces are so reasonable in price that q
wide choice is offered for all kinds, and neat
ness in sewing on is all that is required to
make this finish a success.
DAINTY SMALL WORK BOXES.
Small work boxes are daintier than ever and
less complex, SO that any one capable of nice
sewing may make one. though skill in embroid-
cry may be utilized to make the box still
prettier. Small pasteboard pieces may be cut
for the foundation, though tinsmith will cut
the pieces OF tin, which are as easily covered.
and afteward are secure from breaking or bend
ing as pasteboard does. First cover the sepa-
rate pieces with pink India silk, basting the
edges together. then over the outside of each
piece basic white sheer null, Persian lawn or
any such thin half-transparent stuff. on which
have been powdered tiny flowers and leaves in
embroidery, one shade only of pink silk being
used for this. The top and four sides are thus
ornamented, leaving the inside Of the box OF
the uncovered pink silk. After carefully
basting the box is put together by
sewing it over hand with white sewing silk,
pink ribbons being added to tie the lid to the
box in front. Inside a little needle book, en-
cry, pair of gilt or silver scissors and wax may
be added if one DESIRES but the little box quite
empty but ready to hold bit of work makes a
pretty gift Of itself. The boxes which are
fastend to a strip Of silk-lined kid with various
pockets and conveniences are much more to
undertake than these simple little affairs
which really answer about all the purposes of
the other. Any India or brocaded silk might
be used by non-embroiderer and would be
pretty enough too. serviceable cover would
be an outside Of any Of the brocades with black
ground and Pompadour bouquet in coIors, the
box to be lined with satin like the flowers, yell
low for instance, and tied with the same rib
bons.
BASKET OF TEA-cHEsr MATING.
read the other day description of basket
made Of tea-chest mating, and almost imme-
diately after saw one exhibited at woman. 9
exchange. The mating being pliable, the cor
ners are bent in like a box plat, square of
the material being used. A loose silk lining is
put in, the edges bound with ribbon, lid,
ribbon-bound, being fastened on by ribbon
hinges. 1t was really effective basket, and
any one with ingenuity might vary the form of
the basket SO that originality might play a
part in its construction. This is thing that
any one hampered by the question Of ways and
means might undertake and with the soft green
of the mating and a bit of green India silk or
green and white. which would be even prettier,
or turquoise blue silk, make basket that any
body might be glad to receive; but let whoever
does it avoid the scarlet silk, which was the
color in the one l saw and was the worst that
could be chosen to combine with the green.
For the many people who dabble in paints, at
least enough to put some little decoration on
various articles, there are always plenty of
ideas to carry out which touch of this kind
will make successful For them there are white
splint baskets, which may be thickly covered
with forget-me-nots on one side and tied with
blue ribbons, to serve as bonbonieres, or violets
may be painted on them, or any other flower
which happens to be known favorite with the
recipient.
PRETTY DECORATED BASKETS.
Among the prettiest Of the ready decorated
baskets offered for sale are those shaped almost
like book, SO thin are they, compared with
the length and breadth. They are of white
splints, with bunch Of flowers painted on one
side; qulre OF paper and envelopes just fits
into the basket, and these are tied with mar
row ribbon, the large rings serving for handles
being brought together on top and caught with
q ribbon to match. These are SO pretty that
one would be glad to find the plain baskets and
have the pleasure Of decorating them, especially
as those already painted have not very tasteful
designs, but inquiries 30 far have failed in find
ing the baskets without these accomplishments.
Photograph frames will probably flourish ex-
tensiveiy as Christmas gifts; instead OF becom-
ing undesirable from their commences they
come in greater variety than ever, with some
little touches of novelty, though the idea seems
worn almost threadbare Of ITSELF
DAINTY PHOTOGRAPH FRAMES.
One OF the dantiest I have seen was Of pale
old rose crepe for a single cabinet-sized pic
ture, with top somewhat higher in the middle
and irregular shape, and for decoration three
small silver feur dc lis in the upper corner
and one larger one in the lower corner dag
onally opposite. Some Of the new photographs
are in q different size from any heretofore,
larger and wider than cabinets and requiring
special frames from those most readily found
in the shops The new finish, too, called mezzo
tint or piatina type. with the soft appearance
OF an engraving, look very well in wide-mar-
gined frames, either single or to hold num-
Der, which may be set about and thus shown
to the best advantage. Another style from
the silk, linen kid-covered frame is
that Of glass, which il new this year.
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