Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
Written for The Evening star.

Q necessity, or the long. hot days would
seem interminable. OF reading continually
one tires. and the heat makes the eyes
heavy. that . change Of employment Is
restful and gives interest to the tagging
hours Embroidery is out Of the question
when the Thermometer ranges ss it does here
now for delicate materials only soiled and
spoiled, even IL ones energy equal to
attempting it
Painting. however, 10 not affected by the
weather and heat 10 fairly forgotten il one gets
absorbed in the fascinating work Particularly
vsn adapted TO warm days are the tapestry
dyes, for such q variety OF things can be done
With them that it creates an interest to find
what lovely colors and gradations OF colors can
be obtained by mixing different shades to-
sssher.
fAPEsrnY DIE yxPfRINRSTs.
Some pretty experiments were tried the other
day With most satisfactory rssults Seeking to
vhils away . warm morning. these paints were
Tot out and by combining two reds and
brown, and diluting well with water. several
shades we're got Of old red. yellow pink and
pale shrimp pink. each In o separate cup. After
succeeding In the colors. articles to apply them
20 we're hunted up and in an hour half dozen
Aings we're made to look very pretty in these
pink tones Two baskets bought at gypsy
c~mp OF . summer resort bad been originally
OF Q beautiful pink woven In With sweet grass,
and the prettinsss had departed.
Wth . broad bristle brush the pink dye was
brushed all over these, perfectly renewing the
former color and not affecting in the least the
sweet grass where il happened to touch it.
When they were dry they looked exactly US if
they had been Just woven, 30 fresh and pretty
we're they.
RESrwISo TARSIsHEp coLoRs.
Having succeeded well with these baskets
another taken, which Of white wicker,
. little diseolored With time and daily use as a
desk letter basket; this was equally improved
and with fresh ribbons looks like new again.
AMI IL good for another years service in the
same place before II will need retouching. A
lcaness branch of white Janpanse flowers was
lightly painted and put IN vase. and II looks
as II spring had come again and the lovely
towering almond was IN bloom.
About this time objects to beautify began 70
fail and photograph frame covered with pink
lnCi. silk which b. reason OF sun and dive
decidedly old pink, seemed good subject for
further experiment IL was folding frame
for two cabinet pictures. and the dye WAS
freely and quickly applied The result was not
perfectly satisfying. for II one stroke OF the
brush happened To overlaps previous 1t
driei With little difference Of shade: but 1t
was too faded t. look well before. anyway. and
now in a juiiciously dark place 1t will answer
AZ photograph frames fall short.
BAND FOR FIKEPI ACE CURTAIN.
still another use for the tapestry dyes
found. and handsome band for fireplace
curtain begun, FOR neeilework will be re-
quircd 10 hIIsh II. A strip Of bolton sheeting
Ia the grew white natural tint and a quarter OF
yard wide, u the material to which the paint
was applied single large peOny. selected
from pattern in which IL came at intervals
Was drawn with transfer paper onto d piece OF
trui paper. and then cut out, after which it
Was laid on the band of cloth. and with a soft
lead pencil the outline was drawn, repeating
al.
length OF the cloth hen two shades of the
dye were applied alternately. which when dry
made lovely tones of pink. 4 background of
hOneycOmb stitch will be worked on the white
ground to throw out the design still more
with olive hAx thread. after which the band of
peonle- will be outlined with two strands of
JAPAN se gold thread. and long strands of the
gold thread added. Ii is intended that this
shall be put on a curtain Of olive fax velours,
nth tas-s4 fringe nine inches deep depending
rom the band in shades of pink AMI olive.
There Ii nothing IN the way OF a textile fabric
shich takes these dyes better than bolton
<eeetIng for II Is firm and being cotton the
BYE does not spread a particle beyond the out
.iae OF the pattern. while the diagOnal weave
gives something the effect of the tapestry
canvas. which comes specially for this work.
but L. much more expensive. and intended
principally for more elaborate designs.
PATTERN FOR SOFA PILLOW.
ASS last experiment with the dyes piece of
with a large pattern for a sofa pillow. and the
strongest shade OF the pink dye washed
over the flowers When this was thoroughly
dry deep plum or blush crimson appeared AS
the permanent color of the design. and when
this has plenty of gold thread put on 10 tighten
10 ~ vii! look very suitable Ia the room Tor
which II 10 intended ami when the frieze of
tie wall paper Is tapestry pattern with dull
pinks and blue in much the same colorinG
Another treatment which mag be preferred 10
ill., 4 .
the crimson flowers with Old pink linen floss.
rather line. 50 that severa. threads NAV be used
together; this altogether uil effec, may better
SUIT the room than the other. After all paint
ing Of which | have told wns done the cups
seemed Is fuIl as ever OF the DIVES. so far do
they 60 and covered over they will ket D almost
any length OF time. anu If they dry away more
water Will bring them to the same shades again.
x.KINe PILLOW CASE LACE.
Another good employment for the hands in
warm weather Is the making OF pillow case lace:
thread cannot be injured if the fingers grow
damp and sticky as the hours go by. and al
Hosi every Woman likes the Pheasant iteration
OF kniitIag Or crOcheting. For pillow cases
there Is nothing more suitable or dul able than
these lAees. and Tor undeTciotbes. especially
ehildrens. they gave far better service than
any machine-made lAces- The number of
pretty designs 10 be found in the embroidery
shops Is almost infinite and inexpensive les
sons vii alvsys be given. think. to initiate
beginners IL the work such lace. If only kent
for warm ,-ay- and ''chtch-up" work at othe,
times, will progress quite rapidly and bo;h as
ArecreatiOn IN the making and for the pretty
Finish II can give many articles will prove a
Satisfaction.
II ones industry Is not equal to undertaking
long enough piece for pillow cases two strips
may De made to Use bureau side scarf ends
or washstand covers. al random sigi teeu-iuch
strips of Lace cat be made II one has nothing
JUS. ready for the lace and a scarf made lateY
of tia: vidLL is certain to it SEINE piec. of fur-
nIture
The foreigners make these laces more than
We do. Aad often gIr.s IN service here are unite
accomplished IN this Kind Of work. The BRET
test les gins i have ever seen-real!y handsome
isce-wsre those made b. o Norwegian maid
via ~ deit at II aud utilized her spare
M nen;s hat her mistress has quite a variety
made by the girl while IN her service and on
Which several years wear have ieit no sign.
Nuch better than spool cotton for making any
OF tLsse lAces l. the six-cOrd crochet cotton
which both looks and wesrs better than thread
and which this same maid always Used.
coNRISArIos FURSIIURE-
The English have great fancy for combina-
tiOR pieces ot furniture. some Of which looks
pretty 20 American Dyes, and, again. to Us the
object II anything but attractive. Desks are
fssorIts articles 80 be used III conjunction with
other things. ~ well screens, and both of
these have been combined ia a way quite in
Ne t. "A g.,