Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-12-11
THE HOUSEHOLD.
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
which Require Taste and SkiIIruI Fin
gers Rather than Heavy Purse---A
Few Hints to Christmas GIvers.

ITO willing hands and loving heart
NO labor seemeth heavy
And each one strives with ready art
To make old Christmas merrie"
As the Christmas season, the time of
giving, draws nearer, the question of dain-
ty and appropriate gifts, which shall still
be within the reach of moderately full
pocketbook or can be fashioned by ''wiling
hands, again perpleXes many, and few
suggestions, gathered from various sources.
are here given. 1t is perhaps too late to
do any very elaborate work in time for
Christmas, but there are some simple gifts
that can he made without great labor that
will be warmly welcomed.
For father or brother it is sometimes
difficult to find appropriate presents which
can be easily made. Here is an idea or
two which may help some one out.
An ordinary camp stool may be utilized
for pretty and unique music ar newspa-
per receptacle. Remove the canvas seat
and in its place tack two-thirls of yard
of Brussels carpet border with the wrong
side up. Line it with yard of some
dainty colorcd China silk, finishing the
overhangng ends with brass rings. The
silk is wide enough to lie with slight full
ness, and should be sewed fast with few
invisible stitches to the carpet where the
latter is tackled on to the frame. The
rack is held in position with brass chains
fastened with large brass-headed tacks.
Card bags are very pretty made of cham
OILS skin, with fringe cut at the bottom.
Either paint on one side three cards over
tapping each other say the nine, two and
queen, or cut the cards from white silk or
celluloid, paint the spots on them and
paste on the bag. Through Sits cut in the
top run draw ribbon. Above the fringe
paint four small rings with a spot of each
suit in the centre.
Pretty calendars for the writing desk
may be made by cutting from heavy card
board or water-color paper the form of
blossom a pansy for instance, or a wild
rose, painting one side of it to represent
the flower, and upon the other side past
ing one of the little calendars to be oh
tanned at any booksellers.
A set of whist counters can be made in
the following manner: Cut two pieces of
celluloid the exact size of an ordinary
playing card, rounding the corners neatly.
Placing one of the pieces of celuloid over
the four of hearts or diamonds, trace the
spots with red paint as near the color on
the cards as possible, then fill in solid with
old paints or water colOrs; the former
makes better impression. Then cut a
narrow slit from the celluloid about an inch
from the top and half an inch from the
sides at each end of the card, and through
this opening run half a yard of black sat
in ribbon or gros grain with a satin edge,
in width the length of the slit, and number
the ribbon in Roman numbers from one to
seven with red paint or gilt fluid if pre-
ferred The numbers should be a little
over an inch from one another, and the
ribbon should pull through the Sits easily,
so that the points can be counted each
hand on the top of the card. On the sec
ond piece of celluloid paint either spades
or clubs with black paint, and use red or
| yellow ribbon numbered with black.
An adjustable magazine cover in which
/ to keep the current number of a magazine
until replaced by the next months issue, is
a pleasing gift. Two pasteboard pieces are
/ cut in the shape and size of the magazine,
covered with gray linen and lined with sat
/ i'm. On the outside the name of the mag
azine and a decorative design may be
placed either embroidered in some bright
color or drawn in ndelible ink. On the
inside are openings or pockets into which
the outside leaves of the magazine are
slipped. narrow ribbon for bookmarker
is attached to the top and on one side are
little straps to hold a paper knife.
For any mother or housekeeper a con
venient and practical present is a medicine
case. 1t may be made of any strong mate
rial. White butchers linen is one of the
best materials. Cut piece one yard long
and three-fourths of yard wide. Upon
this, from side to side, are to be stitched
rows of pockets of the same material, made
full enough to accommodate the articles
designed for them. The upper row is fol
small bottles, the next for those of larger
size. the next row for cotton wool, mus
tard plasters, powders, etc. Below this
are two pockets large enough to accommo
date the hot water bag and syringe, and a
the bottom are two pockets for old linel
and cotton, flannel, bandages, and all 9th
or materials that are needed for accidents
emergency cases and illness of all kinds
The pockets are all bound with whit
braid. as is the case itself, and upon eacl
rocket is marked the name of whatever
is designed to hold. Rings are sewed t.
the top. bottom and sides to hold it firmly
1t is intended to be hung on closet door
A set of aprons of different kinds TO
different purposes would not come amis
TO most housewives. A pretty apron {
fully protect a nice dress may be made al
ter the fashion of child's high-necke
apron. with full sleeves buttoned at tn
wrist. For material use yellow cotton an
+ hind the edges and cord the seams wit
turkey red. For work aprons the checke
pinghams worked with simple cross site
e patterns and made long and full are nea
and tasteful. For sweeping and busting
skirt apron of black cambria protects I'll
dress well. Make it full and with an exit
q long placket opening, and add big pock'
. I'm which TO tuck the buster. If there is