Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-14
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HOLIDAY HINTS.
Acceptable Presents in Attractive Arti-
cles Novel, Useful and Easily Made.

Acceptable Presents in Attractive Arti-
cles Novel, Useful and Easily Made.
The lengthening evenings afford a good
opportunity for work to those who like to
make their preparations for Christmas
giving in n leisurely way, and few hints
as TO what is new in fancy work and in ar
ticies pretty, useful and easily made are
therefore given.
For elderly people or invalids cushions
of every description are acceptable pres
ents; for cushion work forms AL sorts of
scraps of silk and satin may be used. The
The bolster shape of cushion is popular for
the back of chairs.
Ii fancy piucushions there are various
shapes. a square shape, covered with
satin and edged with cord, having occa-
sionally little embroidery introduced,
looks well; or the same shape covered with
embroidery. There is another style, called
the Siamese twins, with one square over
the other, like French pouf ottoman.
The bolster form also finds favor, or the
sack cushion made of various colored silks;
sometimes three of different colors are tied
together.
An umbrella case or case for holding
travelling wraps is useful present. The
best material to use is gray ticking, which
can be embroidered upon in fancy stitches
with colored woods, silks or narrow braid
ing, thus making it ornamental, and the
name of the recipient may also be added if
desired.
A fan photograph holder is u pretty and
convenient thing. First cover palm leaf
fan with cotton wadding and then with
silk. Then cover semicircle of cardboard
in the same way and insert it in the handle
The photographs are slipped between this
and the actual fan. An ordinary fan has
the semicircular strip inserted above the
ribs and the photographs are ranged in
line.
Bags for holding fancy work, worsteds or
odds and ends, are of colored sateen or
pretty cretonne. A desirable size is about
sixteen inches wide and fourteen deep, with
fall of deep lace below the draw string
Attractive bags for soiled linen, thirty
four inches long and twenty-one inches
wide, with deep hem reaching almost to
the draw string, of coarse linen. are pow
dered over with stars or detached daisies of
good size. The outline of the flower is of one
shade, and the filling in, which is merely
herring boning from side to side of the
petal, of another. This is very quick, easy
and effective work
An ordinary berry basket is trimmed up
to make an attractive hanging catchall; it
Is lined with cashmere or any pretty ma
terial and covered outside with satin; a fiat
bow of ribbon ornaments the middle of
each of the four sides; the end of ribbon
is fastened as bow on each corner of the
basket and the basket is suspended by these
four ribbons, which are brought together
and tied.
One of the newest ideas in crochet is
making small butterflies, sprigs of flowers
and other designs to be applique to the
corners of tea cloths, sideboard cloths and
similar pieces of work, either by themselves
or introduced among embroidery To
carry these out successfully it is essential
that the work should be executed tightly
and evenly, and that the finest thread only
be used. When delicately crocheted these
are adapted to mounting in the corners of
pocket handkerchiefs. Sprays and wreaths
of this fine work look well if mounted
upon photograph frames, handkerchief
sachets or workings, made of colored vel
vet, satin or plush.