Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Some Suggestions for Frightening Up
the House for the Fall.
TO TILIZE GREENS.
How One Can Be Made Cheaply and BE A..
tractive-Further Good Results From the
Use Of Tapestry Dyes-Novelties i'm Chin.
Now Displayed.
Written for The Evening Star,

Written for The Evening Star
THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER is A MORE
Il marked period Of time in this city than in
many others. large number of people make
that the date for returning to their homes.
which have been deserted maybe for the past
two or three months. If a short vacation only
Is possible August is the most popular time for
taking it. so that town then Is at its emptiest.
September l sees q great reaction, however,
and all In day the city seems to take on
good share OF its autumn activity. With the
return OF the family the duties o: the house.
keeper are multfarious. II there are children
school time approaches, when their wardrobes
must be replenished after the strain of the sum-
mer's absence; the season brings its abundance
OF fruit. Of which a store must be provided for
winter use, and added to these there are the
house alterations and attentions, which to many
woman is the most congenial part of her
nome hfe All sorts of suggestions for house
decoration and arrangement in order at
this time, for many tastes are to be satisfied,
and the majority perhaps must make the most
OF what resources they have, which though it
restricts also adds a degree Of pleasure to
achievements after all.
UTILITY OF SCREENS
Screens of all kinds rather grow in favor than
otherwise, and many a picturesque nook in a
house owes its peculiar coziness to some ar
rangement of these useful articles In houses
as well heated our American ones screens
are seldom needed a shield from draughts-|
one OF the principal uses to which they are put
abroad-but nevertheless there are many WAYS
OF placing them to the advantage of a ROOM
While one may be as extravagant as possible in
these articles. yet one may also get up a screen
which Is Inexpensive and satisfactory also
more easily than to manage almost any other
bit Of furnishing.
Clothes-horse frames have been utilized for
some years, and have proved their ability TO
please where cheap and readily constructed
screens are needed. Such a screen as this has
been In use In our house long enough TO prove
It's general satisfactoriness. and as it was of
home manufacture a description of il NAV help
some homemaker who has this problem of how
to bring much ont of little confronting her in
her autumn plans for altering and beautifying
her house.
HOW ONE WAS MADE.
three-fold clothes horse of good size was
bought and one fold taken off, after which the
other two were lowered about five inches by
saving OFF the upright bars at the bottom.
he frame was then painted black as that was
the color everything was being painted at that
Time. instead OF the white SO popular now. As a
band for frieZe on each fold white linen
crash OF fine quality cut wide enough 10
allow for decoration, and also q deep knotted
as black paint, they were chosen as the
principal feature of the design. Large-sized
ones we're drawn by cup to make a good out
line slngly and overlapping the two linen
bands for each fold of the screen. From de-
sign in an art paper a single dogwood blossom
of natural size was cut out and by this pattern
the same shape was cut from light gray blue
plush and the flowers pasted, one in each disk
on the linen. The rest of each disk was then
painted with lustra paints some in pale gold
and ind n
som was outlined on the edges, veined, and
center painted with silver paint. On the
linen connecting the disks were branches and
leaves, making a design which included the
blossoms in the disks also, the branches in
brown, the leaves in lustra greens and all out
lined In black, as were the disks.
THE FRINGE AND HANaINas.
This pattern filed irregularly a space eight
inches wide, and below this the fringe fell for
five inches more. After the bands we're fin
ished they were couched on to the hangings of
olive, donble-faced canton flannel cut SO as to
reach nearly to the floor and long enough to
turn over at the top and hang down one-third
OF their depth again. To fasten these to the
screen very simple plan was followed; the
upper end of the hanging was slipped from what
was to be the right side through the two upper
bars on to the wrong side then brought over
the upper BAR which the flap now concealed,
the weight of it keeping it in place. As no
q.
an easy arrangement, much more SO than any
other. and when a shaking was necessary they
could be lifted off and quickly replaced OF
course the two lower bars showed on the wrong
side, but they were painted and not objection
able at all. The bottom edge of each canton
flannel hanging was cut into fringe three inches
deep the lower edges of the flaps were like
wise fringed in the same way and the linen
fringe OF the band coming just above the other
fringe made a pretty finish. For COUGHING a
orr n fnrn hraId 18th
such as comes for dress trimmings was used,
sewed down with olive filoselle. The room
where this useful screen was put was furnished
in light blue principally, and it looked very
pretty there, with its olive and blue tones
GOOD RESULTS FROM TAPESTRY DYES.
Still good results from the use Of tapestry
dyes come under my observation, the latest be-
ing the renoyating Of chair in a most simple
way. light fancy cane-seat chair with cherry
and gilt frame had been cushioned very prettily
with white bolton sheetlng. worked in Japan-
ese gold thread and diagonal lines of yellow
floselle; a small cushion lined with yellow silk
was laced to the chair at the back while the
seat cushion was fastened with a gimp and
fancy brass tacks to the wood leaving a margin
Of gilded cherry showing all around. For
long time the white cushions kept their good
looks, but in time they waxed dingy, though
the gold thread shone as brightly as ever in the
whorls and water waves which made nm the de-
sign. in looking at the chair the other dav.
with reference to making new cushions the
Idea OF experimenting with the dyes was
thought of, and as the cushions we're past use
in their present state a bold step was decided
upon. A strong yellow dye was mixed with
enough brown to tone its brilliancy This was
laid on to the cushions with broad bristIe
brush diagonally, following the weave of the
goods and the line Of the silk embroidery:wben
it was dry 1t was much improved, but a second
wash was given in the same way, which
deepened the color and made it look SO per
fectly we'll that again it may take its place in
the little parlor where its soft yellow color will
correspond with the prevailing tones of the
room. The gold thread was made much
brighter for the two washings it had with the
dye, or else its darker background better
brought out its glitter than the white had
If one gets in the way Of using these paints
considerable labor in different directions may
be saved by applying them.
NEW CHINA DISPLAYED.
Among the new china displayed is a much
larger variety Of brush and comb trays than
has been seen here heretofore. The colorings
are pretty, small flowers in one form or
another generally making the design. With
some other small pieces are included. making
the set for toilet use. and there many odd
little pieces specially suited also for the dress
ing table. Candlesticks and match safes are pref
tier than we have been able to find before, the
box match safes, which were revived last year,
coming in various styles, the Wedgewood be-
ing especially attractiveeboth in the dark and
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