Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13

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N entertaining the houses
X ~ ~ Plants, flowers, lights
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n W -SN make the reception tot
M ErSSsxNAM, lets Of rooms, and gem
yXH EN5&NsS'' orally they prove as
% fEtH becoming to houses seen
tWkr{A&< ordinarily in everyday
" 1TEtS costume as do the beau
tiful gowns OF the hos
tesses on such gala &C.
casiona Really . transformation scene can
be effected in rooms not commonly called even
attractive by introducing enough greenery. with
sufficient color 10 set il of. Just becoming
gown makes q plain woman almost pretty.
whiie the glowing lights OF lamp and candle
add the effect that animation does to person.
Many plants and fewer flowers make more
decorative effect than more flowers and less
greenery to set of their charms, the flowers,
IKE jewels. are enhanced by their setting. and
foiiage brings out their beauties as handsome
costume does that of jewels. Tall palms in
corners or recesses, lower plants grouped with
them, masses Of maidenhair on the mantels and
Jars OF Mowers set in prominent places, where
their coloring will be accented, make q good
arrangement and disposal for decoration.
REASONABLE FLOWERS FOR DECORATION.
With the beginning Of February the flowers
Of spring associations are in favor, and. though
not plentiful as yet the tulips and daft odils are
appearing at receptions. dinners and lunch
cons, where their sweet suggestiveness 10
always appreciated. The pink and white
daisies modest little flowers, but are won
derfully pretty, used in a mass particularly;
ana Tor home use are specially satisfactory
they are so long lived in water-while root or
two planted in low jar will last for weeks
pretty centerpiece for the table. The single
white hyacinths with pink carnations in tall
cut glass vases were the effective flowers used
recently at a luncheon, with centerpiece OF
linen embroidered in pale green. on which
stood tall crystal lamp with pale green shade.
This combination of color and flowers had its
spring suggestions also. and they are especially
grateful to us here in this season, which has
brought SO much of storm and snow TO our
city, usually 80 exempt from the latter vista
ton.
SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME ISeESUIry.
read just lately how decorations for festival
occasions might be managed by home workers
with little trouble, mantels and doorways be-
ing especially spoken Of as effective points FOR
massing flowers. Cheese cloth, should sup
pose OF the same color as the flowers to be APP
Piled, Is made a foundation. the edges being
cut IN form to suggest its having been draped
that is, with one end higher than the other,
for instance-and onto this the flowers are
sewed with strong thread. The flowers alone
may be put closely together, such as pink roses
or they may be mingled with foliage, or if iow-
ers are scarce pretty green vines or leaves NAV
be substituted. L think this idea might be well
carried out in the country, where generally all
sorts of pretty greenery may be found in the
woods for the gathering and a florists services
are not often to be had at hand. When orchards
are IN bloom a Japanesque arrangement of
fruit blossoms could be made very charming it
seems to me.
ROOM N PINK.
To decorate a room in pink, for instance,
have pink cheese cloth drapery over the door,
more like lambrequin in shape than like a
portiere, and have sprays Of peach blossoms
pnt closely over it. III there is an upright
piano drapery OF vines festooned across the
front, with great jar OF the blossoms on twigs
long enough TO give a very branching effect
would be lovely. mantel drapery. and may
be draping on mirror or picture hanging
above, both sewed to the pink cloth founda-
tons. would also be very effective. Special
rooms would probably suggest further decora-
ton, but this Is in a general way suited 30 al
most any place. In rose time in the country
perfect rose bower could he made following out
this same idea, sprays of roses with the cius-
tered blossoms being used on the pink ground
work
cRocHETED TRIMMING TO PREVAIL.
1t is prophesied that crocheted trimming will
be used in the spring, and with the prevailing
fancy for the Irish point and similar laces il
seems a likely prediction. These laces have
been used on silk and wool alike this winter.
and the India silks and sheer cottons for sum.
mer wear Will be equally pretty to combine
with them; yokes of lace especially seem suit
able for summer gowns, and something hand
made might be adapted to this form. or as An
edge TO bretelles or rests, or in many other
ways that fertile fancy could suggest II
heavy laces are to be used on gowns they are
to be chosen also for household linens of all
kinds, and hand made edges are much liked.
When one has little time for needlework of
most kinds a good deal may be ACCOMPLISHED
If piece of Lace is at hand ready 70 be taken
up for even a short time and an inch or two
added to its length.
MANY WAYS OF DOING EMBROIDERY.
There are many little ways Of doing en-
broidery that an expert learns to avail herself
of, but which a beginner or one only moder-
ately skilled is not aware of, and so cannot
make OF service. Experience teaches MANY
things, hut her methods are necessarily some-
what tedious, and hints may often be of use to
those who know different stitches and sucb
foundations, but who do not know little vays
OF improving the looks of their work or of
doing 1t in the easiest and most effective
manner. l was struck with the benefit of
knowing how to work to advantage by seeing a
piece OF needlework which was done by under
standing fingers. The hemstitched square OF
linen could be used for a centerpiece on a din
ing table or for a cover to any small table a
white one being the best suited to the coIoring.
The design was pretty one, of yiolets in the
natural forms, bunch Of two or three tied
with bowknot OF ribbon being in each corner.
while scattered ones. some stemless some front
view, some turned away, were arranged 10 mi
the outer edges leaving . round space in the
center OF the plain linen. As the flowers were
in natural forms they were Embroidered IN
natural colors, three shades OF violet filofioss
being used, with two shades Of gray green for
WORKING THE PrrAIA
For the outer edge Of the petals, worked in
long and short stitches, two threads of the silk
were taken, which gave . heavy outline, max
ing distinct effect against the linen; then q
single thread OF silk was taken for filing the
middle OF each petal, whether it was the same
shade as the edge or q shade lighter, both being
used In shading the different blossoms This
gave q much better effAcf than aitlar .