Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-10-08
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancfes.
Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.l
TIME To REGIN

Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.l
TIME TO BEGIN.
As every one knows, the proper time to
begin making the gifts, which, as the work
of our own hands, are to gladden. the
hearts of the recipients at Christmas time,
is, the day after Christmas. Yet few are
ready to begin just then when the excite
ments of the holiday season arc still at
their height, and as each month and week
brings its own occupations. October comes
at last and fiods the Christmas drawer, set
aside as the depository of these loving
tokens, still unoccupied, or with one lone
ly looking parcel tucked in a cor ner and
suggesting nothing so much as "a plethora
of emptiness"
The pres and cons of Christmas giving
are not to be discussed here. The matter
is to be settled with ones own conscience.
Children especially should not be over
taxed with Christmas work, since the con-
sequent reaction must be most harmful.
Yet the generous little souls delight in it,
plication, self denial and skill, and have
fairly earned the reward of praise and
thanks even for crude and blundering ef-
forts.
Suggestions for home made gifts, that
do not heavily tax ones purse or time, are
in order, and it is hoped that the follow
ing may be acceptable.
An inexpensive but dainty gift is double
frame for small photographs. They are
made of two square envelopes, in octave
| or baronial size, of heavy linen paper.
Cut the points off from the flaps, and fold
the flap of one inside. then insert N that
one the flaps of the other, glueing it to the
back of the envelope. Bend the fronts of
the envelope together, bringing them into
the form of a two fold screen. Lightly
outline with pencil on the fronts the OBJ
long or oval through which the photo
| graphs are to show. Then with water
colors paint spray of flowers on each
side, so designed that they will appear to
pass behind the picture. beginning at the
lower left hand corners and appearing
at the corners diagonslly opposite. A few
leaves or petals of flowers should be allow
ed to project over the edge of the opening.
When the paintin is dry place stout
bit of pasteboard inside the envelope and
with very sharp knife carefully cut out
the opening. Slip each photograph into
place through the diamond shaped opening
in the back and secure them with just q
touch of liquid glue.
If preferred, before painting the design
shade the entire front diagonally from
deep blue to white, and paint the design
over this background. II one has not the
skill to paint, choose envelopes with a fan
ciful water-ma1k and trace this out with
gold paint, using brush or pen.
A pretty touch of color to ones
workbasket outfit is furnished by
a holder for embroidery silks
which will save them, and the usel
too, from the tendency to ''snarl.
A broad piece of ribbon is used for tht
foundation, plain or fancy, as preferred
twelve inches. The ends are fIinged, bu
only enough to make good finish, as loni
fringe would entangle itself with the silks
. and this case is intended for tapgle pre-
venter. On this ribbon place lengthwise
shorter piece of narrower ribbon, of con
b trasting color, with the ends hemmed ant
f feather stitched. Fasten the ribbons to
: gether with i've or seven parallel rows o
: feather stitching, thus forming compsrt
ments for the different shades of elk: ca
the elk the desired length, thread th
:, whole skein into large tape needle an
' draw it through the casing. This little IL
o bor-saving device, folded or in use, wi
b keep the silks in smooth working ordel
q This idea could be carried out less exper
! sively by using gray or white linen.
u Hairpin holders are convenient and a,
ceptable. and these, though not entirel
,. new, are quite pretty. a little elob'
shaped Japanese basket is bronzed an
- filled with curled hair. Around the edg
l. are sewn strips of gold and brown ribbol
3, the end of each folded to a point and fl
" ished with q little metallic ornamen
: These strips should fall nearly to the DO
tom of the basket. Knit filling to Il
h top of golden brown split zephyr. Ca
- on the required number of stitches ar
t. knit across once, then wind the zeph,
or around the fore6nger of the left har
ia seven times and knit it off as one stitc
Ia After tufted row is finished knit aero
- plain, then repeat the tufts. Sew this in
IL the top of the basket, after adding q go
e. and brown ribbon tied together In q be