The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-22
THE RECEPTION ROOM.
Effective and Inexpensive Draperies for
the Windows.

Effective and Inexpensive Draperies for
the Windows.
mo, l am not going to get any new
window curtains" said lady who was
noted for the daintincss Of her house
decorations ~ have been looking over
my treasures, and made ii most delight
full discovery. I found Il very large
countcrpane Of darned net that | am
going TO cut up TO drape the bOw-win-
dows in my reception room. 1t is a
beautiful piece of work, and by diyid-
ing it in half and adding a small piece
to it, | shall have an abundance Of ma
terial. 1t is long enough to drape over
the pole and make sort Of top finish.
The drapcry is edged with lace of the
same round mesh as the material, and
the curtains will require no further
trimming Inside of these | shall put
sash curtains Of fine plain net run on
brass rods These, with the exception
of the Holland shades, will be all of the
decoration ! want. | intend, during
nv leisure moments, to make an eXcep-
tionally pretty and elaborate set of
sash-curtains of fine net darned in
pattern to mitch the draperies, but as
this will be a work of time | shall put
up the plain net for the present. Gus
tom may decree what it pleases, but l,
for one, very much prefer simple,
conservative style that | can always
keep and that is not affected by the
changes or caprices of fashion. There
are few things thas more plainly indi-
cate the character of the inmates of the
dwelling than the arrangement and care
of the windows, and few portions of the
house are susceptible of more tasteful
handling
ITO secure the best results, it is by
no means necessary to have expensive
or elaborate mountaineering. For
many years, such Il thing as homemade
window-curtains were scarcely thought
of, but since the decorative spirit has
become general, and women are learn
ing how to make all sorts of really
useful and elegant draperies, much
more individuality can be assured than
when one must rely entirely upon the
professional furnisher or take what
ever the stores happen TO offer. Raw
materials are not expensive these days,
and there are always odd hours and mo-
ments where one can put Il few stitches
into handsome piece of work, and by
and by have something very creditable
to show for it.
Among the most interesting under
taltings in this line is that of a lady
who is making portfolio in embroidery
on u foundation of silk home-spun.
Among the heirlooms in her cedar
chest were some old thine crewel en-
broideries in grape leaf and vine pat
tern. The material on which these
were wrought had become almost worn
out and were put away because it was
not safe to handle them in their dilap-
idated state. The home-spun was put
on strctcher and the embroideries
were carefully basted on, appliqued
down and the old material cut away
New veining and an occasional stitch
through the leaves and stalks made the
attachment sufficiently close, and then
the entire pattern was satin stitched
upon the new backing.
CAS- draperies for reception-room,
they are among the most artistic of
amateur productions, and my lady has
more than once been importuned to
tell where she got such lovely curtains.
There is great pleasure in making
something with IL distinctive char
acter, and only those who have
wrought with patience and skill some
Of those ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS out of an
cestral possessions, who know the de-
light there is in having them. IN Y
Ledger.