Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-22
DAINTY CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

II "A case for embroidery silks is a very mice gift for the young woman who does this work Take piece of canvas, the very stiff kind, longer than wide, and cover with linen, figured or plain silk Take several sheets of writing paper khe plain white, with smooth surface, is 1best-and take the fold between the two pages for the center, double the inside Sedge to one-third the width, then fold Again, making the two folds come to the bniddle of the sheet. Do the other side of fhe sheet the same way, and the several sheets. Then, placing them together Hasten in the cover you have already made by piercing two holes and running a ribbon through, tying in a bow on the back. A piece of the same narrow rib ron should be fastened to the edges to hold the case together when filled with silks You will see the reason for fold ing the pages twice when you go to put The skeinS of silk in.
 If you want to give girl friend use full gift send her a glove mender Buy ring. which may be of rubber. wood, sil- yer. or any ordinary bone ring will an- swer-sew pieces of narrow ribbon at different parts of this ring, letting them hang down a short distance from the ring. To the first one attach a pair of little scissors, to the next a heart-shaped
  to put in the finger of the glove while mending. and can be bought at jewelry store-and the last ribbon a braided strand of different colored cottons. Right here let me give you a pointer. Never use silk to mend kid gloves but cotton always. Silk cuts the kid and your glove does not stay mended much longer than you are doing the work.
 
 A Christmas ball is unique trifle to give either a man or a woman. The be- ginning, or heart of the ball should be some little-eft. You can make it us ex- pensive or as inexpensive as you like. "A silver thimble is nice if the ball Is to go to girl. Beginning on this. wind round and round it silks for glove mend ing, embroidery silk of different colors, dental floss or twine. When winding put in a quotation from some favorite author that may come to light as the winding goes on from day to day, and give pleas nre long after Christmas day has passed into the shadows of memory, while the heart of the ball adds the final bit of pleasure when the last thread Is un- wound. The ball can be made any size to please the fancy. and a pair of scissors attached to the end adds to it's useful ness.
 Pillows and cushions are always ac- ceptable. A pillow in the form of a foot ball made of boys college coors will please him. Another design Is to sew two handkerchiefs together to within about 3 inches of each corner; having put the cushion in, tie the corners se- curely, leaving the edges go loose. Again, make two small. fiat cushions, and. talk Ing two handkerchiefs, fasten the cush- hons together by tying the corners of one handkerchief to the corners of the other in knots.
 ' Any little womans delft fingers can make each one of these articles. The materials then being the only purchasa- ble portion, the gift will not only have fhe charm of individual taste and work, but of having cost the giver only a very moderate sum. Linen will play an inn portant part in the manufacture of Christmas presents this year, for any thing that is linen goes. One of the pret- tiest effects I have seen recently is small bag of the finest. sheerest material, In dimensions about or inches, and shaped, flaps and all, precisely like a tiny envelope. It Is exquisitely stitched all around, embroidered on the face with the owner to- be's initials and long loop of baby ribbon attached to the point of 4he flap finishes this bit of scented dainti-