The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-22
NEW IDEAS IN NnEpLEwonK.
LINEN Very Convenient, Fashionable
and Pretty.

and Pretty.
II is owing In great measure to our ever
Increasing restlessnsss and the Unsuitable
craving for novelty consequent thereon, that
me creative faculty 10 called into ceaseless
action In order to supply US with that va
rieiy which We now consider essential 10 our
happiness. From force OF habit we have
iesEned 10 seek change in everything that
goes TO make UP the sum OF our existence;
ana thus II comes about that even in needle
work there are fashions as distinct and as
clearly defined as those appariaInlng TO cos
tune.
Every succeeding year finds us drifting
iurther and further away from the primitive
articles OF ornamentstion. with which our
myers we're kept busy in the days OF our
CHILDHOOD No longer do we admit that
WOODWORK samplers and crochetei antma-
CAESARS are entitled to recognition in the
exalted sphere OF art. Crochet. indeed,
has been rehabllia;ed OF late. but In a more
advanced and elaborate form, TO which the
embryonic efforts Of its hrst youth are as
tue young seeding to the tree OF sturdy
growth. Tattng. too. is one OF the revived
fads Of the day. but neither is tnis as it once
was. So has everything evolved and IL san
evolving; all the old things are Left behind
and only that which is new can lay claim
10 our hckle interest.
Embroideries IN fax are AZ present alb
sorbing the attention OF European needle
women. and with good reason, Tor they are
really very beautiful. Some lovely long
curtains Tor drawing room windows are es-
peciaily worthy OF note, These are worked
upon iYorytinted ljnen-thls being nov the
favorte foundation for emhroidery-in a de-
sign Of half-hlown carnations. The flowers
are worked in AJAX hloselle In pale shades Of
coral and golden yellow, the long slender
leaves beint wrought In tender shades of
green. iufted fringe. combating the sew
srA colors used, and made OF pure fax
thread finishes the curtains. which are quite
as effective as anything made % costlier
materials. good feature Of these linen
embrolderles is that they wash exceedingly
wel--whch cannot be always said Of silk
while when fax thread is used It's appear
ance is fully equal to that Of silk
The same idea Of decoration is carried out
In various other ways Sofa pillows, for ex-
ample, are often extremely effective whep
worked in tuls manner. A fayorlte design is
the sunHower, the rich shades Of red and
gold, with the dark tints Of the foliage com
ing out remarkably Well In nax thread. The
pillows are finished with a double frll. which
is usually made Of surah or soft silk In some
shade. harmonlzlng With the general color
scheme.
Dainty a1d inexpensive presents for al
most any occasion may he made with no
other outlay that the trlflng cost OF ma
.erlals and the time spent in the work
which. to a woman OF leisure, Is OF little or
no Importance. Tea cloths, sachets for every
conceivable purpose. doilies, bureau and tray
covers, with all the numberless articles now
considered indispensable for even ordinary
use, are acceptable gifts to every house
keeper and will be the more highly appre-
clated for being the work OF the donors own
fingers.
Generally speaking, the designs most In
favor at the present moment are OF the con-
yentions order. and are eminently adapted
to the capabilities Of the average embroider-
ess. Still, elaborate needework is always
worthy Of admiration, and is generally pre-
fsrred by those who have the time TO devote
10 1t and the talent TO execute IT, Fol-
lowing the lines Of fashion In costume. there
Ia marked tendency 10 use brilliant tinted
materials with rather lavish hand and tho
careful shading thus rendered necessary can
be accomplished only by an experienced
worker Sometimes indeed, the surface OF
the article is almost Covered with stitches,
which Il Is the aim OF the expert to apply as
smoothly as II woven in the fabric.
Linen bedspreads are quite the rage among
fashionable people. Some OF the prettiest
specimens have tiny bouquets scattered hap
hazard over the entire surface intermingled
with single blooms and broken petals and
are nnisheG with a narrow frill OF linen or
sateen. or a border Of drawn work; while IN
others the embroidery Is confined to the
edges and center OF the spread or some
times to the corners alone. Ecru and corn
flower blue are the favorite shades for the
foundation OF a spread, while the embro-
derry is carried out In the natural tlnts OF
the flowers and leaves comprising the design.