The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-03-20
BABY'S BASKET.
How 20 Make Is and with wh.. .
Filz It.

Ella NJ.
Those who have the care OF little on..
soon realize the necessity CT q bask..
to hold the numerous articles of bahv,.
toilet, aud it Is natural for every moth,
TO have everything pertaining to the h.
tie stranger as dainty and beautifula,
possible. But one soon finds that II "a.
quires a welI-flIed pocketbook to n,r,.
chase the handsome affairs of this kina
that are displayed in the show win.
dows, and large amount OF good Judo.
ment to choose one that will not be too
dainty and frail for everyday use.
After looking in vain for what wa,
wanted a mother recently decided Ia
make one from the materials aIreadya,
hand, and the result was SO thorouehlv
satisfactory in every way that otbs,
mothers ought to know OF it. Two larvs
plum baskets were selected, that haa
been saved after using the fruit; not the
straight wooden ones, but those nsds
of woven strips. They were IS incbe,
long. ten inches wide and about seven
inches deep. with nicely rounded bot.
toms. -Four broomsticl< handles wera
sawed % inches in length. These were
used as the four upright posts TO SUD
port the baskets, and were placed two
On each side Of the baskets ten incbe,
apart. After removing the handle,
from the baskets they were fastenedss g..
enrely 10 these posts, one above the
other, the top Of the lower basket being
| nailed to the four posts IL inches from
the floor, and the top Of the upper on.
q inches from the lower. This eft the
tops of the posts four inches above the
upper basket After the baskets vera
securely nailed to the four broom stick
posts In this manner, the result was
good stout piece of furniture, which
| could be readily carried from one room
to another and stood by the mother,
chair when ready for the bath or the
| dressing.
Now came the question as to how It
should be decorated. The posts were
PAINTED white and the woven strips Of
the baskets were painted yellow and
white. SO that the alternating strips Of
white would overlap the yellow ones
After the paint was thoroughly dry the
yellow strips were painted ia gold,
using a fine gold powder. mixed with
yarnish as medium. The effect Of the
gold and white was very attractive and
easily kept clean. as both the white and
the gold painting could be washed with.
cut injury.
The inside Of the basket can BE fin.
shed with satin and thin null. but a
more durable finish ard quite as pretty
is an inner lining OF ehintz-hright red
or light blue-tacked on plain. with a
lining Of dotted null. quite full. over
| this. In this instance the null was
laid in plaits on the bottom and sides Of
the basket and tackled securely. after
gathering 1t in a frill to hang over the
edge. A narrow ribbon vas stretched
along this gathered frill. ending in
bows OF wider ribbon of the same shade
at each Of the four posts.
The lower basket is used 10 hold the
hibs. the bands and the shirts and socks
and diapers. On one side Of the upper
basket is fastened an oblong cushion
large enough to hold plentiful supply
Of all different sizes OF safety pins and
the little gold pins for the bibs. The
cushion is covered first with the ehintz,
then with the null and finished with
ribbon bows for attaching it to the bas.
ket. On the other side OF this baskets
pocket formed from stiff pasteboard,
also finished with the chintz, null and
ribbon, to hold the comb and brush
This left room in the center OF the bas'
ket for the towels, powder box, etc.
\ basket arranged in this manner can
easily be kept clean and fresh looking,
as the null can be removed and washed
when soiled, and the outside painted
surface needs only occasional wiping
with damp cloth TO keep ii fresh and
free from dust, and taking it altogether
! it is the most complete affair imagina.
ble.-St. Louis Republic.