The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-30

At this season OF the year the maxi
ing of Christmas presents takes up
much of every woman's time and
thought, To the perplexed individual
here is a suggestion. Nothing is less
expensive than paper, and out of 1t
may be fashioned many dainty gifts.
Lamp shades are always acceptable
and are easily made, in spite of the
apparent difficulty. Dainty paper flow
ers for use on handkerchief cases,
glove boxes, candy boxes and the like
help to make inexpensive presents very
charming. The ease with which they
may be made is as astonishing as the
perfection to which they may be
brought after little practice.
The making of paper flowers has
become not only an art, but a means
of earning a livelihood as we'll. From
crude limitations resembling nothing
in particular the flowers have come
to be reproductions so exact that at
the defiance of a foot or two they can
not be distinguished from the real
blossom.
AS soon as this perfection was
reached decorators saw their possibili-
ties. In elaborate decoration part Of
the work must often be done the day
before the event that calls for the dis
play, and for these occasions the real
ly artistic paper flower is in demand.
Handsome chrysanthemums, for in
stance, sell for 30. cents a piece, and
at this price there is money in the
making of them. But they must be
exact copies of the natural flower. In
this, as in other things, only the best
succeed, and let 1t be understood that
the natural flower should be before the
learner, and that for help she should
| turn to 1t on every occasion.
| Every conceivable color is represent
ed in flower papers, but the beginner
needs. few. A quire of white paper
one quire each of three shades of yell
low, one quire each of rose pink and
coral pink, one Of olive green, a pound
Of stem wire and a gross of rose leaves
will be a sufficient outfit. If lamp
shades are to be made, dark red
gives a fine effect when placed over a
light. Aside from the paper one needs
a couple of spools of coarse linen
thread, a pot of white paste, a little
cotton batting "a dull knife and
small cushion nearly filled with bran.
This last is to curl chrysanthemuns
on.
Later on a few rose centers some
caIyxes and culots for the carnations,
and rubber tubing for covering rose
stems may be INDUCED in. One can
even find thorns ready to glue along
the stems. Pond lilies have special
stamens and pistils, and peoples have
an atural seed cup and made pistils.
One thing may be mentioned as
being a great addition to any scheme
of decoration, and that is to purchase
a good sized bunch of maidenhair
fern and dip 1t into a kettle of hot
water where an ounce Of beeswax has
been melted. lifting 1t out slowly. This
coats 1t and preserves 1t Indefinitely.
A spray of this with any kind of flow
er adds greatly to its delicate beauty.
Without diagrams it is not easy to
teach any one how to make all flowers
of tissue paper, but there are three
so easy to do that simple directions
can be given, and as the beginner sue
ceeds with these she will be able to
branch out with others Lamp shades
and candle shades are far easier to
make than one can imagine until the
work Is tried. 1t looks so compll-
Gated that women are afraid to ven
ture.
To make a chrysanthemum take one
sheet of paper and fold 1t so that II
will form six inch squares. Cut these
into circles, a dozen folds at time
Then cut the petals down to within
one inch from the center and point
them as they are in nature. 1t re-
quires twelve of these folds for a
medium sized flower, and eighteen for
a large one.
Take three Of the clipped circles and
place them together on the cushion
and with an instrument like the point
ed handle of a toothbrush begin at
the tip of the petals and bear down
hard on the instrument, drawing 1t
toward you to the center. The petals
will curl up and be beautifully veIned
Do this until all are curled.
Take q wire ten inches long and
wind one end around a bunch of yell
low cotton so that 1t is very solid. On
this depends the solidity of the finish
ed flower. Then pull the curled cir
cles apart, taking care not to uncurl
them, and punch a hole in the middle
of each. Paste the cotton all over and
string one circle, holding the flower
in the left hand upside down and
working the curved petals up against
the cotton. After this no more paste
is needed until the calyx is. put on.
String all the others, working each
gently with the hand until the petals
all curl inward.
When they are all on, cut a round
piece of olive green paper and notch
the edges; past the inside and push
that up against the flower. Bend the
wire and hang the flower upside down
In a safe place to dry. Cut several
long strips of the green paper for
winding the stems. Cut four leaves
for each chrysanthemum, except
where the flower is TO decorate lamp
shade, when no leave are required.
Cut wires six inches long, paste them
and lay them along the middle OF the
leaves, pressing them down With the
fingers. These can be cut after the
real leaf. All foliage Is better when
cut according 10 nature, A pattern can
be taken once ana will serve always.
This also IL true Of the petals.
When the leaves are dry take the
long strips. dab a BIT 81 paste on the
end. listen that 20 the caiyx and be-
gin 10 wind Il round and round down
ward until The wire In covered. This
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