The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
HINTS FOR HOLIDAYS
QUESTION OF SUITABLE GIFTS
"a NOW ALL-ABSoRBINd.
Homemade Tokens Are Not Always
the Most DISTINGUISHING NOV
elites Which Are to be Found
in the Shops.

Chicago Chronicle.
1t is altogether fascinating to read the
dissertations given from time to time OF
the charming and artistic things which
NAV be fashioned out of odds and ends
into the most desirable Christmas gi1ts.
A scrap of ribbon, morsel or SILK,
bit of fine embroidery, a trli1e OF real
lace. and 10! a marvel of dainty lowell
ness is achieved. There is no question
that some very pretty rememorances ma
be built out of pieces which are too small
for any purpose of strict utility, but tnat
something may be made out of nothing
is as impossible of belief as Is the state
ment that one may secure something val
liable without the expenditure or Time
cipient Of some grotesquely artistic nov
city made after this prescription? II you
have been so unfortunate never Will you
inflict a similar experience upon q suffer-
ing fellow mortal.
Such ~impossibly ugly things as mas
querade under the convenient title OF
Christmas presents; such monstroslues
as are inflicted upon unoffendng ana de-
fenseless friendSi 1t is not intended to
convey the impression that dainty novel;
ties cannot be made from some appar-
emily unpromising materials; tns point
which II Is intended to impress upon the
average woman is'that taste, skill and a
general sense of the eternal fitness OF
things are absolutely essential in the
manufacture of simple remembranceA II
one has leisure and money the neId Tor
$500 and over, for that matter, the range
extends. .---
It is not always desirable, however. to
spend much money on that which tS IN
tended merely as a souvenir OF the hon-
day time, a little remembrance of the sea
SON Now 1t is that the tasteful skillful
young woman who is an expert needlewo-
man in addition to her other accomplish
ments is able to delight her companions
with pretty things which have the add
tional merit of representing labor in
which love had part.
For the Young Woman.
Take stocks for example What young
woman can be the possessor OF too many
of these very effective and becoming
things? In many cases they are easy
to make if one confines oneself to the
simple varieties; and, again, they may
be made so elaborate that the limit of dec
Grafton is reached. In the making up OF
these stocks odds and ends may be en-
pioyed to advantage. The bit of lace left
over from a gown may be utilized by cut
ting out the figures and appllquing them
10 the chiffon or silk foundation. few
gold, silver or crystal beads arranged in
an effective pattern will help and little
briar stitching or embroidery Will give
the finishing touch to what, under proper
arrangement, will turn out to be the pref
test Of neck dressings.
The shapes vary in the popular modes
and it is somewhat difficult to give a
clear description of the many fantastic
and quaint forms which the outlines take.
Some stocks have two short. square tabs
in front, the edges of which join; others
have the tabs crossed, while others still
have sharp points or long ends of lace
forming quite a cravat. A cursory sur
vey of the shop windows will give one
many ideas which will prove feasible
when put into shape. With a clear i'm
preston of the prettieet models, it should
be an easy matter to reproduce the stocks
in whatever colors or combinations seem
most desirable.
Bags, beaded and embroidered, are
among the things which may be made at
home. though this is a trifie late to begin
any such elaborate work. The lovely Vi
emma models which are such works of
art in shading and in pattern are some
what costly, though the workmanship
fully compensates for the outlay. These
bags come in many shapes, the long
slender wrist bag, the round, fat chate-
laine, the quaint little purse and the com
bination purse and card case offer splen-
did opportunities for the display Of beau
uful coloring and perfect finish.
The beads, whether the design shows
floral wreaths, detached flowers or geo
metric figures. is so perfectly carried out
each and every bead Is fitted into its
proper place with such accuracy. that the
whole appears more like the work of a
painters brush or like a fine mosaic than
like a bead pattern suoh as used to be