Evening star., 1903-11-28
Afternoon Parties When All
Bring Their Sewing.
A REMEDY FOR NERVES
OTHER HANDY WORK TO ENGAGE
BUSY FINGERS.
New Embroideries Copy Old Country
Methods-Hints for Hch-
day Gifts.


Written for The Evening Star.
Nervous troubles appear to be on the IN
crease among women, and at the P'esen'
moment a favorIe prescription OF las'ioii
able doctors for their smart women pa
tieuts is "a little dose of needleworh' nc
movement in favor of the gentle ART oi eh'-
broidery has also made a decided aoN"i'''
among those who pay scant heeo W .ne
physcians orders, and rumor says 'ha' 'i'i1
cld-fashioned craft is to prove rival 10
the nl-absorbing bridge TINS WINTER
foct that this art has languished so long Is
toubtless owing to the up-to-date Wo'hiii
craze for athletics .,
Noadlework is so essentially fetn:hihe
accomplishment that most people VIII ie
,oica over its general revival and return u
fashionable recognition as move III 'he
right direction. Certainly DAINTY "o'hai
looks he! best when engaged upon piece
90 fono,. work I do not mean traVestS
" tIn art u,hereon blossoms of all shapes
ana lines are reproduced according TO the
workers rather distorted IDEA ol c9loriis coz
end dra wing but dainty ribbon or SIX en-,
broidery done in all the lovely hues anu
artistic designs of the present day
Ouite new and charming in the dehcacS
of it's needle painting Is the new trench
china work. The name Is happily CHOSEN,
for at first glance the embroidery conveys
n suggestion of the daintiness of SeVres
porcelain The same patterns are useu ioI
The new embroidery as for the pottery anu
the work is executed with the ike ann at
raised effect In eighteenth century I'D
hon work The new work comes, however,
under the class of needlework pure ana
simple the medium employed being hloSelle
embroidery silk.
A Delicate Touch.
An exquisite example of this French
china work is little table cover of fine
linen with a design of graceful ribbon-ted
festoons of diminutve blossoms in tones OF
tender rose and faint blues and yellows,
with here and there a touch of purple or
orange All are blended with the greens of
the foliage into softness OF eolorins that
might have won the critical approval of
Nine de Pompadour herself The success
of this embroidery lies in delicacy of
touch. which is by no means difficult to car
ry out as the Sevres designs afford fine
opportunity for lightness and variety OF
treatment. Six threads of filoselle silk are
used for the flowers and leaves the stalks
and finer details being worked in one or
two strands, as required. The roses are
touched In with three shades of rose
color and the satin stitches are manipu-
lated horizontally. overlapping one another
here and there to indicate the crumplings Of
the folded petals. When the cloth is fin
ished with an edging of French lace nothing
one of the little French tables so much in
style. One of the greatest recommenda-
tions of the work is that ii may be done in
the hand.
Ribbon Embroidery.
Another fashionable and dainty style of
needlework used alike in the millinery and
household worlds is ribbon embroidery. For
this fad the narrowest ribbons are gathered
and formed into lovers knots, tiny flowers
and buds Silver gold and steel beads are
often worked into the design.
Cloth of gold and silver are materials
very much sought after in the art en-
broidery line. Silvery white aluminium
cloth is more novel than either of the other
two mentioned, but it is very expensive.
Consequently this cloth Is only used by wo-
men who can afford to let their little dose
of needlework' be costly. A sofa cushion
of white aluminium, with a painted medal
lion in the center and edged with gold cord,
is a handsome pillow for the very best coZy
corner. Speaking of pillows coverings
made of art ticking worked in the new
This metal has the advantage of not tar
nishing- as so many of the bullion threads
employed have an unfortunate fashion Of
doing.
Mt Mellick Work.
Still another form Of fancy work is seen
in the revival of old Irish Mount Mell,ck
work. White linen is the foundation for
many useful bureau scarfs and pincushions
made after the Mellick designs. A conven-
tional pattern is drawn on the linen and
worked In washing silk or lustrous cotton.
After the general outline is gone over some
pretty lace stitch fills in the Intervening
spaces The work is all done on the sur
face, but gives the effect of being in strong
relief All white pieces in the Mellick are
usually more appreciated, although very
effective would be bureau scarf and PIN
cushion made of any pretty shade of linen
decorated in floral pattern in Mellick
enect with white cotton. A cover of this
kind launders well and meets the approval
OF the modern housewife who insists upon
her dressing table accessories being wash
able.
Although not in the embroidery line
smoke pictures represent an art that is
little known, but will be interesting to wo-
men, The materials for making smoke pic
lures are of the simplest and most mex
pensive character. Cardboard and points
made from needles Nos. 10 and pushed
into the wooden part of a pen. with the
needle eye foremost: two camels hair
brushes and crow quill form the outfit.
Smoke Pictures.
To commence a smoke picture take a
card about seven inches by four and one
half and hold 1t in a horizontal position
over the flame of a candle, moving the card
back and forth until a smooth brown sur
face OF smoke is obtained. Great care must
BE- taken that the card does not scorch.
The surface completed. the outline of The
Design is next sketched In. Moonlight and
Sketch the outline on the card with d fine
needle point.
il moonlight scene is chosen the moon
should be on the left of the picture the
rest OF the outline drawn in, and the in
terror cleared of smoke with the aid of "A
sharp knife. Next use a very small camers
hair brush and lightly put In the shading
being careful to express artistlcally the
natural effect of your subject Clouds are
placed with a small brush. Light on the
water must be done with a long haired
brush ha ba
heightened by using a sharp penknife.
When trees. buildings and their reflections
are well In the foreground they should be
painted in with India Ink before the pic
ture is smoked. Light is represented by
putting in trembling. broken lines with the
fine needle and working up with the coarser
one.
These smoke pictures make really artistic
studies when placed in a deeply cut mount
covered with glass and framed or passa-
partouted. When asked to make something
FOL fair that is cheap and salabla smoke
pictures represent the answer
An Autograph Cook Book