Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-19
Some Christmas Decorations.

Some Christmas Decorations.
Surely none SO blessed as to have
children In the home will be willing to
miss making the home glad by putting
I'D some Christmas green's. The foi-
lowing suggestions may help In plan
ring for such decorations.
Wreaths made of holly and long
ropes made of evergreen can be bought
ready for use, but more fortunate are
those who can have the pleasure OF
gathering their greens from the wood
and field.
Many uses besides that Of the Christ
mas tree proper can be made Of small
trees. They are excellent for placing In
halls and on stairway landings. Small,
symmetrical trees OF hemlock, juniper
and spruce, such as can often be found
growing alone near the edge of a wood.
should be selected. Do not cut them.
but lift them with part Of their roots
and plant in wooden pals, using as lit
tie earth as possible, 30 they will not De
too heavy to move around. water ire
quently and they will keep green a long
time.
The club moses, particularly ground
pine, bouquet green and the princess
pine are most desirable. and the low
growing MOSES even are Of use. ANY
Of the evergreen ferns can be used with
good effect. To prevent these latter
curling. they should be kept under light
weights until wanted. The red berries
OF the bittersweet, haws. and pips OF
roses and bright leaves will all be
needed.
Having secured the materials, the
next thing is to make them up. Long
ropes of evergreen both round and fiat
will be needed for wreaths. festoons
and for trimming around pictures, VIM
dows and doors. The trailing club
MOSES. with their long trailing stems
are sometimes used without being fas-
tered to a central cord, but they are
not very satisfactory.
The best method Of making ropes oil
any kind of evergreen Isl to stretch
strong cord tightly between two points,
as from door-knob to doOr-knob, or one
end may be tied to heavy chair.
Have the green broken into small even
pieces and nicely sorted in baskets.
Use fine wire for fastening the green on
the cord. 1t will hold it much firmer
than cord. Commence by placing small
pieces of green all around the cord ana
securing them in place by twist OF
the wire. Work down along the line so
each new layer will cover the wire
which fastens the preceding one. 1t is
worth spending little time and care
in placing the greens SO an even rope
will be made. By using different kinds
and shades of greens quite a variety
can be attained.
For some uses fiat instead Of round
rope is desirable. 1t also requires less
material. To make these. sew the
greens with worsted dress braid, such
as was used for binding the bottom of
dress skirts. Use strong thread and let
them overlap as on the cord to hide the
stitches. These flat ropes are beauti-
full made of bright leaves. The paper
leaves can be obtained at the dealers
in art materials.
Fasten punches Of red berries among
the green Of some of the ropes both
round and fiat. If no other berries can
he obtained, cranberries can be used
with good effect. Select only those Of
the brightest color. and through each
insert a fine wire for a stem. by which
to secure it to central cord. Mixed
among the dark green. no one will sus-
pect their humble origin.
When mantcls or windows are to he
draped. a very effective decoration, a
foundation will be necessary. Use a
piece OF dark green cambria. starched
very stiff and ironed smoothly. on
-, 90 boil %Ia,,
arrange the ferns. mosses, greens and
berries. Pieces for putting over pictures
or around a mirror can be made in the
same way. and fastened in place with
slender brads.
Before putting up any decorations. it
Is best to study tn. rooms to be decor
ated, as each room possesses certain
features all it's own. BY choosing a
center to be determined by the shape
and appointments Of the room, to work
from, a good strong effect is obtained
and all danger of spotty appearance
avoided. If there is mantel and fire.
place. they furnish ar excellent center.
and If there Is a mirror over the mantel
so much the better.
An arch between rooms suggests a
festoons II there are only four plain
walls, broken by uncomprOmisingly
straight doors and windows. select the
wall having the largest extent Of plain
surface as a center. and net any pic
lures that may be on 1t form part OF
your scheme.
One plan for such wall. which would
probably have a picture near the cen.
ter. would be to place a wreath owe,
the nicture as near the ceiling as pos.
sible and from this wreath carry rope.
of green each way. letting them Irvine
around other pictures. II any. COveI
the top part of the frame Of the center
picture with clusters of berries an,
green sprays.
very simple arrangement. tina
gives an exceedingly good effect whel
room is poorly lighted. is this: TAX
smooth board that will fit across ;
corner selected. At each end fasten il
screw eye. which will fit over tw,
screws put in the wall. The boart
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