The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-25

gowns, and the still prettier
idea of making them herself and getting
plenty Of individuality into them.
Her art. anyway, isn't the type which
is usually, by the very young set. desig-
mated as life work" She IS much bet
ter known by the way she applies that
art TO the making and decorating Of
things. Il know it's not the kind Of art
that you spell with q capital a, she
says. looking at the question with a
cheerful frankness. but so long as I
can make things prettier and different
IN some way, I think it's worth while"
She has plenty OF time and money,
too. to help her in carrying out her
ideas, and yet, strangely enough, her
ideas are as often applied To the max
ing OF inexpensive things. or Of Great
ing inexpensive substitutes for expensive
things.
Those pocketbooks were one unsuc-
cessful outcome OF her numerous expert
ments with leather, as the more fOrtu-
nate among her friends can testify.
For the most part, she kept away
from styles that required clasps, al
though an occasional one she has
mounted prett!yr perhaps In silver But
the fat kinds-Foaliy more like OIdfash-
Toned card Cases-aTe the easiest 10 do
and sure to turn out successfully. An
oblOng piece Of leather turned up at
Is the very simple formula FOR making
them. But besides. she made those
pretty little purses with the edges joined
by an involved laCing OF narrow thongs
a flap passing under a band for a fasten-
ing. And one particularly pretty one
made with pieces inserted In the SIDES
the top coming over anC fastening with
a silver clasp.
BY Way of Decoration.
BY way OF decoration ffor. like most
artistic souls, plain surfaces are not TO
be tolerated for an instanO a pair Of
butterflies may seem TO be poised upon
one corner, the outlines put in with a
typography needle, but deIicateIy. and
the filing is done in the daintiest tint
Of the same color as the purse. but both
lighter and darker shades blended.
Upon a violet purse an iris was laid,
done In pale lavender and white. the
burned outlines tinted a deeper shade Of
violet. and even the green Of the leaves
shaded with puppies in the curious, in
de scrfbable way that greens and puT-
pies mingle IN early spring foliage And
upon Il iSu oiit- l'vt youI DlehStl' sunny
reds, bit the soft. deep tone Of Indian
red-were a couple OF peoples. their
stems and petals woven together until
the design seemed merely one OF con-
ventional type. but which as you looked
into IT. resolved itself into full blown
blossoms. tinted ever so lightly 10 be
the least bit darker than the purse il
self.
Where you have clasps Of silver, taken
from your pet pOcketbook (which would
wear out, in spite Of all you could do for
it,. try making purse of some soft.
beautiful leather. in shade which
matches your suit, aid have IL made UP
with the silver clasp. Don't match your
suit exactly (even II you can. which Is
doubtful in such different textures as
are leather and cloth, but get one Of
the art shades of that color. which. by
the way. seem TO come out with n Pc
Culiar grace in leather, The effect IS OF
matching while. in reality there is
enough difference TO acCentuate the
charm and the individuality of your
purse.