The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-06
HOME MADE GIFTS.
Use to Which Leather May Be Put to
Good Advantage.
(By Margaret Dryden.3

Christmas is coming and we all
want to give the gift that the one we
love desires. Time and thought must
determine this. even if the purse be so
| full that the rounds of the shops Is a
Joy, and not the feast of Tantalus that
it is to some of US. To those of
limited means and unlimited desire
the season is busy one. for loving
fingers must make the simple, in
expensive gift one of value and time
is flying. The shops are full of sug-
gest1ons and patterns. Stencils and
embroidery deSignS-leather and ma
terials for brass work-all are teem-
ing with the thought of gifts for old
and young.
The making of leather gifts is one
that always finds approval and many
are the ways to use the soft beauti-
full and artistic material. All shades
and colors are to be found and the
prices range from 20 cents a foot to
$3.50 for a large and beautiful skin
that makes fine table cover for a
den without any additional work on
the part of the giver. Out of one
skin fnnumerable small articles may
be made.
A Novel Tobacco Bag
For the smoker who uses a pipe,
bags may be made for tobacco by
cutting three six-inch by three-inch
strips. Cut one end of the strips to
blunt point and sew up to make a
bag pointed at the lower end A
tassel of leather may finish the point
Sits cut an inch below the top closes
it. The initial may be either en-
broidered in a contrasting color with
silk floss or burnt
Blotting Pad Easily Made.
Cut bit of corrugated packing
board the size you wish your blotter.
Cover the under side with either a
pretty tinted wall paper or even a
piece of cretonne if you have some
on hand that will do. Cut several
sheets of plotting paper to the exact
size. Cut the leather into triangles
very keen knife cut a design in 1T to
allow the blotting paper to show
through. Fasten these across the cor
ners und with brass tacks. A
daisy design is good and easy to cut
and makes attractive edges.
An Appropriate Music Roll.
For the musician of the family
othing could be more appropriate
than music roll of a pretty shade of
Gather. These may take the form of
the simple, old fashioned roll, with
handle and straps stitched on with
may be made. To make the latter, use
4 piece of leather large enough to hold
music book and turn over a flap at
the top. Stitch on the straps about
the middle of the main piece and the
handle where at the top flap has been
left. Then take ar,bit of heavy silk
of the same or contrasting, shade and
the size of the main part Of the bag
and embroider the initial or mono
gram of the recipient. Hem the upper
edge and paste this carefully to the
leather, turning in the lower edges.
and stitch around twice, the inner
row an eighth of an inch inside of the
first. The music is to be slipped into
This case. The buckles which are
fastened to the edge of the flap may
he either saddler's buckles or fancy
ones. The bag will hold the music
straight. or if no book is used it may
be turned up one-half.
A little thought will enable the
worker to use every scrap of the
leather to advantage, and as leather
seems peculiarly appropriate to the
uses of men. some of the hardest
Christmas problems the gifts to the
man of the house, may thus be solved.
Stamp cases, tooth brush bags lined,
CT course, with oiled silk; collar and
cuff cases, pillows, the uses to which
leather NAV be put, are almost UNI
limited and the results are more
pleasing than the flimsy things usual
" offered men. Stencils, embroidery
and cut work may all be used ac-
ceptably The economical way would
be to purchase a whole skin and use
+. very bit that is left after the special
gift for which you plan has been