The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-12
EXC[US|yENESS IN
 DESIGN FEATURE
 OF BRITISH GIFTS
Christmas Shoppers Fill the Stores Much Earlier Than Is the Case in
 America
By MARGARET WALTER

By MARGARET WALTER
 London, December 5.-(Reciprocal News rice)-London is in full pur- suit of the elusive Christmas present English people do their Christmas shopping early-earlier than even our most virtuous shoppers do at home, be- cause here they send so many presents to dear ones far away in India, Aus tralia and all the islands of the seas. For weeks the papers run notices of when the last parcel to remote British colonies must be sent in order to arr rive in time.
 As to their choice of presents, nand- work seems to be the only thing that really counts now. Whether it is in clothes or trinkets or jewels or furni- ture, there must be the touch of indi- viduality about everything that is real ly chic. One of the most often seen notices says, Duplicates will not be made" Of course, this means that the resources of the crafts people are pret- ty severely taxed, but so far there is no sign of failure.
 Lace is all the rage at present, be- cause dresses of lace or embroidered net are more fashionable and expen- sive than anything else and all the brides are wearing lace wedding gowns and veils. Lucky is Nle girl whose grandmother will rummage through her old chests and find rare bits of lace for her Christmas gifts.
 But it is not only old lace which peo- pie seek. All kinds of modern pillow and bobbin lace are being turned out as fast as the workers can manage it and both men and women are settling down to a determined revival of the old industries which have almost died out during the last 100 years.
 LOTS OF EMBROIDERY
 Embroidery, too, is found on every thing, and bits of embroidery are vel come gifts for the house. Even fine lace is often embroidered over it's whole surface with filaments of gold and silver, delicate cobwebs, for hang ings and bedspreads.
 As useful presents hand-woven silks and wools and linens are to be found at very moderate prices in all the shops. One of the most attractive styles Is set of table linen, large cloth, serviettes, center pieces and dt il- les made of heavy twisted flax and decorated with borders copied from old cross-stitched designs in the South kensfngton museum. These are woven Into the linen on the loom and are or colored thread blue, red or yellow or variegated, which is one of the most effective arrangements. A set of this table linen is practically everlasting, and has the advantage of being easily laundered, as no finish is necessary. There is very little double faced eam- ask to be had now, and these dulI- faced linens are taking the place of the old-fashioned napery which now costs so much to be laundered. A crest or monogram in color woven into he different articles makes distinguished present.
 A clever young sculptress has given up making portrait busts and now de. votes herself to doing statuettes of dogs, cats and horses, and her studio is one of the most popular places in the West End. To have ones favorite pet modelled or to give a friend the portrait of his dog or horse, is the craze Of the moment. The statuettes are done in clay, colored to life and baked
 Another novelty is the singing box. On pressing the snap of snuff-box copied from one of the treasures in the south kensington museum, the cover springs open and a tiny bird, feathered s, as long as the lid is open. This bird is an exquisite bit of workmanship. It IS made by disabled soldiers A gilied cage Tn which bird, also feathered, sings as long as desired, comes from the same workshop.
 Feathers are used in many forms of decorator. A most striking dinner gown IS made of ivory satin upon which 1ronds Of ostrich and seed pearls are embroidered in inf child's book of birds has all the illus trations carried out in actual feathers of the birds represented.
 candle shades made of double bolting cloth between the surfaces of which bright colored feathers are laid are vary pretty and crystal centerpieces set in silver or pewter filagree stands have in- gtricate designs carried out in tiny feather fronds on their under sides A coating Of gold or black is laid over the feathers and finished with a hard enamel sur face.
 PRETTY PIN CUSHION
 pretty pin cushion is made of a puck cred silk ball suspended from a large gilt ring. In the ring perches a tiny feathered canary which sings when you press the cushion. The same idea is carried out in telephone cover for the boudoir. When the ball rings. it makes connection with the cover, disguised as lady of the Louis VI period, who holds in her hand a bird. Instead of the ugly buzz of the usual alarm, the bird warbles until the cover is removed.
 Common glassware is being painted and enameled so that it is converted into very decorative dressing table equipment. Good shapes are chosen and then colored by the new permanent proc. ess to suit the decoration of the room.
 Plain deal mirror frames, kitchen furniture and chests and closets of white pine are made into beautiful fur