Evening star., 1926-12-10


the use of artistic ratfia '1uncheo'7
sets" For one day, il the flowers
used were anemoncs- a blue net cen.
ta,.piece bourd and decorated with
ia,le-colored raffia and ratlia mats
could he used. Another day. with
golden and brown ChrySanthenums
there could lie an orange net center
niece bound and decorated with brown
raff1a and used with brown ratfia mats.
These luncheon sets are easily made
and make handsome gifts.
The woman who likes to make her
guest room look attractive VIII wei
come the gift of Ii blotter worked win
rafia in cross-stitch. telephphe
hook cover may be made to match the
I,lotter The woman who travels
rould welcome a travellers case con
raining small towel and other toilet
r-eouisites with the case decorated In
raffia in delicate colors.
II YOU have any difficulty IN oh
tanning the colors YOU wish, YOU can
easily dye the raffia at home. If you
Will first soak 1t in strong soda water
for about an hour and then wash 1t
ont thoroughly. ANY of the standard
nackace dves or the aailin dyes that
can he bought In bulk at the drug
stores will serve for coloring the
raffia. The only rules to be observed
are these: Cover the raffia With the
dve. boil 1t from 80 minutes to an
hour and stir and lift 1t frequently.
In addition to making attractlve
christmas gifts, there is nothing bet
fer or prettier to use for tving up
Gifts than colored raffia~ BY dyeing 1t
ar home YOU can secure the prett1eSt
colors at little cost.
A-t;eo;oI EVnuar OrnamentS
The feathers of hens, ducks. guinea
fowl and geese are used for the max
ing of violets. carnations, moss rose
buds nasturtiums and wild flowers
Big dahlias and chrysanthemums are
made from Quill feathers curled over.
ONLY the ordinary flower making tools
are necessary for the making Of these
flowers. Ostrich strands are usually
employed for the making of feather
dolls which are used as pincushions
or as ornaments in sitting room or
bedroom.
While shoulder and coat lapel nose
cays may be made of feathers. they
are not the only material used for this
purpose. DELIGHTFULLY."- ethereal-look-
ing blossoms may be made from or.
CANDY in delicate colors. Felt in col
ors is another material being used for
the making of shoulder ornaments,
type.
A lovely evening bag may be made
entirely of felt flowers in delicate pink
and pastel blue shades, the flowers
measuring one-fourth inch and one
half inch in diameter and mounted on
n silver tissue background. Another
use for pieces of brightly colored felt
is for trimming or adorning velvet
cushions. Kid, velvet. silk and beads
are also used for making fascinating
floral decorations. All these articles
make attractive gifts.
Novel Christmas Cards.
A quaint and individual Christmas |
card can be made I'm imitation of the |
old-fashioned silhouette. Any one who |
Is Skillful with spencil and paper can |
draw the outlines of graceful figures,
transfer them to the white back Of
dark kindergarten paper, cut them
out, then mount them, black side up
Dermost, on fine bristol-board cards.
A personal portrait is even better
than the figures If you can get some
one to make the outline drawing of
your shadow by the lamplight as you
sit between the light and the wall, or
of you can do il yourself by the aid
OF mirrors. After you have made the
drawing, trace 1t, as you would if
using figures. on the back of the kin
card.
You can make attractive frames for
the cards from cover paper, such as
cones no good quality pamphlets. Use
4 delicate neutral color. A bow of
ribbon may be tied at the top or bot.
TOM Of the frame as a decoration. or
? little Christmas design drawn on the
border will relieve the plainness of
he. frame. Many other attractive
ways of mounting, framing and deco
ating the cards will suggest them
selves.
af Handkercliiefs.
Ia addition to the many plain or
fancy handkerchiefs you may make
1T horne for Christmas gifts. you can
buy holiday handkerchiefs for women
made Of either fine linen, novel col
ored Gotten or bright silk. Cotton
handkercksefs are made attractive by
unusual sEld sometimes rather star.
Ting designs and cOlors in almost Or1-
entail effects. Childrens handker-
chiefs In sets are contained in attrac-
rive boxes and folders embossed in
bright colors. and each set illustrates
nursery rhyme or Mother Goose
story. Inside the folder Is one hand
EeTchief or several, decorated with a
scene or scenes from the same fable.
These handkerchief sets make. excel
lent glrtS Tor children.
Gifts Made In the Kitchen.
There is no place where a greater
variety Of gifts may be made than in
the kitchen, and no present is more
welcome than one which comes from
the kitchen. Fruit cake, mince pies
and tarts, plum pudding, small fancy
cakes. preserves and jellies and all
kinds of confections mixed with nuts
make delightful Christmas gifts when
attractively boxed. Fruit cake and
plum pudding should be made as soon
rs possible, as they are much better
FOR the keeping, as is also mince meat
for making pies. tarts and other
things: but candy should not be made
until a few days before Christmas.
With white or colored paper. a few
~ Yards of holiday ribbon and some
Christmas seals, delicious food gifts
may be decorated in true holiday
fashion.
Mince Meat for Pies and Tar4s.
cook together slowly for one hour
one pint of ground lean mea>, one
pint of meat stock, one pint OF
chopped apples, one package OF small
seedlesS ralSins, One-half a pint of
chopped Suet one pint of sugar. one
pint of vinegar and one-half a tea
spoonful each of cinnamon, cloves and
aIlspice. Seal in glass jars until ready
to use. Multiply the amount as many
times as you wish, as 4 Ia easy to
keep the correct proportions.
With this plain foundation, a va
r.ety of different flavors can be pro-
duced when you are ready to make
pies, shortcake, tarts or pudding. You
may add some green grapes, pineap-
,le or apricots. ANY leftover fruit,
preserves, jelly or marmalade will
-L .isY{t1 1t.sati ton tn