Milford chronicle., 1930-12-12
GIFTS THAT FIT"
IN ANY HOME
Bertha Anne Houck


IT'S easy enough to find personal
Christmas gifts for my girlhood
friends and feminine relatives" one
harrassed woman said to. us last
year around Christmas time, "but
when it comes to buying a present
for a husband and wife together,
confess Pm stumped." 't
That started us to thinking. Was
this universal problem, general
enough. for us to hunt about for a
solution? we asked ourselves. Other
women to whom we talked also ad-
mitted their difficulty in finding the
type of present that would be APP
propriate for both husband and
wife.
"Of course, a friend of ours said,
"if / could afford to go to the more
expensive furniture stores or gift
shops, could undoubtedly find
pieces of furniture or objects art
which would be appropriate and at
the same time impersOnal enough to
be acceptable for two persons, But
that's out of the questions 1 baye to
So what is there for me to dO?"
We hunted several days before we
found the answer to our friends
problem. All the gifts we ran
across were too masculine, too fem
mime or too expensive. Then. one af-
ternOOn, we happened to wander in
to the unpainted furniture depart
ment of large store. And here we
found the answer to our friends
prayer, Small unfinished pieces in
expensive and easy to fit in with
other household furnishings are the
perfect gift for your married friends
whom you wish TO remember with
single, impersonal present.
The painting may be done very
easily and the resulting finish be
professional in its appearance if di-
rections are carefully followed. A
personal touch may be given the
gift by finishing it in colors that
will be harmonious with the fur
nishings of the house where it is to
go. When this is not practical, any
well-thought-Out, pretty color
scheme will be appropriate.
A magazine rack, a foOtstOOl,
box, boOkshelyes, a corner shelf, a
mirror, book lends, waste paper
basket or a small table-any of
these things make acceptable gifts
and if they are bought unfinished
and then painted, will prove to be
inexpensive. The more elaborate
pieces are, of course, worthy of
consideration, but unless you know
that Mrs. Jones specifically needs a
chair or a large table, the smaller
ones will be found to fit in with any
furnishings and cost less.
Before starting to paint, several
special hints will be found to be of |
value. Small pieces such as foot
stools or tables may be done more |
easily if they have been set upside |
down on a piece of clean newspaper |
and the legs painted first The foot /
stool or table is then set upright on |
the piece of paper and the work |
completed. Do not take your pieces
out of doors to be painted just be-
cause you think they will dry
quicker or you don't want disorder
inside. Particles of dust settle in a
wet coat of paint and more or less
spoil the job. Moisture in the out
door air, too, is bad. Pieces may be
painted on porch only if there is
no wind and the weather is dry.
When you buy your unpainted
pieces, ask your dealer if they have
been filled. If they have not,
though in most cases you will find
that they have a paste wood filler I
should be applied on open grain
wood and a liquid filler on most I
close grain. Next, any sappy streaks !
or knots should be coated with thin
shellac or rubbed with turpentine. I
To paint or enamel your piece, a 9
primer will be necessary. 1t con-
sists of thin coat of paint which {
Denetrates the wood and makes a |
ground for the finish.
Lacquer will be found to We a very
finish for Christmas I
gifts that are unpainted. 1t is ap- '
llied with a full brush and smooths
tself out. If it should fail to do
so, it may be gone over quickly
With a little lacquer thinner. A soft
'rush will be very satisfactory. AS
acquer dries quickly and will cover
with one or two coats, it Z
las many practical qualities for the
'usy home maker to consider.
The alternative for your little
'hristmas pieces is enamel. The
enamels on the market
will dry quickly and an enamel fin
sh is always attractive. Enamel,
mike lacquer, should be stroked on
With a brush, first with the grain,
hen across the grain and finally
With it. Flat paint or fiat, enamel
re used for the undercoats. Two or
nree coats in addition to priming
re advisable for an unfinished sur
ace.