Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1883 — HOUSEHOLD DECORATION. [ARTICLE]

HOUSEHOLD DECORATION.

A set of tidies is made of satin And cretonne. Out the satin in squares the size desired and cut the figures front the cretonne and apply it to the satin with Japanese gold thread in chain stitch. Finish the edges with antique or Russian lace. Blacking bottles and email jelly bottles, con be made into pretty vases if first painted blue, shading from light into dark or fading into a grayish blue, allowed to dry perfectly; then painted in oils with a small spray of leaves aud blossoms and finished with a coating of demar varnish. They make a pretty ornament for the mantel or table. Hand-bags are inafle of coarse liuen twine crocheted in imitationfc>f macrame lace; the crochet is five inches deep, and each side is five inches long; they are much prettier if made in one piece. Finish the top edge with a small scallop and the bottom with small points and a scant fringe; the lining is of satin and s satin bow is placed on the crochet; the top of the bag is drawn together with narrow satin ribbons.

A pretty plaque is first painted a light bine, deepening in color toward the lower end; when quite dry a photograph, which has been removed from the card by placing it in tepid water for a half-hour, is cut into an oval and gummed on, and surrounded by a wreath of tfciy flowers and. leaves painted in oils, ana the whole varnised with a clear white varnish* Another pretty ornament made from photographs is to arrange them on card-board with a surrounding composed of dried flowers and grasses and thenplactxl in u deep velvet frame. ' Very pretty plush plaques can be made by .taking a piece of pine wood a quarter of an inch thick, three inches wide arid''bine'inches long; cut a piece of papter arid fit it over one side of the board and press it down smoothly bo there will hq no wrinkles; remove it and without smoothing but the creases cut a piece of pi fish of the exact shape. Cut a piece of red cotton or dark stiff goods and glue it smoothly to .the board, oovpring the back; now put on the plush on tile other side and glue it neatly and firmly to the lining. A photograph may lie mounted on the plush or a small flower painted in oils. An olive-green "illiisli panel has a cardinal satin ribbon band placed slantingly across the front with a. spray of almond blossoms painted ib oil on the satin. A pretty little pin-cushion in the shape of a bellows can be made as fob I6ws i' First cut out four pieceil of cardtmard (visiting or invitation cards are Vest) tq the size required, and the shape, of a small bellows; cover these four pieces sifigly with pretty silk or satin, by turning over the edges and lacing them from side to side with a ‘needle and thread to make them fit. Then join two pieces together and sew over the edges neatly; sew a little pieoe of fine flannel or merino, filled with needles, to one joined side-piece at the point; then put the two sides together, and sew them tfell together at the point, leaving space enough for a gilt bodkin to pass through, and make the real point. Put pins in all around the edge, add a narrow ribbon hand, fastened by a pin at the handle end to keep •the sides together. The -inside of the hollows looks best with satin or plain silk, and the outside with brocade. If a small design is painted or embroidered on the outside, it lias a very good effect. The length of the bellows that is usually made is three inches from the end of the handle to the point, the width at the widest part two inches, the width across the point half an inch, across the , handle of an inch, llio bodkin projects about an inch beyond the point.