AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 11 December 1923, Page 13

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

KEEPING THE LARDER COOL. How to keep the larder cool in hot ■weather, especially when it is in a, flat, is a problem which is confronting many housewives just now. If there is a window a red or green blind should be kept drawn. . , When there is no refrigerator, and ieV cannot be procured, place a. bowl of sa.lt water, or water in which sal ammoniac 'has been dissolved, in the proportion of 2oz to a pint of water, on the top shelf of the larder. Fasten three or four strips of cloth to a hook in the roof of the cupboard and let the ends rest in the bowl of water. The constant evaporation of the water from the cloth cools the temperature of the larder. HANDKERCHIEF NOTIONS. There are occasions when the new handkerchiefs are purely for decoration and nothing more, occasions when the last thought that ever enters into the head of its possessor is to set it to any practical use. On these occasions, crepe de chine, fine silk, crepe georigettc. transparent voile do soic and I ninou de soic take the place of linens and batistes, and these arc chosen in bright colours, 'or else with gay . printed designs decorating them. In order to accommodate them, fancy pockets are added to dresses and ; blouses at odd. unexpected places, into i which a fancy handkerchief of this J type is stuck, havimr first been folded i cornerwise. so tliat the four corners i show. A handkerchief utilised in this ■way as a factor in the trimming_ of a dress must be in keeping with whatever other kind of trimming is used on the frock. On a dark dress or plain ta.ilor-mad<\ a handkerchief of this kind, well chosen as to colour or design, can achieve a charming effect. A signed artist's proof on the corner of a handkerchief is a craze of the moment, but as even painters must live these expensive tunes, it is rather a costly craze. For those ■who are able to indulge in it, the idea is to nave your portrait or that of a friend painted in the corner of your handkerchief, and the artist sign's his name underneath. THE HOUSEWIFE'S COMPLEXION. Xo woman who prepares the meals for her family wants to go to the table with a red, perspiring face. Nor need she do so. If her face becomes red -while cpo>king, let her go over it carefully with a piece, of soft chaaaoie leather, then fan herself to cool the skin, and finally duet her face with powder. All this sounds as if the dinner would cool during the process, birt it really takes but a moment and permits the bostess-c-ook to take her place at the table witih a face as t Jfresji as anybody's.

HOME MADE POUFF.

The basis of my pouff I found in two harge old hassocks, which had given very j r good service over a long number of I .'years, and were too soiled and shabby for-further use,- writes a correspondent. iJiWppefetUeui both of -tlieir outer, covering, foundation of Tiessian... -I pladtogein? abprethe other, arid Ayith some , - strripjj but. ~fine string, .and a packing■: needle sewed:;: them to-' "gether in the middle.. This gave mc a very good basis for a> pouff,. and'of the correct shape. The n;>xt problem, the cover. I bought some" shadow chintz for this,' knowing that the blurred outline, of. the design woijid -.Veep itvljfrokingfrceh and ' clean for a? , longer period than would clear .bright designs. • I cut the material out as follows: First of all, two squares sufficiently large just to cover the top tjf my pouff. Of course, the tops of the were round, -but the square cover was necessary in order to twist up the corners into the care characteristic of all pouffs. I measured one side of the square, multiplied its length by five, and took the measurement of the depth of the two hassocks. Then I cut a piece of material accordingly. To sew this length right round the first square was the next job. To make it quite neat I placed right side of strip to right side of square, starting in the middle of. a side in order to give mc a clear field for turning the corners. I did not gather the strip to turn the corners, but when I came to them just gave the material a sharp turn to make the necessary right angle. When I was back at the starting place I joined the strip with a generously turned strong seam. Turning it right side out, I placed the two hassocks into this case, and proceeded to sew on the, other square, taking care to arrange the corners in the same folds as those at the other side. Of course, in this case it was necessary to work on the right side of the material, but I made the stitches as neat as was compatible with strength.

Then I took hold of the corners and twisted them sharply, which formed them into ears. Then they were fixed with some strong stitching. With long back stitches I further secured the case by putting a line of them around the centre, that is, at the place where the two hassocks joined, gathering in the little fullness that existed, and making, as'it -were, the waist of the pouff. When it was quite secure I hid the stitches, and gave the finishing touch by covering with a row of upholsterers' braid. COLOURED LINEN MATS. Plain-coloured Irish linen table mats, for instance, are more suited than those of elaborate lace or Oriental embroidery. There are innumeable shades obtainable, so that it is not difficult to obtain just the right one to tone -with the flowers. One delightful set is in a sunray effect in coloured and white linen, with stripes' wider at the edge and converging towards a [point in the centre. Below are given three schemes, two for the dinner table and the other for the luncheon table. For the first one pink and -white mate are used, and on the large round one placed in the centre of the table is a big black Doulfcon bowl filled wifoh pink asters with a few white ones among them and a little smilax. This is flanked by candlesticks, either in Doulton ware or in black American glass, with green wax candles in them to match the smilax and perfectly plain pleated pink silk shades. In "the second, dinner table scheme the same mats are used, but the flowers are all pink this time and- are placed in a large English cut-glass bowl with a vase or smaller bowl on each side. Die candlesticks also are of cut-glase, and the candles pink with pink silk shades. In order to get the right effect the flowers and all the accessories, including candles, must be ji.st the same tone. This; taWe scheme would look particularly well in a room done entirely in browns, with which so many dining rooms are deeerated no-wmdaya.