HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 9 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS.

_A. SCREEN FOR BABY. On the principle of screens u>ed in hospital.-, this converted clothe- hor>c has a covering which can be washed. It is intended for a baby's service, to, shield him from draughts when in hibath, and to hold all the ;' -res-one- for! hi- comfort. several young mothers of my aequain- • la lice have decided on a screen instead if a baby basket, partly liecause tin--crecn is of use lons after the basket i[•ut aside, and partly because it 1- more ' •ommodious and convenient. Another clement enter* in favour of j i screen. A prospective grandfather. may like to make the wooden frame — failing that, an ordinary clothe- horse; .•an be used. Have an each leaf separate r>ieees of cretonne, voile or thick muslin.' ivith a wide hem at each edge for the rail to run through. Hospital screens are fastened with buttons which have miy to be turned down to penr.it oi the covering being removed, but a baby's : creen of cretonne will not soon soii. and . the centre section with pockets can be jf a separate material stitched to tic screen and taken off for laundering if ncccssarv. j l I . ! .Anyone seated behind such a screen has everything within reach —and re- j places garments used when they have been washed and aired. | Later on. when there is no small baby, the screen will still be useful in a sewing room, for keeping patterns and sew-1 mg in—or for concealing a sewing table. ;tc. It could also be made for an invalid < for books and work, besides keeping off | draughts. j THE LADY WITH A~DUSTER. | Have you ever thought of giving lusters for presents? They may not] sound very exciting, but there are dusters ; md dusters, and the ones I am thinking! of are as attractive as anything you L-ould wish to see. They make a specially delightful gift to the girl who looks after her own room herself, and likes to keep her tools handy. They are feather dusters really, but they are "dressed up" in such a frivolous ] fashion that it is quite hard to realise | how useful they are. You must choose j

nough feathers to make a thick whisk i ibout eight inches long, bound round ightly at its lower edge so that at the op the feathers spray out into a fan diape. The whisk is then fastened on o a 12-inch wooden handle, which comes • oni'- way up the centre of the feathers •" that they may be joined on to it irmly. There you have the useful part if the du.-ter. and now you come to the You will need some stiff silk material: ir thick crded ribbon, and some <'i this you use t" cover the handle, and the >•-: you make into a .-heath for tie- :• athcr-. The piece of materia! should •c about four inches wide, at the top it i- left plain, but at it- lower edge .; i- gathered in closely and fastened to .in- top of the handle. ' in thi- way the lower part of the whisk is protected by i fan-shaped sheath, which only leaves ibout three inchc- of the feather- uncov - •red at the top. The edges of this sheath may lie finished with a narrow riower '.rimming, and at the end of the handle i loop ot ribbon for hanging purpose* should be sew n. •-hoe-tree- always make a useful present, and a new way of trimming then, - to have the end- painted with gold :.iaint. and the centre bar, in.-tead ><: ■icing bound with silk, was buttonholed ••■ ;tii coloured raffia.