FLOWER MAKING WITH TINKERBELL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

FLOWER MAKING WITH TINKERBELL

Til« material* peneraTly used are March, gum arabic, gelatine and sealing wax. <>i» fan Use starch with equal success 111 '<>11 any kind of material from 1 issue pa per to velvet. It may he used ' lul or cold, if it required hot, make it up as extietly in the same way an w done for laundry purposes. In tile case ot coloured materials, ami tliose with Mirfa ccs which will spot if wetted, apply tlio starch to the under surface of the material, which should be stretched over a frame, if possible. Apply it evenly wiili a flat brush, and when dry iron in the iimhil manner. • Him arabic ali-o makes an excellent Milli-iicr. I'ut a handful of the crystals in a \c-scl ami cmcr with cold water. Shake up the crystals, pour off the water, and cm er them a-iain with cold cletir water. After about a da v the civstals will have dissolved, ai:l a fairly t'i! 'i. uummy adhesive will be obtained. J" this condition it is admirable for Mi.-killer paper ami thiu tabries; applv it to the back of material* if the front mii tace in the one that spoils when w ctted.

Space does not allow me to go into the other processes, but as these are I lie only ones which you will need for the Mowers I am describing, you needn't hot her about them. A pansy is both dainlv and easy to make, so Ic* us make this the hi hje.-t of our first experiment. haeh pantsy consists of live flat petals, nil more or less alike in shape. There'"'V il cardboard pattern may well be made of the petal, and a dozen or two shapes cut with its aid. A variety of mat ei ials may be used; but, as a jxinsv is noted for its velvety texture, the l»c-t substance to use is velvet, or, perhaps, velveteen. Purple in undoubtedly the best colour to select, but there is 110 reason why !>i coloured blooms should not be constructed. When this is decided upon, let the upper petals be purple and the three lower ones vcllow, or the upper ones dark purple, 'as belore. and the lower ones lilac. Other combinations may be provided to unit the colour of the dresn with which the hunch is to be worn.

Before the llmvors are made up it is nd\ i»ii ble ti> put a few streaks, to rn (I in to from the eve, on each petal. '1 hese may be drawn with a pen or fine brush, using fixed indian ink on light colours, and process white on dark colours.

Everybody with clever finger, will be able to follow Tinkerbell'. direct,on. for artificial flower making quite ea.ily, and the result i. .o pretty and gay. Before going on to tell you about the different varieties, 1 think 1 had better explain how you may ea.ily stiffen some of the materials used to fashion them. Thi. .tiffening give, the material a much more .erviceable texture, and it permits of a finer degree of shaping and finishing. How then should thia be done?

AV hen these positions have been arranged, stitch them all together at the centre, using yellow silk thread for the purpose.

As soon as sufficient etitehes have been put in to hold the petals, cut a length of Ktalk wire, make the hook at the tip very small, force it through the stitches, and finish off by making a little central knob with the addition of several more utitchrs of yellow silk. Then cover t'.e stalk.

If the flower, made in this way. appears to be too limp, construct the subsequent ones with velvet or velveteen that has been stiffened with hot starch, hven then the flowers may be too fliim-y to retain their shape. When this is the case, it is a capital idea to back the

velvet or velveteen. This is done before the petals are cut to shape. Take the mat.-rial, stiffen it with starch, as described under heading No. 15; then, while «till wet, spread a piece of black Italian cloth over it, and iron the two thickiicsscH together in such a wav that ajl the creases are smoothed out. When drv. the petals should be shaped, and they will then be stiff enough for all ordinary purposes. Xext week I will give you direction* for making something else.

THANK YOU, GUIDES Wendy sends her best thanks to the guides of the Arohanui Company for a large parcel of children's story books, a collection of used clothing and three jars of jam, all of which recently arrived at Sunshine House. She also wishes to thank the kindly lady who brought in two dear little baby singlet* and two pairs of bad socks.

To make up each flower, tnlce five petals and arrange them in their natural position, using the illustration as a guide. Note that the lowest petal overlaps a petal at either side, and that the two which remain come behind, and above the- two side ones.