Do-It-Yourself Gifts

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29992, 29 November 1962, Page 2

Do-It-Yourself Gifts

Women who like to make their own Christmas gifts are always searching for new suggestions. Two novel and inexpensive ideas are candy wreaths and wrist sprays, the latter specially-designed for someone sick in bed. Wrist sprays are made by ■tftcbtog a small, frigyartt •pray of flowers on to a velvet ribbon which ties on to the wrist. Choose flat flowers and avoid wiring them if possible. If it is necessary to use wire, make sure it does not poke through the ribbon as it could scratch the wrist.

Candy wreaths may be made tor Christinas decorations in the living room or tor the tree. Wrap the sweets in brightly-coloured paper, and tie on to a ribbon-covered ring of wire. Attach scissors to the ring by a long ribbon tor cutting off the sweets. Christchurch shops have plenty of ideas for do-it-yourself gifts. One arts shop has sets of binca canvas, cottons and instructions for making house linen or beach

bags. The materials alone make a good gift tor children or invalids. For women who want’ to make up the gift themeelves there is Italian straw and raffia tor making bags. Bamboo, cane or plastic-covered handles are available. Bottle-covering is a popular craft, and forms the basis of gift* of lampstands, candlesticks or flower-holders. Any type of bottle may be used, and the materWa are straw braid, one millimetre tubing, and a base. A demonstration

leaflet comes with the set. “Popstick*”—similar to the little sticks to ice cream cartone—make trays, wall plaques or pot-plant holders. There are kitsets for making foam rubber bath sponges. Aprons can be very quickly made by buying a plastic apron band and attaching a Straight piece of fabric. As the band spring into position, the material is automaiticaHy gathered. Presents to give a woman who does a lot of sewing and craftwork indude a novel combination tap* measure and pin-cuahion, "books” for hoMtog ambroidery cottons neatly, eyelet punchers for belt-making, cotoured thimbles with a nursery rhyme frieze, and wool-holders. Pots of Jam If making raspberry or strawberry jam before Christmas, put a few small pots away for gifts. A jar of fresh jam makes a most acceptable present for an elderly person or a young woman living in a bedsittingroom, where there are no facilities for jam-making. Use colourful peanut butter jars or buy a few inexpensive vases with wide necks, fill with jam and seal with wax. To give the festive touch, stick a ribbon rosette on the wax, or merely wrap the jar in Christmas paper and tie with a ribbon bow.