In Milady’s Mirror

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 14

In Milady’s Mirror

Housewife Takes Stock

Shallow bowls and jars of crystal glass can scarcely be bettered for holding spring flowers though some people are choosing bowls of stainless metal for their daffodils, mimosa, narcissi and tulips. Easily Made Coats.

Short box coats with loose raglan sleeves are very simple to make and can be added to any plain frock to make it into an outdoor ensemble when the mild weather arrives. Let them have outsize patch pojf||ts to be right up-to-the-minute and swing loose from a single button fastening at the neck. Tall Hats Fashionable.

Tall hats have come to gladden the hearts of small women w’ho are always sighing for a few more inches. Even small caps are adopting crowns that are pinched, and folded and pulled upwards to give them height. Some of them have as many as three peaks pointing up, one in the centre and one at each side. Others have tufts of feathers to make them, higher. Bonnet-shaped hats have brims that rise abruptly from the forehead to achieve the same effect and sometimes accentuate it with, piled on trimming of ostrich tips and flowers, New “Plate” Hats.

For those who do not wish to appear tailed and who possess particularly attractive crops of curls at the back of their heads, there are new “plate” hats, shallow crowned, brimmed and worn well tilted towards the nose. Bpcause of the difficulty of keeping these hats ih place, hatpins have reappeared. Hatpin Vogue.

Tiny hatpins, with heads to match exactly the colour of the hat, are placed along the basej of the crown and are practically invisible. The Duchess of Kent has declared in favour of this type of hatpin. They are much more com'ortable than the narrow elastic bands passed round the back of the head and do not disturb, the coiffure. Polishing Furniture.

It is a good plan, before polishing furnb* ture, to rub it over with a wash-leather wrung out of soapy water in which a little vinegar; (a tablespoonful to a pint of water) has been mixed. The wood should be quite dry before, the polish, which will give quick and excellent results, is applied. Stain for Floors.

Brunswick black and turpentine make ah excellent and hard-wearing stain for Test before using as, if it is not mixed in thej correct proportions, the stain will be very dark. Equal quantities give dark brown which' can be made lighter by using more turpentine, This dries very quickly and will polish well* Threading Curtains.

The easiest way to thread tape into newly, laundered curtains is to fasten a safety pin to the tape and use it as a bodkin. Use as large a pin as possible and it will readily open the hem that is stuck together by starch or by; ironing. Slimy Sponges.

A sponge that has become slimy can b<s cleaned by washing in strong ammonia and water. Let it soak for a short time, then squeeze, rinse in clear water and dry, preferably in the sunshine.

Cleaning Brushes. Brushes of all kinds should be washed in warm (not hot) soap suds in which a few drops of ammonia have been sprinkled. Rinse in warm and then cold water to stiffen the bristles and dry the brushes standing, or hanging, with, the bristles downwards so that the moisture does not soak into the wood. Care should be taken that the ammonia does not come in con* tact with polished handles and backs. Ebony Brushes.

Ebony brushes often grow brown, and shabby from repeated washing but can be easily renovated to look like new. Wash the ebony in lukewarm soapy water in order to remove all grease. When quite dry, tie a silk handkerchief tightly round the bristles, apply good black shoe dye to the wood and, when quite dry, polish with furniture cream. The brushes will look like new and will keep in excellent condition for a long time. The same treatment can be applied to furniture made of ebony. Care should be taken to rub away any traces of superfluous dye before applying the polish. Sandpaper Hints. Sandpaper makes all the difference between a professional and an amateur finish when painting or staining wood. I realised, this as I watched my jobbing carpenter making some shelves from old boai-ds. He sandpapered every inch of them vigorously until the surface was satin smooth before attempting to stain the wood. Sandpaper is made in several qualities, the finest being used to treat the more exotic woods. There is an extra fine variety which successfully removes the shine from suede shoes and handbags. It should be applied gently with a rotary movement. To obtain the professional glazed effect when enamelling furniture go over the entire surface with sandpaper to remove all traces of old paint or varnish. If this is done properly the enamel will “flow” readily and there will be no streaks. If the wood is to be finished in one of the new “limed” or “pickled” effects sandpaper it thoroughly so that the preparation can sink. When floor boards have become darkened 'by many coats of varnish and polish, treat them with coarse sandpaper and on the new smooth surface apply a fresh coat of paint or polish. Brick and stone fireplaces which have become discoloured can be completely renewed by treatment with coarse sandpaper.