A USEFUL WRITING BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

A USEFUL WRITING BOARD.

A writing board is always an acceptable present, and is quite easy and inexpensive to make. Procure a piece of light board, measuring about 22in by 14in, and cover it with a thin art serge in any colour you prefer, taking care to strain the material to ensure a perfectly smooth tight surface. Next, at a saddler's get some thin tan-coloured leather, if smartness be desired, but if economy must be studied, substitute art serge for leather.

In the centre is the -blotting pad, each corner of which is slipped in triangular pieces of leather, tacked neatly down with small copper .or brass-headed nails. Directly above the pad is a band of leather divided into compartments to hold paper-knife, penholder, pencil, penknife, and sealing wax; next it is a cloth penwiper, and under this a scribbling tablet (also slipped under a piece of leather). On the right of the blotting pad a small leather inkstand must be firmly glued, and on each side of the pad are shaped leather pockets to hold notepaper, envelopes, letter-cards, telegraph forms, and the like. In the lefthand corner a small frame-like arrangement is cut from the leather and a calendar slipped in. : :.: Care must be taken to do the nailing evenly • wherever it occurs, and you will have quite a smart effect; whereas any irregularity will quite spoil the whole. ; A pretty finish is to paint the owner's initials on the leather compartments, and for this use oil paint.