GIRL GUIDES

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 19

GIRL GUIDES

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“ATALANTA."

Guiders’ Meeting. Invercargill Guiders will hold their usual fortnightly meeting on Thursday in the Guide Rooms at 7.30 p.m. Uniform will not be worn. First Class. The following have passed the written paper for First Class: I. Roy (Mossbum); H. McMaster (Gore); L. Morrison and L. Elder (High School A Company); M. Dickson (Riverton). N. Cherry (Mossbum) has passed in everything except two questions, particulars of which will be posted to her Captain. We hope that those who did not succeed tills time will try again in November. Rally. The Rally has definitely been fixed for Saturday, October 15, and for the next three Saturdays all Rangers, Guides and Brownies are requested to spare the time necessary for practice. Your officers expect you to turn up. It is just one of those things that one doesn’t want to do much, but a “guide obeys order” and a “guide is courteous.” It takes 180 guides to form the emblem, and there were 40 at practice last week. Please all be present this week—High School (wet or fine), Brownies 2 p.m., Guides 3 p.m., Rangers 4 p.m. Potato Cuts. I am sure that, unless you know all about potato cuts (in which case you won’t, of course, read this article!) you will expect to find here a lesson in cooking. Far from it—it’s a lesson in printing you are beginning. You will require:— Some calico—or white paper to print on. A small tube of oil paint, and a little petrol to break it down. A rather broad painting brush. Several large potatoes scrubbed clean. A stiff, large knife, and a straight bladed, well pointed pocket knife. A piece of coloured chalk (red is best), and some newspapers to work on. Take a potato, and with the big knife cut it in half, so that the surface is perfectly smooth and even. Then think about your design—something very simple to begin with. A gum leaf is very easy. If you are not sure of the shape, draw it first with the red chalk on a piece of paper—then lay this on the cut surface of the potato and rub the back with your hand. You will find the design is on the potato when you lift the paper. Now with the penknife cut away the potato to the design, keeping the edge clear and even, and making the design rather like the top of a sugar loaf hill, i.e., with the sides running outwards. When you have finished cutting, wipe off any moisture with a piece of rag. Then squeeze out a little oil paint on to a saucer, and using a brush, mix it to a thin, creamy thickness with the petrol. (You will be sure to do this well away from any flame or light on account of the inflammability of the petrol). Lay out the piece of calico on the table, over a pad of a towel and some newspapers. Now for the exciting part—paint over the surface of the potato cut with long, even strokes of the brush—then press it hard and firmly on the calico. The first print may not be very good—try another. You will have to put fresh paint on each time. Cut another leaf, a little different in shape, then a flower, and then cut a long, straight piece for a stalk, and you can build up a design. Try something conventional, and see what fun it is repeated as a border. Remember, if you are going to print lettering, that you must cut the letters back to front.

The wrong end of a nib is useful for scooping out little bits that it is hard to get at with a knife. The prints will stand washing and ironing. They make most effective decorations.

—Monthly News Sheet.