WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20504, 24 August 1936, Page 10

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

SHERWOOD DOWNS The August meeting of the Sherwood Downs Women’s Institute was held on Thursday, when Mrs Mackenzie welcomed members and visitors from Geraldine, Woodbury and England. Sympathy was expressed with Mrs Lundie in the illness of her son, and Mrs S. P. Bray offered to convey the Institute’s best wishes for his recovery. An appeal for gifts for the Lepers of Makogai was received, and members agreed to support the cause. The parcel of goods from the Soldiers Civil Reestablishment League was displayed, and met with a ready sale. A very interesting talk on tree planting was given by Mrs Hislop of Geraldine. In urging more tree planting on country roads, Mrs Hislop suggested the growing of native trees. Miss Davies of Woodbury, as voluntary organiser, gave members many helpful ideas, and spoke of the friendly spirit which prevailed at the annual conference. This was followed by the description of a trip through America which Miss Davies made recently. This proved of great interest to all present. The musical item, a pianoforte solo, was delightfully played by Mrs Gibson, who also continued the golden thread travel talk, her subject being “Abyssinia.” Mrs Ross, the delegate to the annual conference, gave a very interesting and concise report on the business and social activities at Dunedin. In presenting a gift to the Institute secretary, Mrs Mackenzie expressed sincere regret at Miss Cooper’s departure, and thanked her for all she had done to help the Institute. Miss Cooper suitably replied. Afternoon tea was served by Mrs Anniss, Mrs N. Williams and Mrs Gallagher. The competitions resulted.—Mystery parcels: Mrs C. Ross 1, Mrs Anniss and Miss Laird equal 2. lib jar of marmalade: Mrs Gray 1, Mrs M. B. Reid 2, Miss Scott 3. Specimen bloom: Mrs Anniss 1, Mrs Mackenzie 2, Mrs S. P. Bray 3. One of the new uses to which buckram is now being put is the making of lampshades. It has just the right amount of pliability and of stiffness to adapt it for this. For the best ones, a creamy natural shade is used, lined with white paper, which is stitched top and bottom to the buckram—this latter being, of course, for the outside of the shade. The stitching is hidden on both sides by means of a binding of white velvet. The whole is then folded, not into the usual sharp folds to which we have become so accustomed in our paper or vellum shades, but into curved folds, varying in width according to the size of the shade, and having only the inner sides pinched like those of a fan in angles. The top folds are pierced with round holes, through which is threaded, not a silk cord, bflt a thick twist or plait of white wool, the ends of which are tied in a generous bow, so that the loops hang well down the shade. A lovely light comes through this admirably substantial article. Another use for buckram —in its coloured varieties—is for waste-paper containers. The material is bent round into tubular form and given a wooden base, after being stitched up the side where the join comes, and bound at the top with anything one likes—braid, velvet, brocade, or chintz.