TOILET TABLES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 347, 1 August 1885, Page 4

TOILET TABLES.

One of tlie newest ideas for toilet tables is' to simply cover them with thick white linen, and to have a loose slip of rich brocaded silk half the width of the table, with about lOinto hang down over the front, bordered with lace and caught tip with scallops ; tp.lay over the front, A box pin- cushion^ is covered with the same silk and trimmed witb lace to match. Soft silks are now often, used with muslin as an upper drapery, and also sometimes cover the entire table, and the printed muslins and colored Madras muslins are used for the same purpose. India muslins, cream or colored, are charmingly pretty. Satin sheeting trimmed witla lace and embroidery, Turkey red with "blueembroidery, or red and white lace* eMntz,. matching the hangings of the roomvWve all a good effect. I have seen several toilet tables with the tops painted green, and. daffodils scattered over them, some having a green shelf below, some hung with s6ft silk ; but there is no necessity that thecolor should be green, pink or blue, harmonising with the room, and painted with apple blossom or with white blooms, would have a charming effect. The blue and white-china-patterned cretonnes as coverings of a novel pincushion keeps clean a long time. The silk embroideries, intermixed with gold thread or muslin, for dressing tables. Eed twill, trimmed with black lace is original and new. The box pincushion- is the one that finds most favour, being so very useful for putting in odds and ends. Thehorseshoe and crescents are the newest shag^ but a low one and square is the most iisecl : and generally useful. They are, as a rule,, trimmed to match the table, or with white embroidered muslin and lace, or with satinr The newest are painted, but though they ara, pretty they do not stand the wear and teai of many brooches, common pins, and the gold and coloured pins now so fashionable* The outside of a novel pincushion is covered with satin, having tiny coral sprays all over, in form like a flower slightly fluted. The pincushion is inside this, and. covered with a self coloured satin, red, green, or blue. A bow of ribbon is tied round the centre, and' very pretty it is. — The Queen.