Fashions and Furbelows

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18057, 18 January 1927, Page 11

Fashions and Furbelows

TO DYE SUEDE SHOES

Very often, when light-coloured suede shoes become soiled, and shabby, it is possible to give them a new lease of life by dyeing them black. Well brush the shoes to remove all duSt. Buy some black water-colour paint and a bottle of medium used for water colouring on silk. Mix some paint with medium, but no water, then, using a small brush, paint evenly all over the shoes. Leave to dry, then give a second coat, and, when that is dry, give a third if. necessary. Put on to shoetrees, and when quite dry 'brush with a small wire brush sold especially for suede. Another method is to give the shoes several applications of black liquid suede cleaner, letting them dry between each coat. Then brush with the wire brush.

SWEET LAVENDER. Lavender has conic to its . prime rather late this summer, and just about now, when the flowers arc turning from lilac to withered brown, is the best time to gather it. Plucked in the early morning and laid to dry all day, by evening the flowers are crisp enough to rub off the stalks and use for sachets. The prettiest and daintiest of these are made of

lavender net or muslin, finished wiTi bebe ribbon bows to match. If the flowers are left on the stalks an unusual sachet can be made by binding a little bunch together with narrow ribbon so that the heads of blossom are completely covered. Another way is to make a lavender fan. This is done by cutting out the shape of an open fan in transparent materials and then sewing the stalks of lavender to it, fan stick wise, finally covering them with another layer of material, and finishing the sachet with ribbon. There is nothing fresher and sweeter than lavender-scented bed linen. Apart j from the big lavender sachets kept in the linen cupboard, sew triangular sachets in the corners of bed pillows so that they are covered by the pillowslips. The same idea might be repeat- , ed with the chair cushions. Don't cast awa.v lavender stalks if you use only the flowers. They make a delicious perfume thrown on the first autumn fires.

THE HOARDING INSTINCT. Too many women possess that queer hoarding instinct which prompts them to put carefully away the best set of china, the daintiest of their table and bed linen, the finest cut glass, because, they explain apologetically, it is “too good to use.” The pretty frock bought at the beginning of the season and the

smart hat arc folded in tissue paper to be worn only on special occasions which seem to be “special” so infrequentlv, that while the frock and hat are still quite fresh and scarcely worn, seasons have changed and fashions arc altcr-

EXJOY YOUR POSSESSIONS. Why not enjoy nice things before they have grown stale with disuse? All a ery well to say that expensive china and glass may suffer breakage, linen be exposed to wear, and the clothes not remain best for long. At any rate, packed away out of sight and mind they are coming to no good and might ]ust as well not exist. Is not the present just as propitious a time as the problematical “some day” for looking out and putting into use that pretty doll tea-cosy we had as a Christmas present last year; for producing the hsjnstitched pillow-cases which were among our wedding gifts, instead of buying much-needed new ones; or converting that lovely piece of brocade we hesitated to cut for so long into a cushion for the drawingroom this winter? Have all you r choice and pretty things about you where you as well as others can see and admire them. Wear vour nicest clothes while they are still of the mode of the moment; you will find it such an inspiration to feel you are looking your best on the less important as well as the very special occasions. Tlie saving instinct can be indulged where such things are concerned until it becomes a silly meanness. depriving yourself unnecessarily of pleasure and comfort.