OUTSTANDING DISPLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 945, 15 December 1933, Page 9

OUTSTANDING DISPLAY.

Pupils of Girls’ High School. SKILL AND ARTISTRY SHOWN. This week many of the girls’ schools j in Christchurch have held their annual displays of handwork, but that held j 1 yesterda}’- afternoon and evening at the | Christchurch Girls’ High School was 1 outstanding on account of the quantity and quality of the exhibits. Con- j sidering that most of the girls’ time is I occupied with the academical side of their work, the skill evinced in the I making of many of the articles was remarkable. The exhibition had at- ; tracted widespread interest, and by . half-past three the rooms were crowd- I ed with parents, friends and old girls, admiring and examining the work on ! Original Cookery Display. Outstanding in the exhibition by reason of its originality was the display of cookery. Considering that most of the exhibits were perishable and that they had to be made that morning, the display was a complete and attractive one. The main table was set with a luncheon embodying all the essentials required for the nourishment of the body. Another table of exhibits illustrated what can be done with brown flour and also contained some delicious salads. A third •exhibit was a table set for a children's tea party with fruit jellies set in fascinating orange baskets, and a birthday cake with icing depicting the story of “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.” On the miscellaneous table were all sorts of preserves, a b*eauti-fully-iced Christinas cake, little cakes decorated with cherries, grapes and strawberries, and a fruit salad set in a sponge ring. ‘‘Foods in sumnver should be light and nourishing” was the placard on yet another table on which appetising cold dishes, moulds and jellies were set out. An attractice collection of sweets occupied a smaller table, and to complete an interesting display these was a table containing food for the invalid. Girls who intend to take up nursing on leaving school specialise for a year in invalid cookery, taking special pains to make the dishes look attractive. Altogether .the display reflected great credit on the pupils and thteir teacher, Miss A. M. Watson. Exhibition, of Handcrafts. The big hall at the school was devoted to the handcraft exhibition, marquetry, leather and pewter work, wicker work and all branches of drawing, for which the girls are the pupils of Miss A. M. Gibbs. The collection was marvellously comprehensive and comaiiiul '

much of real merit. The pew tor wont had been popular with many of the girls, among the items on view’ being a number of excellent wall mirrors, boxes, photoframes, brooches and clocks. There were two sets of novel book-'ends made of wood stained and polished, with designs in embossed pewter. Marquetry was also well represented In a number of attractive stools, plates, book-ends, a bread board, candlesticks and ornamental vases. Marquetry and pewter work wiere originally combined in one exhibit, a marquetry vase w r ith a design in pewter. An ambitious effort was a large standard lamp stained and polished by one of the girls and the base painted in a conventional pattern.

Leather was another medium exploited, many shades and varieties of hide and suede being employed. Bags and purses in many smart shapes with and without zip fasteners were shown, these being finished in a variety of interesting methods tooled, cut-out, drawn on in ink or decorated with bead work. A plaited leather stool, a tooled strip of leather for a fireside settee, and a beautiful leather writingcase were outstanding exhibits. A number of trays in ail sizes, several work baskets, beautifully lined and padded were among the examples of wicker work. An original item was a potttery bow’l with a basketware covering. Expert finish was also revealed in a number of lamp shades whose gay colourings lent a splash of colour to the display. On a separate table were specimens of the work of the bookbinding classes, directed by Miss I. F. Milnes, a comparatively new departure for the girls at th 1 © High School. Nevertheless there was evidence of a great advance in skill on the part of the pupils during the year, some creditable results being obtained. Cloth, imitation leather and suede covers, some with backs and corners in a deeper shade had been made. Loose leaf covers which will prove useful to girls taking courses at the university next year, a recipe book, albums for records, photograph albums and hound copies of the school prospectus all showed that great pains had been taken in the making. Wide Range of Drawings. The walls of the hall were hung with drawings done by th*e various classes through the year. Covering a wide range from landscapes to posters and fashions they contained much af interest. Miss Gibbs has taken many of the girls sketching the results of these expeditions being shown in sketches and water colours of the Provincial Chambers, the High School, Canterbury College and scenes in the park and gardens . A visit to the pottery works had also brought forth a collection of interesting drawings mostly of the men at their work. To show that the essential principals of drawing were not neglected there were studies in perspective, and a great deal of work in designs for wallpapers, China, and mats. Girls with imagination had, however, been allowed to follow their own bent, so that the exhibition was varied and individual. Amusing were the stick figures showing stick people in an endless variety of attitudes. Excellent Needlework. An excellent system is followed in the sewing classes. All the first-year pupils are set to work making any garment of underclothing, the stipulation being that it must be made of white cambric. In this material they are taught how to stroke gathers, to do crossway bindings and facings, hemstitching, embroidery and the whipping and rolling of lace. Some of the stitching was beautifully fine and the finished article remarkably dainty. That the girls had benefited by this careful training was abundantly revealed in the work of the second year classes which was beautiful. Each girl had made an article of underwear in silk, all finely stitched and finished with dainty touches of lace, insertion, 'embroidery, faggoting, hemstitching or applique. The winning entry was a pale pink silk petticoat edged with lace and trimmed with lovely applique work in a floral design. Almost invisible patches and darning showed that the more humble branches of needlework received their share of attentioip. Their regulations sewing done, the girls are allowed to occupy themselves with needlework, of which there was a large collection. Embroidered and appliqued napery, cushions and pictures in petit point, and a set of handkerchiefs with fine embroidered corners were particularly attractive. M-iss M. Alexander and Miss A. M. Watson are in charge of the sewing classes, the display of work done reflecting great credit both on them and their pupils. Girls taking the domestic or home IjfV* course are also taught dressmaking bv Miss Saidee Atkinson and others interested attend a dressmaking class on Saturday morning. Tailored blouses, skirts and suits were all neatly finished, and stitched hats and cotton frocks all testified to the skill Of their makers. Tea and ice-creams were served to the guests out-of-doors by the prefects and the school orchestra conducted by Mrs E. Thompson, gave items. The display was also open for an hour last evening, when many fathers took the Opportunitv of viewing the work.