TOILET BOX.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 26, 28 June 1890, Page 14

TOILET BOX.

Just one troublesome question may l>e asked alsuit the pretty fancy box here delineated, and that is, ‘ What can it be user! for ?’ It is not a troublesome question l»ecause unanswerable, but liecause such a multiplicity of uses may lie found for it—depending upon its size and "the materials of which it is made—that one would tire of enumeratin'* them all.

The subject of our sketch was designed for a toilet box for the dressing-table, and is made of a large collar-lsix ; it is covered with old-gold satin, smoothly applied, which has little crescents worked upon it in outline ; it is then placed in the centre of a circular piece of peacock-blue ami old-gold brocade which has lieen previously lined with plain satin. This piece should lie large enough to be drawn up against the outside of the box, as shown nearly to the top, and fastened at six points at equal distances apart by full bows of narrow satin ribbon, thus forming six outside pockets.

Invisible stitches from the bows straight down to the bottom of the box and then around in a circle make the pockets separate ami secure ; then a smooth satin linin" is fitted to the inside. The cover of the Ixjx is lined with satin lightly gummed in place, an<l the top is padded with soft wool, which is covered with another circular piece of the brocade to form a cushion : the brocade is gathered an inch from the ed«e all around and drawn elosely round the outeredgeof the cover, an ', l . a . ”‘ !l ,JO 'Y of tl,e ribbon nestles in the centre, producin'' a slightly puffed appearance. Furnish the box with a few needles and pins, a thimble scissors, thread, silk, bits of elastic, buttons, hooks, or any of the many things often needed, but often unobtainable unless some such provision has been made for emergencies, when dressing hastily. Or it might be used asa receptacle for the little ornamental accessories of the toilet that are choice and should be nicely kept, but are hardly fit for the jewel box, such as fancy pins clasps, bracelets, bangles and beads. Double the circumference of the box (but not its height ), ~ and it would lie pretty for a work-box. Treat a small hat box in this way, using gray linen decorated with coloured crewels, and a handsome mendin" boxwill be produced. ° A nice stocking box might be developed from a strong, round bandbox with cretonne covering and pockets ; instead of cushioning the cover, encircle it with a strip of the goods wide enough to be drawn up closely in the centre, like a bag, after wing turned in ami shirred so as to admit of a draw string or ribbon, thus forming a capacious ba" pocket m winch the mending yarn may be kept. The unmend ed stockings may be kept in the box, and those that are ready for use in the pockets.