FANCY WORK AND HOUSE DECORATION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 38, 20 September 1890, Page 14

FANCY WORK AND HOUSE DECORATION.

Blue Denim Portiere.—A very pretty way to use this material is to cut it the right length, then upon the light side put straight strips of the dark side, 2g inches wide in alternate lengths, that is have every other one shorter. Let them run from the upper edge about one third of the length, finish the edges with a fancy stitch in blue crewel, point the ends and finish with crewel tassel. Let these strips be 4or 5 inches apart. Turn a hem of the dark side upon the light all around about 2 inches wide, and couch it down with the crewel. Another way is to cut out figures from the denim and scatter them over the curtain couching them down, the dark side of the figures showing upon the light side of the denim. Sometimes the denim is used over the mantel-piece for a background for pictures, but of course it is a dining or sitting-room, or perhaps a bedroom. Cord Portieres. - It was not many years ago when folks at this time of the year put away their home decorations, bared their walls, stripped their floors and awaited fly time and the dog days in deserted desolate quarters. This is all changed now, and the summer furnishings are a decidedly important factor with the trade and people. To be sure woollen stuffs are usually packed away, but there are lots of pretty things made in cottons, and silk and cotton; and with screens at the windows and doors these daintly furnishings can be kept harmless from flies.

A few years ago bead portieres were novelties, £3 apiece. They bung in strings, with the beads arranged in such colours as to form charming designs. To-day you can buy them for very little, and excellent substitutes in bamboo strips. Doors are taken down from all Tooms, except the bed-rooms, and these cheap and artistic portieres from Japan and China are hung instead. Then, again, some beautiful doorway and window

portieres for summer are made of knotted cord. Not exactly like the niaerame work that was so |>opular some years ago, but heavier, the size of a clothes-line, tied or and then hung in pendent ends, knotted here and there, so as to form designs. All these lengths of cord hang straight from the little decorative rope fretwork at the top, which is frequently stiffened by glue and painted white and gold, or some other shades ; the rope pendants, however, should be as flabby as possible. The knots which are tied to give a decorative appearance here and there, may be gilded or painted, and with taste some charming effects are thus produced.