THE WORK CORNER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 17 October 1891, Page 493

THE WORK CORNER.

SOME USEFUL ARTICLES MADE OUT OF APPARENTLY USELESS MATERIALS. ‘At the Industrial Exhibition, Hammersmith,’ says the correspondent of a ladies’ paper, ‘ the offer of several prizes for the most useful articles made out of apparently useless materials had evidently highly commended itself to many industrious people of good will to work, bnt small ability to purchase materials, and quite a goodly array of articles had been sent in. As the most absolutely' useful one, prominence must be given to a most attractive and comfortablelooking little garment entirely composed of old

stockings, sewn to a foundation of old calico. The actual workmanship of the garment was executed by a little maiden aged ten years, and reflected the greatest possible credit upon her, as well as upon the mother, w ho bad probably tacked in position the stocking legs, which were quite artistically planned in such a manner that the front of the little bodice and a portion of the skirt were of a deep crimson on black, the whole being united by rows of carefully executed feather or coral stitching. ‘ The prize for needlework was naturally awarded to the maker of this little garment, but in close competition to her piece or work were several little bodices manufactured on the same principles, and I cannot too warmly commend to my readers this really valuable means of utilising the upper portion of warm merino stockings, which in this manner form most comfortable and waim articles of wearing apparel. ‘ Very good use has been made by onecompetitor of the covers and back of an old account book, to which he had affixed three sides of wood and thus formed a most compact and useful box, the opening of one side forming the lid, revealing an interior neatly fitted up with compartments for holding reels of thread, buttons, etc., and thus providing a really useful piece of furniture for a poor man’s wife or sister. Curiously enough since noting this book-cover box at the exhibition, I have heard that just now it is quite the fashion in Paris, to pick up old - fashioned leather book bindings, and have them fitted with sides by a carpenter, after which the outer edges are gilded and the interior lined with delicate old-fashioned satin or brocade, finished off by gold or silver galon, the boxes thus formed being used for photos or smaller objects of bijouterie. The suggestion is one that may well be worked out to good purpose by anyone happening to come across any of the large account book covers, which might be entirely covered with brocade or needlework, and so form delightful receptacles for pamphlets, monthly magazines, etc. But to teturu to the useless materials, a word must be given to some neatly made workbags formed from fish or game bags, and to some bandy little sets of drawers for holding seeds etc., composed of empty match-boxes glued one al>ove the other, and fitted with little ribbon bandies by which the drawers so formed could be pulled out. Painted oyster shells fastened together so as to form hanging receptacles for letters and bills, models made of old corks, toys from empty reels, and various other objects, more or less creditable in their construction, found a place in the collection, similar ones to which may, I hope, be permitted to form a part in other exhibitions of a like nature.'