THE WORK CORNER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 139

THE WORK CORNER.

AN ENAMELLED PLAQUE. IN these days, when nearly every woman paints a little, many will look longingly at the blaek enamelled panels and plaques displayed for sale; but alas ! in many instances the pocket book will be found unequal to the demand, and the plaque cannot be purchased. Now let me tell you bow to make one that very few will recognise as only an imitation, (let a cheap plaque of the desired size, and a small can of the best carriage paint, which is paint and varnish combined. Give the plaque a eoat of the paint, let it dry, then rub it with line sandpaper to make it look perfectly smooth ; then give it another coat of paint, let this dry and paint it again. It will require three or four coats after that which you sand papered, and each coat must be very thin. If the paint is too thick it will ‘ run ’ ami result in an uneven surface which will be far from satisfactory. When the last coat is dry, your plaque is ready for ornamentation. For a panel procure a board on whicii dress goods have been rolled. Rub it first with coarse sand paper, then with fine, until the surface is as smooth as glass, then treat asdirected above. This is also a nice way to treat furniture when such a finish is desired. TO MAKE ZEPHYR FLOWERS. rpHE materials required for making zephyr Howers are as I follows : No. 36 silver hairwire, zephyr (not the split zephyr), and a wire tong, shaped like a hairpin. This tong should be five inches in length and one in breadth, ami should be of wire that will not bend easily. We will first make a lily in what is known as ‘ plush work.’ Begin by winding the zephyr around the tongs eight times, then back again over the first layer, and continue until there are ten layers of the zephyr, all wound on very evenly. Now sew it securely down the centre and fasten by taking * over and over ’ stiches at each end. The stitches down the centre should be even in size, and exactly half way between the piongs of the wire tong. Now cut off a piece of the hair wire about eight inches in length, double it and place it in the centre of the petal just made nearly to the point. Catch the thread into the loop made by the doubled wire, and sew back and forth, over and down the wire to the lower edge of the petal. When this is done, take a pair of sharp scissors and clip the zephyr down the wire on the outside of the tong, tbeu roll the petal in your hand a few times until it becomes round, when it will be ready to trim. To get the required shape you should have a lily from which to copy. A lily has six petals and five stamens. To make the stamens, wind the hair wire very evenly and closely around a knitting needle, remove the needle pull the wire curl apart a little, and wrap the zephr around the wire until it is in all the curves. Fasten the anthers on the stamens with a darning needle threaded with double zephyr. These stamens should be four inches long. To put the lily together, take a piece of broom wire for a stem, and fasten the stamens to it by wrapping around all with green zephyr, then put the petals on as they are in the lily you are copying, fasten them securely, and bend each one back in a natural curve. To shade a lily, wrap first one shade on the tong then the next directly over it, and thus use as many shades as you wish. To make wire Howers you will need split zephyr and No. 30 silver hair-wire. Begin by winding the wire evenly on a knitting needle pushing it very closely together before removing it ; but pull it apart a little when it is removed. Before using the zephyr this wiremust be bent into the required shape. For instance, if you wish to make a pansy, bend the wire to look like one of the leaves. Hold the thumb nail firmly against the wire at the point of the leaf to keep it in shape while twisting the wire together. Wrap the end of the zephyr around the wire, where it is twisted together, secure it in the first notch in the lower point, then take it from there to the middle notch above, then the first notch, then the one below the middle notch. Wrap it back and forth in this manner until the leaf is filled out. A little practice will enable you to do it nicely. The centre of the Howers are made from double zephyr, clipped. These Howers are put together as described for the lily. When making a cluster of small Howers, use the fine wire, No. 36. When filling a fancy basket with Howers, add a few green sprigs. To make them, tie a strand of zephyr, and two pieces of wire, each about twelve inches in length, around a knitting needle. Now throw the zephyr loosely over the needle, draw it down between the two wires, cross the wires over it, draw it up between them, throw it loosely over the needle again, and so continue until you have a piece the desired length, when it may be removed from the needle, doubled together, and twisted slightly. When you have learned to make zephyr sprigs, you can make hair Howers, for that work is done in the same way.