WORK COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XVII, 22 October 1898, Page 546

WORK COLUMN.

In talking of the dressing-table, it Las no more useful accessory than the toilet tidy, but this should be kept immaculately clean and sent to the wash every week. Nothing can be more appalling than fhe kind of painted, perforated cardboard arrangement, which has managed somehow or other to survive both the hygienic and artistic craze which seems to have been sent to clear civilised dwellings from some of their atrocities. One of the prettiest and most simple tidies is made out of an oblong strip of printed washing muslin, lined with either pale pink or blue, edged with some little fanciful border and then lightly tacked together after the fashion indicated in the accompanying sketch. It can then be pulled out straight and sent to the wash, a pro-

cess which it survives most excellently. It is a pattern that can be very well made in brocade with satin linings, edged with gold and silver galloon, when its existence does not require to be of such an ephemeral nature as that which necessarily constitutes the pocket into which all kinds of little rubbish is crammed. How seldom there is a sufficiency of wastepaper baskets in most houses! And even when provided, they are generally far too small for use, or big and ugly in appearance. Quite an ordinary basket can be made to look very pretty if a little care is devoted to it. First of all buy a good, strong basket of the size you want, and then

begin to ornament it somewhat after the fashion of that shown in my illustratUMi. The sides are decorated al-

ternately with a piece of bright-col-oured plush and a vandyke of either crochet work or macrame, the latter being most effective. In any case, the crochet should be made of fine macrame twine, as this will stand out more and have a bolder effect. The colour of the materials is a very important consideration in the decoration of sueh a basket. I saw one carried out in tones of golden-brown, a short time ago. and it was quite charming. The plush was of a dark brown tint, but with plenty of colour in it, and the macrame was of a lighter shade; thick gold and brown cord was sewn all round the top of the basket, and the tassels of the macrame were of the two shades, having a fair quantity of thick golden silk mingled amongst them, that gave them a very glossy appearance. Of course the macrame twine was frayed out so that it looked quite soft and fluffy. The pom-poms that finished the corners at the top and bottom were of silk, shading from brightest old-gold to the deepest of browns. The basket should be lined very neatly, with either silk, Indian cloth, or sateen; in the instance alluded to a rich shade of golden-brown surah was used.