WORK COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XVIII, 29 October 1898, Page 578

WORK COLUMN.

Here is a pretty idea for menu cards ; they are cut out of cardboard with a sharp penknife after one or other of the designs here given. Care must be taken to make the outline edges of the pattern very smooth and well finished off. When all this is done they should be illuminated after the fashion of an old ‘ Missal,’ pristine colours being used, and the edges marked with

liquid gold. After this is done they have a very rich, artistic appearance, and are most decorative laid on a white doth. It is as well to note, however, that ecclesiastical patterns should be avoided, for in this style of decoration it would be eminently unsuitale for secular purposes. Girls sometimes wonder what in the world they are going to give their brothers as a present, so perhaps they will welcome my suggestion that they should make them a pin-cushion of their College or Club colours. The one in my illustration is just

about the size to suit a man or boy’s requirements, and the ribbons are woven together as the girls have probably been taught in their kindergarten days to weave paper. Either small or moderately-wide ribbon may be used, but I think that of about half an-inch wide is best, bebe

ribbon having somewhat of an effeminate appearance. The two colours are used alternately and the riblion must lie tacked to the cushion at regular intervals to keep it from slipping. The cushion should be covered both sides alike, and the two ends where they meet round the edge joined together very neatly into mitred points. If these instructions be carefully followed out I think the result will be a pincushion that neither man nor boy will disdain as being too ‘ girlish ’ for his dressing-table. Talking of pincushions, there is nothing more amusing than to try and imitate different fruits ami vegetables for this purpose. A tomato cushion is made of two circular pieces, anil the indentation is made of strands of silk drawn from the centre into the sides. It is liest covered with a dull kind of satin and its little green stalk made out of velvet. I have seen pincushions made in the shape of bananas, stuffed into just the shape of the fruit, then covered with fine wash-leather, and afterwards painted iu places to represent the black marks.

I had no idea how useful the upper parts to long evening gloves could be when they are cleaned until a friend presented me the other day with one of the most charming little bags for opera "lasses that I have ever seen. It was made of the very palest tint of tan suede, and daintily embroidered with infinitesimally small gold paillettes, a tin}’ niching of bebe ribbon finished off the top, and the lining was of golden-coloured satin, the ribbon being a

pale yellow run through gold rings. I was so delighted with this that she showed me another, which was of pearl grey kid, embroidered with mother-o’-pearl, with the faintest bine silk lining and blue ribbons to match.- Indeed, old kid "loves can be made to serve many a useful purpose, and larger bags may be made of patchwork sewn together on the wrong side. I have even seen sofa cushions and tea cosies, and little powder sacques may be manufactured out of a single piece lined with silk and the swansdown firmly fixed in the middle, and then the bag is drawn up with tiny ribbons. All these bags are infinitely nicer if they are delicately perfumed, which is not at ail a difficult matter. Take of ambergris one dram, of sivic one dram, and of orange flower water a quarter of an ounce. Mix these together, and rub well into the inside of the kid with cotton wool until it is thoroughly saturated.