CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 683, 7 December 1909, Page 4

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

Christmas is oortainly tho best timo in all tho year, but it'is, also the timo whon even tho niost oontCnted of mortals, if. her purso bo small, yearns',for. a gift of ; fairy gold so that she may buy some at.least of-the pretty dainty things which try to lure her to.her undoing in tho shops. "How mother would love that . Buskin, bowl, and Vi would delight in that • dainty tablo covor,". ono thinks, and how oharming it would: bo to purchase for ,half-a--doßon girl friends, the .numerous. pretty trifles wluoh would add so much to tho attractiveness of thoir rooms. • .

, Bnt, alas, the purse will not stretch beyond a oertain limit, and if she.has any real desiro to: give pleasure, tho girl vith .more friends than oasli, who possesses even a 6mall amount of skill; : must set to work to invent presents" as attractive as her nngcrs. and liw ingenuity can contrivo. . _ Tho ohiofi- attractiveness: of. homo-made pro. Rents, and one which may be insisted on, lios in thoir suitability to the recipient. , . . The day is long past when knitted or oroohotod articles were turned out by the dofsen and sent to ono's. friends, regardless of their ago or occupation. Mary Wilkins has a charming story about those days, and sho piotures an olderly lady, who for years has sont gifts to her friends of pale pink knitted shawls, and who ■. on ■ one ' never-to-be-forgotten Christmas, rcooives from friends who truly lovo her no fewer than thirteen of theso shawls as gifts, fliey had beon sent on from one to tho other, 'not ,\ised:by anyono esoopt'as Oiirrant'.ooin for friendship, till at last. their, origin is forgotten, and back they coine to the original donor, It is just, such giving of 'presents that :one wants. tQ',; avoid,'; and .the problem of how. to do. so is at present racking many a mind, i "With tho oheap linen» now'proourablo, many 'dainty desirable trifles niay; 66; niade and -docorated at smtdl outlay, 'of ; timo - or >.-■ pooco/ Stencilled vork, for instanoo;' is made easy by the ; stencils which are to-bo bought, at small cost, Thoso who can design their own stcnoils art),."of course, most fortunate, sinco.' they oan give an individuality to their gifts, ,but tho exciuisito Japanese etonoils are to bo admired, valued as much and iirohahly admired still more.. With two twopenny, brushes, a tube of oil' paint, a very dainty stoncjlled"?et may bo'maae for.tho room of a'bacholorigirl, . For tho girl who has httle time to givo to present, •making,' thoso 'cnt-out ;■ Japaneso •.. stenollßi, of flowers,- birds, and •fishes, are a groat, boon.; ■, •. .Thein. auother, idea that may -.be comhiended us stutablo for tho girl who delights in wear- ' irig • pretty inconvenient.-jiocketloss. frocks, is;.tho • churoh handkorohiof, • These are small linen handkerchiefs, with'a tiny envelop, pocket. sewn oii:t>ne oorner, tho flap with 'th'ijtini!est'- buttDn.V V; The; pocket Bhould bo: made 'larg? enqugh-: td-hold'the sixpence;nedessary.for, \a long car ride or , for. the collection,. TheD/'sinco iinish' df n blouso is j. so;- very important,any i/.prctty ■ ; style in dainty neckwoar will be received with joy, for no ono caa have too many collars m lace, embroidery,- or ribbon, and the finish of tho collar 'itself affords still For ; 'r : in-' stance, thero aro all tho pretty fussy things I that-can bo nwdo of. ribbon , and buclcles and bows to give a touch of colour to a white, or i black and whito toilet.. If theso can bo. made i to match< tho/friend's favounto summor frpek I so'much the. better. If not. there are certain I 'colours that aro to bo usoful, ' I Theso aro sonic of the things that may bo i mafip for a- girl's dresser in linen, and decor-1 ated r - stenoiUlng. :or fcmbf oidery HrA'' pow-der-bag of embroidered linen over silk, the silk lining made -with: a.round stiff /base, the; linon.i ■in four; button-holed pieces, which aro caught i together at tho, corner; 1 or an embroidered i linen-bag 'in: which;' to ; slip a tin poivder-box. AriotHer /article', that ;might do ' fora man 'just asiwoll is a: sponge-bag of lmcn to cover n rnbbor limns, and tlua would: bo particularly i 'welcome to tho baohelov girl who has no placo •to hang ugly things, or. for tho. traveller. A man would probably also bp pleased to receive 'a workod-lmen, rubber-lined bag for shaving .soap and brush,' This should bo mado of coarso linen: with a bold design for embroidery or: ; stencUl ' - A '(jollar-bag. of' groy.- or buff v linen, ;mado i a 6tiif 'round' base, ;with ombmdory in rich shades qf or orange, eachv black, would bo quite .accepfablo,. and ;,so» would a... ne'oktio 1 case, the onds turned over to form a pocket, tho oaso lined with silk and stiffened with cardboard. A Space of ono and a half inches should bo left .lmstilTened in .tho ccrtitTO, whero the linen w folded, and a' band of' silk should be carriod across this to hold tho ties in placo. The case should. be clasped at the end by an clastic band. ■ ■ •■ " Cushion covors aro lilwaya useful, but" tho greatest care should bo. taken tg hiako them -of sotjio material and colour i that .wijl match tho stylo' 'df 'the'recipient's room. " Nothing' could bo - raoro trying than to receivo a carefully-, worked oushlon cover that clashed with tho :room -'furnishings:of .tho room: it-was dcsignod to adorn. , As for other articles, it may be, suggested ■that'ono .cannot go wrong m making a pretty bolt for.a young.girl, or a trim and handsome linen shopping-bag,';. or handkerchief-bag for-.ah .older woman.', This is the day of littlo lmiul--boEs. isbmo 'so:;stnaU : thi\t they; might almost bo called- finger-bags, :somo. of tnetn largo or cumbdrsomc.Vand .'with'- tlio'.aid "of'.eteucils. or- oni r : . broidery-, and ■,coarselinen in •; art vshades,' a clever wonwn can do wonders.