ODDS AND ENDS OF WORK.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2402, 14 December 1881, Page 4

ODDS AND ENDS OF WORK.

. [From the V Queen.”] f dNow that! so many fancy bazaars are announced for the coming summer and autumn, »nd iso:many busy bands at work, a few suggestions for novelties and saleable articles may adt.oome amiss. After the request for contributions of'work has been received from friends, tbe thought invariably occurs, “ What can 1 make that is novel and attractive ?’’ Hi is to answer' this thought that 1 have wentared to write down the following items, i .will begin with the new tennis aprons of colored sateen covered with Madras muslin. They are nearly a yard square, and are usually made with one corner forming the bib, and a hand round the waist outside. Two corners have ribbons sewn on, and‘these ribbons tie ■k the: back of the skirt. Fink, blue, and mauve sure the most fashionable colors, and there are bows of shaded ribbon on the two pockets, and a frill of oreitm-colored lace all round. The Madras muslin is two yards wide, so two aprons can be got out of one yard, or three '■mailer ones! There are other aprons made of plain colored foulard, with two flounces of Chaded Surah, and a spray of flowers worked or painted to one side of the plain part. And .there are satin sheeting and crash ones, with fainted flowers. On crash, red twill is out out in the form of large poppies, appliqued with red ingrained cotton, and a centre formed by raised knots of crewels. The leaves are of crewels, also the stalks. On white and dark blue these twill poppies are very effective. The last novelty is to arrange a few artificial poppies, as a spray or border ; fasten them to tbe crash, or cream, or old gold satin sheeting, remove some of the petals so that the flower lies tolerably flat, and then applique them with red silk, in long stitches, Tike veins. The stalks are done in silks, and ■the leaves in crewels, veined with silks. Tennis pouches are arranged in the same way, also some of the fashionable now sachets for bolding night dresses, and for the brushes on a toilet table. Sunflowers or brown or peacock satin sheeting, and stamped plush, can be arranged in the same way. Handsome and most effective bordering for ■moll tables, mantel valances, and curtains are ornamented in this way. Sometimes the leaves are of cloth or scraps of velvet, cut oat, laid on, and applique with silk. Common carpenters’ baskets aro ornamented in this way. They aro lined with colored satin or pompadour sateen, the handles covered with the same, and round the edge outside a broad band of brocaded plush or satin sheeting ; with these artificial sunflowers or poppies appliqued as I have described. Circular hand ■oreens of straw, which oaa be had at 4i each now, aro covered with a broad scarf lace, standing out beyond the edge all round, gathered in full in tbe centre, and finished off with a pretty spray of artificial maidenhair, leaves, and flowers. The handles ere fastened together and hidden by a ribbon twisted round, with a dainty bow at each end. Ono yard of lace, about inches wide, covers each, and a yard of ribbon is also required. Larger screens aro also used, and have only one large bow of shaded ribbon tying tbe handled together, and a cluster of artificial flowers in tbe centre. Others aro covered with plain or shaded silk, with a lace edging, and a cluster of fruit in the centre, I can assure anyone making these hand screens that for a moderate outlay a most attractive ■tall could be furnished with only hand screens of several varieties, end wall baskets decorated in the same way. The hand screens or fans in colored silk or lace are much used now by ladies in tbe evening, as well as fire •hades at afternoon teas in the cold days. They are also pretty ornaments to a mantelshelf. The wall baskets have two bows of ribbon on them, ono placed in the centre of tbe flat port that is fastened to the wall, and the other on the projecting part. This last bow is large, and fuller than the other, and has a cluster of fruit or flowers in the centre. Then the small square baskets tiwfc are sent by post filled with fresh

flower*, and that can be had for a few pence, can bo decorated on the top in the same way, and bo filled inside with cottons, tape*,button*, &c., or with sweet* or small biscuits. Little remnant* of plain or shaded ribbon can be cut into length* of 7in or Sin long, and 4in to Sin wide, edged at each end with lace, gathered up, with one or two rows of ■ gauging ” in the centre, and converted into pretty ornaments for the front of the dress. Muslin can be made up in the same way, and scraps of colored sateen. Other scraps can bo mounted over double pieces of cardboard cut into the form of a miniature fan, then joined together to hold pins. The*e_ fans can bo of various sizes, and the divisions aro marked by gold or colored silk. A small floral design can be worked or painted on. The pins are put in all round the edge. Other pincushions of old-gold satin, mounted in the same way over cardboard, pa the shape of Maltese crosses, with a small one worked in red silk in the centre, and pins put in all round, are also novelties. A lovely baby’s quilt can be made of a piece of blue, pink, or white satin sheeting, with sprays worked at intervals of forget-me-nots, and leaves in arrasene, the stalks being apparently tied with a tiny bow of satin ribbon sewn on ; lace round the edge. Another quilt can be arranged of alternate stripes of plain and quilted blue satin, all in one piece, with: pieces of white cashmere, embroidered with arrasene or silks, of rosebuds and leaves, laid,down the plain stripes, each cashmere piece about 4in wide. A perambulator cover of alternate stripes of brown Holland and red or navy blue twill, with a punning pattern worked in cream-coloured flourishing thread on the twill, and edged all round with the new rod and blue .Russian coarse lace, has a very pretty effect. White black, or red cotton parasols, as well as better silk and satin ones, can be decorated with a floral design, painted in oils. Splash curtains of American cloth, painted, and bound with a fancy cotton gimp binding. The large cream paper fans can bo made very attractive with a hunting scene, or some other design, etched on in pen and ink ; and birthday cards hand painted, are much in request.