From Milady's Boudoir

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 27, 16 February 1937, Page 14

From Milady's Boudoir

Handkerchiet Gifts GIPT of handkerchiefs pure and simpli cannot be said to show mucli originality, bnt some presents made from handkeroliiefs are both individual and aceeptable. Handkerehief squares, in silk and georgette, dainty and well designed, may be nsed in carrying out many cbarming ideas. As^ centres for eushion eovers, tbey are very effeetive. To make them of tbe required size, surrounda of wide ribbon or g;alon may be added, bttt nowadays fancy bandkercbiefs are so large, and cusbions so small, » that usually no addition is necessary. Add a back square to barmonise witb the principal colotir' of the handkerehief and, if tbe latter is particularly flimsy and delicate, strengtben it witb a lining of Jap silk. As table oentres the printed squares produce very decorative effects. If an oblong is needed, two or even three squares may be joined by silk faggot stitching, and a fringe added at eitber end. Exeellent fringes for tbe purpose can be made by ravelling out a lengtb of silk or a number of ribbon ends in tbe cbief eolour of tbe handkerehief. For tbe dressing table that is fitted witb & glass top, a set of georgette squares form a charming "duchess set" to slip beneatb. tbe glass. The edges should be buttonhole stitched firmly in coloured silks, and further effect m&y be gained by embroidering tbe initials in a corner of each. A similar idea may be worked out for dinner mats. A couple of small bandkercbiefs, witb circles cut from tbe centres will make pretty cuffs, for an organdie or linen froek. For elbow-sleeVes a larger size will give deeper squares and longer ends* Cbeeked and striped silk handkerchiefs are nsed this year on bats. The squares are arranged so that two points of eacb fold back on the crown and the other two on the brim. A band of ribbon tied round tbe crown bolds tbem in position and tbe effect is that of a very light and pretty ruffle. Summer Memories. Sea-shell , motifs. are introduced in fabraes for curtains and covers. Lampshades and even table cbina are painted witb shell designs. Patterns with a nautical air, cable, sbell, ship or fisb designs, are particularly suitable for bathrOom curtains. * « • ' « Quilting is one of tbe most popular forms of faney needlework nowadays and quilted botwater bottle covers are among tbe favourite article on wbicb fasbionable needlewomen work. Tbe craze for these covers began when tbe Duchess of Gloucester bad several included in ber trousseau, made in pastel-coloured satin to barmonise with diffe.rent negligee' sets. A new bot-water bottle cover, sbaped like a eushion, is square and padded. Tbe top of the bottle is concealed in one side. For tbe quilting, old Englisb designs, many of tbem copied from ancient tapestries and paintings, are being a^ great deal used. American visitors in particular have adopted these designs. America is going "all out" at tbe moment for tbe. "English style" in their bomes and personal beiongings. • • • • A piece of really modern embroidery, Kowever, for tbe adornment of your clotbes, is a Cairn terrier, worked, preferably, in metallic tbread* He is especially smart in gold tbread embroidered on tbe ends of a taffeta scarf in some gay colour. Gloves in All Colours. Colours of gloves are taking a more adventurous turn, and glove firms are offering as many as 20 different sbades, including tomato * red, tango, mustard yellow and light greens and bright blues. Often tbe gloves are part of a set of accessories, sucb as handbag, scarf and button-hole, so that tbe trouble of "match-ing-up" is eliminated. •. • jp * "Wax fruit beneatH a glass Kood giveg a fasbionable Yictorian touch to many modern rooms, but many women will prefer tbe modernised version wbicb is sbown in glass fruit, peaches, pears and grapes, piled on angular disbes of clouded glass and tbe wbole reflected on a stand of mirror glass. • • • • Salt must be always bandy in tbe Mfcben. The'latest salt container is of colourful pottery, large enough to keep itself in evidence and of a convenient sbape to grip. It operates „by the pressure of a knob on top instead of tbe usual sprinkler, and as there are no air holes, tbe salt is saved from becoming damp with steam. # » • * Wbat is tbe most sensible wedding present bearing in mind that, as a rule so many people make tbe same kind of gift? An enterprising person bas been conducting a symposium on tbe subject and reports tbat one cannot go far wrong in giving a clock. It seems tbat not many people think of giving salad-bowls and tbat too many send asb-trays. # * # * Nowadays wben musie may be beard by switching on a wireless set it is said tbat fewer people take tbe trouble to learn to play their own music. This state of affairs is changing and signs indicate that tbe "piano-playing daugbter" is coming into her own again. A typjcal form of Victorian entertainment, musical evenings is being revived also. * • «S '• The Duchess of York, who is recognised as tbe most musical member of tbe royal family, has done much to set tbe fasbion again. Princess Margaret Rose is baving piano lessons, and is reported to be making really good progressThis part of ber education is to receive still more attention now tbat sbe is six years old. * # =» # Moss is sometimes used to make bulb bowls more pleasing to tbe eye, but I have beard grass gives an even better effect. Grass seed sown thickly soon produces a growtb of fine grass tbat makes an excellent eovering for Jhe fibre or earQv