CIGAR BOXES UTILIZED AS FLOWERPOT COVERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5197, 17 November 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)

CIGAR BOXES UTILIZED AS FLOWERPOT COVERS.

(From Harper's Bazaar.) The ladies of Paris and other Continental cities have been using a pretty expedient for encircling red flower pots, which is so simple and yet effective as an ornament that our readers will doubtless be gratified to learn the manner of changing a homely wooden box into a thing of beauty. The form of the box best adapted to covering a flower-pot is the small square style, though the long flag variety makes a beautiful work or toilette box, if neatly lined with paper, velveteenj of silk. If the box is not square, remove one end, and, | after sawing off the sides and bottom, fasten it again iu proper position. This done, rub the unpolished mahogany (of which these boxes are made) with a wet cloth covered with pulverised pumice stone, and either oil or varnish the smooth surface. If the latter, finish up by repeatedly varnishing, drying, and rubbing off with the pumice stone, rinsing well after each application of the powder. This will give a fine polish to the wood, and render the surface as close and solid as ebony, also bringing .out the beautiful “ curls” and rich tints of the wood, and forming a moat agreeable background for the peculiar method of decoration employed which we are about to describe. The wood prepared proceed, to cover the corners and bind the upper edges with strips of gold paper, pinked ■ put on the side folded over upon the outer surface. Next mark out several lines along the edges (preserving, the square), aud within these design geometric patterns or any straight-lined figures, and with gimlets of two sizes and an awl bore holes through the box, using the largest gimlet where the zephyr to be used in working requires to be put through frequently. For instance, in the centre of each side a large hole may be bored, then around it six or, eight of the next size, one inch distant and equidistant from each other ; aud two inches above, and at the sides, bore six awl-holes (making three, clusters), aud thus forming a couventionallookiug flower, the stem of which is made by boring an awl-hole three inches from the central one at the bottom, adding three more ®u each side, about midway of the stem, and working both stem and these rays with a dark green wool. The central flower, or figure rather, may be enclosed iu a ; square by merely boring small holes at four points an inch or two from the extreme edges : then make other holes around the corners of this square, which may have large holes along the entire line equidistant—one, perhaps, at each corner, another at the centre of each side and end, and one or two between these, with small awl-holes surrounding each one in a semicircle. In this manner a great variety of rectilinear patterns may be formed, all others, of course, being impossible. By selecting the colors with judgment, and arranging them with taste, admirable effects may be produced. By using small gilt, steel, or other ornamental buttons to cover the large holes after working them, an added brilliancy is imparted, though some prefer small tufts of the wool, made in the same manner as the wooden balls. A row of small gilt-headed tacks along the edges, gilt ball buttons on the upper corners, and larger ones on the bottom to serve as feet, give a handsome finish to these extremely ornamental cases. By threading a large darning or zephyrworking needle with double Berliu-wool, double and single zephyr, the embroidery is easily accomplished. A little coarse: embroidery silk will be found a beautiful addition, by drawing it through on each side of a strand of wool. These boxes or cases form most elegant “ hanging baskets” by screwing our picture screws in the upper corners, through which the suspension cords or chains are passed, then looping cords in festoons around the bottom, bathing them together iu the cefitre, about eight or ten inches from the bottom, aud tying with loops aud tassels, or clusters of woollen balls.