Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 567, 21 January 1929, Page 5

Feminine Interests

A HOME-MADE RUG

FROM OLD FELT HATS I took out of the cupboard three old, i light-weight felt hats—one pink, one blue, one green—and gave them a good shake. I wanted a rug to go under my dressing table. There were some nice big pieces of plain grey floor-felt left over from carpet surrounds, and I decided to try my hand at making the rug. The grey felt formed the foundation, on to which I meant to applique a design of flowers cut from the old hats, when they had been cleaned and pressed flat. X wanted my rug to be oval in shape and about 23 by 24 inches in size. First, I cut the pattern in thick brown paper, and this, pinned to the grey felt, make the shaping easy. Pelt does not fray, fortunately, so no edges had to be turned in. The next thing was to design the decorative work, and this I did in white chalk upon the brown paper pattern, to get an idea of spacing and size. The design was very simple; four tall standing hollyhocks behind a wide spaced fence. A running stitch in black wool would hold the flowers in place and add to the decorative effect. Flowers, leaves, stems and fence were cut from stiff paper to be used as patterns. The open fence I made of -black felt, tacking it into place first with white thread, and then arranging the hollyhocks so that their stems showed below it as well as above. Two of the hollyhocks were pink; the other two were blue; leaves and stalks were green. Fine black wool was used for veining the leaves and for the running stitches, and having plenty of black felt, I bordered the rug with this. An oval footstool, made in the same way and stuffed with sawdust, completed a really charming set. To make the rug more serviceable it could be lined at the back with hessian

To greatly improve the flavour of gingerbread, ‘mix the ingredients with coffee instead of water.

ALAS! MY POOR BROTHER!

Though 1 have never shared the sexwar ferocity of those grim amazons whose one desire is to humiliate man, I agree that a gentle chastening occasionally is good for the spiritual welfare of Mr. Adam. For that reason only, and not because I am really bad-hearted, my soul rejoices, and is

exceedingly glad, about the latest news from Paris.

Paris is now trying desperately, not content with its prestige in feminine fashions, to overthrow London’s fame as the arbiter of men’s tailoring. This may be nothing more than retaliation for London’s repeated efforts to rob the Rue de la Paix of its established renown as the last word in everything pertaining to women’s dress. It is not the cause, but the possible consequence, that interests me. If only the Parisian tailors can pull off this coup, and definitely dominate masculine modes as their sisters the modistes have the feminine ones, what a sweet revenge we women shall enjoy! Mr. Adam lias never ceased to exercise his satire at our expense over our weak subservience to Parismade frocks and hats. Soon it may be his turn to accept meekly what the Paris ataliers send him, and then won’t we be able to pull his leg! Because the Parisian domination of us feeble-minded females was at least, as even Mr. Adam himself has from time to time been forced to admit, an artistic and charming one. But, oh, my sisters, have you ever observed the style of the Paris men’s tailoring? And can you picture our men masquerading in this sort of apparel? Yet they will have to, if Paris gets the same cinch on Saville Row that the Rue de la Paix has on Bond Street. And the result will be better than a pantomime. We may even live to see highly conventional Uncle George in brown boots and white spats, not to mention those dinky little sideboard whiskers that are all the go on the boulevards, and almost an essential part of the right Parisian tailoring. If that day dawns, my dears, let us remember our own sufferings, and, as we are strong, be merciful. Even the recollection of the things Mr. Adam has said about our post-war kuees must not prompt us to retaliate by pretending to play noughts-and-crosses on his latest Paris waistcoat. J.H.

CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Children require a certain amount of sugar, but many mothers hesitate to give them too many sweets for fear of ill-effects. By producing the homemade variety, this fear can be put aside, and you will find chocolate caramels a welcome change from the usual toffee. Dissolve a pound of loaf sugar in half a pint of milk, add half a pint of cream, and bring slowly to boiling point. Dissolve three ounces of grated vanilla chocolate in the smallest quantity of hot water, and add to the syrup. Boil gently, until a little dropped into cold water at once hardens and snaps. Pour into a wellbuttered tin. When almost cold, mark into squares with a buttered knife, and when quite cold separate the pieces and wrap in waxed paper for storing.