Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 908, 27 February 1930, Page 5

Feminine Interests

Hints About To rto ise -S hell

PRESERVE ITS BRIGHTNESS To preserve the brightness of tor-toise-shell hair brushes and trinket sets, rub on a little tomato juice and polish with a clean, soft cloth. Treated in this way, the shell will not become dull nearly so readily. To restore the lustre of tortoiseshell that is constantly in use breathe on the articles for a few moments, and then rub them gently with the palm of the hand previously washed in hot water. To erase scratches from tortoiseshell, rub the marks with a soft rag and a little rouge-powder, and polish with a leather and a few drops of sweet oil. Tortoise-shell that seems to be losing its colour may be given a brilliant and lasting polish by rubbing with a little sweet oil on a swab of cotton wool, wiping with a clean pad and finally polishing with washleather. If the shell be broken, gently heat some Canada balsam in a saucer, apply a little to the surface to be joined, clamp the parts together with twine or fine wire, and leave two or three days to set. When the clamp is released the excess balsam may be removed with a sharp knife. Tortoise-shell articles should never be exposed to heat of any kiifd, or the shell will soften and warp and, although it may be straightened, it will not be so strong and lustrous as before.

EMBROIDERING THE HERBACEOUS BORDER

The embroideries of the day enable even the least gifted women to develop schemes which possess a# originality that is missing from stitcheries of greater technical excellence. Some delightful decorations are being worked in wool embroideries to suggest a colourful herbaceous border. These are so simple to carry out that you have only to draft on paper a rough idea of the various flowers in their relative sizes, and then transfer them to the material. You will want two dozen small skeins of thin wools in various colours. These cost ljd a skein, so the expense is not ruinous. Start with a child’s linen frock. A narrow herbaceous border might spring from the hem, with perhaps a tall hollyhock at each side seam to give variety to lowlier plants. Sketch in the stems and some broad green leaves, and work the little buds and the open flowers in loose buttonhole stitch. Each stem should bear flowers of a different hue, yellows, pinks, reds and purples all entering in. Soloman’s Seals, phlox, Sweet William and the rest of the colourful bunch are quickly embroidered in appropriate shades, while buttondaisies may well provide the ground work. Leaf stitch, blanket stitch and satin stitch represent all the stitches that need to be included, but chain-stitch may be used if the wools are not too thick.

FRINGES ARE FASHIONABLE

IN THE FURNISHING SCHEME If you are making your own detains or cushion-covers, you may achieve quite a professional effect by adding furnishing fringe as trimming. These fringes, which largely take the place of metal galon, are made in two forms; one consisting of a series of small loops and the other of a narrow line of cut threads. The newest cushions have no elaborate trimmings. They are, for the most part, made of good velvet 01 brocade, and rely on the looped fringe, sewn over the seams, for their decoration. 'Sometimes this matches the ground of the material but more often it is in a soft beige shade which seems to “go” with everything. Looped fringe is used also on upholstered chairs, round the cushions and to outline the seams of the fitted covers. Thus is a commonplace chair lifted into the realm of the’ distinguished. As for the curtains and their pelmet., a fringe of the ordinary flat variety does great work in giving them an “air.” A contrast in colour is usually preferable here. Curtains of mulberry tone are admirable when outlined with sapphire blue fringe not more than half an inch in width, and cerise curtains look equally effective with apple-green edgings. If you have enough material £o make a spread for the divan, use the same fringe to border it.

FILING STOCKINGS

Everything is systematised nowadays, everything possible indexed, cross-indexed and filed. So what about trying it on one’s wardrobe? To begin with, why not fie one s stockings? There is a cretonne-covered tray to fit in a drawer which will answer excellently for a filing cabinet. Inside it is lined with gold, paper, and provided, at intervals, with hinged flaps which pull up to divide the stockings from one another, i If you are a real filing fiend, per--1 haps you will even insist on cross--1 references. “Camel, see also Mist, and other such legends, testifying to the extraordinary names bestowed on stocking-shades nowadays, would make amusing reading. At any rate, this tray is an ingenious and useful offering to the modern god of Haste.

BE CONSERVATIVE

Sometimes nothing seems to happen in the mode for quite a time it has a placid period of gentle change. Slight variations of colour and differences of line. A new scarf, a flower, a handkerchief are added or subtracted, and that seems to be all. And then, suddenly, women find that almost without their knowing it they have been swung into a new mode. That is what happened this season. It may perhaps be thrilling to be launched into a new and adventurous sea of fashion, but it is sometimes a little disconcerting. Dresses that still have a certain amount of wear in them become almost useless, and the smart woman has to take care to chai't her course wisely, choosing only the best of what is offered. When there is such a bewildering variety of styles to choose from, and with the drastic change from the straight to the moulded figure, she must be sure to avoid anything outre or startling. Her own individuality is of the utmost importance, and she must take care not to wear anything out of keeping with her personality.