322 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



August, 1 910 



copper and trimmed with green beads are very effective. A 

 piece of isinglass slipped inside each panel will prevent the 

 flame from discoloring the metal. The lamp shown in the 

 illustration is one of a group of four; they are more effec- 

 tive in groups than when used separately, though as single 

 side lamps they also look very well. 



One of the photographs shows a very easy method of 

 beautifying an ordinary gas drop-light. The requirements 

 are sea shells of the semi-transparent yellow and pink va- 

 riety found upon the neighboring shores of Long Island 

 and Connecticut, a bit of wire and some cord. 



Two holes are made with an awl in the bottom of each 

 shell about Yx inch apart, then these are strung back to 

 back, alternately, one facing forward and one backward. 

 Start with the darker one and grade to lighter colors to- 

 ward the top — this gives a dainty flower-like effect. The 

 strands should be from eight to ten inches long; twenty 



strands are required. Leave two or three inches of string 

 on each strand for use in fastening. 



Stretch a piece of copper wire, about ten inches long, till 

 straight, then tie all the strands upon this wire, leaving 

 about Yz inch length of cord between the last shell and the 

 place of tying. Unscrew the glass globe and place a strip 

 of asbestos around the top ring of the globe. Over this 

 pass the wire and fasten the ends securely together. The 

 asbestos prevents the cord from burning. If the lamp is 

 to be used very frequently, I would suggest that the shells 

 be strung upon very fine brass, or copper wire, as the heat is 

 apt to make the cord tender. 



Arrange the strands evenly around the globe and then 

 screw the globe into the crown. When lighted this gives as 

 dainty an effect as could be desired, obtained with almost 

 no expenditure and very little work. As side lights, or in 

 groups, these lights are equally effective. 



Making Plumes Out of Crepe Paper 



By Ethel Jones 



HE pre-eminence of the feather for the trim- 

 ming of a hat this year is unquestioned, 

 and since the woman of fashion must 

 crown her head with long and undeniably 

 expensive willow plumes, a substitute for 

 this expensive plumage has been created. 

 The willow plume, which is one of the en- 

 vied luxuries of the woman with a well-filled purse, has 

 hitherto come from the ostrich farms of the West, and is 

 produced by weary hours of labor upon the part of the 

 workers who tie the multitudinous pieces together to pro- 

 duce the willowy effect. By this new invention the willow 

 plume has been counterfeited so cleverly that it is difficult 

 to detect its spuriousness, except by the closest inspection. 

 This artificial plume has already gained some standing 

 among those who take part in plays, or assist in open air 

 fetes or sit in far removed corners of boxes at the theater 

 or opera, and while conscious of the imitation of their head 

 ornament, are secure in the fact that the artificial feather 

 will escape detection. 



Whether one may want to masquerade as the wearer of 

 an unreal willow plume in far-off corners of the opera box 

 or whether one may want to grace a garden party with a 



paper hat and plume, the process of making the feathery 

 thing is interesting in itself, and so relatively inexpensive 

 and so undeniably attractive, that the woman with nimble 

 fingers might find its construction well worth the trouble it 

 takes to make it. 



To begin the operation it will be necessary to purchase 

 two rolls of crepe paper, and then secure a pair of scissors, 

 a fairly thick knitting needle, some long, flexible pieces of 

 wire, some stout thread, and a coarse needle. 



One roll of the paper is cut in two equal parts, to make 

 the strips for each side of the plume. With the scissors 

 pointed to the double edge of the folds, which have been 

 carefully basted to make them secure, the strips of the 

 plumes are cut. These strips are about the size of the in- 

 dividual pieces of the real willow. Each strip should be, 

 from the basted edge to the end, about ten inches long, be- 

 fore being curled, and both sides of the halved paper should 

 be as nearly of the same length as possible. 



The curling process of the individual strips is most 

 tedious, the completed feather taking about three hours to 

 make. After both sides of the ten inches have been made 

 the knitting needle is called into service for the purpose of 

 curling the strips. One by one each strip of the colored 



.»*■ « 



Cutting the crepe paper 



Showing how the ends of the crepe paper 

 are fastened 



Showing how to curl the paper properly 



