AMERICAN 
April, 1909 
HOMES» AND "GARDENS 
149 
Burnt-wood collar box and string case made from a baking powder can 
gridiron, having first painted the gridiron with bronze, silver 
or gold paint. With ribbons to match the lining, the toaster 
makes a convenient and decorative holder. 
A woman who has an open mind for making use of rub- 
bish, will find the means for converting all sorts of unlikely 
things into useful articles. A unique play room was made 
for a baby out of an old wine basket. This was tied by the 
handle to the bedpost, so that if the child leaned over it did 
not tip over. He was too little to get out of it, but his arms 
were long enough to reach his toys when they fell on the 
floor outside of the basket. The mother, who did her own 
housework, found it invaluable, for if she left the room she 
knew the baby was perfectly safe. A soft little blanket 
was laid in the bottom and the gathered muslin with which 
the basket was lined could be laundered frequently, so that 
it was always kept fresh and dainty looking. A further im- 
provement would be to stain the basket a pretty shade of 
green, so as to hide the lettering, or a frill of cretonne could 
be used in preference. 
New bread trenchers can be put to a decorative use by 
An ironing table as a porch settee 
burning appropriate designs and using them on the plate 
rail in the dining-room. When carried out in the colors of 
the room or just in burnt tones, they may introduce a 
needed color. 
Interesting as it is to construct home-made articles for 
household decoration in this manner, it should not be for- 
gotten that all such work has its limitations. Home-made 
articles can not always compete with the products of the shop 
either in finish or in workmanlike qualities. In other words, 
they are apt to have a distinctly home-made character which 
sometimes detracts from their decorative value. This is 
less liable to be the case where such articles are made for 
one’s own use than when they are made for friends. Not 
always can the strongest affection sustain the test of home- 
made gifts which may very likely have no real or true place 
in another sitting-room or bedroom. But the ingenious girl 
or woman who has a handy knack at making things can 
often add objects of real use and beauty to her own room or 
home by exercising a little skill and taste. It would be a mis- 
take, too, for many persons to undertake work of this kind. 
Newspaper rack made from a broiler 
Clothes hamper made from a corncob basket 
Economic utilization of vestibule space 
