3?(ib toadies’ Iflorai fenfiiuriet hr3 ^Pictorial (Home Companion. 
mtsfijolfr JHggwma$ + 
WINDOW WITH DOUBLE CURTAINS. 
The curtains and lambrequins shown in our illustra¬ 
tion are of figured damask—of cigar color—with plain 
damask, richly embroidered, for the lambrequin. The 
lace curtains are of costly point, with under shade of 
fine muslin and embroidery. 
The majority of people who have means will pur¬ 
chase them from some upholsterer, but there is a great 
body of families who will prefer to do the work them¬ 
selves, and save the large expense. 
To do this, first procure, of some one of the pretty 
woolen stuffs now to be bought for a comparatively 
small sfim, sufficient to make the curtains, reaching 
from the top of the window to the floor ; and should 
the window be small, better to measure far above it, 
which will give the impression of greater size; if the 
material is of double fold, one width on each side will 
be all-sufficient, and if the material is not unusually 
heavy, it might better be lined throughout, purchasing 
a bolt or two of colored cambric, and thus obtaining it 
much cheaper. Procure also a few yards of plain ma¬ 
terial, matching the ground of the color somewhat; 
this for the lambrequins and border to the curtains. 
Get also an entire piece (or two, perhaps,) of coarse 
Swiss muslin, or neat, small-figured Nottingham lace 
curtains. Now we have our materials, and will pro¬ 
ceed to make up the curtains ; but first, perhaps, we 
might better make the cornice, which is easily done by 
using carved ornamental pieces, first preparing a 
strip of wood, five inches wide, on which the ornaments 
are fastened. If desired particularly elegant, the wood 
and carvings may be ebonizcd and gilded; or if pre¬ 
ferred the entire work may be enameled and 
gilded. _ 
The under shade is made of Swiss, and is 
prettily finished with a fluted ruffle and gath¬ 
ered into long puffs from top to bottom. 
The curtain trim with a band of the plain 
material, on which large figures of black vel¬ 
veteen are fastened with application em¬ 
broidery, using gold-colored braid on the 
edge, or button-hole stitching of yellow silk. 
Instead of lace curtains, take a half width of 
Swiss muslin, trim the edge with fluted 
ruffles, and fasten on the inside of the heavy 
curtains. 
The effect is precisely the same as though 
the entire curtain now hung beneath, and, as 
will be seen, with far less expense. 
The lambrequin is u shaped,” as shown in 
the illustration, from the plain goods, and a 
design cut from black or other colored vel¬ 
veteen is embroidered in application work of 
chain or button-hole stitches, or edged with 
yellow braid. The lining is put in after this 
is done. Heavy woolen fringe finishes the 
lambrequin and curtains. Cords and tassels 
drape back the curtains on each side. 
lavs! though a home-made oue, consisting merely of a border, embroidered and finished with woolen fringe, 
box of proper size, with plain hoard head and foot- This cover may be of silk or any goods preferred, and 
is made to fit the frame, with a roll bolster fastened on 
the head-board ; a frame of half-circular form, placed 
on two brackets, is fastened against the wall, ten feet 
from the floor, in the centre of the side of the bedstead, 
and sustains the curtains and lambrequin of the canopy, 
the form of which is shown in the illustration. This 
frame should be sufficiently deep to extend across the 
bedstead for several feet. The curtains are held grace¬ 
fully hack by ornamented curtain-bands. 
Window with Double Curtains. 
BEDSTEAD WITH CANOPY. 
The charming effect given to the pretty 
bedstead presented in our illustration makes 
one willing to take some little trouble to 
produce such a result. Neither is it so diffi¬ 
cult a matter that any one need fear to un¬ 
dertake it. 
The bedstead itself is really a most simple affair, i 
and our model was made for the small sum of ten dol- 
Bedstead wtth Canopy. 
boards, are all that is necessary, as the entire wood¬ 
work is covered with a neat quilted rug, edged with a 
CHROMO PAINTING. 
BY MRS. E. B. GONZALES. 
Most ladies are fond of “ household elegancies,” but 
many have the mistaken idea that to obtain them one 
must spend a great deal of money, or be possessed of 
marvelous skill. But a little money and more perse¬ 
verance will accomplish wonders. People that are 
fond of pictures may have as many as they like— 
pretty ones, too—and at the same time cultivate their 
taste and utilize every engraving that falls into their 
hands. 
Get a carpenter to make a stretcher the desired size, 
(bookbinders’ pasteboard will do for a small picture); 
stretch some coarse, unbleached muslin over the frame; 
tack it firmly; great care should be taken to draw the 
muslin tightly, that dampness may not affect the pic¬ 
ture when completed. Make some flour paste; strain ; 
wet the muslin thoroughly; lay the engraving on a 
table; cover it smoothly with paste; mount on the 
stretcher; raise the ends alternately, and with a hair¬ 
brush press the air from under the picture. Dry 
twenty-four hours. Boil equal parts of linseed oil and 
j beeswax; cool in a cake; warm the wax slightly, and 
rub the picture until it is glazed. Run the fin¬ 
gers over the surface, that you may be positive 
that it is Yell covered. The following arti¬ 
cles are required for chromo-painting: Pal¬ 
ette and knife, (for these a piece of glass and 
a well-worn tea-knife may be substituted), 
artist’s brushes of various sizes, some spirits 
turpentine for cleaning purposes. If the 
paint becomes dry on the glasses, they may 
be readily cleaned by boiling in a solution of 
potash; put them into the liquid when cold. 
If care is taken to rub them often with a 
cloth wet with turpentine, the necessity for 
boiling will seldom occur. Macguilp is made 
of equal portions of mastic-varnish and tur¬ 
pentine, and strong English drying-oil, and is 
used for moistening colors when painting; 
standing in the sun for a few days improves it. 
In painting, commence at the top and paint 
downward. Lay the dar'k colors on that 
part of the picture most heavily shaded; the 
lighter any part of a picture may be, the 
more delicate must be the tint applied. The 
colors required ar'e silver-white, flake-white, 
Naples yellow, yellow ochre, king’s yellow, 
raw sienna, burnt sienna, Vandyke brown, 
ivory-black, vermilion, Prussian blue, ultra¬ 
marine, carmine, yellow lake, chrome yellow, 
three shades of chrome green, chrome orange. 
Carmine and vermilion mixed make an in¬ 
tense red. By mixing these colors any shade 
desired may be produced; for instance, car¬ 
mine, blue and white make purple. A lit¬ 
tle experience will teach the amateur how to 
modify shades. 
It is cheaper to buy black, white, and burnt sienna 
in pound cans, for obvious reasons. 
