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HINTS FOR HOME ADORNMENT. 
Although it would seem that the subject of home 
adornment must he almost exhausted, yet I have sev¬ 
eral original devices which have been greatly admired. 
A CORNER BRACKET. 
Procure the pattern of any carved black walnut de¬ 
sign you choose. 
Mine is the grape 
leaf, and a simple 
design is best for 
the first trial. Cut 
the entire pattern 
out of stiff brown 
pasteboard, one 
for each side, as 
though it were 
the walnut. Make 
of pine, or some 
other soft wood, 
two strips about 
an inch wide and 
as long as the 
pattern. Bevel 
two edges of these 
together to fit the 
corner, and fasten 
two other strips 
at right angles to 
these, by which 
the shelf must be 
supported. Carve 
the edges of these 
in simple curves 
to imitate grape¬ 
vines, and paint 
brown. Tack 
the pasteboard to 
the back of these 
and you are ready 
for the artistic 
part of the job. 
Take thick pieces 
of pine bark (if 
just cut from the 
tree it will b e 
easier worked), 
and with a case- 
knife split them 
to a regularthick¬ 
ness, similar to 
that of the wal¬ 
nut you are to 
imitate. Mark a 
portion of your 
pasteboard foun¬ 
dation on the bark 
and with a pen¬ 
knife or fret saw, 
carve the bark as 
near like the wal¬ 
nut as possible. 
Of course the 
piece will be 
small, but con¬ 
tinue this process, 
making each piece 
to fit the preced¬ 
ing, taking care 
to make the joints 
where the shading comes in the walnut. Have 
ready a needle and brown or black thread, and as 
you complete the pieces, sew them to the paste¬ 
board where they belong. Press slow and steadily 
and you will find the needle will go through half an 
inch of bark very readily. 
You will soon discover that the complete affair will 
be almost equal to a genuine walnut bracket. When 
finished, varnish with copal, and place in a rather 
shaded corner, and no one will ever discover the trick. 
Mm 
H 
HH 
Love in Spanish. 
Edging and background for spool whatnots, and vari¬ 
ous other devices may be executed in the same way. 
PICTURE FRAMES. 
Leaves and flowers can also be carved of the bark 
and used for various decorative purposes. I have a 
diamond-shaped frame with a circular flower at each 
corner, with a long notched leaf on each side of the 
flower. The points of the leaves almost meet on the 
sides of the frames, which are about two inches wide, 
and are filled in with the scales of pine cones, or the 
folded paper 
points, so often 
alluded to, may 
be used with sim¬ 
ilar effect. The 
scales are first 
sewed around the 
edges of the 
pasteboard foun¬ 
dation, and filled 
in towards the 
centre, leaving 
space for the 
carved leaves and 
flowers, which are 
also sewed on, 
and the whole 
varnished with 
copal, or if you 
desire a black 
frame, with Ja¬ 
pan varnish. 
Oval frames 
are made with a 
continuous row of 
leaves and flowers 
through the cen¬ 
tre, or clustered 
groups, just as 
fancy dictates. 
A small oval 
photograph frame 
has a founda¬ 
tion of paste¬ 
board wrapped 
with pale green 
moss, with over¬ 
lapping row of the 
beautifully sha¬ 
ded, shell - like 
lichens, through 
the centre, leav¬ 
ing an edge of the 
moss on each side. 
Another pretty 
photograph frame 
is made by taking- 
some of the upper 
joints of broom- 
corn, uniform size, 
cut in suitable 
lengths, and split 
in halves so they 
will lie flat. Lay 
three side by side 
for the width of 
the frame, and 
cross at the cor¬ 
ners as directed 
. for straw frames. 
Fasten a carved 
leaf or flower of 
bark on the cor¬ 
ners, and varnish with Japan. When it is dry, 
arrange a border of two bright yellow straws around 
the inner edge to imitate a gilt band. 
Mrs. M. C. McCurdy. 
smAW 
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