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ELEGANCIES. 
Have the readers of The Cabinet become aware 
that the old fashioned crewel embroidery has been 
revived ? This I know will delight many ladies, 
for in it we have something permanent and most de¬ 
sirable. Like the work of our grandmothers, it can 
be handed down to another gen¬ 
eration. The crewel has much 
strength and tbe colors unfad¬ 
ing. Linen canvas is the best 
material for the foundation. By 
using it the article can be 
washed when soiled, and yet is 
as fresh as at first. The de¬ 
signs can be embroidered in the 
shades of one color, or colors 
used to carry out the imitation 
of the pattern. Stamping, of 
course, is necessary, and also 
some knowledge of embroidery 
stitches. Old chairs can thus 
be renewed and again become 
beautiful. Lambrequins for 
window, mantel, or bracket are 
readily made. Ottomans, toilet 
sets, tidies, etc. are not only 
pretty, but serviceable. Little 
children’s suits look well made 
of brown linen and embroidered 
in the darker shades of crewel. 
Unbleached hose can be pur¬ 
chased and embroidered to 
match the dress. 
Spatter-work is also quite at 
home, when arranged properly 
on tidies, splashers, etc. All 
ladies are supposed to know the 
secrets of the spattering pro¬ 
cess, and certainly all, if dis¬ 
posed to try, can succeed. 
Splashers or wall-protectors can 
be made in no prettier manner 
than by using white Swiss or 
tarletan, with a design spattered 
on. A cross, anchor, wreath of 
leaves, animals, birds, almost 
anything, when surrounded by 
delicate ferns or grasses, will 
present a richness not thought 
of. Pink the edges and place 
bows of delicate ribbon in the 
corners. Yarious colored inks 
or anniline dyes can be used. 
Lambrequins and table-covers 
are cheaply made, using white 
Canton flannel and spatter-work. 
No mention, I believe, has been made in The 
Cabinet of pottery ornamentation. This being at 
present a fashionable pastime, it is also a most pleas¬ 
ing work. The vessels to be ornamented are copies 
of antique pottery. We buy the clay imitations, 
paint them black, and choose such pictures as may 
please us from among the myriads found in our 
stores—Grecian, Chinese, and mythological figures 
and the greatest variety of flowers, heads, birds, etc. 
After the paint is dry, paste the pictures on with a 
thin mixture of flour and water, and then varnish. 
I use as paint a preparation made for renewing iron 
mantels. This has the paint and varnish combined, 
and at once my vessel is bright and glossy. I turn 
place my pictures, and all is complete. Many of the 
Toilet-mats made in this way are pleasing to the eye, 
and can be freshened every day by a gentle rub with 
a wet cloth. They will be new and pretty until you 
will want some other style. 
To make a beautiful cross, procure a white pine 
cross, secured in a base representing three steps, as 
it were, and cover neatly with double white wax, as 
we do in wax work. Boil a white horn, which any 
meat-market can furnish, for six hours. Scrape with 
a piece of glass into shavings, allowing them to fall 
on the cross. Secure the first of them by pressing 
into the wax, thus forming a 
foundation for the remainder. 
Continue the scraping until the 
cross is almost concealed be¬ 
neath (he trailing tendrils. 
This, placed on a mantel or 
bracket, is quite imposing, es¬ 
pecially if a background rich 
in color can be arranged for it. 
Another lovely cross was made 
in the rustic for a church orna¬ 
ment, to serve during the winter 
montbs. A limb covered with 
white lichens was made into the 
form of a cross, with the arms 
slanting, nicely proportioned, 
and firmly secured in a base. 
The base was then covered with 
fern moss, and at the foot of 
the cross were arranged pressed 
ferns, delicate grasses, and the 
red berries of the Indian turnip. 
A few small shells were added, 
and a little humming-bird nest¬ 
ling in the midst. Around the 
arms was wound an artificial 
holly wreath and berries. 
Designs in Eastlake Styles fob Paber Hangings. 
smaller specimens can be used as match-safes, taper- 
holders, jewel-caskets, or flower-vases. 
Good table or stand-covers are made of white 
marbled oil-cloth, the edges pinked and corners 
and sides ornamented with decalcomania pictures. 
Varnish the pictures, to make impervious to water. 
CARD RECEIVER. 
It was originally a large rus¬ 
tic basket which I kept flowers 
in last summer. Cleaned it up 
a few weeks ago. The basket 
is 48 inches around the top and 
is an oval shape. The bottom 
is 28 inches around. It slopes 
from the top to the bottom. It 
is 10 inches deep and 44 inches 
from the top of the handle to the 
floor. Well, I have a photo of 
it when I used it for flowers, 
which I will send you. Perhaps 
you can form a clearer idea by 
looking at that. That is the 
way it loked before I decorated 
it with moss and leaves and 
ferns. I put moss on which 
was brought from California. 
Moss gathered from off of rails 
and limbs of beech trees will 
answer the same purpose. Take 
glue (and if you dampen the 
moss a little it will all come out 
in its right shape) and dip it in, 
and stick it on the basket. I 
covered my basket all over with 
moss; and then I took pressed 
autumn-leaves, moss, and fern 
and covered the handle. I 
lined it with pink satin. It took just a yard, worth 
90 cents. I made a very neat border around the top 
with white silk lace, worth 15 cents a yard. It makes 
a very handsome Card Receiver. Every person who 
sees it thinks it perfectly splendid. 
Mrs. W. D. Adams. 
Laurel, Ind. 
