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■xuhiml anfl Pictorial BHEome feoHijiaaion. 
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I suppose many of the readers of The Cabinet 
Lave a number of steel engravings they would, be 
glad to find some pretty way of using. I use all of 
mine, and even fine wood engravings, to transfer to 
china or glass. There is no end of the pretty things 
I have made by this method, and as it is easy and 
pleasant work, only requiring careful fingering, I will 
give a description of the way I ornament china. I 
had an old square platter that was too good to throw 
away, but not good enough to use on the table. This 
was for ever in my way and an eyesore to me, but I 
have now transformed it into ‘‘ a tiling of beauty, a joy 
for ever.” The bottom of the dish I varnish with 
white varnish, allow this to become nearly dry, 
then lay the picture on it face down, carefully press¬ 
ing and rubbing smooth, as an air-bubble would 
ruin your work. I next moisten the paper with a 
sponge, alter the varnish has become perfectly dry. 
TV hen the picture has soaked enough I press a 
dry napkin over it to absorb the moisture, then rub 
carefully with my finger; the paper rolls off 
and leaves the picture on the varnished plate. This 
is the nicest part of the work, as the paper must 
come off evenly, but at the same time you must be 
careful not to rub a hole through the picture. If the 
paper doesn’t come off readily, and seems inclined to 
stick, moisten with a wet sponge ; if too damp and 
pulpy, dry with a napkin. When the picture can be 
distinctly seen, give a coat of white varnish. If you 
understand drawing, retouch with India-ink or cray¬ 
ons. The sloping sides of the platter had a bias 
strip of velvet glued on, and it was then put in a 
walnut recess frame. 
Soup and dinner-plates and saucers of stone-ware 
can be used in the same way. For wood the process 
is the same, but the last coat of varnish should be 
copal. Panels of hickory and holly are pretty, and 
can bo put to many uses—sides of bookcases, work- 
boxes, base-boards in the hall, medallions for 
chamber sets, and so on. I made transparencies for 
my hall by transferring pictures of saints and angels 
on panes of common glass, with a border of mediteval 
design ; these were painted in the transparent oil 
colors, the dress a deep blue and the ground in gold 
colors. They were much admired and well repaid 
me for the trouble I took to make them. 
I have this winter been making a sofa-pillow and 
stand-cover of cretonne work. This work is very 
effective, and I think no description of it has been 
given in The Cabinet. For the cretonne I went 
to a furnishing upholsterer’s shop, although the ma¬ 
terials can be had at large dry-goods stores. 
You will need three or four different pieces, a yard 
of each. Turk’s satin is prettier than cloth for the 
foundation 5 I use a half-yard square for each pillow. 
Cut your designs out of the cretonne with a very 
sharp pair of scissors; then spread the satin on a 
table, and carefully arrange your leaves, flowers, and 
buds in some pretty pattern to suit yourself. This 
is the hardest part of the work, as no direction can 
be given. I had a large bird standing on a half¬ 
wreath, at the bottom apple-blossoms, begonia-leaves, 
and forget-me-nots; the wreath on one side of blue 
morning-glories, with buds and flowers; on the 
other side an ivy wreath, with a buttei-fly just light¬ 
ing on the top. 
Be very careful in basting the cretonne on the 
satin not to gather or pucker it in the least; then go 
over the edge of the whole design with an even, 
light button-hole stitch of fine sewing-silk just match¬ 
ing the color of the leaf on which you are to work; 
cut out your basting-threads in tiny bits; lay the 
square face down on a flannel, cover with a damp 
i towel, and press with a moderately hot iron. I had 
an octagon table for which I made a pretty cover by 
this work. The background was a reddish-brown 
satin; the design a heavy wreath of shaded green 
leaves and ferns and coral-colored double fuchsias; 
this was stitched tightly on the table, a heavy fringe 
tacked on the edge with gimp and small-headed 
nails. 
I have a way of ornamenting with feathers which 
is showy and easy. My first experiment was a 
lounge-cover of quilted cherry-colored satin, a bor¬ 
der of feathers three inches wide on the edge, and 
small bunches, tied with black satin ribbon, fastened 
about six inches apart all over the cover. The border 
was made by taking a strip of cloth the right 
width, and gluing the feathers across it in rows, 
lapping each row enough to cover the glued part. A 
sofa-pillow of blue silk has a border of pheasant 
feathers. 
A screen for an ivy standing on the mantel was 
made of pasteboard, the border of peacock feathers, 
the centre filled in from the outside with white. 
I burn wood in the sitting-room during the cold 
days of autumn, and I tried for a long time to think 
of some easy way to make a pretty, and at the same 
time a convenient, wood-box. At last I had an 
“idea.” James was called on to saw me a board 
twenty-four inches long, but twelve wide, two pieces 
for the sides, in the form of a half-circle (the narrow 
ends are left open). These were put together, feet 
fastened on, and then stained with walnut stain. I 
steamed grape-vine until pliable, and made it into a 
loose braid of three strands. This made a border for 
the half-round side; the centre was filled in with a 
rustic pattern in grape-vine, and the whole given a 
coat of varnish, and behoi 1 a handsome black-walnut 
box. 
I have only one closet in the house, and I studied 
for a long time how to make a closet for my room. 
At last James was again called in, the we ll was mea¬ 
sured from the corner out a little less than a yard 
each way, elothes-liooks put up, and a stout wire 
fastened to the top of the wall; a curtain of chintz, 
with rings at the top to slide over the wire, and I 
found I had a closet that, if not large and hand¬ 
some, was immensely convenient, and which I would 
not do without for a good deal. 
There is a small chamber over the parlor I had no 
use for. This I turned into a clothes-closet. Clothes- 
liooks were fastened to the wall on two sides, shelves 
to the third side. Here I hang all the clothes not 
in daily use ; the shelves are for bandboxes, quilts, 
blankets, and comfortables, and the extra trunks and 
valises go into the corner. This makes the most 
convenient arrangement you could ask for. Don't 
hang your husband’s coat up by the collar; cut a 
round stick as long as the back of the coat is wide ; 
hang up by a stout string in the centre, and hang 
| the coat over it; this keeps the back in shape and 
prevents its being pulled out of shape. 
I have a cake I make in winter, when the liens 
won’t lay and the cows stop giving milk, and think it 
is a most delightful cake. It can be kept for a 
number of weeks after baiting, and still be moist and 
fresh. Take fat, salt pork, free from lean or rind, 
chopped so fine as to be like lard, one pound; pour 
boiling water on it, one-half pint; one pound of 
seeded and chopped raisins; citron shaved fine, one- 
quarter pound; two cups of sugar, one cup of mo¬ 
lasses, one teaspoonful of saleratus rubbed fine and 
put into the molasses ; mix all these together, and 
stir in sifted flour to make the consistency of com¬ 
mon cake mixture ; then stir in nutmegs and cloves, 
finely ground, one ounce each; cinnamon, fin®, two 
ounces. Bake slowly, trying with a sliver while 
baking ; when nothing adheres, it is done. 
Last fall my sister Kate, who doesn’t make over 
her clothes as I do, sent me a cashmere and an old 
black silk suit of hers, saying if I could do anything 
with them I was welcome to them. The cashmere 
was soiled, badly worn on the bottom of the flounce 
and skirt. I ripped the whole thing to pieces, and 
bought ten cents’ worth of soap-bark at an herb-store. 
This was boiled in a quart of hot water ; after steep¬ 
ing a while strained into a dish ; I brushed oil' the 
loose dust on the pieces of cashmere, and sponged 
each piece thoroughly, 
folding 
as I 
procee 
ded; I 
then ironed each piece on the wrong side with a hot 
iron. The cashmere was 
looked as good as new. 
nicely this way. Even 
a deep, fresh black, and 
. Grenadines are cleaned 
an occasional sponging of 
your dress (if you can’t rip it apart) and ironing on 
the wrong side will keep it looking nice. I cut off 
about two inches that was worn around the bottom, 
pieced it down at the top, added fresh braid, linings, 
bows of ribbon, worked over the button-holes. The 
silk I ripped apart in the same way, but boiled a 
couple of black kid gloves in the soap-bark water. 
The bottom had a side-plaited flounce. I ripped 
this apart, cut off the part next to the bottom, which 
was worn, sponged with bark-mixture, and to get out 
the plaits I had to take a hot iron, put a wet cloth 
over the flat side (I held the iron in my lap by put¬ 
ting it on a book), press the silk on the iron, brush¬ 
ing at the same time with a clothes-brush ; I suc¬ 
ceeded in getting out the marks of the plaits that 
way. The velvet trimming was steamed over the 
iron in the same way (except, of course, the brush¬ 
ing). This was made up with fresh trimmings, and I 
had two suits that every one thought were new, and 
cost me just $4. 
I always buy some pretty but not expensive poplin 
or alpaca goods, and make them up for house dresses. 
It does save street suits so much. Even a twenty- 
five cent gray alpaca, neatly made, with a lace ruffle 
at your neck and wrists, bright bows of ribbons, your 
hair nicely arranged, and perhaps a coquettish apron 
of lawn, with knots of ribbon on the pockets, will be 
as becoming as a silk, and Henry will think, as he 
sits opposite at the tea-table, that he has the sweetest, 
prettiest wife in the world. 
If you happen to spill ink on the marble table, 
take butter of antimony and oxalic acid, of each one 
ounce ; mix with rain-water ; stir in flour to make a 
paste; put it on the stain, and leave for several 
hours. Once will generally remove the stain. 
These hints have been given in a rambling man¬ 
ner, but I hope they may be of use to some young 
housekeeper. 
