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HOMES OF TASTE. 
Suggestions to Amateurs. 
No. 2. 
Wlio does not lo ve to see pretty things about him in 
the place he calls “home.” Walls covered with 
pictures, shelves filled with hooks and bijouterie, and 
comers adorned with everything beautiful that comes 
within his means. True, one can live without them; 
tables and chairs, beds and dishes, pots and kettles, 
&c., will enable us to get through life; some will 
therefore argue the uselessness of anything beyond. 
But such people will do for companions to the man 
who “ hath no music in his soul;” his life must he all 
dull prose, without a line of poetry to smooth, and 
beautify, and adorn. Such cannot appreciate the har¬ 
mony of colors, or the eternal fitness of things around 
them, and are therefore, as it were, deprived of one of 
the most enjoyable and delicate senses of our human¬ 
ity. I write not for such, because mere utilitarianism 
will not understand my thoughts, however sensible 
they may seem to those of different natures. 
Let us enter one of these tasteful homes, and see 
how well furnished and cosy it seems. The people 
who dwell here are not wealthy; they are mechanics, 
who toil for daily bread. The carpets are cheap in¬ 
grains, the curtains are only muslin, the furniture is of 
the most economical kind, but there is an air of neat¬ 
ness and taste that makes up for all the rest. 
The walls are covered with pictures and fancy work, 
set in home-made frames of curious designs; there are 
brackets here and there that were carved at homo in 
leisure hours; these luxurious chairs into which you 
may sink and rest your weary bones were made of bar¬ 
rels, stuffed, and covered by the mistress herself; these 
divans, so elegant and comfortable, with pillows at the 
back all covered alike with pretty furniture chintz, were 
made of rough packing boxes, and cost but a tenth of 
what would be given by others for a single article of 
cabinet made furniture, yet they are even more taste¬ 
ful, and will last quite as long as Mrs. Golden’s costly 
ones that are always kept covered with the same sold 
of chintz, because the satin upholstery is too elegant 
to be exposed. Thus, to outside observers, the two j 
establishments are just alike, for visitors will not know 
that the one set of covers conceal wealth, and the other | 
poverty; it is good management on the part of the I 
mechanic’s wife that lias made them equal; and per¬ 
haps that, our friend may some day raise herself to the 
dignity of damask and brocatelle, but will she then 
feel the same freedom in using her elegant things that 
she now'’ enjoys, unless alike protected and concealed 
by the same convenient chintz. 
Upon Mrs. Golden’s marble mantles there are very 
costly ornaments, vases of terra cotta or majolica that 
came from beyond the sea; but our poor friend, rich 
in ingenuity, has designed and manufactured her own 
tasteful arrangements, which to any candid observer 
surpass them in real elegance. A bouquet of wax 
flowers graces the centre, and vases of antique shape 
are on the ends of the shelf, itself only a painted 
wooden one, but made beautiful by the braided and 
embroided lambrequin that covered and adorned it. 
Let me describe these vases, and then the reader 
may go away and try her own hand in making their 
counterparts. Originally, they were but earthenware, 
smooth hut unglazed, and selected on account of their 
exquisite shape, imitation of Herculaneum vases. A 
c 'at or two of dark green paint completely covered all 
signs oi earthenware, and left the surface smooth and 
clear, ready for the ornaments, which were then ap¬ 
plied by the process know as Decaleomanie. The 
pictures chosen were birds, flowers and insects, with 
central Chinese designs, all purchased at one of the 
artists’ material depots, together with the two kinds of 
varnish required for its application, and tw T o small 
sable paint brushes. As the ground upon which the 
pictures U'C-re to be transferred was of a dark color, it 
was necessary to procure those prepared expressly for 
such grounds, as this is important to be known. 
The process is as follows: Cover the picture entire¬ 
ly, (take care not to go beyond the outlines) with a 
slight coat of the fixing varnish; leave it to dry for a 
few moments, and then place it where you 'wish it to 
adhere, with the sticky surface next the vase. This 
done, cover the back of the picture with a piece of 
cloth steeped in water; then by means of a knife or pen 
holder, rub it all over so as to fix every part of it; 
then take away the cloth and rinse the paper with a 
small paint-brush steeped in water; at the end of a 
few moments the paper will come off, leaving the 
painting transferred. Of course, care is required at 
this stage, not to use too much water, or rub too long, 
or the picture will bo spoiled; now place the vase near 
the stove until it is quite dry, and next, day give it a 
coat of the polishing varnish. 
It was by this simple plan that the dark green 
grounds were ornamented with exquisite designs, and 
after all was dry and hard, a coating of Damar var¬ 
nish, applied to the entire surface of the vases, gave 
them a fine even polish. Even the gilding around the 
edges was transferred as exactly as if done by the 
hands of a skilled decorator. 
This was the history of my friend’s mantel orna¬ 
ments, and I understand that the elegantly decorated 
china that graces her table on state occasions was 
originally jflain white inexpensive ware, but by this 
simple process, it has become elegant indeed. It will 
bear careful washing, but not soaking, and if, by acci¬ 
dent, a picture should show symptoms of wearing off, 
it can be entirely removed by a little turpentine, and 
replaced by another. Thus, if one should choose, a 
new set of decorations can be applied every now and 
then’, and the same set renewed and renovated, as long 
as the dishes themselves will last. 
This art may also be applied to the ornamentation 
of panels for doors and furniture, and many other 
beautiful objects that will answer well to offer as holi¬ 
day gifts, and will be admired and prized by all who 
see them. 
It is by some of these ingenious inventions of fertile 
brains, that persons of small means may beautify their 
houses, and supply to themselves the lack of wealth, 
showing that genius and taste may after all compete 
with gold. Anna M. Hyde. 
Cottage Hairpin Receiver.—These are both use¬ 
ful and ornamental, and seem to be the latest thing in 
fancy articles. I will give the description of one both 
new and pretty. Of stiff brown pasteboard, make a 
square cottage without any roof, three and a half inches 
high at the sides, with pointed ends; between these, 
fasten a small stick with a tack in each end ; begin at 
the bottom of the side, and crochet in common stitch, buff 
zephyr, a strip as long as the wall is wide and high ; 
then for roof use brown, then buff for other side; 
crotchet the ends, and scollops for cornice; stretch and 
sew tightly on the frame; cut pasteboard for windows, 
and with a woolen needlework brown zephyr over and 
under, in the form of blinds. 
Turtle-Shell Card Receiver.—This is very pretty 
and odd. After the meat is taken out of the shell, boil 
it in clear water about an hour, or until the skin will 
peel off, leaving the shell nice and white. It must not 
be boiled too much, or it will crack; then scrape out the 
meat and gluey substance with which it is covered. This 
must not all be taken off, as it holds the, shell together, 
and when dry does not show. Care must be taken not 
to break off the rim, and the backbone left in ; ran a 
naiTow pink ribbon through the holes around the 
edge, and make a bow at each end; draw wider rib¬ 
bon or silk of the same color under each side of the 
backbone, and fasten with a little glue. 
Fancy Pin Cushion. —Crochet or make of cloth a 
little shoe, or what is better, take an infant’s slipper 
with ankle strap, make the body of a fat old woman in 
sitting posture, as large as will fill the shoe ; with a 
pencil mark a face upon a hickory nut; take a piece of 
white muslin two inches square, and double three corn¬ 
ered ; sew tightly around the head and then to the body; 
make the dress of some bright-colored stuff; stick a 
row of pins down the front for buttons ; put the doll 
in the shoe, and fasten the ankle strap around the 
waist; cut two or three capes of different colored cloth, 
for needles; make swiss or lace cap with full border, 
and you have the “ Old woman who lived in a shoe.” 
She is very comical looking, and will be very suitable 
for fancy fairs and Christmas trees. Leza. 
Flower Pot Covers.— A. N. D. S. wishes direc¬ 
tions for covers for common flower pots. I give a few 
that I have found available. With coarse “tidy cot¬ 
ton ” crochet or knit a case, more or less ornamental 
(at discretion), putting a shell or scollop at top and 
bottom. Form this case to fit the pot, using the or¬ 
dinary long stitch, and widening from bottom to top. 
When finished, stiffen thoroughly by soaking in paste, 
made smooth, and as thick as very stiff' flour starch, 
with as much dissolved white glue as there is of the 
paste; when well saturated, stretch over the pot to dry; 
then varnish with shellac, dissolved in alcohol, and 
when dry, with copal. Another pretty cover is made 
by cutting a pasteboard in two or more sections, nar¬ 
row at bottom and widening to the top, to fit the pot; 
cover the seams, after sewing the parts together, with 
brown paper pasted > 1 neatly; varnish with shellac 
and ornament with leaves, made of triangles of 
stiff brown paper, folded, and laid one over another 
until the whole is entirely covered ; varnish each ono 
with the shellac, and if the paper is not heavy, wet 
each leaf with stiff glue, and dry ; then cut six gradu¬ 
ated and scolloped circles, prepared as above with 
glue and varnish, and form into rosettes, placing a 
wreath at top and bottom; varnish the whole with co¬ 
pal varnish. A very exquisite cover is made thus; 
cut cardboard to fit the pot; wet the surface with 
white glue, and while damp cover thickly with tapi 
oca, sago, and rice; prepare little twigs from pine 
branches and raisin stems, by dipping them in bright 
scarlet sealing wax, dissolved or melted very thin; 
place them artistically on the white surfaqp, and in- 
tersnerse a few pretty shells among them. The effect 
is really beautiful; U border of shells top and bottom 
is an improvement. I make a cheap cover by forming 
rings to fit top and bottom of pot, with the wires of old 
hoopskirts, then form from the same a lattice-work, by 
cutting pieces of the length (slant wise) and crossing the 
reverse way; form an edge by bending pieces of any 
desired length, in shape of the figure 8, and fasten¬ 
ing with thread or fine wire ; paint the whole a pretty 
color, and varnish ; make chains of strong cloves, or 
rings of cherry stones, cut and hung in festoons around 
the top. This is a novel but very beautiful addition. 
Aunt Carry. 
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