tidies 
[floral iiatifoiiet tm3 iHcforeal 
ompaiuon 
FLOWER-POT COVER. 
This flower-pot cover consists of three circles of 
large and small leaves of light gray and green 00- 
cloth, the under edges of which are fastened together 
hy a hoop), while the upper ones are fastened with an 
elastic cord. For making the original, which is de* j 
signed for a flower-pot four inches and a half high and 
an inch and three-quarters in diameter around the 
under part, cut patterns of double gray oil-cloth 
and pasteboard each, polka stitch with green silk 
twist veins. Next take a covered steel hoop two- 
fifths of an inch wide and fifteen inches long, fasten 
the ends together, work a strip of green oil-cloth 
on the outside of the hoop and fasten on the inside 
first the eight green and then the eight smaller gray- 
leaves so that they shall come in alternating posi¬ 
tions. Fasten the eight larger gray leaves to the 
outside of a corresponding ring of gray oil-cloth, 
and sew this ring to the steel ring with overcast 
stitches on the under edge, and hack stitches on the 
upper edge. In backstitching, however, the stitches 
must not come through the outer green leaves. The 
latter are sew r ed together hy the edge of the button¬ 
hole stitch from the ring two-fifths of an inch up. 
Lastly, work a button-hole-stitch loop in the middle 
of the inside of each large gray leaf, two inches from 
the point, and run through these a black silk elastic j 
cord, which is sewed together to a ring four inches ; 
and a half in diameter, and which fastens together the 
inner circle of leaves. The cover may, of course, be 
made of any size, as both the size of the leaves and 
their number may be increased. 
CRYSTAL BEAD AND NETTED GUIPURE 
BOU QDET-HOLDER. 
Materials: Coarse and fine silver wire, crystal beads. 
This bouquet-holder is easily and cheaply made. It 
is entirely of crystal beads, which are strung on silver 
wire and finished with pretty netted guipure lace. Fig. 
1 shows the hold¬ 
er in use with the 
lace and bouquet; 
Fig. 2 shows the 
simple holder. 
Cut, first, of 
heavy silver wire 
twelve pieces, 
each eighteen 
inches long; lay 
these together, 
and flve inches 
from one end pass 
on a wooden 
knob which has 
been wound with Flg ' 1 ' _Cet3i bouqi.4t 
white thread, then wind the wires un¬ 
der the knob fast together with the 
finer wire. Then wind the wire itself 
with the smaller crystal beads strung 
on the fine wire, and fasten the end into 
the knob, by which means a sort of 
loop handle is made. On the upper 
part of the wire make six leaves in the 
manner shown by Fig. 2, for which the 
beads on the outer edges are strung on 
wire, and for the veins on silk. Having strung on 
each wire the requisite number of the large beads bend 
the ends into loops three inches long, and twist to¬ 
gether the wires between the leaves in the manner 
Putty Frames. —Take from two to seven pounds 
of putty, according to the size you wish to have your 
frame; as much Spanish Brown—or any other shade 
of paint you may wish to dissolve—as will give right 
color; work this in your putty until no specks are 
seen. Then work the putty into whatever design you 
desire, with your fingers, and lay them on your frame. 
Grapes, leaves and curls, or tendrils, are used more 
than any other design. I have seen small cucumbers, 
small tomatoes, and similar fruit, put on putty 
frames. The bordering on both sides—^ext the 
glass and outer edge—should resemble “bead” 
work as much as possible, making the putty in 
shape of coffee on the edge. Another pretty way 
for coloring a dark, rich color, is to take logwood 
dye, with a little saleratus dissolved in it, washing 
the frame after fancy work is made. I have never 
tried this with putty. Only hy practice will this 
work excel others.— Ann. 
Drying Sea Mosses. —Sea mosses can be dried by 
placing them in a soup plate, or any shallow dish fill¬ 
ed with fresh water, and a little bit of alum added 
to it. Float the moss by placing pieces of white 
paper under it, and then take a camel’s hair brush 
and arrange the fibrous leaves in a natural manner 
upon the paper or cardboard. If the moss is very 
fine, the point of a needle will bo useful in prepar¬ 
ing it. When the specimens are jflaced to your 
mind, raise the paper carefully, so that the moss will 
not be disturbed, and let it rest in a slanting position, 
so that the water can run off. When still damp, 
place an old bit of soft linen over it, and press in 
blotting paper. Let it remain under heavy pressure 
until dry. With pink and green sea-weeds one can 
represent lovely moss rosebuds, and also other 
flowers. 
Crystallized Flowers. —Make baskets of any shape 
with pliable copper wire, wrapping them about with 
gauze. Into these tie to the bottom Violets, Gerani¬ 
um leaves, Myrtles, Ferns, in fact, anything you like 
best, save full-blown Roses, and sink them into a solu¬ 
tion composed of one pound of alum to a gallon of 
water. Don’t dip the flowers until the solution is cold, 
as the flowers will 
retain their natural 
beauty, and the 
alum will hold fast¬ 
er than when it is 
hot. When alum 
enough has adher¬ 
ed to form a light 
coloring of crys¬ 
tals, completely 
enveloping every¬ 
thing, remove the 
basket very care¬ 
fully, and let it 
hours. These bas- 
Igag JJ kets are very beautiful ornaments, 
and long maintain their freshness 
and fine appearance. 
Bleaching Shells. —Fresh-water 
shells can be bleached in a solution 
Jpg of chloride of lime. Wash the 
W B shells very clean; then place them 
g g in a dish or jar of the solution. 
Put them in the sun, and when 
they are white enough, take them out, wash in pure 
water, and then rub with a flannel, moistened a very 
little with olive oil. This will give them a handsome 
gloss. 
shown by the illustration. The end of each wire is 
fastened down with thread. The veins in the leaves 
are made with beads strung on silk. Now string the 
fine beads on fine wire, and weave with this the middle 
part of the twelve wires in the manner shown by Fig. 
Flower-Pot Cover. 
2. In the original this part is about five inches long, 
and is four inches in circumference around the upper 
part. For fastening the bouquet in the holder arrange 
a pin fastened by a bead cord in the manner shown by 
the illustration. 
The foundation for the lace 
is netted in the 
round of fin e 
thread over a 
coarse knitting 
needle. The 
width must, o f 
course, correspond 
to the circumfer¬ 
ence of the holder, 
which m ay be 
made of any size 
desired. For a 
small holder fifty- 
Holder. four stitches would 
be sufficient. On this work thirty-five rounds in 
the round, but in the first round two stitches 
instead of one must be worked in every ninth 
stitch. This widening must be repeated in the 
same position of every round, and by this means 
the points are formed. Having completed the 
foundation, stitch it over a piece of oil-cloth of 
requisite size and shape. The under edges are worked 
in button-hole stitch with fine thread. The design 
figures and four-leaved little flowers are worked with 
enameled cotton; the long leaves are worked with 
thread in point de reprise. In sewing on gather the 
upper edge slightly. 
iiOUQUET-HOLDER 
Fig. 2 .—Bead 
drip for twelve 
