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BEAD-WORK. 
Among the many varieties of fancy-work which 
prove such valuable means for decorating home, we 
may safely say bead-work is among the most beautiful, 
and its uses are manifold. 
We have before us as we write a pair of watch-cases, 
cut from cardboard, covered with scarlet merino, each 
case embroidered at the heel and toe with small white 
crystal beads, the whole forming a lovely pair of tiny 
slippers. Another pair, which adorned our last Christ¬ 
mas tree, were of anchor shape, the card¬ 
board covered with maroon velvet, the 
beads put on in one large star surrounded 
by groups of small ones. To be placed 
on the toilet-table beneath these, are 
glove, collar, cuff and handkerchief 
boxes, matching in color and design the 
cases, and may be made of any pretty 
shape. 
For small pictures, frames of card¬ 
board, cohered with any pretty material, 
and ornamented with a wreath of ivy or 
other leaves in bead-work, are pretty. 
Either large or small crystal beads, 
strung upon fine wire, make beautiful 
hanging baskets, to be filled with ferns, 
leaves, moss or flowers. Wall baskets, 
letter, music, paper or writing portfolios, 
and many other useful articles, may be 
made with little trouble by using one’s own taste in 
this direction. Nature’s leaves and flowers are the 
best designs for putting the beads on. 
_______ M. H. F. R. 
GERMAN WOOL-WORK. 
Perhaps the readers of the Cabinet do not all know 
that Germantown wool can be used in many ways 
instead of zephyr, and is much cheaper. It comes 
in various colors, and the variegated or shaded colors 
work up beautifully. Chair cushions can be knitted in 
strips, just, as 
our grand¬ 
mothers knit 
garters, that 
is by putting 
the yarn over 
the needle 
twice, then 
next time 
across, knit¬ 
ting one 
stitch and 
dropping 
one. Sew or 
crochet to 
gether. To 
make hang¬ 
ing pincush¬ 
ions, knit a strip three inches wide with a different 
color in the centre; then draw both edges with threads 
around a flat ball made of muslin, and stuffed. Fasten 
a tuft of yarn in each side where the cover is drawn 
together, and suspend with cords. 
The children will appreciate the pretty balls with 
crocheted covers in bright colors. Beautiful tidies can 
be made of shaded green wool, and shaded pink or 
buff. Crochet wheels of the green, quite open, with 
scallops around the edge. Leave a circular space in 
the centre for the rose, which is crocheted of the pink 
and then fastened in. Make seven of these; the one 
for the centre a little larger than the others. This tidy 
looks best on haircloth furniture. Most ladies know 
of the tidies of cotton yarn, made on a frame. These 
are prettier made of wool. Make a square frame of 
wood, and drive small nails an inch apart, leaving 
them so the yarn can be wound upon them, from side 
to side and then across. Then tie securely where it 
crosses. Cut part of the yarn near where it is tied and 
it will form little balls; to make them of different 
color, wind one-half of the color you want the balls. 
Leza. 
Work Basket of Sheers. 
Basket of Shell Flowers. 
Bronze Vase.—Perhaps some of your readers would 
like to have a pretty bronze vase in which to arrange 
their autumn leaves. I made one two years ago which 
has been much admired. The materials are one crook- 
neck squash, a small pine block, one nail, a bottle of 
bronzine, such as is used for dressing over bronze shoes. 
Take a squash of suitable size and shape, after they 
have got hard in the fall, and saw off the large end, 
leaving the bottom in the shape of a cornucopia or 
horn of plenty. Then lay it in a dry place until the 
interior, consisting of seeds and their husky envelop, 
will easily pull out. This is better than 
to endeavor to cut them out at first as it 
leaves the in¬ 
side perfect¬ 
ly smooth. 
Take smooth 
pine board, 
an inch thick 
and long 
enough to 
project a 
very little 
beyond the 
squash when 
placed upon 
it so as to be 
level at the 
just where it touches the board, carefully pierce the 
shell with a large darning-needle or some similar 
instrument, and having also partly bored a hole in the 
wood so as not to split it, insert your nail of sufficient 
length to hold it fast. I then melted a little wax and 
poured it into mine so as to make it tight around the 
nail, as a little sand in the vase helps keep the dry leaf 
stems in position. Then with the brush which comes 
with the bronzine apply a coat, and after awhile an¬ 
other if needed; and you can hardly tell the article 
and Lilies of 
Small Fernery. t p e y a p ey . 
on the right, a Dahlia, a small Ranunculus, and part 
of a Rose. In the centre is a Damask Rose; on the 
reverse side is a Yellow Rose, a large Ranunculus, 
China Aster, Crocuses, Snowdrops; while interspersed 
here and there are Rosebuds, Cineraria, Geraniums, 
Camelias, Fuchsias, all with buds and leaves. The 
shells are natural, as found along the sea-coast, and 
set in with a cement made of gum tragacanth, mixed 
with a little alum, plaster of Paris, and sugar of 
lead. 
from real bronze without taking it in your hand. The 
contrast between the vase and the bright hues of the 
leaves is charming. Mine is four and a half inches high 
above the board, which is three and a half inches long 
and two and three-quarters inches wide; but the dimen¬ 
sions would vary with the size and shape of the squash. 
I hope some one will try this. Mrs. G. H. A. 
Elower-Pot Covers. —A pretty cover is made by 
cutting a pasteboard in two or more sections, narrow 
at bottom and widening to the top, to fit the pot. 
Cover the seams (after sewing the parts together) with 
brown paper pasted on neacly. Varnish with shellac 
varnish, and ornament with leaves made of triangles of 
stiff brown paper, folded and laid one over another 
until the whole is entirely covered; var¬ 
nish each one with the shellac (and if the 
paper is not heavy, wet each leaf with 
stiff glue, and dry); then cut six gradu¬ 
ated and scalloped circles, prepared as 
above (with glue and varnish), and form 
into rosettes, placing a wreath at top and 
bottom; varnish the whole with copal 
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 tapioca, sago 
and rice. Prepare little twigs from pine 
branches and raisin stems by dipping 
them in bright scarlet sealing wax, dis¬ 
solved or melted very thin. Place them 
artistically on the white surface, and in¬ 
tersperse a few pretty shells among them. 
The effect is really beautiful. A border 
of shells, top and bottom, is an improvement. I make 
a cheap cover by forming rings to fit top and bottom 
of the pot, with the wires of old hoop-skirts; then form, 
from the same, a lattice-work by cutting pieces of the 
length (slantwise) and crossing the reverse way; form 
an edge by bending pieces, of any desired length, in 
shape of the figure eight, and fastening with thread or 
fine wire. Paint the whole a pretty color and varnish. 
Make chains of strung cloves, or rings of cherry-stones 
cut and hung in festoons around the top. This is a 
novel but very beautiful addition. Aunt Carry. 
Basket of Shell Flowers. —The basket illustrated 
on this page 
is composed 
of shells col- 
o r e d and 
grouqted to¬ 
gether to 
form imita¬ 
tions of per¬ 
fect flowers. 
On the left 
hand is seen 
the blossoms 
of the Pas¬ 
sion Flower 
