92 
TIIE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
The seat and back should be covered with separate 
pieces, and a band extending round the se,at gives the 
chair a handsome appearance. It should have the lower 
edge trimmed with fringe. 
If plush is used, it will not be necessary to embroider 
it, as the material is sufficiently handsome without. 
Furniture plush, the kind used, is not expensive,' as it is 
forty inches wide and a fair quality can be bought for 
two dollars and fifty cents a yard. Trim the upper 
corners of the back with bows of wide satin ribbon the 
color of the plush, and edge the band round the seat 
with a handsome fringe. 
Cloth is also pretty for covering, but will be much 
improved if a band of embroidery is placed in the mid¬ 
dle of the back and seat, and the band extending 
round the sides should also be embroidered. Trim 
the lower edge of the band with worsted fringe. 
A still less expensive cov¬ 
ering is of heavy cretonne. 
Select a pretty pattern, and 
cover the back and seat of 
the chair, as directed for 
the other materials. The 
trimming round the sides 
of the seat, instead of being- 
put on plain, should be box- 
plaited rather finely, as the 
Cretonne is not so precty 
when put on plain, or better 
still, if it is possible to have 
the piece fluted, the effect 
is very much prettier. Rib¬ 
bon bows may also be used 
for trimming if desired, and 
will greatly improve it. 
Of course, the quantity 
of material required will 
be according to the size of 
the chair. 
The work is simple, and 
will prove very satisfactory 
when finished, but must 
be neatly done to look 
well. M. E. W. 
Antique Lace Lambre¬ 
quins. 
The fashion for decorating mantels has become so 
universal that one without any ornamentation seems 
bare, and makes a room appear incompletely furnished; 
yet it is considerable labor to embroider so many, or to 
make the Macreme lace, which has, in a measure, lost 
its attractiveness, by being so well imitated in crocheted 
twine, but lambrequins made of antique lace are ex¬ 
ceedingly pretty, easily made, and not expensive; when 
soiled can be laundried, and as the lace is composed of 
heavy linen thread it has sufficient body to be adapted 
to the purpose. 
A thin board is first fitted to the mantel-shelf, and 
satine of some color corresponding with that used else¬ 
where in the room is used to cover the top and extend far 
enough down in front and ends of mantel to line the 
open work in the lace; antique insertion seven inches 
wide, to which has been neatly joined an edging of the 
same width and similar pattern, is fastened to the edge 
of the board which lays on the mantel-top. The lining- 
can extend to the tips of the pointed edging if preferred, 
and in that case must be 
so fastened to it as not to 
show below the lace. Then 
on each, and between each 
point, fasten a double che¬ 
nille tassel the color of the 
lining. 
Lace of sufficient width 
to be used without the in¬ 
sertion is very handsome, 
but is difficult to obtain: it 
makes, however, a very 
pretty decoration for a 
small stand. 
These lambrequins are es¬ 
pecially suited to sleeping- 
rooms, and when curtains 
made of batiste trimmed 
with the same kind of lace 
are hung at the windows 
and draped back with satin 
ribbons and antique squares 
used for the dressing-table 
mats, the effect is very 
pleasing. 
For use in summer, a 
room fitted up in this way, 
having, instead of carpet, 
fine, white matting with 
rugs in front of bed and 
dressing-table, gives one a 
feeling of coolness and comfort that is very restful 
when Nature is so astir, and buds and blossoms are 
revelling in the summer sunshine. O. M. 
Plush Covered Chair. 
SPRING FASHIONS. 
As the spring styles are introduced little change is 
seen from the winter season, except that draperies are 
more bouffant than formerly. The loose puffs arranged 
in the front of many costumes remain in favor, though 
seemingly only adapted to slender figures. Basques 
with full drapery in puffed apron shape and a pleated 
skirt are said to be the general plan for making most 
spring suits. Basques are also cut in postillion shape, 
with pointed fronts and full square back, the fullness 
for which is inserted at the side-back seams as well as 
in the middle. Sleeves are made longer and are still 
close fitting, with a trifle of fullness on the shoulder- 
tip to produce a square effect. Small, plain flat 
buttons put close together are used to fasten the 
