THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
53 
in all picture-frames, is screwed into either side of the 
thickest part of the plaque at the back. 
If desired the title of the picture can be painted with 
some dark color in any quaint lettering that may be 
fancied. 
When hung on the walls, they are very pleasing, and 
have the appearance of some antique medallions, and one 
would not think of them for a moment in connection with 
the use for which they were originally intended. 
M. E. Whittemore. 
Blotting Books. 
S MALL blotting books prove exceedingly useful on the 
library table, and can be made so pretty as to be 
quite an ornament. There are several colors of blotting- 
paper from which to select the shade desired, or several 
colors may be combined, but the cream or buff is prettiest 
for decorating. The paper can be bought already cut, and 
put up in packages, or it may be purchased in large sheets 
and cut in whatever size one may wish. 
Place together four or six of the leaves or pages for one 
book. Before tying them together, however, mark, half-an- 
inch from the top, two places for slits, which must be cut 
with a sharp knife. The distance between the slits should 
be about two inches, and each slit should be at an equal 
distance from each side of the leaf. After one has been 
accurately marked and cut, the others must be done in 
the same way. Run through them a ribbon, the color of 
which should harmonize well with the design to be painted 
on the cover, and tie in a bow with ends. The ribbon must 
be run through the slits from the back. 
The cover should then be decorated with a design of 
any kind which may be pleasing. One, for instance, is a 
broken pen, from which several little pigs are making their 
escape with great rapidity, and in the upper right-hand 
corner are the following words in gilt and brown letters : 
“ Excuse haste, and a bad pen.” 
The whole design may be outlined in monotint with 
water-color paint, or if desired, can be more elaborately 
painted. 
Another design has the branch of an apple-tree in full 
blossom, with several little birds perched upon it. For 
this, however, the whole design was filled in, using colors 
appropriate for it. 
The blotters are useful little things, and very pretty if 
neatly made. M. E. W. 
Splasher for Wash-Stand. 
O NE of the many good uses to which rods and rings 
are now put is to hold a wash-stand splasher, and 
the arrangement is especially desirable, as it can be taken 
down and put up again so easily. The splashers are 
made of a straight piece of linen crash, raveled out on 
each end, and knotted to form fringe. Above the fringe, 
embroider in outline any pleasing design, on opposite sides 
of the ends, so that when folded the embroidery will all 
be on the right side. One end is then folded over about 
one-third of the length, as shown in the illustration. Work 
as many eyelet-holes on the upper part of the fold as you 
need rings and fasten a small 
screw-hook in the bottom of each 
ring on which to slip the eyelets, 
and in this way hold the splash¬ 
er in place. The Lily design 
given in our illustration should 
be worked in outline with deep 
red marking cotton ; embroidery 
silks can be substituted, if before 
using they have been prepared so 
that the colors will not fade when 
the splasher is washed. Drawn 
work is also pretty above the 
fringe, and designs can be traced 
in indelible inks instead of using 
embroidery, if preferred, as both 
styles of ornamentation are suit¬ 
able and pretty. 
E. S. Welch. 
