HOME DECORATIONS. 
Christmas Gifts. 
Souvenirs for the Holidays. 
A S the Christmas season draws near, a few suggestions 
for preparing sundry pretty, small articles will, per¬ 
haps, not be amiss. 
Many new and dainty little things are now exhibited in 
the various shops, some useful and pretty, others for orna¬ 
ment only. Baskets of all sizes and shapes, and for every 
imaginable purpose, are displayed. One of the prettiest 
shapes is almost like a ball with an opening at the top, 
and reminds one of a huge sea-urchin. The size is eight 
inches in diameter, but larger or smaller sizes may be 
used if desired. A pink satin bag is gathered around the 
opening of the basket, the upper edge of the satin hemmed 
and edged with fine white lace, and just below the hem a 
casing is placed, through which a narrow satin ribbon is 
run for a draw-string. Rows of the same lace which 
trims the bag are placed diagonally on the basket, either 
four or five rows, according to the width used, leaving 
quite a space between each one. A narrow gilt braid 
