HOME DECORATIONS. 
A Stocking-Bag. 
These convenient bags are very easily made, and will 
prove of great service for holding the stockings to be 
mended and the materials with which to do the work. 
One yard of bine silicia, and two yards of blue satin 
ribbon an inch wide, a small piece of white flannel or 
merino, some stiff paste-board, and a spool of blue 
sewing-silk will be all that is necessary for it. Of the 
paste-board, cut four circular pieces, each one measur¬ 
ing seven inches across. Cover these four pieces 
smoothly with blue silicia, and overhand the edges of 
two together with blue silk, the remaining two to be 
done in the same way for the opposite side. The puff 
should be a straight piece 
measuring sixty inches 
long, and twelve inches 
wide. This is to be gath¬ 
ered each side to fit round 
the edge of the circular 
pieces, leaving a space at 
the top of the circle three 
inches, for the opening. 
The puff is now to be 
sewed all round the edges 
of each circular piece ex¬ 
cept the space for the 
opening—the raw edges 
of the puff, of course, be¬ 
ing placed on the inside. 
Make for the outside of 
one of the circles a piece 
the same shape and size, 
and either embroider or 
paint a pretty design upon 
it of butterfly, bird or 
flowers, or a combination; 
or some pretty design of 
flowers may be cut from 
Cretonne, and appliqued 
upon it. Then cut from the 
merino several leaves, the 
same shape, but smaller, point or scollop the edges, and 
fasten them to the top of the circle on the bag. as the 
leaves in any needle-book are fastened, then sew the 
embroidered cover outside of this at the top. Where it 
is fastened place a bow of the satin ribbon. This is for 
holding the darning needles. The scissors are held in 
the needle-book by means of a little strap sewed to the 
circle beneath the merino leaves. On the opposite 
circle a piece of silicia is gathered top and bottom, to 
cover a little more than half the circle, for a pocket. 
A heading is left at the top, and a casing just below. 
Through this casing a piece of elastic is run, holding 
the pocket quite close, but allowing it to be easily 
opened, and in this the thimble and darning cotton are 
kept. Thus all the articles necessary for the work are 
conveniently at hand. The satin ribbon is used as a 
gathering-string to draw the puff together at the top, 
and the interior of the bag is the receptacle for the 
stockings. If it is desired to make them handsomer, 
satin, either colored or black, may be used. If the lat¬ 
ter, they should be lined with gay-colored satin, either 
cardinal or gold, and gay flowers painted or embroidered 
on the medallion, or a monogram in gay lines. They 
are exceedingly useful and pretty. M. E. W. 
A Card Panel. 
Easter has come and gone, but, like Christmas and 
New Year's, it has left many pleasant reminders in the 
beautiful cards which have become such popular gifts 
at these seasons—gifts that are of real value; for these 
fanciful arrangements of color, in designs which are 
so pleasing, cannot be got¬ 
ten up without a great 
expense, therefore are not 
purchased for a trifle—and 
yet how can we utilize all 
this beauty? Among nu¬ 
merous ways which have 
suggested themselves for 
this purpose, is one, very 
simple in construction, 
while very pleasing in 
effect. 
Procure a bunch of black 
walnut splints about twelve 
inches in length, choosing 
those that are not very 
thin, and if not already 
perfectly smooth, make 
them so with sand paper; 
then with a flannel cloth 
nib them well with raw 
linseed oil, to bring out 
the natural grain of the 
wood. Let them lay a 
few days until the oil will 
have dried in; then take 
two pieces of silver-wire, 
used for hanging pictures 
(you will probably need a piece two yards long for each 
end), and weave in the splint by doubling each piece of 
wire in the middle; lay on the splint, then cross the wire 
closely about it; lay on the next one, and cross the wires 
again, until you have a strip the length you desire, 
which will, when done, be similar in appearance to the 
Venetian blinds our grandmothers used. Leave enough 
wire at the top, from each end of the last splint, as you 
will require to hang up your frame; then arrange all your 
fancy cards on it by simply slipping one corner under¬ 
neath a splint, combining them in such a way that each 
shall serve by contrast to enhance the beauty of the one 
next to it; and if you have cards enough, you will have 
a panel arrangement which,- aside from its beauty—for 
it can be arranged in this way very tastefully—will be 
interesting, because of the pleasing circumstances con¬ 
nected with each souvenir of which each card will 
remind you. 
A STOCKING-BAG. 
