348 
THE LADIES' EL ORAL CABINET. 
most- pleasing. The back should be covered with silk 
or silicia the same color. Turn the edges in. and neatly 
hem it to the plush which turns over on the back of the 
paste-board. Fasten this securely at each corner of the 
frame, and although the stitches will show, it is of no 
consequence, as the bows of satin ribbon which are used 
for trimming the corners will hide the joining. Another 
piece of paste-board should now be cut the same width 
of the first, and about two-thirds as high. This is also 
covered in the same manner with plush which has pre¬ 
viously been embroidered or painted with some pretty 
design. L i n e it as described for the back, but it is 
better to use for the lining the same material with 
which the face is covered, as it is apt to show. This is 
joined to the back by straps and bows of satin ribbon. 
Place the piece close to the lower edge of the plush 
which is already in the frames, and sew through both 
pieces across the bottom with sewing-silk to match the 
material. Bows of satin ribbon are placed at each cor¬ 
ner of the bottom. At either side of the top straps of 
ribbon about three inches long are sewed to the pocket, 
then to either side of the back, and in this way the 
pocket is allowed to fall open. Another strap extending 
from the front to the back, and placed half way down 
the side will be required to keep the papers from falling 
through. Trim each joining with bows of ribbon. It 
may have a loop of ribbon with bow and ends to hang it 
against the wall, or a small gilt screw-ring can be 
screwed into the cane, if preferred. 
The preparation of any of these articles is simple, and 
they will, if carefully made, prove very satisfactory. 
31. E. TV HITTEMORE. 
Christmas Cards of Dried Leaves and 
Flowers. 
These can be made very interesting, and at the same 
time a source of much pleasure, during the fall and 
winter months. The materials should be gathered and 
prepared during the whole season; as you find speci¬ 
mens adapted to your use, dry them preparatory to the 
time you require them. Care must be taken to not over- 
dry, because if you do they are more difficult to arrange 
and fasten firmly, but if they should be too dry, putting 
them in a damp place will make them pliable again. 
Fern fronds I have found the most useful. I shall de¬ 
scribe my mode of procedure; but having at my com¬ 
mand a large and fine collection of Ferns, it gives me a 
considerable advantage over those that are more depend¬ 
ent on what they can collect from the fields and woods, 
yet many fine, tiny specimens can be found there. The 
coarser plants are of no use in my designs, unless they 
ran be divided up into small sections, and show what 
they are without giving a deformed appearance. In 
gathering, always have a large book with you, place 
them smoothly in it until you reach home ; from this 
transfer them to sheets of blotting paper, spread 
them out carefully so that they will not touch each 
other, and cover with another sheet of the blotting 
paper. Great care must be used in pressing, for if too 
heavy a pressure is put on them at first, they will bruise 
and be unfit for use. In gathering always choose the 
older and more mature portions, as they will remain 
perfect in their colors the longest: never take young 
soft portions if you can avoid it. and let your pressure 
be light at first and increase as your specimens become 
dry. changing their position every few days, but be care¬ 
ful not to leave them long exposed when you are doing 
so. In drying flowers a light pressure at first is especi¬ 
ally necessary, just enough to keep them flat and let the 
action of the air do the rest. 
Suppose that the words you want to use are "A 
Merry X-rnas,” “A” will stand as your first line, and 
can be easily made with the points of two tapering 
Fern fronds, the points standing together, a piece put 
for the cross-line. Xext is "Merry,” another line; 
must be made of small materials, such as (Ferns) Glei- 
chenias. are well adapted, as they have narrow, straight 
fronds, and can be cut to the length required; 
“X-mas” I make a third line. I vary the material for 
this, the cross being of the points of Golden Fern, four 
points touching each other, powdered side up, or the 
Silver will answer as well. For a fourth line the word 
"To ;” then a name, if you choose, on the fifthline. A 
very fine plant to use for tliis is the Leucophyton 
Brownii, as being, you may say, without leaves, and 
its natural dryness such that it can be used almost with¬ 
out drying, 
I take a piece of finished card-board, cut to the size of 
the frame I want to use, so that it will fit into it when 
completed : divide my spaces and mark the letters with 
a pencil as lightly as possible for my guidance when 
putting them on. Having some nice paste or white 
glue, and with a fine hair-brush put on one letter at a 
time, fitting in with a round-pointed, sharp knife. This 
knife is so pointed that I can lift all my pieces with it; 
a needle would do this, but it is much handier to have 
cutting and lifting combined, so on I continue until all 
is finished, decorating the sides and between the words 
with Maiden Hair Fern, etc. When all are fastened, 
lay some smooth piece of board or a pane of glass over 
it so that it will not stick, and give a good press for some 
time. When dry I take it out and run around my letters, 
shading them, as it were, with water-color ; this renders 
the card much more effective. In filling up the margins, 
dried flowers, such as Pansies, Bovardias, etc., can be 
used. N. Robertson. 
WINTER FASHIONS IN CLOAKS AND BONNETS. 
Plain velvets take the lead among handsome cloak¬ 
ings this season, although those brocaded in large de¬ 
tached figures are very popular and are preferred to 
plush materials. They are generally made quite long, 
nearly covering the dress, but many are shown in medium 
lengths. The trimmings should have a warm, full look. 
and need not border the bottom of long cloaks but be 
placed around the neck, down the fronts, and around 
the sleeves. For velvets, full chenille ruches are 
perhaps the handsomest garniture, as they correspond 
so well with the material and, by their soft fluffiness, 
give a graceful appearance to the otherwise stiff 
