Among designs for screens, usually the panel shape is preferred, and ciel blue, maroon, pale yellow, olive green, gray, old gold and black are the colors preferred. Take the silk and line it with two thicknesses of paper cambric. It is better to use white cambric, as a dark shade will sometimes be perceptible through the texture of the silk. Cut the lining somewhat narrower than the outside silk, place it on the silk, and sew up the two opposite long edges. Then turn it so that the seams will be inside, leaving the top and bottom edges raw and unfinished, and stretch it upon a drawing-board or small table ready to paint. If unused to the free handling of the brush, the worker may find it desirable to trace the outline of her design with faint pencil marks upon the silk. Afterward the color may be carefully laid on, and the design may then be enlarged or improved upon as desired. Water-colors are preferable in painting upon silk, though oil paints, if carefully put on, may also be used. Daisies, thistles, wheat, clover, grasses, water lilies, Cherokee wild roses, morning glories, scarlet cockscombs, cat-tails and Japan lilies are among the prettiest flower designs. Three or five peacock plumes carelessly grouped together, a stork, peacock or scarlet flamingo are among the odd designs for screens. When the painting is completed the silk panel must then be framed. Plush or velvet is generally used for the frame or border put on the top and bottom edges and the sides left plain. The frame is usually of a contrasting color in bamboo, reeds or wood. Very pretty work-baskets may be made of strawberry baskets, lined with red Turkey twill or satin, the lining forming a bag, which draws up at the top with a ribbon, and when open turns down over 238 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. the basket. Two pockets are set on opposite sides of the basket (inside, of course), and a needle-book and straps for holding scissors, thimbles, etc., are fastened to the others. As the season approaches when the fires are about to die out, there comes up the question of fireboards, or some means of replacing the cheerful glow of the hearth. One of the prettiest ways is to cut out of black net the shape of a peacock's tail and mount it and then cover it with the feathers of the peacock, which are now so happily intro- duced into all kinds of decoration, and are especially adapted to this purpose. In the centre can be placed the head and breast of the bird itself, if possible ; if not, a bird with suitable tints, such as comes for milliner}'- purposes, can be used. There are, in fact, few more beautiful feathers than can be found in our ordinary barnyard fowls, which might be saved and used in various ways. Other beautiful fireboards can be made of silk, linen, or any of the woollen goods which come for decorative purposes, and embroidered in silk and crewels. Of embroidery it should be urged that for effectiveness it is necessary to adhere to one kind of stitch, as well as to insist on tones in choosing color, rather than contrasts. For example, avoid using orange in connection with blue, but choose in preference red or green.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Among designs for screens, usually the panel shape is preferred, and ciel blue, maroon, pale yellow, olive green, gray, old gold and black are the colors preferred. Take the silk and line it with two thicknesses of paper cambric. It is better to use white cambric, as a dark shade will sometimes be perceptible through the texture of the silk. Cut the lining somewhat narrower than the outside silk, place it on the silk, and sew up the two opposite long edges. Then turn it so that the seams will be inside, leaving the top and bottom edges raw and unfinished, and stretch it upon a drawing-board or small table ready to paint. If unused to the free handling of the brush, the worker may find it desirable to trace the outline of her design with faint pencil marks upon the silk. Afterward the color may be carefully laid on, and the design may then be enlarged or improved upon as desired. Water-colors are preferable in painting upon silk, though oil paints, if carefully put on, may also be used. Daisies, thistles, wheat, clover, grasses, water lilies, Cherokee wild roses, morning glories, scarlet cockscombs, cat-tails and Japan lilies are among the prettiest flower designs. Three or five peacock plumes carelessly grouped together, a stork, peacock or scarlet flamingo are among the odd designs for screens. When the painting is completed the silk panel must then be framed. Plush or velvet is generally used for the frame or border put on the top and bottom edges and the sides left plain. The frame is usually of a contrasting color in bamboo, reeds or wood. Very pretty work-baskets may be made of strawberry baskets, lined with red Turkey twill or satin, the lining forming a bag, which draws up at the top with a ribbon, and when open turns down over 238 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. the basket. Two pockets are set on opposite sides of the basket (inside, of course), and a needle-book and straps for holding scissors, thimbles, etc., are fastened to the others. As the season approaches when the fires are about to die out, there comes up the question of fireboards, or some means of replacing the cheerful glow of the hearth. One of the prettiest ways is to cut out of black net the shape of a peacock's tail and mount it and then cover it with the feathers of the peacock, which are now so happily introduced into all kinds of decoration, and are especially adapted to this purpose. In the centre can be placed the head and breast of the bird itself, if possible ; if not, a bird with suitable tints, such as comes for millinery purposes, can be used. There are, in fact, few more beautiful feathers than can be found in our ordinary barnyard fowls, which might be saved and used in various ways. Other beautiful fireboards can be made of silk, linen, or any of the woollen goods which come for decorative purposes, and embroidered in silk and crewels. Of embroidery it should be urged that for effectiveness it is necessary to adhere to one kind of stitch, as well as to insist on tones in choosing color, rather than contrasts. For example, avoid using orange in connection with blue, but choose in preference red or green.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home