FoodNetArchive

The household (of the Detroit free press)

1886

Page 540

Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
PAPER FLOWERS. 661 Cushions. — Of bright colored silk-satin or silesia, with muslin or lace tops, are always the daintiest thing for the bureau, with one or two bows carelessly put on, scrim covers with threads pulled and the nar- rowest ribbon run through, also the stitches pulled in squares, filling up the square by embroidering a star in each. Another design for bureau tops, dotted muslin with the dots worked in colors, put over a colored silesia. y Sofa pillows. — As wool things are somewhat out and silk in, the most comfortable pillows are made of them. A blue pongee with " Sweet dreams, lady," done in gold bullion in bold lettering, a smash- ing bow in one corner. Fill the pillow with hops, or .if with pine needles, such a sentiment as "The breath of the Forest," or "Give me of thy balm, oh ! fir tree," and a branch of pine, such as this : Both the hops and the pine needles are soothing, and will court sleep for those who seek it in vain. Table covers are mostly scarfs these days. Such a scarf of plush, pongee, or most any thin material, tied in a knot and thrown on a table is artistic. Bangle boards are useful to everyone. They can be made of small rollers, like a rolling pin, the ends gilded, the roller covered with plush, and with a bit of embroidery on it. The hooks are fastened on the roller ; they are convenient to hang on one's button and glove hook, keys, etc. Diamons covered with plush are also pretty ; a great many- designs for them can be sawed out of holly, such as crescents, hatchets, etc. Japanese parasols can be put to many uses ; the handle taken out and tack the parasol over an ugly stove-pipe hole. A centre ornament in a ceiling can be made with a parasol tacked up flat and four fans diverging from four sides of it. A waste paper basket can be made of one most satisfactorily. Have a block or standard made; paint or gild ; put the head of the umbrella on the standard ; screw through and to it ; open the parasol about half way ; put a small brad in the handle to hold it open ; a bunch of ribbons or paper flowers is nice tied on to the handle. Paper flowers. — You have heard people say, " Well, those flowers are natural as wax." It is even better when they look so much like natural flowers, that you can tell where one begins and the other leaves off being artificial. At a reception the other day, I saw the most ingeniously mixed paper roses, even that " queen of flowers " — imitated. 662 FANCY WORK. To make a rose, cut the length of a sheet of tissue paper, depth of petals, an inch ; cut at intervals of three-fourths inch ; cut the corners of petals with dull knife, turning the outside outwards, and towards the centre in ; roll till the rose is made ; finish the outside with four small green leaves ; put on wire and wind green wax around for hip and stem. Paper sunflowers. — Cut like a large sunflower, making eight scal- lops ; pinch the centre of each petal through on a hair-pin. This will make the leaves fluffy; three of these of yellow tissue will make the main part of the flower ; cut around for centre of stiff paper ; on this paste long pieces of brown paper fringed, going around till the centre is full ; alternate the yellow petals and sew on the centre.