shapes. Of the others, one is made of crimson denim with fleur-de-lis embroidered in dark blue silk ; a second is
of butchers' linen with square designs of drawn work in the centre; a third is in alternating squares
of college colors ; and the fourth is an octagonal pillow of white linen, the autographs
are written in with pencil'and outlined in silk.
THE MODEL COOK BOOK
8i
HOW TO MAKE ATTRACTIVE HOME DECORATIONS
The growing love for artistically attrac-
tive rooms, in cases where the purse does
not permit free application to the uphol-
sterer or the domestic art establishment,
leads to many ingenious devices to bring
^beauty out of homeliness, and to produce
both from cast-off and useless lumber, and
material of more value, articles of ornament
for parlor or chamber ; while the skill in
knitting, crocheting, and other arts of the
fingers possessed by many ladies aids im-
mensely in converting homely rooms into
charming and attractive ones. It is pro-
posed here to give some examples of deco-
rations both of the homely and the more
expensive order, which ma}^ serve as useful
suggestions for many other articles made
from materials in the possession of our
readers, or in accordance with their tastes
and the means at their command.
A Rustic Rug. — Even such homely stuff
as the coarse material of a coffee bag, or
coarse sacking of any description, may be
made into an attractive rug in the manner
here described:
Cut the stuff to the shape required.
Then, having prepared strips of woolen
material half an inch wdde, darn them w4th
a coarse needle in and out through the sack-
ing, leaving between each strip loops an
inch in height. The colors of the w^ool may
be diversified according to taste. For in-
stance, there may be a black border, wdth a
centre of a single shade, or of a variety of
bright colors.
After the work is ended , the whole sur-
face must be clipped evenly. A very tasty
rug can be made in this simple and easy
manner.
The Dressing Table. — Take a small
plain table with a drawer. The top of the
table may be covered with inexpensive ma-
terial, as dotted Swiss or cheese cloth, lined
with a contrasting color. Gather around
the edge a flounce, also lined if practicable,
deep enough to reach the floor, and hang
above on the wall a mirror in a wooden
frame painted to match the furniture, with
drapery like that of the bed, caught above
it with knots of ribbon.
29
A wash-stand may be as easily prepared,
being painted to correspond with the other
articles, and finished by a dainty white cover,
fringed at the ends, with embroidery above.
Choose, if possible, a toilet set to match the
colors of the room.
Chairs. — Common wooden chairs may
be made quite pretty by painting to match
the colors of the furniture and putting on
the seats cushions stuffed with excelsior
and covered with cretonne.
To make a pleasant little sewing-chair,
have the legs of one sawed off about one-
third their length, the back ones a trifle
shorter than the front. For the rocker add
a cushion tied across with bows at the top
of the back, as well as on the seat.
Page 100
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
shapes. Of the others, one is made of crimson denim with fleur-de-lis embroidered in dark blue silk ; a second is
of butchers' linen with square designs of drawn work in the centre; a third is in alternating squares
of college colors ; and the fourth is an octagonal pillow of white linen, the autographs
are written in with pencil and outlined in silk.
HOW TO MAKE ATTRACTIVE HOME DECORATIONS
The growing love for artistically attractive rooms, in cases where the purse does not permit free application to the upholsterer or the domestic art establishment, leads to many ingenious devices to bring beauty out of homeliness, and to produce both from cast-off and useless lumber, and material of more value, articles of ornament for parlor or chamber ; while the skill in knitting, crocheting, and other arts of the fingers possessed by many ladies aids immensely in converting homely rooms into charming and attractive ones. It is proposed here to give some examples of decorations both of the homely and the more expensive order, which ma}^ serve as useful suggestions for many other articles made from materials in the possession of our readers, or in accordance with their tastes and the means at their command.
A Rustic Rug. — Even such homely stuff as the coarse material of a coffee bag, or coarse sacking of any description, may be made into an attractive rug in the manner here described:
Cut the stuff to the shape required. Then, having prepared strips of woolen material half an inch wdde, darn them with a coarse needle in and out through the sacking, leaving between each strip loops an inch in height. The colors of the wool may be diversified according to taste. For instance, there may be a black border, with a centre of a single shade, or of a variety of bright colors.
After the work is ended , the whole surface must be clipped evenly. A very tasty rug can be made in this simple and easy manner.
The Dressing Table. — Take a small plain table with a drawer. The top of the table may be covered with inexpensive material, as dotted Swiss or cheese cloth, lined with a contrasting color. Gather around the edge a flounce, also lined if practicable, deep enough to reach the floor, and hang above on the wall a mirror in a wooden frame painted to match the furniture, with drapery like that of the bed, caught above
it with knots of ribbon.
A wash-stand may be as easily prepared, being painted to correspond with the other articles, and finished by a dainty white cover, fringed at the ends, with embroidery above. Choose, if possible, a toilet set to match the colors of the room.
Chairs. — Common wooden chairs may be made quite pretty by painting to match the colors of the furniture and putting on the seats cushions stuffed with excelsior and covered with cretonne.
To make a pleasant little sewing-chair, have the legs of one sawed off about onethird their length, the back ones a trifle shorter than the front. For the rocker add a cushion tied across with bows at the top of the back, as well as on the seat.