A Simple Wardrobe. — A wardrobe of
attractive appearance can be made b}^ an}^
one of ordinary ingenuity. To do so take
two boards a foot wide and five feet high.
Place these the distance apart desired for
the wddth of the wardrobe, and connect them
with similar boards at top and bottom , mak-
ing an improvised open framework. Cast-
ers should be placed in the four bottom
corners, and brass rings screwed into each
end of the top board.
Next prepare a pair of curtains suffi-
ciently wide and long, hem the top, slip a
brass wire through the hem, and pass the
ends of the wires through the rings, letting
the curtains fall to the floor. The side-
boards of the wardrobe can be stained or
treated in any way desired. Finally, ward-
robe hooks can be procured and screwed
into the upper board.
l^ookcase. — A bookcase suitable for
ordinary purposes may be improvised from an
old bureau which has lost its mirror, by plac-
ing above it a set of shelves, made by two up-
right boards screwed to the sides of the bureau ,
and two or three cross ones. Paint and
brass handles will serve to make the old bu-
reau look new. By screwing brass rings
into the ends of the top shelf and slipping a
rod through them, curtains may l^ie hung of
any stuff preferred.
449
82
THE MODEL COOK BOOK
flantelpiece. — Many houses still contain
the high, old-fashioned, wooden mantel-
pieces, painted to imitate yellow-grained
black marble, and a sore affliction to the eyes.
A little paint may convert an eye- sore into an
ornament. Kbonize the entire Surface, and
paint a spray of flowers in each panel, taking
care to select blossoms whose tints harmon-
ize with the decorations of the room. In a
chamber furnished with white and olue, a
mantelpiece of this kind would be pretty
painted white, with the panels outlined in
blue. If desired, some geometrical design
or figure in outline can be painted in each
panel. Above the mantelpiece fasten two
shelves, the upper one shorter than the
lower, supporting them on brackets. In
this manner a very unsightly mantel may
be converted into a very pretty and at-
tractive one.
Screen. — If your house is small and your
family large, a folding-screen in each bedroom
is an important addition. Very pretty and
inexpensive ones may be made by covering a
wooden frame with coarse canvas, and on
this arranging pictures cut from illustrated
papers. When the canvas is entirely cov-
ered, varnish the whole, and be happy in
the knowledge that you have added a use-
ful adjunct to your bedroom furniture, as
well, perhaps, as provided hours of amuse-
ment for sick children in hunting out the
various pictures.
Window Draperies.— ^A novel and pretty
window curtain has been made easily and
cheaply by the practice of a little taste and
ingenuity. Its material was the yellow silk
ribbon which is used to tie bundles of cigars.
This was made into squares, which were
joined together by bands of antique lace in-
sertion until the full length was reached.
The top and bottom were then hemmed, and
the lower end ornamented with a border of
white lace and a row of fringe.
flirrors. — If through ill-fortune a look-
ing-glass is broken, it is easy to utilize its
larger fragments. These may be cut into
square or diamond shape, and inserted in
plush frames, or painted or gilded wooden
frames. Thus utilized, a misfortune may be
converted into an advantage in decoration.
450
Sofa Pillows.
Page 101
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
A Simple Wardrobe. — A wardrobe of attractive appearance can be made b}^ an}^ one of ordinary ingenuity. To do so take two boards a foot wide and five feet high. Place these the distance apart desired for the width of the wardrobe, and connect them with similar boards at top and bottom , making an improvised open framework. Casters should be placed in the four bottom corners, and brass rings screwed into each end of the top board.
Next prepare a pair of curtains sufficiently wide and long, hem the top, slip a brass wire through the hem, and pass the ends of the wires through the rings, letting the curtains fall to the floor. The sideboards of the wardrobe can be stained or treated in any way desired. Finally, wardrobe hooks can be procured and screwed into the upper board.
Bookcase. — A bookcase suitable for ordinary purposes may be improvised from an old bureau which has lost its mirror, by placing above it a set of shelves, made by two upright boards screwed to the sides of the bureau , and two or three cross ones. Paint and brass handles will serve to make the old bureau look new. By screwing brass rings into the ends of the top shelf and slipping a rod through them, curtains may be hung of
any stuff preferred.
Mantelpiece. — Many houses still contain the high, old-fashioned, wooden mantelpieces, painted to imitate yellow-grained black marble, and a sore affliction to the eyes. A little paint may convert an eye- sore into an ornament. Ebonize the entire Surface, and paint a spray of flowers in each panel, taking care to select blossoms whose tints harmonize with the decorations of the room. In a chamber furnished with white and blue, a mantelpiece of this kind would be pretty painted white, with the panels outlined in blue. If desired, some geometrical design or figure in outline can be painted in each panel. Above the mantelpiece fasten two shelves, the upper one shorter than the lower, supporting them on brackets. In this manner a very unsightly mantel may be converted into a very pretty and attractive one.
Screen. — If your house is small and your family large, a folding-screen in each bedroom is an important addition. Very pretty and inexpensive ones may be made by covering a wooden frame with coarse canvas, and on this arranging pictures cut from illustrated papers. When the canvas is entirely covered, varnish the whole, and be happy in the knowledge that you have added a useful adjunct to your bedroom furniture, as well, perhaps, as provided hours of amusement for sick children in hunting out the various pictures.
Window Draperies.— ^A novel and pretty window curtain has been made easily and cheaply by the practice of a little taste and ingenuity. Its material was the yellow silk ribbon which is used to tie bundles of cigars. This was made into squares, which were joined together by bands of antique lace insertion until the full length was reached. The top and bottom were then hemmed, and the lower end ornamented with a border of white lace and a row of fringe.
Mirrors. — If through ill-fortune a looking-glass is broken, it is easy to utilize its larger fragments. These may be cut into square or diamond shape, and inserted in plush frames, or painted or gilded wooden frames. Thus utilized, a misfortune may be converted into an advantage in decoration.
Sofa Pillows.