Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), Friday 28 December 1894, page 12


C H R I STMAS DECORATIONS. Half the pleasure of Christmas deurol upon the decoration of the home. W?c . there are young people in the family thi pleasant work goes merrily forward : all ar glad to render help, and the general goca sill banishes thought of fatigue. No ,? can afford to be without a turch herr an? there of home decoration. Ever so litt:_ evergreen will answer. l:it to ti, 'a"w swould know how pretty rand ple.:ir: coo. binations can be made of simple and in. expensive materials, the efoliojiugsu,_estior may prove of service. Iopes of evergreen spigs are fi?.hioneic into wreaths for decorating bar:isters or pillars. These ropes are made Iy taking strong twine and fastening it at one end. Then lay the sprigs around th t tine, tyingit them on with small string, so that the leave. of one sprig conceal the stems of thois. already fastened, and so on, until the role is of the desired length. A tine iire can also be used to fasten the sprigs on tie twine in place of cord. See that the le'es a!1 turn in rue direction. Half wreaths or garlands are made on barrel hoops. Borderings for doorways,: mirrors or panels should be flat, and thev are made by sewing leaves on strips of[ brown paper. Lettera and n. anograms should be first cut in paper, and tie leaves SeeWtl on. Useful materials f.r home dec,-ration are ivy, laurel, autumn leaves, dried ferni, dried ears of mrain, al many wild gra--es and i weeds. Few combinations are nmore striking than that of scarIe: auttumn leaves with dark i eaves of ivvy. For s:all decoration 'autu:nn leaves can be used n i:h good effect in cornbination with dried ferns. liv all means have a Christl:a tree; nothing delights the children more than this. It may be decked with tinsel and tiny candles and ,c a dazzling sight. It may be decorated with pretty little bags of various shades of iilusiou or tarleton tilled with lollies or candy, and if the effect of snow is desired wadlding can be used to advantage. Mlice or alum sprinkled over the tree gives a pretty appearance. It is essential that the foundation of the tree be firm to avoid ruin and perhaps tire not easily controlled. lf it is not expedient to have a large tree use a small one. The foundation may be a good sized wooden box decorated in ann tasteful fashion. The stein of the tree should be forced through a hole made in the cover, and firmly secured. The bhx will hold all the large presents; a section of the cover may be removed when the time for distribution arrives, and the smaller children will delight in delivering the plainly directed parcels. On the tree itself may be hung lolly ornaments, oranges, paper dolls, toys, and other light articles "which will readily su?gest themselves. This arranr:ement is neither troublesome nor expefnsive and quite effective.