Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/216

  tied with bright ribbon, and it is not only useful, but, properly made, is an ornament to the room.

Wall Pockets. —These are things which can be made in quite a hundred different ways, shapes, and materials; indeed it is almost impossible to suggest any new ideas, yet some people may not have seen old horseshoes utilised in this way. You get an old horseshoe, and cover it smoothly and firmly with any piece of silk, velvet, &c., you have by you. Some people may save themselves trouble by twisting the stuff round the iron; but this does not look nearly as well as when the covering is cut the exact shape of the shoe, lined, and top sewed right round; and before sewing it on you can work some motto round it—"For Luck," "Wish by Me," or any other, according to taste. Having covered the shoe, now cut a piece of cardboard the exact shape for the back, cover it, and sew it on; then form your pocket of card, covered also, and ornamented with a bow. Of course, taste must be used in all these things. Quite the prettiest horseshoe pocket I ever saw was made to represent a gentleman's-crest. The horseshoe was covered with purple satin, on which the motto in Latin was worked in yellow silk. On the back, or rather the centre, was worked in coloured silks a bird standing on a wrist; the hand was perfectly worked, as was also the bird's plumage, the latter in bright silks. In front of this shoe was a sort of tray or stand, just large enough to hold a small vase. The back can be filled in with a toy looking-glass, if you have one, and it has a better effect; or I have often used a picture or photograph. Horseshoes can also be made into photo-frames to stand on a table much in the same way as I have already described.