Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/97

Rh properly managed, a waxen fac-simile of the model (so far as shape is concerned), will be turned out of the mould.

This, however, will require trimming, so as to remove the ridge which marks the juncture of the two halves of the mould, and any scratches or inequalities make by the knife in removing the mould should be polished out with a piece of soft rag, wet with spirits of turpentine or wine.

The wax may be tinted by stirring into it while still on the stove a little of the required color. The tube colors used by artists are preferable. When required of a very delicate tint, as for the green gooseberry, the color may be thinned by the addition of a little Canada balsam and spirits of wine. The shading and varied coloring must be added after the fruit is cast. Some of the smaller fruits, such as the raspberry, mulberry, etc., are cast solid. In this case a hole must be made through the mould at a point corresponding to that at which the stalk is to be inserted. Afterwards the stalks are added before the wax is poured in.

The stalks of fruit are usually made, like those for wax flowers, of wire covered with silk, except in fruits having a very large stem, like the cucumber, when a roll of green silk or cotton, stiffened by a wire through the centre, should be laid on the groove of the mould. It is well to allow the cotton or silk to project into the body of the fruit at least half an inch, so that when the casting is complete, the stalk will be firm in its place and will bear the weight of the fruit.

Wax flowers are made from sheet wax which can be bought prepared and tinted for the purpose. For the benefit of those who may wish to try preparing the sheets themselves, I give the following directions, said to be reliable:—

To every pound of wax we have added about an ounce