Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/99

Rh using the other. The cutting stroke should be made steadily but quickly. The thickness of the sheet must depend on the adaptation of the shave, which must be learned at the time of purchase. The first three or four sheets will not cut equally, but the wax will remelt; the most perfect sheets only should be laid aside for use. For preserving them in nice condition, lay them between sheets of paper which have been brushed over with boiled linseed oil, and which have been allowed to dry. The wax may be tinted as directed above by using the following colors in different proportions: chrome yellow, Prussian blue, French ultramarine, carmine, and flake or Chinese white.

Wax flowers are or should be modelled after real ones rather than after patterns cut in tin or cardboard, and to enable one to do it well several of the flowers to be copied should be kept at hand. Pick one carefully to pieces, and cut petals, calyx, etc., carefully out, curling and moulding them over a long pin. Put them together as far as possible in imitation of the way in which they grow. The stems are made as directed for fruit, over fine wire. Very fine wire may sometimes be used as the foundation for stamens and pistils. Begin with very simple flowers, and copy Nature as far as possible. Autumn leaves are one of the easiest things to imitate, and are good practice for coloring. As said before, where practicable, tinted wax is used to give the local color, but this must be shaded and variegated after the petals, etc., are cut out. Water colors in powder are used for this purpose, and are applied in the following manner:

Having taken a very minute quantity of color powder on the blade of a penknife, lay it upon a palette, or the under side of a plate, and press it with the blade to destroy any lumps. With the penknife also add a very small quantity of weak gum-water, and work the mass to the consistency of cream. The colors must be applied