Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/482

 WOMAN'S HOME 458 the silver variety are arranged round the vases on the cloth, and a sparkling effect can be produced if the leaves are coated with a very weak solution of gum arabic, and then sprinkled with crystal frost. Holly and Scarlet Geraniums The candlesticks are of silver, in the form of dragons, with bright rose-pink Empire shades. Empire shades, moreover, are fashionable, and they are quite easy to make. The difference in shape from the ordmary shade is that the lower part is but very slightly larger round than the top, and the trimmings are flat and straight in character instead of full and fluffy. Those of which I am thinking are of finely pleated silk, with rows of tiny moss roses sewn round them, and there is a hanging fringe of pink glass beads. The cosaques are placed on the table between the guests. In colour they are a deep rose pink, upon each is a cluster of carnations and grasses, and they are tied with bows of a paler shade. A delightful Christmas scheme could be arranged with variegated holly, holly berries, and scarlet geraniums. Six vases are used : a tall, slender one for the centre, and five smaller ones arranged round. These are filled with sprays of holly and geranium, and garlands of holly berries are festooned from vase to vase. Artificial berries for these festoons may be used if the real ones are not plentiful. To make a festoon of berries, take a length of cotton rather longer than you need, and with a fine needle thread the berries on to it. Make five chains of berries in this way, and then at the end of each chain fasten on to the cotton a little piece of stick about the size of a pocket pencil. By dipping these sticks into the vases the berries will be kept in place. If the geraniums are gummed before being used for decorative purposes they will last quite a long time, if not they will fall quickly. To gum, all that is required is a little camel-hair brush and a penny bottle of thin gum. Dip the brush in the gum, and then place one drop in the centre of each little flower. The novel guest-cards are in the form of turkeys, and Yule log crackers are also used. A Christmas Tea-table A Christmas tea-table that will please both old and young is another charming and novel idea. For this, purchase a small wooden wheelbarrow, such as can be ob- tained at any toy shop, but if there is a clever home carpenter in the family it will not be a difficult matter to get it made at home. Enamel it a bright shade of scarlet, which is essentially a Christmas colour. Line it with moss, and place a glass jar — or tin that will hold water — inside it. Stand some lead supports in this, hide them with moss, and fill lightly with fragrant lilies of the valley and their leaves. Place this on the centre of the table upon sprays of fern and moss, and stand a knowing-looking robin on the barrow. Then place your Father Christmas so that he appears to be wheeling the barrow. Father Christmas, to the guests, will look an elaborate figure, but he began life as a very ordinary sixpenny one, and was beautified by the home worker. A big beard was made with some scraps of white fur, a pointed cap of red Turkey twill trimmed with a band of white wadding, and a long coat of the same material trimmed to correspond. Around the table are Yule log cosaques, ornamented with sprays of holly and fir. Our first illustration gives an idea for a Christmas supper when you wish to give presents to those assembled : Take a strip of white wadding, and pull the surface loose until it is a fleecy mass, which will form a good imitation of snow. In the centre of the snow stands Father Christmas, with a holly bough in his hand, or holding a banner with good wishes painted upon it, his robin by his side. Under the snow around him place the presents, tied in neat parcels, and attach a length of scarlet ribbon to each parcel. Hide the edge of the wadding with sprays of holly. Bring the ribbons out in all directions, and place the end of one before each guest's seat. Write the names of the guests in red ink on holly name-cards, and attach them to the ribbons with a pretty bow. At a given signal each guest draws a ribbon, and finds an appropriate little present at the other end. For the sweets fill little rustic wheelbarrows with cocoanut creams in the shape of marbles to represent snowballs, and perch a tiny toy robin on each barrow. Tablecloths Although elaborate table-centres are not largely used now, the tablecloths themselves are far more elaborate than formerly, and when they are inserted with beautiful lace, as is very often the case, it is, of course, a mistake to hide this with decorations. A coloured underslip is used sometimes with these openwork or lace-trimmed cloths, and the effect is very good if the same hue as the flowers is employed. Ivy and robins are a delightful combina- tion for a Christmas table. A square of white silk that has been embroidered with a design in floss silk and silver thread is placed under a handsome centre-piece filled with luscious fruits, white chrysanthemums and asparagus fern. The white silk square is bordered with sprays of fine ivy leaves, and the sprays cross at each corner; other sprays extend from the centre to the edges of the table, and they have all been frosted. A robin filled with sweeties is placed in front of each guest. If you are decorating the table for a buffet or stand-up supper, garland the front and sides with smilax, fastening a pretty