Home Occupations for Boys and Girls Part 7

=Picture-Frame= (_Bark_, _punch_, _sweet gra.s.s_)

Cut two pieces of bark 4 5 inches, one of smooth bark, one of the outer bark with pleasing markings. Punch holes around the edges of each 3/4 inches apart. In the rough outside piece cut an oval 2-1/2 3 inches. Around this inner oval punch holes near together and bind this around with sweet gra.s.s overcast with fine raffia. Now sew the two pieces of bark together, first cutting into the back piece a slit near the bottom into which to slide the photograph.

In using sweet gra.s.s as binding it is well to wind the bunch first with thread to hold the pieces together, and after the gra.s.s is firmly sewed the temporary thread can be cut away. The bunch of gra.s.s thus used may be about as thick as half the little finger.

Punch may be bought at kindergarten store, or conductor's punch will do.

GOURDS

=Darning-Egg=

A smooth well-shaped gourd (mock-orange) makes a serviceable darning egg.

=Hanging-Basket= (_Large gourd_, _soil_, _plant_)

Clear the gourd of fibre and seeds, after cutting off the top rim evenly. Pierce the top with two holes through which to attach cord for hanging, fill with a light, loose soil, and plant in it a drooping, trailing plant. Cut a hole in the lower end to allow for drainage. Let the country child save gourds of good shape to present, thus filled, to city friends.

VEGETABLES

=Sweet-Potato Vine=

Put a sweet potato in sandy loam in a hanging basket and water occasionally. It will produce a beautiful, graceful vine.

=Carrot-Top=

Cut off the top of a young carrot evenly and place it on top of a pot filled with sand. Moisten well, and keep in the dark till it has begun to sprout; when the leaves appear take it out, and the word "Carrot-top"

will acquire a new meaning, the result is so pretty.

=Turnip=

Take a turnip and clean the outside, taking care not to injure the parts from which the leaves spring. Cut a piece off the bottom and scoop out the inside, leaving the top intact. Fasten string or wire to it so as to hang it upside down. Fill and keep filled with water, and soon the leaves will sprout and curl up, forming a beautiful natural hanging basket.

RAFFIA

This flexible fiber, long used by florists, is now also used a great deal in the schools for the educational hand-training it affords. It can be obtained at kindergarten supply places.

=Reins=

Take three to six strands and braid into reins for playing horse. As the ends of the strands are approached (each is about a yard long) begin to weave in a new strand, as inconspicuously as possible. Do not have the strands all exactly the same length to begin with, because if you reach the end of all at the same time it makes it difficult to weave in new ones neatly.

=Mat=

Take such a long braid as described above, and holding one end flat, turn it round and round spirally but flat, and sew with thread to make a mat for the tea-pot. By bending up a little as you sew you can make a basket.

=Picture-Frame= (_Cardboard_, _raffia_, _thread and needle_)

Cut a circle of cardboard 5 5 inches in diameter. From the centre cut out a smaller circle three inches in diameter. This leaves a circular cardboard frame. Wind this round and round smoothly with the raffia.

Paste another circle on the back to give a good finish, but in this second circle cut a slit up which to slide the photograph.

=Woven Mat= (_Loom_, _raffia_)

Thread a little loom with raffia warp as described on page 90. Then weave the woof (also of raffia) back and forth to make a mat or a case for hanging basket. To make the latter the right size have the warp threads as _long_ as the can is _around the circ.u.mference_, and have the _width_ about the same as the _height_ of the can.

The raffia can be colored with Diamond dyes and wee rugs made for the doll-house on tiny looms.

=Grace Hoops= (See under Plays and Games)

LEAVES

=Festoons and Wreaths= (_Leaves, fresh or dried_, _thorns or needle and thread_)

City children may need to be told what seems to be handed down to the country child from generation to generation, that leaves may be made into wreaths for the head or decoration for the room either by overlapping one upon another and fastening together with a thorn or sharp twig, or by stringing together on a stout thread.

=To Dry or Press= (_Blotting paper_, _two small smooth boards_, _strap_, _wax or linseed oil_)

Gather and press pretty autumn leaves thus: Have ready two boards measuring about one by two feet. Put the leaves between sheets of blotting paper and place these between the boards and then strap them tightly together, or if no straps are convenient, put the boards beneath a heavy weight (a book will do). Change the paper every day or so till sure that they are quite dry.

To preserve and brighten the colors after drying dip in melted wax and press a moment with a hot iron, or clear, boiled linseed oil will do in place of the wax, using, however, as little as possible.

=Decoration for Curtains=

Pin to lace curtains in attractive arrangement.

=Transparency= (_Leaves_, _bolting-cloth_, _1 yard white India silk_, _sewing silk_, _needle_)

1. Take a piece of bolting-cloth twice the length of the largest leaf and fold over evenly. Open again and place the leaves upon the bolting-cloth artistically in a row; fold the cloth over again and baste. Bind the edges with white ribbon, and at the two upper corners sew the ends of a narrow ribbon with which to suspend the transparency in the window.

2. Or, if preferred, sew the bolting-cloth transparency as a border to the end of a yard of India silk as a scarf for shelf or piano.