PROCESS FOR GILDING.
As the window trimmer is frequently required to gild articles for display, the process may be described. The material to be gilded is first covered with a solution of gelatine in hot water, to which an equal quantity of alcohol is added, and the leaf gold put on while wet. Then take a sheet of soft paper and press and smooth it over the leaf gold until the gelatine below is evenly distributed. By this spots in the gilding are prevented. Do not use too much gelatine, as otherwise the gold becomes spotted; nor too little, for in this case the binding is too weak to enable the gold to withstand subsequent polishing. The surfaces should be cleaned before gilding. After having the leaf gold put on, the whole is allowed to dry for ten or twenty minutes, when the gold is rubbed with cotton, whereby the luster is produced. Then another layer of gelatine is spread on with one stroke of a full, soft and large brush, and if especially good work be required, a second layer of leaf gold is put on and covered with gelatine as before. In this case, however, the gelatine is best used hot. The same process can be employed for silvering, but more gelatine should be taken, as leaf silver is thicker than leaf gold.
CHAPTER XX.
HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.
Chiffon.—The utility of chiffon in window decoration is proved every day. The material is so soft, fleecy and pliable that it makes an admirable floor covering or background, and is also adapted for shelves.
An Illumination.—Procure a number of hanging fish globes, of about 4-quart size. Cover them with colored tissue or crepe paper, smooth on the surface, with a puffing or shirr at the top. Suspend in various positions in your window, and drop an incandescent globe into each, or light with small hand lamps. If the colors are harmonious the illumination will be beautiful enough to attract unusual attention to your display.
Prisms for Decorating.—Suddenly a fad has sprung up for decorating trims with prisms, such as used on hanging lamps. They are sold by the hundred by any crockery house, and are very reasonable in price. To edge shelving in windows or for trimming more profusely they are very bright and pretty. In one recent trim 5,000 prisms were used on the background, and when the display was lighted at evening the bright crystals looked like so many scintillating diamonds.
Side Hoops.—The sides of windows are always more or less difficult to trim properly, but by using small hoops, about twelve or fifteen inches in diameter, nailed in various positions against the side walls, you can suspend within them many goods that will show advantageously, and serve to balance your trim. The hoops should be wound with cheesecloth, thus making a frame for the article you display.
Post Shelves.—Posts in windows frequently annoy and puzzle trimmers, who find them awkward to contend with. Post brackets are easily made, and are serviceable, while they obviate the disadvantage of the post. Make shelves fitting halfway around the post and fronting the window glass. Place them equal distances apart, and then tack pleats of cheesecloth to the edges, allowing the pleats to run down to the next shelf, where they are bunched and tacked. Make the shelves of such width as will accommodate the goods you wish to display.
Suspended Stands.—Cut a square board large enough for the form to stand upon, cover it neatly, and suspend from the ceiling by ribbons running from each corner. One beauty about these is they do not interfere with the trim below them.
Framed Forms.—Secure a large gilt frame, set it in the center of your window and build behind it an alcove lined with dark drapery. Set a form, costumed as desired, in this alcove, and light with electric lights placed inside the frame and out of view. The effect is similar to that of a lifesized picture, and is very attractive.
Umbrellas and Neckwear.—Make stands of threes of umbrellas, and lay neckwear over the crossed handles. Or, fasten canes or umbrellas to the sides and back of your trim, the ferrules sticking into the bored holes of a proper size to hold them firmly; and over these improvised fixtures drape four-in-hands, hosiery, etc. The crooked handles may be used for suspending made ties.
Ribbon Decoration.—Where the trim occupies only the floor of the window, the display may be balanced by running broad ribbons from the four corners, crossing in the center and placed about midway between the trim and the ceiling. Make a large bow for each corner and one in the center where the ribbons cross. This idea may often be utilized in millinery trims.
Wash Day.—For a wash goods window put a form representing a laundress bending over a wash tub and engaged in washing a piece of goods of the class the window is draped with. A sign should read, “Yes, these will wash.”
Easter Panorama.—A panorama of Easter flowers may easily be made by placing bunches of various flowers on an endless belt, which, when attached to a motor, carries the flowers across the window in one continual stream.
Live Canary Birds.—Here is a novel suggestion that will make a capital background for any window: About three feet from the back of your window put a screen of illusion or some open material, the color being cream or some light tint that will render the netting as invisible as possible. In the space behind the netting place some wires at various distances, so that the birds may perch upon them. A few canaries in this backing, flying here and there, as they will, will prove a great attraction. A painted background of a summer scene will greatly improve the effect.
Human Forms.—The fad just now is to use human forms to show goods. A handsomely fitted room is shown in the window, and a lady, dressed in style costume, sits or walks about, showing off her gown to advantage. At times she displays cards reading, “This lace costs —— a yard,” or “This dress goods is only —— a yard,” thus calling attention practically to the goods. The ladies criticise the make and “hang” and appearance of the fabrics, and the men—well, if the display figure is pretty the men are also attracted. Bicycle suits for ladies were recently shown in this manner in Chicago, the display figure, or model, appearing in a different dress every hour.
Kaleidoscope.—An ingenious display consists of two rapidly revolving electric fans, throwing about with their strong air currents particles of red, white and blue paper, forming a scene of kaleidoscopic beauty.
Shamrocks.—Cut a large shamrock, say two feet high, from thin boards or cardboard, and cover the surface thickly with the artificial green rose leaves sold by millinery houses. The effect is very beautiful and it may be used in the center of your window on St. Patrick’s day.
To Show Ribbons.—A pretty effect is created by pushing out the center of a bolt of ribbon and extending the coils to as great a length as the width of the bolt will admit.
Icicles.—Icicles in summer have a cooling tendency. To make a cool looking window, take strings (hempen cord is best) and dip them in a solution of glue. While wet scatter cotton along them until they are from a quarter to a half inch thick. Let them dry. Dissolve gelatine, making a solution about as thick as ordinary syrup. Dip your cords into this solution and hang them up again to dry. Result—icicles as long and thick as you want them; guaranteed not to melt in the sun. Suspend them from the top of your windows. Fill in the spaces between them, on the ceiling, with vines of smilax, artificial flowers and green leaves.
House of Linens.—Build a light frame of a small house of any design to suit your fancy, and cover it with strawboard, except the spaces for windows and doors. Over the board arrange toweling for the roof, folded napkins for the sides, with solid colored handkerchiefs for the windows. Light from within.
Shirt Waists.—Very attractive displays may be made with shirt waists, which will soon be in season. Make pads of excelsior, wrapped with thin, flexible paper, and of a size to fill out the waists, and insert one into the bosom of each waist shown. Smaller pads for sleeves may be used to advantage. Waists should be fitted with collars, ties and cuffs.
Winter Scene.—A good window for winter may be made by cutting down an old tree (or part of one) and placing it in the center of your window. Run cotton over the tops of the bare branches to represent snow, and sprinkle it with flitters. Two or three stuffed robins or sparrows may be placed upon the branches, which will also hold many articles of merchandise.
Twist Crepe Backgrounds.—Trimmers are using crepe paper for backgrounds with good effect. One mode is to cut the crepe paper into three-inch strips, paste together, end to end, until long enough to reach the height of the window. One end is tacked flat to the floor, and the strip is slightly twisted until the curls that are formed are about as close as those in a corkscrew. The strip is then drawn fairly taut and tacked to the ceiling. A few inches away a strip of contrasting color is fastened in the same way, and, continuing, a straight or circular backing is thus formed which is bright and attractive. Sometimes the tops of the twisted columns are centered, and in a few instances the ends are gathered together at the bottom and spread, fan-like, from that point.
Handkerchief Racks.—These racks consist of ¼-inch rods fastened under the back edge of the counter top, running perpendicularly to a height of eighteen inches above the counter, and then forward horizontally eighteen inches. The front end is flattened and pierced with a small hole in which to stick the standard of a price ticket. The bars are placed a foot apart, and run the length of the counter. Handkerchiefs are fastened to the horizontal section by means of clasps or cord, and the effect produced by the display is remarkable, a few dozen handkerchiefs presenting the appearance of a large stock. The bars are common iron, made by any blacksmith, and gilded.
Use of Wall Paper.—Occasionally one tires of the continuous use of cheesecloth for backgrounds, and for variety a window lined with wall paper is effective. Care must be exercised in selecting a small, dainty pattern, and the entire window space—sides, back, ceiling and floor—should be covered with the same pattern, as well as any stands used in the trim. Dark backgrounds, with small white figures, are most desirable.
Holly.—Windows trimmed with sprigs of holly, having the red berries peeping from among the dark green leaves, inspire shoppers with the thought that Christmas is not far off, and thus stimulate trade.
A Snow Storm.—Cover the bottom of your window with cotton batting (sides and top may also be covered if you wish). Dust well with powdered mica or white frosting. Place several incandescent lights, wire guarded, so that they are hidden from view by the cotton. Some of the lights may have red bulbs. Secrete several electric fans in various parts of the window, and, lastly, throw three or four pounds of goose-down into the window and start up the fans. You will not only have a regular snow storm, but a blizzard, and any central figure will be seen as having a fight with the elements.
Rainbow.—A very pretty window is where the background is a huge rainbow, consisting of a broad arch the full width of the window. This arch is covered with tinted cheesecloth, one tint blending with another, and all the hues of the rainbow being used. The effect is exceedingly striking. A show card in front reads: “Don’t Chase Rainbows. We Have the Goods and the Prices. Trade with Us.”
A Blanket Window.—Make an arch, extending across the window, covered with rolled blankets. Under the arch build a small hill of irregular shape, covered with some green material. Place toy sheep in different positions upon the hill. Use draped blankets for background. Natural wool may also be effectively used to trim with.
Autumn Leaves.—Natural or artificial leaves, in the exquisite autumnal colorings, may be effectively employed in decorating windows. They are seasonable and attractive, and easily procured.
Outfit Displays.—Where a merchant carries all lines of goods, a capital idea is to make a window of outfit displays. Lay over a form an attractive piece of dress goods, and upon or around this group articles of ladies’ wear to match the shade of the cloth, such as gloves, ribbons, neckwear, umbrella, shoes and a trimmed hat. Half a dozen such outfits, contrasting well in colors, make a window very attractive to the fair sex.
Fireplaces.—The soft glow of a fireplace in the center or at the side of a window brightens any trim, and in cold weather looks very cozy to the shivering crowds that pass by.
A Good Idea.—Silks and dress Goods may be attractively draped over short poles suspended from the ceiling of the window by means of chains. The poles should be about two feet in length. Bows of bright ribbon fastened to the chains midway between the pole and ceiling add to the charm of the display.
Illusion.—A very pretty window trim may be made by stretching illusion, of the quality that hats are lined with, across the center of the window, and upon its surface pinning fancy handkerchiefs, etc., in artistic, flower shaped effects. If the illusion is stretched tightly it will be almost invisible, and the goods will seem to the observer to be suspended in mid-air.
Box Models.—Much attention may be attracted by making from cardboard a model of some well known building in your town, such as the court house, public library, college or a church, following the form of its architecture and painting it to resemble the original structure. Cut out the windows and cover the openings with colored tissue paper. By putting a light inside you get a very pretty effect and one that will be appreciated by your townspeople.
A Prismatic Display.—Take two large panes of common window glass, and set them in a frame about six inches apart. Have them perfectly clean, and then fill the space between them with cracked ice of clean and clear quality. Place the frame in the window, and behind the exact center of it hang an electric light or place a lamp with a reflector. From the sidewalk the cracked ice will show the most beautiful prismatic effects, in all the colors of the rainbow. In cold weather the ice will last throughout a day easily, and perhaps for a longer time.
A Pretty Trim recently shown consisted of an open well, built up of rough stones and covered with moss, with an old oaken bucket attached to a pole, which a boy is just raising from the well. Autumn leaves strew the ground, and at the back of the scene is a fence consisting of two rough rails and pickets of umbrellas and canes alternating. A cabin built of underwear is at one side, and a forest scene fills in the back.
An Easter Bouquet.—An appropriate centerpiece for an Easter window is a large bouquet of artificial flowers, among which are scattered handkerchiefs, ties, gloves or other small articles, which project from the bouquet and bear neat price cards. Bouquets may also be made in which handkerchiefs are folded to represent Calla lilies. Use a jeweled hat pin for the center of the lily, and green cloth for a stem.
A Waterfall.—One of the department stores in Minneapolis, wishing to call attention to a ribbon sale, had an attractive window display constructed as follows: It consisted of a painted representation of Minnehaha Falls. In place of a picture of the water fall itself, many continuous bands of various colors of ribbons passed from top to bottom, being rapidly revolved by rollers, one above and one below, turned by electric motive power.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE STREET FAIR.
The street fair is the most popular form of modern local enterprise, and has been growing in popularity for several years.