WHEAT EARS.
Neatness and grace must be studied, care must be used to avoid cutting off the thread wire, or floss, any oftener than possible. In making wreaths and sprays every one must exercise his or her own taste. Infinite varieties of forms can be designed; you can trim a head-dress exquisitely with them.
I advise young ladies to try their skill. It is fascinating work and the effect is beautiful. Bridal wreaths formed of the rice shells, Roman pearls, white chenille, and silver wire are often made. Bugle flowers can be made in the same way, taking wire the color of the bead.
Shell baskets are very ornamental. Exquisite watch stands and cigar or match stands can be formed of shells. Your frames should be made of wood or tin. Cover them thick with white paint. The painters will prepare it for you as thick as putty, with boiled oil. Paint must be selected that will not turn yellow and will dry quickly. After covering your frame thickly with this preparation, lay on the shells in whatever form your own taste may direct. Place them so thick that none of the paint will be visible, and set the frame aside until it is dry. The drying may require several days. When it is dry varnish it with white map varnish.
WATCH-STAND.
Watch stands, in the form of a church or other building, may be made with a tin frame. Rolls of tin may be used for columns and towers, and soldered to the frame. A circular opening must be made in the frame through which the watch can be seen, and a small case of tin must be soldered to the back of the frame in which the watch can be held firmly. Take two blocks of wood similar in form, but one of them larger than the other, and glue the smaller one on top of the other; then make a slit along the middle line of the upper block, in which the tin frame is to be inserted and fastened with glue. The blocks will represent the steps to the building, and may be covered with shells. If the building represents a church, a cross for the top may be made of tiny rice shells. The towers should be covered with larger sized rice shells, and on the summit of each a small cone shell should be placed. The opening for the watch should be surrounded by flat, round, white shells. The inside of the case for the watch should be lined with crimson velvet, glued in. The outside should be covered with shells.
Harps, guitars, etc., etc., can be ornamented in the same way. If they are riveted into marble slabs, the trouble of covering the stands with shells will be avoided. Cigar stands can be made of thick card-board, but tin is better; it must be cut about seven and a half inches long and four inches wide, and soldered together, (to make a round cup) and fastened upon a stand. Boxes, tables, vases, and all kinds of ornamental articles can be covered with shells.
