They are now sufficiently strong to bear handling with ordinary care,
and can be arranged to suit the taste either on a stand, under a glass
shade or in a deep recess frame. Leaves containing tannin, such as the
oak, hazel, and many others, should never be placed with others. Holly
leaves are beautiful, but must be also prepared alone, on account of the
spines. Ferns and fine grasses are very difficult to arrange as their
feathery fronds are liable to curl, and must be most carefully coaxed
into position. The best method to accomplish this is to float the leaves
off upon a card ; then while damp, with a needle and camel's-hair
brush arrange each tiny leaflet, then lay them under folds of soft paper,
pressing gently upon the surface to extract the moisture, then lay each
card between sheets of tissue paper, place newspaper over and under,
and place under weights. This is a good method of drying any fine
leaves.
340 SPATTER WORK.
SPATTER WORK.
In selecting ferns for this beautiful work, take the narrow and deeply-
cleft leaves. You will want all sizes, but more small ones. In press-
ing, do not have them all straight ; bend them in various forms — that
is, drooping and many little graceful ways.
Take a large board ; it must be very smooth, soft and light ; put
strips across the back that it may not warp. A fine wire sieve made
round. The frame of this is six inches in diameter, one inch and three-
fourths in depth. Fine wire gauze like a flour sieve is set three-fourths
of an inch from one edge which is the top. The handle is set in the
top, sloping down ; is five and one-fourth inches long, one-half inch in
diameter where it is set and one inch at the other end. Two dozen
papers of fine needles will be none too many for a large picture; a
horseshoe magnet to pick up falling needles, and a very stiff tooth-
brush.
To Make a Cross — Tack your bristol-board smoothly on your lap-
board, lay the cross pattern on the paper and slightly outline with a
pencil ; take off the pattern and lay on the ferns and vines as you wish
them to be seen on the cross ; put on the pattern cross, and pin very
smoothly. A narrow strip should be cut from the right side of the
pattern, the whole length, under the right arm and the end also under
the left arm. Put on the shadows with the rest of the pattern, and be
sure there is not the slightest space between. Put more ferns on the
pattern with ends projecting over.
A descending dove with a fine branch in the mouth is a great addi-
tion. Take some dove picture, cut the wings close to the body, then
pin all on, spatter ; when a little dark take off the lower wing, spatter ;
then the upper, spatter ; then the body, spatter ; then the branch ; small
birds and angels are pretty among the ferns.
Page 301
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
They are now sufficiently strong to bear handling with ordinary care, and can be arranged to suit the taste either on a stand, under a glass shade or in a deep recess frame. Leaves containing tannin, such as the oak, hazel, and many others, should never be placed with others. Holly leaves are beautiful, but must be also prepared alone, on account of the spines. Ferns and fine grasses are very difficult to arrange as their feathery fronds are liable to curl, and must be most carefully coaxed into position. The best method to accomplish this is to float the leaves off upon a card ; then while damp, with a needle and camel's-hair brush arrange each tiny leaflet, then lay them under folds of soft paper, pressing gently upon the surface to extract the moisture, then lay each card between sheets of tissue paper, place newspaper over and under, and place under weights. This is a good method of drying any fine leaves.
340 SPATTER WORK.
SPATTER WORK.
In selecting ferns for this beautiful work, take the narrow and deeply cleft leaves. You will want all sizes, but more small ones. In pressing, do not have them all straight ; bend them in various forms — that is, drooping and many little graceful ways.
Take a large board ; it must be very smooth, soft and light ; put strips across the back that it may not warp. A fine wire sieve made round. The frame of this is six inches in diameter, one inch and three-fourths in depth. Fine wire gauze like a flour sieve is set three-fourths of an inch from one edge which is the top. The handle is set in the top, sloping down ; is five and one-fourth inches long, one-half inch in diameter where it is set and one inch at the other end. Two dozen papers of fine needles will be none too many for a large picture; a horseshoe magnet to pick up falling needles, and a very stiff toothbrush.
To Make a Cross — Tack your bristol-board smoothly on your lapboard, lay the cross pattern on the paper and slightly outline with a pencil ; take off the pattern and lay on the ferns and vines as you wish them to be seen on the cross ; put on the pattern cross, and pin very smoothly. A narrow strip should be cut from the right side of the pattern, the whole length, under the right arm and the end also under the left arm. Put on the shadows with the rest of the pattern, and be sure there is not the slightest space between. Put more ferns on the pattern with ends projecting over.
A descending dove with a fine branch in the mouth is a great addition. Take some dove picture, cut the wings close to the body, then pin all on, spatter ; when a little dark take off the lower wing, spatter ; then the upper, spatter ; then the body, spatter ; then the branch ; small birds and angels are pretty among the ferns.