Part 7 (1/2)
=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.