Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/80

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76
NEEDLES AND BRUSHES

cleanliness, and therefore wholesomeness. It is inexpensive also and not difficult to put on, and can therefore be renewed at will. Those who have suffered from an ugly or inappropriate wall paper which could not be renewed without incurring an undesirable expense, can appreciate this advantage. For those who wish to try decorated walls done with whitewash, I copy the following directions for a wash that will not rub off—:

"Take of good unslaked lime half a bushel, and slake with boiling water, covering it during the process to keep the steam in. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve or strainer, and add of salt, one peck, previously well dissolved in water, of rice, three pounds, boiled to a thin paste and stirred in boiling hot, one pound of clean, nice glue, which has previously been dissolved by soaking it well, and then boiled in the usual manner. Now add five gallons of water to the mixture, stir it well, and let it stand a few days, carefully covered over from dust. This whitewash has a remarkably brilliant lustre, and, it is said, will last thirty years. Coloring matter, such as Spanish brown, umber, chrome, or ochres, singly or mixed, adds to its effect. Indigo or blue vitriol give a good blue color. If you find this too expensive or troublesome, a very good permanent wash may be made by simply infusing two ounces of glue to every four pounds of lime or whiting. This will not rub off."

The ground should be smoothly laid on in the desired color, and allowed to become perfectly dry. Then fasten your stencil flat on the wall, in the desired place. It must lie perfectly close to the wall as otherwise the color may run underneath and thus destroy the outline. Paint over the stencil with the color prepared for the design, and, having carefully removed the stencil, wipe any superfluous color off it, and arrange it for the next division of the pattern. Leaves may be easily formed into graceful designs for borders for a wall. Good de-