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In
This Issue
- Chit Chat
- Eight Christmas Presents from a Yard of Fabric
- Needle Case
- Nursery Amusements
- An Apron to Fit Everybody
- Christmas Card Wall Splash
- Infant's Boots
- How to Trim Christmas Trees
- Poem: Little Builders
- Christmas Tide
- Victorian Christmas Wreathes
From Past Issues
Victorian Christmas Decorations from 1875
Love One Another/Good Shepherd perforated paper bookmark pattern (pdf)
Little Builders
Lay the blocks on every even,
Place them skilfully, with care;
Ah! your mimic house is growing
Large, and high and very fair.
Little Nellie's eyes are watching
As the painted walls uprise;
She and Carlo think there's nothing
Half so grand beneath the skies.
Keep thy patience, little builder,
Wrath and haste thy work undo;
If thy walls fall down before thee,
Other walls have fallen too.
Older hands have oft erected
Castles large and fair as thine,
Built with every hope and heart beat,
Yet they crumble and decline.
Waste no time in vainly weeping
Over errors you have made;
Work again and build more strongly;
Some day thou wilt be repaid.
Source: Arthur's Home Magazine, December 1874 Christmas Tide
Arthur’s Home Magazine, 1868
The long, cold evenings of winter, and the time for merry in-door sports, has come again. The young people can no longer have the croquet out of doors, the little ones can no longer frolic on the pavement or lawn. About this time there begin to be very mysterious looks, and head-shakings, and incomprehensible talks among the different members of the family.
Up-stairs there is a wonderful bureau, which could reveal volumes of secrets if it could talk, or if it could only let you peep into the dim recesses of its drawers. There the Christmas gifts are laid away, not to see the light of day until the dawn of the Christmas morning.
Such wonders as have found their way into the bureau during the last few days. Pretty pin-cushions, scarfs, shawls, mittens, slippers, sofa cushions, caps, and the dear knows what besides of home manufacture, all made by loving hands. And there are toys for boys, and dolls for girls, which are going to delight little hearts ere many days. In the sitting-room, the bow-window is veiled from the vulgar gaze of the family in general, and inside there is sometimes heard a mysterious driving of nails, an omen of an unusual preparation for the coming holiday.
What a revelation there will be on Christmas morning! Oh, the fairy splendors of the Christmas-tree! Glittering with bright toys and blazing tapers, little elves peeping out between the branches, little fairies perched on all the twigs, a fairy queen in dazzling array crowing the top-most point. Beneath, a wonderful rural scene--a tiny cottage, with yard around; a peaceful lake, with little ducks upon it; shrubs and flowers in the cottage yard, and old Kriss Kringle at the gate, nodding his white head, bowing everybody a welcome to his hospitable retreat.
Then comes a merry time, lasting the livelong day. The Christmas dinner, with all the absent ones at home again, around the festal board. Then the evening, with its games and bonbons, its dancing and merry-making.
Victorian Christmas Wreaths
As published in The Cottage Hearth, 1876.
There are few things in the line of Christmas decorations that yield so large a return in permanent satisfaction as a goodly supply of wreaths, crosses, &c., made from dried grasses and flowers, of which we give several pretty illustrations on this page.
The better way, generally, is to purchase the wire designs for a foundation upon which to fasten the flowers, grasses, mosses, &c., though some who are ingenious in such things make very good foundation designs from wood or pasteboard.
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Chit Chat
I have such a wonderful collection of Holiday articles to share with you that I've decided to publish Miss Mary's Gazette in three installments.
This first part features authentic Victorian-era gifts to make. The next part will focus on traditional Victorian foods, and the last issue of the year will be a “Read and Relax” number, with at least one Gothic ghost story to enjoy by the fireside, surrounded by loved ones and a warm brandy or two.
I've also just finished “Miss Mary's Little Ones,” a new assortment of clip art images from my personal archive. Visit my clip art store to buy single images, or subscribe to the clip art club and save.
Eight Christmas Presents from a Yard of Fabric
Source: Winter Sweet, Being the Extra Christmas Part of the Girl's Own Paper, 1898.
At Christmas-time, when most of us have several gifts to bestow, it is, for various reasons, an excellent plan to cut as many of these as possible out of one piece of material :: Read More
 Needle-Case
Source: Arthur's Home Magazine Vol. XXXI. 1868. See a larger picure in a new window.
This pretty needle-case, made in the form of a banner, will be found appropriate for selling at fancy fairs, or for hanging on Christmas-trees. It should be made on a larger scale than the illustration, and the materials required are scarlet and white cloth, black velvet, gold beads, and crystal beads, and blue and white purse silk. Cut two pieces of card-board the size and form required, and cover them with black velvet. Trace the figure described in the centre of the banner on scarlet cloth, cut it out and sew the cloth over the velvet. Sew down the raw edges of the cloth with blue silk. Cut three small rounds of white cloth, place them as illustrated, and sew them down with a double cross of blue silk; lastly, stud them over with gold beads, connect the stars with chain-stitches taken in white silk, and work the velvet over with gold beads, dotting the scarlet centre over with large crystal beads. Leaves of flannel should be placed between the velvet sides and filled with needles; the back is card-board, covered with blue silk; the velvet sides are stitched firmly to it, and the whole is ornamented with blue cord and tassel.
Nursery Amusements, or, Toys without Toyshops
Source: London Pride, Being the Extra Summer Number of the Girl's Own Paper, 1875
"Mothers know by instinct how to amuse children." Yes, perhaps they do; but young governesses and nursemaids, though they may have the best will in the world, have no such maternal instinct to guide them. And even a mother may be glad to look through the following simple practical hints on the chance of finding among them something that will bring sunshine into the nursery on a rainy day. :: Read More
Infant's Boots, with Full-Sized Pattern
Take a closer look in a new window
By Mrs. Jane Weaver in Peterson's Magazine, December 1868
The first is made of quilted silk, bound with satin. The second is cut from the same pattern, but the little piece which buttons over is omitted, and the boot fastens with loops and buttons in the middle of the front. View the pattern in a new window.
An Apron to Fit Everybody 
This image is in the free download area
Source: Robin Redbreast, Extra Christmas Number of The Girl's Own Paper, 1894
An Apron to fit everybody! What an excellent recommendation! And such a very simple pattern too! I am sure our readers will find it useful for cooking, painting, nursing, teaching, upstairs and down, not forgetting the time when one has to help at a stall of a bazaar; then if made of soft muslin, and trimmed with lace, it would most assuredly add to the personal decoration of the busy sellers.
The one I am going to describe was made of red turkey twill, 54 inches wide; a yard and a quarter is required (fig. I). Cut off a strip 4 ½ inches wide, and from it cut 8 inches (B), for which I will explain the use later on. The angle piece (A) is for the band or sash, which can be made exactly as you please, either hemmed all round and tied in a bow at the back, or made into a regular band with button or hook. Take the large piece (C), make a narrow hem up each side (D and E and F and G), sew the top corners together (E and G) for about half an inch (fig. 2). From the 8-inch piece (B) make a loop 4 inches long and sew it firmly at E and G—by referring to fig. 3 you will see exactly the spot—so that it hangs down the back and the band passes through it. This apron will be found to fit most comfortably, and the soft folds of the bib are extremely becoming.
A Simple Way to Make a Wall-Splash With Christmas Cards
Make an oblong frame of four pieces of wood (fig. I) any size, according to the number of cards you wish to use in covering it, stretch tightly over this a piece of canvas, tacking it down to the sides. This done, stick on our cards with strong paste or glue, so as to cover it entirely (fig. 2); when it is quite dry varnish it over with a clear varnish. This makes a very bright and pretty wall-splash for hanging behind a wash-hand-stand. Source: Same as above.
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How to Trim Christmas Trees
Originally published in The Cottage Hearth, December 1876.
The popular custom of preparing Christmas trees for the delight and amusement of young and old, increases yearly; and the question, “How shall I trim one?” is often asked. In the Country Gentlemen, “Daisy Eyebright” tells how to do this. I shall try to answer it. If you can obtain the tree from some pine woods near at hand, select a finely shaped fir balsam or spruce, with firm branches, and about nine or ten feet in height. Then spread a large sheet over one end of the parlor carpet, and put a good-sized tea chest in the center of it.
The lower limbs of the tree must be sawn off so that it can be firmly fixed into the box; and any small heavy articles, like weights and flatirons, can be put in for ballast, to keep the tree firmly in place. Then fill up the box with hard coal. The chest must be concealed with some pretty material; old curtains will answer the purpose, or the American flag; and a white furry robe is also suitable. Drape these articles close to the tree, and let them trail a little on the floor, to make a graceful sweep.
Now the tree is planted, and we must proceed to decorate it. Make chains of popped corn, strung together with needle and thread; at least a dozen yards will be none too much for a large-sized tree, and the pure white festoons entwined amid the dark green branches of the tree produce a fine effect.
We must also have chains made either of glazed scarlet, gilt or silver; cut the paper into small strips, four inches long and not half an inch in width; fasten the two ends of each strip together with flour paste, and make half of them into rings; then take the rest and make into similar rings, but first slip each strip through two of the dried rings before joining the ends. In this manner all the slips of paper are interlaced, and we have a chain of rings which will greatly adorn our tree. They must be festooned in long, graceful loops from limb to limb, and the effect is very charming.
All this work the children can do, and it will add greatly to the entertainment of the long evenings at this season. They can also assist in covering English walnuts with tinfoil, or gilt paper, and in filling small apples with cloves, which will serve to keep moths from the drawers of our bureaus, and therefore make inexpensive but acceptable presents.
If we posses a cracked mirror we must take it to the glazier’s, and ask him to cut it into two inch squares. Around the edges and across the backs colored paper must be pasted, and long ribbon loops attached to the backs by which to suspend them behind the tiny wax candles, where they will do duty as reflectors.
Fancy glass balls of all colors can be purchased for a few cents each; and several dozen of colored wax candles, with tin rests to attach them to the tree, can be bought. Self-balancing candle holders can also be found at most toy shops, and need only to be placed on the branches. If these cannot be obtained, common copper wire can be heated a little way, and the other end can be twisted firmly about the branch. If the wicks are brushed over with a little kerosene put on with a camel’s hair brush, they will light very quickly.
The light, showy gifts can be suspended upon the tree, but the heavier ones must be laid upon the piano or table, or else wrapped in paper and arranged around the base of the tree. A pair of scissor must be in readiness to cut the gifts from the branches. When such a tree is trimmed, filled with gifts and lighted, it is indeed a beautiful sight -- a graceful green pyramid, with the numberless little jets of flame, trembling and flashing mirrors, garlands of bright hues -- all brightness, sparkle and color. Try it, fair friends, and see for yourselves how lovely it is.
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