Chapter I: Preface

THIS book, like a girl's life, is divided into two parts: occupation and amusement, or handicraft and recreation.

It is not equally divided, for handicraft is so much more like play than work, and is so entertaining in itself, we find difficulty in drawing a distinct line between that and recreation. The one insists upon blending with the other and the book, after all, is a book of entertainment.

With the old handicrafts coming back into favor and new ones constantly being brought forward, a girl's life may be full of delightful employment. To work with joyous enthusiasm and self-reliant energy, as well as to play with light-hearted enjoyment, cannot fail to make her sensible, wholesome, and happy, and it is with this end in view that we have written and illustrated the book. Our wish is to help our girl friends to make the most of their girlhood and to enjoy it to its fullest extent.

We have had practical experience in the actual working out of all the various handicrafts and recreations, and therefore give only that which we know can be well and easily done by the average girl.

Thanks are due to the _Delineator_, _Harper's Bazar_, _Woman's Home Companion_, and _Good Housekeeping_, for their courtesy in promptly returning for this work the original drawings and material used in their respective magazines.

THE AUTHOR.

FLUSHING, August 2, 1904.

CONTENTS

PART I

HANDICRAFT

CHAPTER I. PAGE

SPINNING 3

The Spinning-Wheel, 4; The Spindle, 5; The Distaff, 7;
Thoroughly Cleaned, 8; The Band, 8; To Adjust the Band,
9; The Flax, 10; Practice, 11; How to Spin, 12; When
the Thread Breaks, 12.

CHAPTER II.

WEAVING ON A HOME-MADE LOOM 15

The Pin Loom, 16; The Heddles, 17; The Shuttle, 19; To
Adjust the Warp, 19; The Woof, 20; How to Weave a
Miniature Navajo Blanket, 20; Blankets for Dolls' Beds,
26.

CHAPTER III.

A BALL OF TWINE AND WHAT MAY BE MADE OF IT 27

Making a Little Hammock, 27; How to Tie the Twine, 29;
A School-Bag, 31; Twine Curtains, 34.

CHAPTER IV.

AN ARMFUL OF SHAVINGS, AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM 36

Selecting the Shavings, 36; A Soft Little Basket, 36;
How to Prepare the Shavings, 37; How to Weave the
Shavings, 39; Bind the Edges, 40; The Handle, 40; A
Handkerchief Case, 41.

CHAPTER V.

PRIMITIVE REED CURTAINS 43

The Reeds, 43; Raw Material, 43; The Twine-Stick Weave,
44; The Finished Curtain, 46; Curtain-Bee Frolic, 48;
Door-way Screens, 49.

CHAPTER VI.

THINGS TO MAKE OF COMMON GRASSES 53

A Grasshopper House, 53; A Doll's Hammock, 56; A
Bouquet-Holder, 58; Weaving a Napkin-Ring, 59.

CHAPTER VII.

POSSIBILITIES OF A CLOTHES LINE 62

Adapted to Decoration, 62; Rope Wood-Basket, 62; Rope
Net Fringe, 65; The Tassels, 65.

CHAPTER VIII.

HOW TO WEAVE A SPLINT BASKET 68

The Material, 68; The Spokes, 68; The Weavers, 70;
Weaving the Basket, 71; Binding Off, 71; Trimming, 73.

CHAPTER IX.

MODELLING IN TISSUE-PAPER 75

Modelling a Chicken, 75; A Turkey, 81; The Sturdy
Little Elephant, 83.

CHAPTER X.

NATURE STUDY WITH TISSUE-PAPER 86

All Flowers from Squares and Circles, 86; The Best
Models, 86; Material, 87; The Carnation, 87; How to Cut
a Circle, 88; The Morning-Glory, 94; The Daffodil, 99.

CHAPTER XI.

A NEW RACE OF DOLLS 103

Dolls of Substance and Form, 103; The Paper, 104; Making
the Head, 104; The Arms, 105; The Body, 105; The Legs,
106; The Feet and Shoes, 107; Doll's Hair, 106; The
Dress, 108; The Cap, 110.

CHAPTER XII.

AN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT ON A PASTRY-BOARD 111

The Ground, 111; The Wigwam, 112; Decorating the Wigwam,
114; The Fire, 114; The Doll Indian, 115; The War
Head-Dress, 116; A Travois, 118; Pipe of Peace, 119; A
Perfect Little Tomahawk, 120; The Chieftain's Shield,
120; Arrow-Heads and Arrows, 122; A Bow That Will
Shoot, 124; The Doll Squaw, 125; Squaw's Chamois Gown,
125; Primitive Loom and Navajo Blanket, 125; Papoose,
130; Cradle for Papoose, 130; Indian Money, 131; Wampum
Necklace, 131.

CHAPTER XIII.

A TOY COLONIAL KITCHEN WITH FAC-SIMILE COLONIAL FURNISHINGS 133

The Floor, 135; The Fireplace, 138; A Hair-pin Crane,
138; Little Dutch Oven, 139; Two Andirons, 141; The
Fire, 142; Iron Pot, 143; The Peel, 144; The Toaster,
144; Pot-Hooks, 145; The Spinning-Wheel, 147; The
Little Spinner, 150; The Costume, 150; Flint-Lock
Rifle, 151; The Bellows, 153; Colonial Pewter Dish,
154; Grandfather's Clock, 155; Colonial Churn, 160.

CHAPTER XIV.

LITTLE PAPER HOUSES OF JAPAN 162

How the People Live, 162; The House, 162; The Floors,
167; The Fence, 168; The Gateway, 169; Birthday
Festivals, 169; The Koi, 171; A Kago, 172.

CHAPTER XV.

SOME ODD THINGS IN RUSSIA 175

The Coronation Cathedral, 175; Door-way, 177; Cupolas,
178; A Russian Peasant Doll, 180; A Little Samovar,
182.

CHAPTER XVI.

POTTERY WITHOUT A POTTER'S WHEEL 185

Primitive Pottery, 185; The Clay, 187; Moulded on
Baskets, 187; The Table, 188; The Roll, 189; To Coil
the Clay, 189.

CHAPTER XVII.

BABY ALLIGATORS AND OTHER THINGS OF CLAY 193

The Head, 195; The Body, 196; The Tail, 196; Coat of
Armor, 197; The Legs and Feet, 198; A Banana, 201; A
Little Bust of Washington, 202.

CHAPTER XVIII.

FUNNY LITTLE APPLE TOYS 206

The Porcupine, 206; Sally Walker's Head, 208; Sally's
Curls, 208; The Indian, 209; A Comical Little Jap, 211;
An Apple Tower, 214.

CHAPTER XIX.

MARVEL PICTURES 215

Mary, 215; Her Dress, 217; Sun-Bonnet, 218; How to Draw
the Lamb, 219; How to Make the Wool Grow, 219; How to
Draw the Goose, 221; How to Feather the Goose, 223.

PART II

RECREATION

CHAPTER XX.

EGG GAMES FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAYS

LIFTING FOR PASCH EGGS 227

How to Prepare the Egg-Shells, 227; Hanging the Eggs, 228;
The Players, 228; The Lifting, 229; The Egg Dance, 230;
Placing the Eggs, 230; Dividing the Players, 230; The
Dance, 230; The Reward, 231; Easter Angling, 231;
Materials for the Game, 231; Fish-poles, 231; Eggs,
232; Rules of the Game, 234; Table Egg-Rolling, 235.

CHAPTER XXI.

MAY DAY AMUSEMENTS 237

How the May King and Queen Are Chosen, 237; Archery, 237;
The Bows, 238; Arrows, 238; Floral Target, 240; Keeping
Score, 243; May Baskets and Spring Flowers, 246; How to
Erect the Pole, 249; Dressing the May-Pole, 250; The
Balls, 252; The Game, 252.

CHAPTER XXII.

HALLOWE'EN REVELS 254

Gold Nuggets, 254; The Mine, 255; The Miners, 255; The
Apple Witch, 256; Witch's Hair, 257; Hat, 257; Broom,
258; Ghost Writing, 259; Four-Leaved Clover, 260;
Apple-seed Fortune Telling; 261; Fortune Bags, 262.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE MAGIC CLOTH AND WHAT IT WILL DO 264

Magic in India, 264; A Jumping Frog, 264; The Hungry
Birds, 267; To make the Children Talk, 268; Moving
Faces, 269; The High Note, 270.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FINGER PLAYS FOR LITTLE FOLK 273

The Teeter, 273; Church, 275; Steeple, 275; Open Door,
276; The People, 276; The Preacher, 277; Man Chopping
Wood, 277; My Mother's Knives and Forks, 279; My
Father's Table, 280; My Sister's Looking-Glass, 280;
The Little Black Birds, 280; The Baby's Cradle, 281;
Chin Chopper Chin, 282; Build the Tower, 282; The Five
Little Pigs, 285; Little Heads for Little Fingers, 285.

CHAPTER XXV.

HOW TO ARRANGE FRESH FLOWERS 289

Selecting the Flowers, 289; A Number of Nasturtiums,
290; Do not Crowd the Flowers, 290; Green Leaves with
Flowers, 291; Color Schemes, 291; The Vases, 292;
Colorless Transparent Vases, 292; Arrangement, 293;
Flower Lifter, 294; Symmetry, 295; Wild Flowers, 295.

CHAPTER XXVI.

OPEN AIR PLAYHOUSES 298

A Florida Playhouse, 298; Palm Decorations, 298; Other
Decorations, 298; An Umbrella Playhouse, 299; A Real
Teepee, 302; An African Hut, 306; The Floral Tent, 307.

CHAPTER XXVII.

KEEPING STORE 308

The Counter, 308; The Scales, 309; Groceries, 312;
Vegetables, 312; Candy, 313; Wrapping Paper, 313;
Money, 314; Paper Pocket-Books, 314; Keeping Accounts,
316; Bars of Soap, 319; Butter Clay, 319.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A FROLIC WITH THE ROSES 320

Beauty of the Rose, 320; Rose Petal Fleet, 321; Green
Leaf-Boats, 322; The Lake, 323; A Little Rose Girl,
325; A Garden, 325; A Peachblow Vase, 327; Candied Rose
Petals, 327; Rose Petal Cap, 328; Conventional Designs,
330; A Wreath of Roses, 332; A Rose Book, 332.

CHAPTER XXIX.

A STRAW RIDE PICNIC 333

The Season, 333; Games for the Wagon, 333; Simon Says,
335; Bird Wish, 337; Lines to Be Recited Rapidly, 337;
At the Grounds, 338; Chasing the Deer, 338; The Swing,
338; Teeter-Tarter, 338; The Dinner, 339; Dishes, 339;
Camp-Fire, 342; After Luncheon, 342; Telling Stories,
343; Game of Menagerie, 343.

CHAPTER XXX.

A PAPER CHASE 345

The Hares and Hounds, 345; The Start, 347; False
Scents, 347; The Finish, 348; How to Dress, 348.