Window Flower Box

Given fresh mosses or leaves, a few trailing creepers and two or three spikes of flowers, and the effect will be charming in a window box made after any of the following descriptions. These methods are all cheap and feasible for securing the effect desired.

The box may be made of zinc, painted to suit one’s taste, or of common white pine stained and oiled, with a strip of molding or a few lichens and fir cones tacked on by way of ornament. Or prettier still, it may be turned into a rustic affair by covering it withy narrow horizontal lengths of rough-barked wood. Birch bough or laurel, or both alternating, will answer, halved lengthwise with the saw, and cut into sections to fit the box, the shelf which supports it being edged with the same. Or a gaily colored affair may be made with narrow strips of oilcloth, finished off with a wooden molding at top and bottom, a set pattern being chosen of bright solid colors, like the tiles, which are so much in vogue for more expensive arrangements. Or a most unique and tasty box may be made by first painting it white, then lay ferns, green or pressed ferns, upon the sides in tasteful designs, and sift clean brown sand over the whole side, after which remove the ferns, and the fern designs with all their delicate tracery of fronds, will appear distinctly in white.

The box we illustrate here was ornaments with a mixture of acorns and pounded shells. Cut all the acorns in half lengthwise. Cover the box with glue. Make an edge each way of acorns, and then cover the box all over with rows of acorns moderately close together. Sift the pounded shell all over the box thickly between the acorns. The acorns are varied with cone seeds and red berries cut in half.

Whatever style of box is used, unless the window seat is of unusual width, brackets must be put underneath, or a stronger pine shelf must be adjusted in the recess to support the box, and the edge which fronts the room just be ornamented or stained to match.

Decorative Pages from Chicot the Jester

A vintage copy of Chicot the Jester, by Alexandre Dumas, author of The Man in the Iron Mask, Count of Monte Cristo, Three Musketeers…you know the man.

Chicot the Jester is a romance, set in the court of King Henri III. This story is also known as “La Dame de Monsoreau.”

Hardbound with red cloth covers, decorative spine in gold, decorative art nouveau title pages. Published by Dutton as part of the “Everyman” series. 464 pages.

Good condition, the spine is slightly weak but with care you can certainly read and enjoy this book.

Purchase this vintage book in my Etsy shop or browse for other vintage books.

A difficult to find Victorian era copy of Fret-Sawing for Pleasure and Profit: How to Use the Fret-Saw. Henry T. Williams, Publisher, New York.

1st edition, copyright 1877.

Marbled boards (covers), leather spine. All pages present. 110 pages, and many wonderful illustrations featuring quaint Victorian designs as well as engravings of tools.

Measures about 5 3/4 w. x 8 closed.

Condition: Some foxing, mostly in first and last pages; paper is not dry or brittle and the binding is still pretty good. Some wear to covers and cover corners a little chipped. Previous owners name in ink on title page and flysheet.

CHAPTERS
Of Materials
Of Saws, Saw Frames and Treadle Machines
Other Tools and Implements
Oil Stones, Etc.
Of Glue, Polish, Sand Paper, Paste, Etc.
Of Designs
Of Marquetry
Gilding, Dyeing and Staining Woods
Wood Carving
Overlaying
Cutting Out Work
Beveling Edges and Putting Work Together
The Warping of Wood
Useful Hints
Pleasure and Profit
Envoi

DESIGNS
Picture Frame
Cross
Wall Pocket
Bracket in Leaf Work
Marquetry Design
Clock Case
Initials
Book Cover
Jewel Box
Mirror Frame
Picture Frame
Silhouette

Make this vintage decorative woodworking book part of your collection. It’s available for purchase in my Etsy shop at:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35276853

Grotesque Victorian Hook

I picked up a pair of antique Victorian hooks while antiquing yesterday. They are currently soaking in some stripper to remove years in paint. Not certain if they are brass or not. We’ll see!