handicraft

Arts and Crafts (from the Victorian Book of Days by Avon)
An argument might be made for the Victorian style of ornamented interior decoration, crammed with memorabilia, having evolved from the need to display the handiwork the ladies produced. Possibilities available to them included making screens by pasting decorative cut-outs on wooden panels and varnishing them; painting on glass, china and terra cotta; photography; woodcarving; modeling in clay; fret work (with a saw); modeling in leather watercolor painting; making wax fruit and flowers; embroidery of every kind; macrame- the list is endless. No one sat with idle hands. Every woman's magazine contained new directions for gifts and decorative objects, many of which would be found under the tree at Christmas. For older men, uncles, and brothers tasseled smoking caps, embroidered slippers and cigar cases were considered to be thoughtful and appropriate gifts. (Princess Alexandra's daughter gave her future husband a picture frame she made with the fabric of her first court dress.) For parents, bookrests, handkerchief satchets, carriage boots, knitted scarves and painted fans were some of the many suggestions. There were few objects other than major pieces of furniture that enterprising ladies and girls were not encouraged to attempt. Enough examples have survived to show that attempt they did, some with more polish than others. As always, the thought counted as much as the present, and many a lumpy pincushion was cherished and given a place of honor for the little hands that made it.