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Beauty in the Home

October 17, 1932
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A portion of a Beauty in the Home column discussing a bedroom and including an advertisement for the first pattern leaflet for the Horoscope quilt.
Beauty in the Home

by Edith B. Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly, write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and address Beauty in the Home Department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers, but names and addresses will not be made public.

It is just like living in a band-box, if one's room has the walls and ceilings treated with the same kind of paper and in the accompanying illustration is shown such a room.

It is a very flowery affair, of course, but being informally furnished and with a view to having it dainty and sunshiny, there is no reason in having the less pattern in the room, and because the material on the chair has a background which is in contrast to that of the wallpaper, the effect is not confusing.

Usually one finds a room with irregular wall space, like that shown in an attic and many times this space may be transformed into a room more charming than any of those which had been planned with more care and the expenditure of more money.

A wallpaper with a rose-vine pattern or one with a tiny rosebud design would be attractive and one with a white ground and flowers in rose, yellow, blue, and green would allow for a very colorful scheme.

The woodwork could be finished in white and the windows treated with nothing more than white dotted marquisette curtains, finished with ruffles and caught back with ruffled bands. Over-draperies in this room would take away that charm of simplicity that is achieved by the use of just the ruffled curtains.

For the floor covering a hooked rug in beige, rose, green in a floral center design with a hit-and-miss border would be attractive, and this, is just a bit different from the regulation patterns.

The material for the slip covers on the chairs may be of flowered chintz with a light green ground, rose predominating in the design. These covers may be piped in rose.

Furniture in the French provincial or early American style would be appropriate for an informal room of this type and instead of having a figured bedspread, one will find that plain white sateen quilted in a diamond pattern will be much ... (clipping cut-off)

(clipping cut-off)...in green or of rose chiffon over taffeta of the same tint, light green moire binding the top and bottom. The lamp bases may be pottery or glass in white, green or rose and would be more suitable if without decorative motifs.

The scarfs for the dresser, table etc., should be of white linen and may be finished with hand-made lace or hand hemstitching.

Quilt Club Corner.
This is going to be a little corner just for the quilt club - and just think what a wonderful time we are going to have!

You must write and tell us all the little things you think would be interesting to the other members so every day there will be something for they may enjoy knowing.

You remember when we made the Flower Garden quilt that we had many intersting items in - don't you? We even knew of one lady who was making one of these quilts in Germany and told about it and that the quilt-makers would know what a large circle of people that look in.

We are going to tell you each that the number of different towns presented in the day's membership and the various states; and these ?? things we would like to know for you.

We never, never ask a lady her age; but if any of you are so old that you are proud of your age and that you are making a quilt, don't hesitate to tell us about it. We have some dear eighty year young quilt-makers last year and we want many more this year. We want all kinds of news to print about this quilt-making - whether it is this Horoscope quilt or another one you made when you were a tiny girl. Just tell us how tiny and what pattern it was and if you still have the quilt. We are very inquisitive - but we want to tell the other quilt-makers all about it, as they are always asking questions.

Don't wait any longer to send in your membership blank for we want to register you early for that show and contest.

We would also like to hear from several men who sent in for patterns for the flower garden quilt. One had been a tailor and we know that his stitches must have been just the very finest ever; another was convalescing and had his quilt planned to be carried in pink and white, we think, and there were others also from whom we would like to hear. So don't forget - write now, and send in your membership blank.

Pattern No. 1 of Horoscope Quilt

We are all ready to start, for we have for you the first design in the Horoscope quilt. This is on a leaflet with all directions, colors, methods, etc. and you are certain to find this a very interesting occupation.

Do not fail to send right away for your pattern as it is ready to be mailed right out to you. And when sending in for this do not fail to enclose the membership blank so that you may become a member of the Beauty in the Home Quilt club. There will be no dues - just your interest and enthusiasm are required, and we know that we will have that for the club is certainly going to be interesting.

We not only expect lots of new members but also applications from those who have made quilts from other Detroit News patterns.

In sending in your request for the leaflet of pattern No. 1, plase enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. If you prefer you may obtain this leaflet free of charge at the Detroit News Public Service Bureay in either the Majestic Building or the General Motors Building.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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