Stránka:roll 1931.djvu/120

104 Woodcraft Birch Bark Roll old nail brush or tooth brush, or a comb; a short stick like a penholder ; and a sheet of white paper. On the sheet of paper, lay flat the fern or flower to be pictured. Secure it at one or two points with pins. Dip the nail brush into the ink, hold it bristles-up, 3 to 5 inches from the paper ; then draw the wooden tool across it towards you, causing an explosion of little ink spots to fly from the brush onto the paper. A little experience will show how to get the speckling done evenly. If a comb be used, a bristle paint brush dipped into the ink, is rubbed across the comb, both fine and coarse teeth, so as to give variety to the size of the dots. When the background is sufficiently dark, lift the fern or flower, and you have a beautiful white silhouette or outline of the plant. One must be very careful to avoid blots by getting too much ink on the brush. It is best to pour the ink into a small dish, and dip only one edge of the brush into it. Charming effects may be obtained by spattering one color over another. In seeking designs for Spatter work, some of the loveliest are obtained from the common field flowers and weeds. Queen Anne’s lace, or wild carrot, makes a most dainty pattern; golden rod, daisies, and wild grasses are also recommended, because they have a lace-like appearance when pressed, that the large coarse flowers cannot achieve. If your flowers, after pressing, will not lie as flat as you wish, press them with a warm iron, laying them first on a board on which blotting paper has been placed, and covering them with slightly damp cheesecloth. Set the iron on top, and leave it until the cheesecloth is dry. Prints of leaves, etc., for nature wotk, are only the begin- nings of many artistic projects that may be worked out. Lamp shades made of any kind of substantial paper are fascinating subjects. The bases should be simple forms that blend with the gentle dignity of the Spatter work. Often a pickle or mayonnaise jar, a cookie jar, or some other house- hold container, will make a more artistic whole than an expen- sive piece of China or porcelain. Our Woodcrafters might, with advantage, combine one of our pottery coups with this activity.