Show Womans Woman's World Imagination Is Key to Simple But Effective Table Settings i t t d v y a Oil OH now HOW I wish I l were artistic and could do interesting things with my table settings Isa is isa isa a frequent cry heard when women gather It happens especially when someone has put forth some same thought in her table setting I Well you can all relax that is all aU all of af you who dont don't think you have artistic ability If you know anything anything anything any any- thing about color and add to that your common sense you can do something out aut of the ordinary Have you a 0 red and white checked cloth This is very seasonal currently currently cur cur- and can be used for a baked bean and cider supper Use some same charming pottery plates for tor the dinner dinner din din- ner brown mugs and a centerpiece of glowing red Indian corn arranged with dark green leaves in a polished pol fished wood salad bowl Is there anything simpler What about using a gourd or 01 a hollowed out aut squash for the centerpiece centerpiece center center- piece with bittersweet or leaves or 01 any array orray of af fall tell fruit spilling out aut of it This is very effective when the tablecloth is a mustard shade of yellow a dark dork chartreuse green or a B glowing tangerine color You dont don't have a cloth cleth in any of af those colors Fix one ane out of af a worn warn sheet some seme flour fleur or ar sugar sacks dyed to one of the shades Just men men- If the sheet needs stiffening run it through a light starch after the last rinse so it will be crisp and new new g. g It takes lakes but a little imagination as you can readily see to make effective table settings Informal Settings Setting's Are Easily Made 1 For Far breakfast lunch and family dinner or supper you yau can use all manner of simple fabrics to create table tabli I Ithe the background for a meal In fact the materials for many of af these may be in the scrap bag right at this moment I Old pillow cases and sheets are excellent if they have enough material material material mate mate- rial in them worth saving Cut these into the proper sizes either for far cloth or mats with napkins to match matchU If U you yau like Finish off oft the edges simply by hemming then dye them in shades you yau will want Old tablecloths which are worn and frayed can be cut down for formats formats formats mats the size for tel which is 11 by 17 Y J I With Wilb n an n rya for color tolor inches Luncheon napkins are 17 inches square dinner napkins are 19 10 inches square and tea or ar bridge napkin is usually 11 1114 inches square Good Goad colors to use are red pepper chili green made by using a jade green shade in the dye or 01 a patio fuschia made by using four parts wine with one-half one part of purple A siesta violet is made from three parts purple with two parts orchid dye Dusty pink is made from frem three parts peach dye with two parts pink dye tiye Bittersweet uses three parts orange with one half part scarlet Instant Instant In In- stant dyes are used in all of af the above suggestions Another Anether easy finish is fringing You Yau Youcan Youcan can easily do this in the evening for fora a set of mats and napkins If You Yon Want Linen Use Toweling An easy way to make mats and napkins for fer table use is with Irish linen toweling This trick frequently is used by women when they want the crisp nicely washable finish of linen economically Both mats and napkins can be made from the toweling and you'll yeull find that being able to buy the material material material mate mate- rial by the yard has the added advantage advantage ad ad- vantage of af giving longer lengths when you want to make runners Plaid and linen towelIng toweling towel towel- Ing are good choices for casual and informal tablecloths or mat and napkin sets If you yau are making these mainly to brighten up the kitchen or dining surroundings you yeu might even consider buying enough toweling to add simple drapes for forthe forthe the tile windows Stripes in linen toweling are also good choices to use for curtain and place mat ensembles Their gay colors make them a pleasant background background back back- ground for any of the popular styles of casual dinnerware For Far the more formal luncheons and dinners you might like to choose a like grill-like scroll print done in white on an both pastel and bright colored backgrounds Scroll prints will be nice with better dishes The lovely levely powder blue shade for example would be bevery bevery bevery very effective with dinnerware I which has touches of af yellow in it Use yellow as the flower Other Fabrics Give Many 1 Possibilities Coarse textured dyed if they are not net a suitable shade will make excellent tablecloth and mat sets If you yau dye them in one ane of af the gala Mexican shades they can be bo used with fiesta ware with a centerpiece centerpiece center center- piece arrangement of af grapes Many scorched or ar worn tablecloths can cats be used as source material If damask has lost its crisp finish and high luster it can make handsome hand hand- handI I some seme settings for more formal din din- ing Dye it a deep rich green peach pastel pink or 01 soft yellow Color Coler heightens the pattern of the dam dam- ask A centerpiece of af polished fruits and glossy leaves in a square white pottery dish will be effective For Far informal entertaining theres there's nothing lovelier leveller than braided mats which can be made from pieces out aut of the scrap bag Dye these to work workout workout out aut attractive colors The monotone or solid colored mat matIs matis matis is best for plain dishes but occasionally occasionally occa occa- its it's possible to work out aut attractive mats with white and a I color These mats should be made slightly larger than 11 by 17 the size for regular placemats Use mugs with mats to make a thoroughly thoroughly thor thor- attractive setting and a matching pottery bowl filled with gourds geurds as the centerpiece Plain white mats made madl out of ot almost al aI- most mast any material can be brightened brightened bright bright- brightened ened by use of af wide colorful borders borders bor bor- ders or various edgings such as lace braid rick-rack rick or decorative borders Buy borders already made mado or use off cast pieces of af materials either in their original shades or dyed wh whichever chever offers affers he most effective treatment |