ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512180029
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
The Victorian Christmas, a time-honored tradition that adds richness and old-fashioned charm to the holidays, is easier to achieve than ever. The popularity of Victorian images, colors and decorating touches has resulted in a wide range of products for the home crafts market. With the help of these products and a little ingenuity, virtually any do-it-yourselfer can create an authentic Victorian look. To get you started, the designers at Northwest Fabric & Crafts/Rainbow Bay Crafts offer the following pointers.
A Victorian Christmas is characterized by rich reds, deep burgundy and forest green, muted mauves, white or ivory, and the generous use of gold accents. Fabrics and ribbons tend to be in velvet, lace, mesh, organza, florals and opulent metallics, including both colors and gold. Monochromatic color schemes, such as white-on-white or ivory-on-white, are often used to create fabric patterns that are rich yet subtle. Tassels, gold rope and ornate gold edging are also popular.
Images common to Victoriana include cherubs, roses and other botanicals, fruits such as grapes and pears, ivy, crystal drops, pearls, old-fashioned Santas and revelers in elegant holiday garb. Images of antique toys, such as wooden rocking horses and porcelain dolls, also lend a Victorian air.
Angels are available as tree toppers, mantel decorations, wall hangings, tree ornaments, gift tags and much more. For a Victorian look, add a gold patina to papier mache or plaster cherubs. Well-equipped craft stores sell gold leafing foil that is easy to use and elegant in appearance.
Decorate your guest bathrooms with handmade soaps made from cherub molds. By making the soaps yourself, you can choose the colors you want.
Brush ivy sprigs with gold paint along the edges, and add it to the tree, baskets, wreaths or anywhere else you would use holiday greenery.
Place baby's breath among the tree branches or on wreaths and swags.
Wrap lace ribbon around your tree as a garland, or hang streamers of red velvet ribbon from the top of your tree, using enough length so that they form loose pools on the floor.
Edge silk flowers with glitter paint in gold. Place the flowers in your tree, ring a pillar candle with them, or display them in vases.
Cover pine cones, ivy and artificial apples, grapes and pears with gold leaf. Combine them with Christmas greenery and gold-edged ivy to make a garland for an ivory pillar candle.
Wire-edged ribbon can be used to make gorgeous Victorian roses. For small roses, cut 12"-18" of 7/8" wired ribbon. For large roses, use an 18"-24" length of 1 1/2" ribbon. Roses are formed by pulling the wire from both ends of top edge and gathering the ribbon. (Be sure to grasp both ends of wire so that wire is not pulled out of ribbon.) Wrap the ribbon around in a circular motion, gluing periodically as you wrap.
Decoupage was at the height of popularity in the 18th century, and as a result, ready-made decoupage for the holidays is filled with Victorian images. Use decoupage on pillar candles (preferably ivory or white candles), papier mache boxes and forms, egg ornaments, old-fashioned wooden step stools, wooden toys and more.
Gold mesh ornaments may be filled with potpourri, topped with gold angels and gold-edged ribbon and finished with tassels in gold or red. For extra opulence, decorate the ornaments with crystals and pearl strands.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: NORTHWEST FABRIC & CRAFTS/RAINBOW BAY CRAFTS Rich reds,by CNBforest green, muted mauves, white or ivory and gold accents lend a
Victorian air to this room. color