The Teaching of Art Related to the Home Part 13

3. Remodeling clothing on hand and choosing additional garments needed for an attractive and suitable wardrobe.

4. Selecting the accessories to complete a costume for self or for mother.

Home-improvement projects which involve the exterior of the home as well as the interior should have a place in the home-economics program.

In this group of projects there is not only great opportunity for the application of art as the basis for planning and selecting, but also for the making of more pleasing arrangements of things already in the home. In view of the fact that in most home-improvement projects the girl needs to make the best use of furnishings and equipment already possessed by the family, and usually has a limited amount of money to spend, her problems are greatly increased. Except in the few cases in which she has the privilege of newly furnishing a room or a part of the home, the starting point is with the present possessions in the home and a careful evaluation of them to determine the good in each. _She should appreciate the fact that the home and its possessions belong to the entire family and that any changes she may desire to make should meet their approval or at least be undertaken with their consent._ In most cases the proposed changes will be more welcomed by the family if little outlay of money is necessitated and if the largest and best use is made of cherished household treasures.

Joint home improvement projects have been carried out in some States with considerable success. In these projects the girls in home economics have worked cooperatively with brothers who were in agricultural cla.s.ses. This usually meant greater interest on the part of parents and other members of the family. More ambitious programs for improvement were thus possible, not only through greater family support and encouragement but through the boy's ability to make certain alterations in structure or finishing that a girl could not do alone. Through these projects the boy and girl have learned much from each other. Perhaps the most conspicuous evidence of success has been the spread of interest beyond the homes into community improvement.

Some suggestive home-improvement projects are as follows:

1. Making the home kitchen a more convenient and attractive place in which to work.

2. Arranging home furnishings and accessories so that harmony, balance, and desirable centers of emphasis contribute to the attractiveness and comfort of each room.

3. a.s.sisting in the selection and arrangement of furniture, wall coverings, floor coverings, or accessories for the girl's own room or other rooms in the house.

4. Preparing the sun porch for summer use.

5. Planning and caring for window boxes.

6. Planning and planting a flower garden or border that will contribute to the appearance of the home and also be a source of pleasure.

7. Re-covering or making slip covers for furniture.

8. a.s.sisting in the selection of linen, china, silver, and gla.s.sware for the table.

9. Planning the table decorations for special occasions.

10. Keeping appropriate centerpieces of flowers, plants, or fruit on the home table.

Two home-improvement project reports on Beautifying Our Yard and Improving Our Home are given as suggestive of types of projects in which art plays an important part in successful achievement. Only the plans for the first one are given, since they show the significant art applications.

_Name of project: Beautifying Our Yard_

(Reported by a girl in a vocational high school in Nebraska.)

I. Reasons for choosing this project--

1. The flowers will improve the looks of the yard.

2. It will be an experience in the arrangement of flowers for me and will not only add to the attractiveness of the yard but to the house and surrounding buildings.

II. Aims--

1. To make the yard and house more attractive.

2. To keep flowers watered and weeded and give other care they need.

3. To plant the flowers in the most suitable place and position.

III. Plans--

1. Get all the information I can from experienced gardeners and from books and magazines that tell which are the best flowers to raise, easiest to grow and take care of, and when and where they should be planted.

2. Names of flowers to be planted--

c.o.c.k's Comb. Zinnias.

Phlox. Larkspur.

Nasturtiums. Petunia.

Sweet William. Cannas.

Snap Dragons. Sweet Peas.

Poppies. Heliotrope.

Asters. Sweet Alyssum.

Cosmos. Marigolds.

3. Location of flowers--

_a._ Along the walk (both sides).

_b._ Along sides of the house.

_c._ Along side of vacant lot.

_d._ Around garage.

_e._ Along the driveway.

4. How to plant the flowers--

_a._ The tallest ones in the back.

_b._ The shortest in front.

5. When to plant them--

_a._ Sweet peas, March 1 to 10, or before.

_b._ Others in the middle of April to May.

_c._ The flowers may be started in the house and transplanted to the outside when the weather permits.

6. Care of flowers--

_a._ Water the flowers at least once a day (if dry weather).

It is best to water them in the evening.

_b._ Weed them at least twice a week and loosen the soil around them.

_c._ If some insect starts destroying any of the flowers, spray them with a solution which will kill the destroyer.

IV. Approval of guardian--

This project, Beautifying Our Yard, selected by Alta, is a very profitable project, especially at this time of the year when our thoughts are directed toward the planting of flowers, shrubs, etc. A beautiful yard adds so much to the home and makes everyone more happy and contented.

This project should create a desire in Alta to take more interest in the yard and in planting it. Also watching the plants grow will make her feel some responsibility in caring for them, while at the same time every member of the family will enjoy the realization of the project.

I wish her all success in making this project come true.

NOTE.--An excellent planting plan worked out on squared paper accompanied this project.