Little Folks' Handy Book :: CHAPTER II TOYS MADE OF COMMON WOODEN BERRY-BASKETS

CHAPTER II TOYS MADE OF COMMON WOODEN BERRY-BASKETS

Use a one-quart wooden berry-box for the china closet (Fig. 7). Turn the empty box facing you, and slide the prongs of a clothespin up through the open crack at the lower right hand of the box. Allow one prong of the clothespin to come on the outside and the other prong on the inside of the thin wooden side of the box; adjust the clothespin well to the front edge of the box, and it will form the right-hand front leg of the china closet. Add another leg in like manner on the same side of the box for the back leg; then slide two more clothespins up on the opposite side of the box to form the remaining two legs (Fig. 8).

Fig. 7—The berry-basket china closet. Fig. 7—The berry-basket china closet.

Fig. 8—Slide clothespins on the basket for legs. Fig. 8—Slide clothespins on the basket for legs.

The prongs of the clothespins do not reach up to the top of the inside of the box, but leave sufficient space for a shelf. Make the shelf by laying a clothespin across from side to side, supported by the prongs of the back legs, and another across, supported by the prongs of the front legs (Fig. 8). The clothespin used for the front of the shelf will probably have to be a trifle longer than that for the back, as the box is wider in front than at the back. Set some toy dishes on the top, the shelf, and the inside bottom of the china closet, as in Fig. 7.

With another quart berry-box and four more clothespins make the

Doll's Table

Slide the prongs of a clothespin down on either side of the box at the four corners (Fig. 9), then turn the table right side up, placing it on its feet. Set the table with toy dishes, and dinner will be ready (Fig. 10).

Fig. 9—Slide the prongs of the clothespins down on the sides of the box. Fig. 9—Slide the prongs of the clothespins down on the sides of the box.

Fig. 10—Make the doll's table. Fig. 10—Make the doll's table.

The table can be turned into a dressing-case by standing two clothespins on their heads at each side of the back of the top of the table, and sliding a piece of stiff paper across from clothespin to clothespin between the prongs for a mirror (Fig. 11). Of course, the addition of a fringed white paper, or cloth scarf, over the top of the dressing-case would enhance its appearance, as would also a table-cloth over the top of the dinner table, but the covers were purposely omitted in the photographs that one may see exactly how the articles were made.

Fig. 11—The table can be turned into a dressing-case. Fig. 11—The table can be turned into a dressing-case.

Make a

Dolly's Bassinet

(Fig. 12) of a small oblong berry-basket with four clothespin legs slanting outward at the bottom and the prongs of the legs on each side brought together at the top (Fig. 13). On the centre of one end of the basket slide down the prongs of a fifth clothespin to form the upright for holding drapery (Fig. 13). When adjusted, fold a lady's handkerchief diagonally through the centre and hang it over the support, as in Fig. 12. The bassinet will then be ready for a folded handkerchief as bedding and a little baby doll.

Fig. 12—A perfect little bassinet. Fig. 12—A perfect little bassinet.

Fig. 13—The bassinet without the drapery. Fig. 13—The bassinet without the drapery.

A comical little berry-basket

"Bow-wow"

(Fig. 14) can be made by using a two-quart basket for the body, the bassinet basket for a head, and clothespins for ears, tail, and legs. Fasten the legs on the body so that the front legs will slant forward and the back legs backward, that the dog may appear to be running (Fig. 15); slide a clothespin on the end of the basket for a tail; then fasten two clothespins slanting backward on the small basket for ears; set the small basket on the front end of the large one, placing it so that almost half of it projects over the large basket, and the comical little dog will be finished.

Fig. 14—A comical berry-basket "bow-wow". Fig. 14—A comical berry-basket "bow-wow".

Fig. 15—Put the legs on slantingly. Fig. 15—Put the legs on slantingly.

Fig. 16 shows two clothespin horses attached to a

Berry-basket Wagon

with clothespin wheels. The driver is a clothespin held up by a clothespin seat, and the wagon is filled with clothespin people along each side edge.

Fig. 16—The berry-basket wagon with clothespin horses. Fig. 16—The berry-basket wagon with clothespin horses.

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