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The pin in question was unique because it was made of a plastic coated tape, which is not primarily considered costume jewelry material. The lace was formed into a pattern of rosettes and streamers combined to cover a pin base. After examining the pin, Mrs. Murphy made a trip to a Denver supply store for materials.

Did you ever see a display of handicraft materials so intriguing that your hands just itch to start work—to find some way to utilize the beautiful colors?" Mrs. Murphy had that feeling when she first saw a display of Pyrolace. This is a comparatively new material, a plastic coated tape, manufactured by several companies and marketed under various trade names—Pyrolace, Cota-lace and others. One supply catalog simply calls it "plastic gimp." It is usually ³/32-inch wide and is sold by the yard, although it is more economically bought in 50 or 100-yard spools. Two cents a yard seems to be a pretty general price for small quantities.

The outstanding feature of this material is the breathtakingly lovely color. The rainbow shades are only a beginning. It comes in every hue and tint including metallic bronze, gold and silver. It has a glossy, smooth surface that gives a waxed or polished sheen to finished products.

AS SOON as Mrs. Murphy got home with her choice of colors, she started making the basic rosette. It was not hard to make and after making two or three, she became quite proficient in turning out uniform rosettes. Then she experimented with different arrangements and designs until she had perfected the corsage which she now makes and which has proved very popular.

She made several for herself and for gifts and then decided they should be good for a pin money project. So she bought lace in a wider range of colors and went into production.

Here is the way she explains the process:

Each corsage requires approximately twelve yards of the plastic lace, six yards each of two colors, and a small gold safety pin.

For each rosette she measures and cuts off about forty inches of the plastic. Then, starting at one end, she rolls it around and around until she has nine rows, smoothly wrapped in a flat roll. (Figure 1). Then, holding the roll firmly in her left hand, she takes the loose end and inserts it through the hole in the middle of the roll, then out, up and under the lace where she started the "spoke" (Figure 2). Turning the roll just a little, another stitch or spoke is formed, repeating until there are eight evenly spaced around the circle. This is a sort of eyelet embroidery form of stitch or knot. As the circle is completed, the end is tied to the first spoke and the long end of the lace is left extended as a stem. When eight rosettes are completed, four of each color, she arranges them in a spray with the stems of varying lengths, with all stems laid smoothly together, side by side (Figure 3).

She then takes two lengths, one of each color and cuts them fifteen inches long. Holding them smoothly together, they are used to make the bow which ties the rosettes together. These are tied firmly around the eight stems and through the safety pin, which is held at the back of the stems. The bow knot is then completed with the ends hanging below (Figure 3).

The next step is curling the ends. Mrs. Murphy wraps them one at a time around a small lead pencil, winding up as close to the pin as possible (Figure 4). When all have been wound, she loosens them slightly, curls them around her finger and flattens and shapes them in a regular pattern (Figure 5). As they are released, they loosen somewhat. Sometimes they have to be curled a second or even a third time on the pencil to hold them in the desired shape. This part of the process is very important as the rather formal bow arrangement is one of the most attractive features of this corsage.

As a corsage is completed, Mrs. Murphy slips it into a cellophane envelope which keeps it clean, holds it in shape and is a very convenient and attractive way to display it.

Color combinations may be varied to suit any taste or to match any costume. Their possibilities are unlimited. The metallic shades of bronze, gold and silver are especially popular and blend beautifully with any and all colors. They give a richness and glitter which the primary colors just do not have when used by themselves.

MRS. MURPHY, who is a housewife living in a small town, finds plenty of time to develop her interest in novelties and handcrafts, which she buys or makes. Her work with plastics has been one of the most fascinating she has ever tried. The town of Rifle's chief claim to importance is a vanadium plant and the vast oil shale deposits and development which it borders. But it is a small town, so Mrs. Murphy buys much of her material for craft work by mail and she hopes to sell by mail, too. Marketing is always a large part of any pin money project. Especially in a small town it often proves to be the difficulty that just cannot be overcome. Mrs. Murphy worked out a clever marketing method last Christmas. She contacted the president of the local church Ladies Aid and offered to supply corsages for the society to sell on commission, with the commission to go to the society's treasury. The society accepted her offer and sold a large number during the holidays. The women agreed to sell the corsages for $1.25 each, the same price Mrs. Murphy charges when she sells them herself. Their commission was 20 per cent or 25 cents on each corsage they sold. It is a very generous commission considered on a percentage basis, but it still left a fair profit for Mrs. Murphy and resulted in many more sales than she could have accounted for personally. Mrs. Murphy expects to make a similar arrangement with other organizations or shops.

A great part of her orders recently have come from those who bought from her or the Ladies Aid Society. Now they are ordering in different colors or for gifts and this repeat order business is very gratifying. Many of the earlier corsages were mailed as gifts and these are bringing in orders from a distance.

These corsages are very definitely adapted for mail order selling, since they are light in weight and pack for mailing easily and quickly. Almost any color or shade that a customer desires can be matched, which is another advantage for mail orders.

Like all good craftsmen, Mrs. Murphy is not satisfied to stop creating something new. She is now working on another type of corsage composed of sprays of "goldenrod" made of the Pyrolace, braided in intricate design. When she has these fully developed, she feels they will be fitting companions for the rosette corsages.

Since her cost of materials is quite low, only about twenty-five cents for each corsage, and she makes them up in her spare time, Mrs. Murphy's margin of profit is very satisfactory and the work is definitely a joy.