The Passion Flower;

Belief:



"Has become strangely interwoven with our faith, from a fancied

resemblance to a cross and a crown, although it requires a great

effort of the imagination to call up either the one or the other.

Still its very name in some measure renders it sacred to faith and

belief."



Cut the petals, ten in number, from treble wax, one of white and two of

lemon; col ur the lemon side with light green, leaving the edge rather

lighter. Curl each petal in the following manner: press it in the hand,

while warm, that the three thicknesses of wax may be certain to adhere.

Roll the head of the small pin once down the centre upon the white side,

and round the edge also. This must be done lightly at first, for if a

pin is pressed too heavily it occasions the sheets of wax to separate

and have a blistered appearance. Cut three triangular pieces of double

wax, one inch in length, place the broad end to a piece of fine wire,

and mould them smoothly down, small at the base and broad at the point;

these three are affixed to the end of a middle size wire, and painted

purple after they are attached. A piece of light green wax is moulded

round immediately under them; about a quarter of an inch from this is

attached the stamina, cut in light green wax, and touched round the

ladle shape end with my orange powder. A full inch from this is placed a

small foundation, formed of strips of green wax, two of which are

snipped and coloured purple. The rays are attached immediately

afterwards, and are manufactured as follows:--cut a number of strips of

white wax, roll them between the fingers to incline them to be round;

place your pieces of marble in warm water, and finish rolling the said

strips of wax or rays between them: this is a much quicker, easier, and

cleaner process than by doing them entirely with the fingers. Cut a

strip of double green wax to pattern, place it about three quarters of

an inch from the edge of a folded paper, place each of the rays closely

upon this, taking care that every point extends only to the paper; this

method will enable you to place them perfectly even, which is very

necessary. For a flower it requires two strips of these rays; they are

painted blue at the point and purple at the base, leaving a

corresponding space white between the two colours. Press the two strips

neatly round the previously made foundation, bending them back and

regulating them with the point of the curling-pin. I next attach five

petals at equal distance, the longest and narrowest of the two sets are

placed on first, the other five immediately between. The calyx is cut in

light green wax, it consists of three sepals, which are rolled with the

head of the pin and attached to the back of the flower.