The common white clover with its trefoil leaf is very pretty, and if a few sprays are placed together in a graceful manner it is surprising how readily they lend themselves to decoration. Experiment with these, gather a few blossoms and leaves, group them on the centre of a piece of paper, and make an outline of the group; then trace it off in order to repeat the copy at equal intervals from the central figure (see illustration, page 138); this makes a very simple and yet beautiful design for embroidery, needle-work, or wall-paper pattern. In the same manner try grasses and different kinds of flowers. [Illustration: _Fig. 88_] Conventional designs can also be formed by simply inclosing a natural spray in a geometrical figure. Fig. 88 is a circle, but a square, triangle, diamond, oval, or any geometrical figure may take the place of the circle. =Changing the Color= of a natural object gives still another style of ornamental art. A spray of flowers and leaves in one color on a background of different tint is an example. The spray may be brown on a yellow background, or a dull blue on white background, either way it will be conventionalized. So you see that by merely making natural objects all in one tint, you can have a great variety of designs suitable for china, embroidery, wall paper, and many other decorations. It is instructive to examine the panels, screens, or painted china of the Japanese. There is a freedom and crispness about their ornamental art, which is very attractive. The method the Japanese frequently employ is to diminish the size of the fruit or flowers while increasing the size of the leaves, and vice-versa; in this way they invent designs without losing the character of the object they copy, and it is really a very simple, yet effective method. Suppose you try and see what you can make with it. The next time you have an opportunity, notice how the Oriental artists carry out this idea in their decorations, and it will help you in making your designs. =Burs.= The tenacious little burs found clinging to your dress after a country walk, when grouped together are not without beauty. Fig. 89 is formed of four of these burs placed at right angles making an ornament, and when the ornament is repeated at regular intervals as in Fig. 90, it forms a border design. [Illustration: _Fig. 89_] [Illustration: Fig. 90.] [Illustration: _Fig. 91_] Seeds with downy or feathery tails are well adapted for decorations; three grouped together (Fig. 91), is a design of itself, which may also be re-duplicated (Fig. 92). The horse-chestnut or buckeye is decorative, and makes an odd design (Fig. 93). Also the seed-vessel of the Velvet-leaf or Abutilon avicennæ (Figs. 94 and 95). [Illustration: Fig. 92.] =The Water-Lily.=