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The Rural Voice, 1985-11, Page 78RURAL LIVING Wreath in Time for Christmas Nothing warms a person's heart more than to receive a handmade gift. The following directions for a braid- ed fabric wreath will produce a lovely pre -Christmas gift for family and friends. Supplies required: 1 Ib. bag of polyester fibre fill ($2.98 each) 3 Christmas prints 115 cm (45") wide .20 m (8" ) of each print. (Cost will vary depending upon the price per metre of the fabric you choose.) Needle and thread 30 straight pins 1.5 to 2 m of the ribbon of your choice. 1 used Veltex ribbon 7 cm (or 3 inches wide) (99V m) .50 m florist wire Lay all three strips of Christmas fabric right side down on the table. Divide polyester fibre fill into three equal parts. Place one part of fibre fill onto each piece of fabric. You may need to pull the fibre fill apart a bit to spread it evenly along the fabric. Do not over -stuff or the wreath will be too difficult to braid. Roll fabric edges together lengthwise to form a long roll. Pin sides together using straight pins. Be sure to turn raw edges under. Whip - stitch the tube closed using a needle and thread of a suitable colour. Repeat the above steps with the re- maining two pieces of Christmas fabric. You should now have three long stuffed fabric tubes. Roll the tubes till the whip -stitching is at the back. Fold the top open ends down and stitch closed. Fold the bot- tom end up and stitch closed. Repeat till all six ends are closed. You now have three closed fabric rolls. Place one roll end on top of another roll end till you have all three together at the top. Whip -stitched seams should all be facing in the same direction. Stitch in place through all thicknesses. Now braid the three fabric rolls. Be sure and braid loosely enough to enable you to bend the start of the braid and the finish of the braid together. Stitch the start of the braid to the finish of the braid through all six thicknesses. To complete the wreath make a bow of your choice from the ribbon and attach to the wreath using the florist wire. Attach the bow to the wreath covering the spot where the six ends were stitched together. Now the completed wreath may be hung and enjoyed. Helen Muir Polka -Dot Fabric, Stratford Is wood heat right for you? For many people, the use of wood as a home -heating fuel belongs to the past. But since the recent increases in energy prices, some householders have reverted to wood as a cheaper heating method. In making the "wood decision," several factors should be considered. First, will wood be your primary source of heat, or simply used as a supplement? Wood furnaces, wood boilers, or combination units, for ex- ample, are more appropriate as central -heating systems. A wood stove, on the other hand, is essentially a space heater. 60 THE RURAL VOICE It is important to remember that successful wood heating is site- specific. An urban householder might prefer a wood stove or fireplace in- sert, while a rural householder with access to a woodlot might choose to convert entirely to wood heating. Other important considerations are safety and efficiency. When shopping for a wood -burning appliance, look for a complete, properly matched system, which includes pipes, protec- tive material, and if necessary, a new chimney. If in doubt, choose the smallest unit that will meet your heating re- quirements; smaller units will burn hotter, resulting in improved combus- tion efficiency and reduced creosote build-up in the stovepipe and chimney. You should also have access to reasonably priced, well -seasoned firewood. Don't forget storage space: each cord occupies about 128 cubic feet of space. If wood is your primary heat source, you'll need about five cords over the winter. Even if wood is your primary heat source, you will also need a back-up heating system for the times when you are unable to burn wood — such as when on vacation or weekend trips. Wood -heating systems must be in- stalled according to the manufac- turer's instructions and the relevant specifications of the Ontario Fire Code or the Ontario Building Code. Check with your local building department to see if you require a permit. Also check to see how your insurance company views wood heating before you buy any equip- ment. The total cost of converting to wood heating includes the cost of the fuel, the wood burning and venting equipment, and its installation, operation, and maintenance. Initial costs can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.