When it comes to Victorian crafts, the term "miscellaneous" covers a lot of territory. In this section you'll find articles on basket-weaving, jewelry-making, cameo-cutting, modeling flowers in wax, creating flowers from wool and beads, modeling in clay, hand-turning everything from ivory to alabaster, mosaics, and... well, the list goes on and on.

Jewelry

On Cameo-Engraving (Art Journal, 1853)

Coraline Ornaments, by Ann S. Stephens (Peterson's, 1856)

Silk Jewelry (Demorest, 1879)

Some lovely jewelry that can be made with fabric-covered button forms.

The Art of Cameo-Cutting, by E. Crossley (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1890)

Artistic Bead-Threading, by Fred Miller (Girl's Own Paper, 1902)

"The fashion that has arisen for bead-stringing has given girls possessed of taste an opportunity of obtaining, at a very small cost, one of the most beautiful objects of personal adornment--a necklace." Includes designs that would not be out of place today, including Basuto work.

Modeling Flowers

Paper Flowers, by Mrs. A.M. Hollingsworth (Peterson's, 1856)

A series of instructions on making 10 separate paper flowers and a final paper flower bouquet.

Wax Flowers, Fruits, etc., by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875 [book])

How to create elaborate displays of wax fruits and flowers.

Wax Flowers, by Mrs. E.S.L. Thompson (Peterson's, 1879)

How to Model a Rose in Wax, by Sophie Thwaites (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

How to Make Bead Flowers, by M. Karger (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Arrasene, or Wool Flowers (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Interesting method of making a variety of flowers from yarn.

Basket-Making

[Baskets] Things That Are Thrown Away (Needle & Brush, 1889)

A variety of things one can do with baskets.

Fancy Baskets (Needle & Brush, 1889)

Basket-Making (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

Basket-Weaving, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

Subtitled "How Girls Can Help Workhouse Inmates," this explains how to teach others to weave baskets.

How to Weave Cane Baskets, by Leirion Clifford (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

How to Make Paper Baskets for Carrying Flowers, by Eliza Brightwen (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

A creative use for a newspaper!

Modeling & Sculpting

Modeling in Clay as a Remunerative Employment (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

Hints on Modeling in Clay, by Fred Miller (Girl's Own Paper, 1887)

Modelling in Putty (Needle & Brush, 1889)

More Hints on Modeling in Relief, by Natalie Sturges (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

Leatherwork

Modeling in Leather, by Mrs. Gilbert (Peterson's, 1856)

Fancy Leatherwork, by Mrs. C.S. Jones & Henry Williams (Household Elegancies, 1875 [book])

Fancy indeed; this chapter offers tips on creating individual flowers and leaves of leather to create elaborate picture frames, stands, baskets and more.

Leatherwork, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Hammering for Boys [Leatherwork], by Hetta L.H. Ward (Demorest, 1887)

Leatherwork, Old and New, by E. Crossley (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1893)

Embossed Leatherwork, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Cut Leatherwork, by Leirion Clifford (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

The Decorated Book Cover for Christmas, by Sarah MacConnell (Ladies Home Journal, 1898)

Besides tips on making book covers, this article also shows a variety of lovely hand-made photo frames.

Other Crafts

A Gossip on Hand-Turning, by Ardern Holt (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1877)

"Turning can be applied to pretty well every solid substance -- metal, wood, pottery, stone, ivory, coral, jet, and alabaster."

How to Make a Metronome (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

Fashionable Art Work: Inlaying with Ivory and Mother-of-Pearl (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1888)

Fashionable Artwork: Mosaics (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1888)

Mosaic Work, and How It Is Executed, by C. Harrison Townsend (Girl's Own Paper, 1888)

Chamois and Celluloid Articles (Needle & Brush, 1889)

A pincushion cover, card case, various small bags and more.

Gesso Work, by E. Crossley (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1890)

Cloissone: An Easy Mode of Decorating Items for the Home (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1892)

Cloisonne Enamel, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

The Use of the Lathe, by W.A.S. Benton (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892A)

Household crafts and projects that can be accomplished by "turning" on a lathe, with many interesting illustrations.

How to Utilise Old Kid Gloves and Old Corks, by Blanche C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

This has so many fascinating uses for "discards" I couldn't resist including the picture...

On Various Bookmarkers, by B.C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

A bit of the history of bookmarks, and some charming examples to make yourself (lovely Christmas gifts!).

Useful Hints: Fancy Flower Pots (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

Tips on a variety of methods of decorating flower pots, from Egyptian/Etruscan patterns to ornamenting pots with postage stamps.

Crazy China: What It Is and How to Make It, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

An artistic use for broken crockery.

Perverted Pipes, by "Cousin Lil" (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

How to turn pipes into pincushions, match-holders, etc.

Filigree and How to Make It, by Leirion Clifford (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

Tips on creating lovely flowers and leaves in filigree wire.