with two coats of black, glue a small group of leaves in each corner,
with a wire spray or tendril to connect them, varnish with two coats
of copal, and put a small picture behind the oval.


A FRAME OF MAIDEN-HAIR.

Cut a pasteboard frame three inches wide of the size you need, and sew
thickly all over it little sprays of maiden-hair ferns, pressed and
dried. It is fastened to the wall with a pin at each corner, and of
course does not support a glass. The effect of the light fern shapes
against the wall is very delicate and graceful, and unsubstantial as
it may seem, the frame lasts a long time, especially if, when the
maiden-hair first begins to curl, the whole is taken down and
re-pressed for two or three days under a heavy book.

[Illustration: VASE (AUTUMN-LEAF WORK).]


NOVELTIES IN FERN-WORK.

We hope some of you have collected a good supply of ferns of the
different colors,--deep brown, yellow, green and white,--for by means
of a new process you can make something really beautiful with them. It
requires deft fingers and good eyes, but with practice and patience
any of you could manage it. Supposing it to be a table-top which you
wish to ornament, you proceed as follows: Paint the wood all over with
black or very dark brown; let it dry, and rub it smooth with pumice.
Next varnish. And here comes the point of the process. _While the
varnish is wet_, lay your ferns down upon it, following a design which