I'm so glad to be free of all the commitments of May.  Only one this month--to show up at a trail work day this Saturday.  I'll be in charge of pruning (I hope) and looking cute.  I think I can handle it. ;-)

It's been a hot one this past week, but we've managed to get lots done.  Operation High Security continues on as today I planted watermelons, more cucumbers and loofas.  Mike and I covered the area with newspapers and rocks just before a short storm came and drenched them.  Success!  I've fortified the little hills where the seeds are with tomato cages to discourage any deposits of the feline variety.  I've covered the other cucumber plants (which I ended up buying) with bird netting.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Saturday, I went on a baking frenzy and made two loaves of my Famous Sourdough-which-is-not-Sour, another big batch of Tammy's Cinnamon Crunch Granola and the first Peachy Blueberry Pie of the season.  Whew!  That ought to do us for a week or two.  I love to bake and somehow, it being 95 outside is very enticing.  Either that, or I had temporary insanity and wanted to really heat up the house.

Speaking of things in the oven, the baby is doing really well at being super active.  Her movements are much stronger than when I started to feel them around seven weeks ago.  I can feel her somersault around in my tummy and can really tell when she settles in for a moment right above my bladder. Sometimes it feels like I'm either at the mercy of my hungry tummy or my super-productive bladder.  No matter, I love every flicker of life I get to feel.  Even at 4:00 AM after my fifth bathroom break.

I've been churning out the custom orders for etsy and am really glad to have reached a point where sitting down to sew six or twelve napkins at a time is no longer daunting.  That's one of the things no one tells you about crafting--sewing, knitting ,crochet, or otherwise--you have to have time to get used to the pace of the work.  When you find your pattern, things go much more smoothly.  I've moved the ironing board into the part of the house with the air conditioner and now things are even more productive.  Who can sit down to sloth in front of the Food Network with dozens of anxious napkins staring back?

So, yeah.  Here's the obligatory crafting shot.



I'm really liking the lavender hankies.

Say prayer for us at the bungalow--I'm still waiting for some important news and may get it later in the week.

Let me add a big thanks to Tammy for giving me a free ad on her blog.  I'm so thankful for her generosity during uncertain times.  Check it out--Mike designed it.  He's so clever!

I've added a few dozen more napkins to the Fiber Frolic: Blue Skies Daisy Napkins (shown above) and a couple other retro prints.  It's such a blessing to have so many people loving my napkins--I can hardly keep up! :-)

Happy Tuesday from me and the little girl pumpkin! :-D

June, she'll change her tune,
In restless walks she'll prowl the night. . .

Simon & Garfunkel :: "April Come She Will"

It's a quiet morning here at the Blackberry Bungalow; just the little pumpkin and me are awake.  Mike and I have enjoyed a few days of peaceful living after a whirlwind month.  We went to see Indiana Jones at the drive-in and, as usual, I was appalled at the price of snacks (we're taking our own next time).  The movie was pretty good, though, when you take out all the stressful parts. 

Yesterday we went to Boone for our quarterly trip to Earth Fare and vegetarian food fix.  Mike ended up eating meat (at the place which has replaced Angelica's), I had tempeh, and we came home with $18 worth of gummy candies from the Mast General Store.  You've got to have priorities.  Really, though, that candy will last us for months.  I hope.

I'm glad it's June, but this month still holds some surprises. 

Monday, we'll find out just who's wiggling around in my tummy and laying on my bladder.  Yesterday, the baby got into such a position that I was nearly squirming with pain and screaming for a bathroom.  Just as quickly, the baby moved and I was able to make it a whole 20 minutes without a bathroom break.  Mike says I've gotten a lot bigger over the past week, and I feel it, too.  Of course, I'm always sizing myself up every time I walk past something reflective.  That's what happens when you have a house with no full-length mirrors. ;-)

My birthday is this month, right before the end of the fiscal year at work.  I'm sure, by now, that you've figured out that they might be downsizing me.  It's nothing I've done, but they blame the state budget cuts and somehow see it as okay to consider eliminating several real people instead of looking at other spending.  It's a big, hilarious mess.  That's all I can say.  Now that the shock has worn off, it's like M*A*S*H around work.  I talk about willing my office supplies to people and who gets my African violets.  Humor in dark times as we wait for a verdict.

Today, I've got a couple dozen napkins for the Fiber Frolic waiting for me in the Apiary.  There are also new curtains to plan for our room and Mike, as Quality Control on all my crafting, is keeping a close eye on the fabric selection.  We've come home with some that's he's just obsessed with.  I knew he was the one when he wore my knitting and was so concerned about, well, Quality Control.  I've also got two sizable custom orders for the shop and I'm so thrilled to have them.  Etsy seems to be working out well for me. :-)

Now, for some flower shots. . .



I'll start with peonies, for Emily. 



I've picked the best and fullest, just for you.



This is the bouquet from the other day.  See how full it's gotten?  I've since restocked with more flowers as the petals drop.



Moving along to the bleeding hearts in white. . .



. . . and tiny pink.  I think these are more closely related to Dutchmen's Breeches or maybe Squirrel Corn, given the leaves and flower shape.



Now, I've got to do shamelss plugs for the shop.  See this columbine?



And this one, too?



Notice how I like to take pictures of my hand?

I show all of these to say that they all came from the same plants, but came out different colors!  I moved these from the Old Davis Homestead our first year here.  For awhile, they stayed well-behaved and were all purple and ruffly.  This year, I don't know if they were carousing with other neighborhood columbines or what, but they've gone and gotten Variety.  I love all the different colors and lovingly collect the seeds each year, which are available for purchase over at Brandy's Fiber Frolic.

Okay, shameless plugs aside. . .



Gorgeous Rhododendron.  And at last:



Dwarf Iris.   Aaaah, love.

Happy Sunday!

I've got some great stuff for Brandy's Fiber Frolic brewing at the Blackberry Bungalow!  I'll be doing major updates over there tomorrow and Friday.  Here's a little peak. . .



Sunshine-y napkins in vintage feedsack repro's.

And. . .



Handmade soap that Carrie taught me to make!!  I'll have Citrus Trio (shown at top), Tea Tree-Peppermint (middle) and a few Rose bars (bottom). 

For Susan and Blue Mountain Mama, who submitted names for the citrus soap, I have a free bar for each of you with your names on them!!!  Just drop me an e-mail at rangerbrandy at gmail dot com with your address and they'll be on their way!!

A knitted bib for the baby.  I found the pattern online and have plans to make many more.



Ummm. . . napkins.  Lots of napkins.  Somebody tell me you're desperate for some of my napkins.  Maybe it will motivate me.  See the cute vintage prints?



But, see?  I have been making a little progress.  If only I had a rolled-hem foot, I could move so much faster. . .



I've been doing really good with this one.  And really, that's all that matters.

Another week, another dress.  Last week I finished a fair number of napkins and hankies for the shop and made another dress for me.  The dress set me back all of about eight dollars.  I've really been getting along with the sewing machine lately and even zippers are getting easier.  I've also gotten most of my energy back, which is good, since Spring brings lots to do.

The onions are growing well in the basement.  The broccoli and tomatoes need to be re-potted and everything else will wait until we've built the additional raised beds.  A neighbor gave us red raspberries and thornless blackberries, so Mike planted them last night along side our black raspberries.  The early season blueberry has started to bloom, but none of the plants are in the ground yet.  I've put them outside, in hopes of getting the flowering one pollinated.  It's a good thing I've waited because it's predicted to snow and freeze this weekend!  Good thing we save all our bits of fabric and boxes from last year.  My bleeding hearts are starting to bloom, so I have to be careful of them.

April come she will,
when streams are ripe and swelled with rain. . .

Things are picking up over here in the Forgotten Virginia.  Mike and I mapled ourselves at the Whitetop festival this past weekend.  Spending the day reading and napping, we celebrated the Earth Hour from eight to nine in the light of candles and the oil lamp.  Sunday was church and then I started to cut out my next new dress.  The last one was so successful, I gave it another go with some simple modifications.  I finished it last night.  What a difference some experience and a new sewing machine makes!

I'm feeling more energetic these days and have started to take my walks at work again.  Cold doesn't keep me down, but lack of energy does!  Today was very warm, around seventy, and VERY windy.  I enjoyed being out in the weather and seeing all the budding trees getting ready to bloom.  We've been getting a steady amount of rain and things are really looking greener and the streams are fuller than they have been in many months.  What a blessing!

Because I'm pregnant and allowed to be slightly selfish, I have two shots of my dress that Mike took out in the yard.  I can't help but feel proud and so excited about most every good thing lately. :-)

Wow, I must be going through a real blogging drought.  After posting nearly every day for months, I'm a little short on words lately.  What I've not been short on is preparations for Brandy's Fiber Frolic.  I've sewn dozens of napkins and handkerchiefs and nearly felted my self into submission.  Here's a little sneak-ety peek for all those curious blog friends:



Sunshiny Garden Napkins: There are two sets of six that will be available. I adore the fabric.  Mike picked it out--he's got the best taste. :-)



Cork Mushrooms: A recycled craft turning the bubbly into the whimsical.  Modeled after the Fly Agaric mushroom so often seen in storybooks.  Don't know if I'll have more of these later or not.



Blue Mountain Sunrise: Inspired by my West Virginia blog friend and the two stained glass panels that hang in our living room.



Blue Mountain Moonrise: Simplicity at is best, and because I'm obsessively even. ;-)

Mike's in bed with a sore back (not from the photos!) talking on the phone to his friend who's also in bed recovering from surgery.  I sewed most of the day and have about made myself crazy.  However, not nearly as crazy as I would have been if I didn't have Sally the new Singer. :-)

Oh, I forgot one more picture. . .



Doughnuts I made yesterday for my great-grandmother's 101st birthday!  We had to cut them out with a Coca-Cola glass and a champagne flute. :-P  They were a hit and we had such a good time. :-)

A couple of months ago, I got some skirts from one of the ladies I work with.  Delores is quiet and polite and is quite the shopper!  I was pleased to receive three new skirts and a new task--turn a lime green pleated skirtof her aunt's into a keepsake.  The skirt fit me, but it was atrocious, so I told her I'd make it live on.  Earlier this week, before the plague, I started on a purse made out of the skirt.



I sewed the pleats flat so they'd hold their shape and added a lining made from the same fabric as this skirt.



With my new machine, Sally, I was able to do decorative stitching to tie the two fabrics together.  I hope she likes it--keep your fingers crossed!



On the right is a skirt from my mother--it's had thirty or so years of wear and is a favorite of mine.  On the left is my copy of it, with a little fun added.  I decided to forgo the ruffled bottom and add bright colors.  I got the red corduroy at a yard sale and the blue print in Abingdon.



Henceforth, you shall be Lederskirten.  Now I know that's not German and that the skirt is not made of leather, but it is rather fun, isn't it?

When one in three people in one's office are sick, the odds are against you.  Please, all you sick people out there, stay home!  I've got some sort of scritchety-scratchety throat thing over here.  My energy's a little lower, so I'm taking things slow.  That includes the blogging, but here are some projects completed in the last week or so (including one really big one!).



A clean craft room/Apiary.  I spent all Monday morning ruthlessly sorting through it all and I am now proud to say it is quite tidy and takes a very boring picture.  :-)



Recycled skirt napkins.  One of the ladies at work gave me a skirt that was a bit too short for my tastes, so I turned it into a set of napkins for Mike's oldest sister.  The new sewing machine is so fast and cheery that I hardly have time to get impatient about making napkins (where was it in September?).



FINISHED SOCKS! Yes, 11 months later they are finally done.  This is the view from the couch where I've been doing a bit of additional sewing, trying to use up felt I've had for several years.  But really, SOCKS DONE!! REJOICE!!



And for wetkneefarm and Mark, Lad Na.  We went to Roanoke without you and enjoyed every last bit. ;-P

Because when it looks like this out the window. . .



you'll need to make about nine of these. . .



to keep you warm enough so you can make this. . .



and this, which you mentioned to chasnlndsy so many weeks ago. . .



Aaaaah. . . a new needle holder for all my knitty friends!  The ribbon might look a little familiar to Felicia--it came tied around Mr. Candy Cane Stripe and was too sweet to pack away. :-)

Thanks, Sally, it's been a great weekend.

As of late, I've met a new blogger, Susan over at Home Hum.  Somehow, she found her way to my blog and linked hers to mine.  She loves knitting and snow and mittens and nature--a homemaker after my own heart!  She asked if I'd had time to fiddle with my new intergalactic twenty-first century sewing machine, and I did make a bit of time tonight to do a little work before we load up to go to Atlanta in the morning.  But first, I'll make you all look at my knitting.  ;-)



Scarf for Mike to match this hat.  Craig included this yarn in his generous stash and I set to work right on Christmas Eve.  A girl's got to be prepared with knitting needles in her purse at all times!  I must say that the yarn has a neat pattern emerging. . .



A mysterious sort of hood-like, hat-like, scarf-like item to cover my head and neck all at once.  It's totally experimental.  The yarn came from my work secret pal.



The never-ever-ever ending sock.  Look!  I've started to make the heel flap.  I've haven't traveled this territory since I made a couple of balaclavas a few years ago.  Keep your fingers crossed!



The yarn stash from my uncle Craig.  Lots of soft earth tones and lavender, which I love. 



Super-soft merino wool for my MOMYS pen pal, Mandy, who's expecting her next little girl any day.



I plan to make a pixie hat and mittens set much like this one that I made for Martha's little boy Jesse back in February.  It looked a little like this. . .



Well, okay eight months after he was born it looked like this, but he is so super cute in it.  Even if Martha did have to stretch it over his bald little head.  :-D



Okay, here she is.  I'd like for you to meet Sally.  She and I will be spending the next 25 or so years together, at least according to the warranty.  She does dozens of decorative stitches, embroiders letters, does freehand quilting (like I'll ever get to that), and invisible hems (handy for Catrina, who has me hem her pants).  I was so surprised, but I really like this new machine.  It doesn't weigh a ton and it moves so smoothly.  ALSO, I can SEE THE BOBBIN so that I don't unexpectedly run out of thread.  Oh, the thrill!



My first project?  Altering some extra-large pants that were on sale at Old Navy to fit me (they were totally sold out of my size).  I took them apart with my seam ripper (which I am so thrilled to have finally found!), sewed up both legs and put the elastic back in.  I left off the drawstring and button since they were mainly ornamental.  While I was altering the pants, it seemed only reasonable to take out the drawstring since I could make them fit my waist while I was at it.



Here's a close-up (sort of) of the fabric--little smiling mushrooms!



The pants are for lounging, which I hope to do a little of this weekend (along with loads of knitting) at the in-laws.  I sleep in much more um, dull  things than chipper mushrooms.  Since I hate to confine the pleasure just to krusig (who stayed over on a snowy night and was afflicted with wearing such a thing), I present Brandy in her nightie.  A very high-necked, long-ish, well-covered sort of affair.  Just for chuckles and mighty family-friendly. :-P

--as in Finished!!



Inspiration



Manifestation



Complete with the Invisible Hem.
Fancy.
Don was pleased in an understated, Don-like sort of way.
And he asked me to make one for his wife.



Martha's skirt--she's my secret pal at work.
She loved it.
And sent me a sweet e-mail. . . 

Thanks Brandy for my skirt!!!!!! I just opened it and about cried – you have to be one of the most thoughtful people I know. LOVE the color, LOVE it!!!!! I’m so glad you were my Secret Santa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS SO MUCH!

Martha

The Advent season finally began at the Nichols' Homestead.  Whew!  What a weekend!

Saturday morning I set to work on my panettone for my secret pal.  Seeing as it was a Martha Stewart recipe, I was certain I was in for bizarre challenges.  Turned out, it wasn't so bad after all.  The dough was sticky, so I was very thankful for my stand mixer.  I hardly use it, but when I do, it earns its keep.  The bread involved setting a sponge, mixing up lots of eggs and 1 1/2 sticks of butter, lots of lemon and orange zest, and two very long proofing periods.  I ended up using paper bags that were larger than those requested in the recipe and think that fate was on my side.  Clearly my yeast (which I have now bought in bulk) was rather perky.

I do believe I had a little thing called success, which is much better than I can say for last year's Buche de Noel.

Once the bread was out of the oven to cool and I had taken the proper time to take in its absolutely wonderful aroma, Mike and I headed off to get the Christmas tree.  As we drove up to Whitetop, I had every plan of doing a Forgotten Virginia post about all the tree farms we have in this area, but that soon fell by the wayside.

We found our trusty tree farm proprietor asleep in his pick-up truck in the warm sun.  We hopped out ready for fun and he told us we'd come at the wrong time and interrupted his nap.  ;-)  He told us we could have any tree we wanted for $25 and asked that we leave some stump in hopes of sprouting more trees.  He said he needed to clear out the big trees and handed us a saw.

Well, bleeding heart that I am, and seeing all his overgrown trees (10'-12') I felt compelled to help him out.  So, I grabbed another saw and set to work picking a "spare" tree.  During this time, serendipitously, more families showed up to pick their trees.  A cartoony sort of man wearing plaid came with his wife and daughter and borrowed our wood-cutting saw (that we keep in the car for cutting wood).  I could hear his overwhelming jolliness as Mike and dragged our two trees down to the tree baler.

Mike packed Tree 1.0 in the car while I worked with the old man to bale the other.  No such luck.  I managed to start the baler and he managed to break it.  So, the old man gave us some twine and we tied Tree 2.0 to the roof.  After chasing his money in the wind, we got the change for our trees and took off down the mountain.  I was crammed in the car on the passenger side, vying for space with Tree 1.0 while Mike was carefully watching the shadow of the car to ensure that Tree 2.0 didn't blow off.  The whole time I fretted about what we would do with two trees and who we could give Tree 2.0 to.

Well, my worries were soon put to rest.  Mike insisted on stopping at a craft center along the way that we have never seen open.  I thought it was run by lazy hippies, but that's another story.  Going inside, it was snug and warm, as the friendly non-lazy hippies had a fire going in the wood cookstove.  Inside, there were beautiful turned wood bowls, candle holders, goblets, lazy susans, and cutting boards everywhere.  The people were engaging and seemed to be more interested in conversation than sales.  I found some gorgeous note cards with native wildflowers (sorry, Anna) for Mike's sister Mandy and we bought those. 

They noticed the tree on our car and we told them we had another one stuffed inside.  One thing led to another and we sold them Tree 2.0 for the wife's mother.  Fabulous!  They wouldn't have to make the trip and we wouldn't have to worry about dealing with two trees.  The shop we visited is part of the 'Round the Mountain network of artisans, but I cannot remember the name.  Maybe Mike will help me. . .

So, after 5 hours of tree selection and transit (the selection took about 2 minutes) and another hour of finding the right stand, we had a tree.  Just one.  And it was beautiful.

Sunday, I set to work on non pareils, also a Martha Stewart recipe from Handmade Christmas.  The little round discs of chocolate with purple sugar balls on top were super easy and fun to make.  They didn't require much and I'll be sure to include at least one more session making them before Christmas.  They'll be a hit with the dark chocolate lovers in our lives.  They do melt a little easier, so I'm keeping them in the fridge until I'm ready to give them out.

At church, we found out that our church was hosting the parish choir that very night and that I would need to be on hand to light the Advent candle.  Since I was planning to bake snickerdoodles for tonight's Friends of Mount Rogers meeting, I had the snacks afterwards covered.  Instead of plain white sugar and cinnamon, I used red and green sanding sugar with the cinnamon for a festive touch.  It was a very busy day of rushing around, to say the least

The house is all decorated, most of the greens have been hung, and I've got leftovers to make up for our busy schedule.  Now, I just have to work on my St. Lucia kit from Posie Gets Cosy that came on Saturday.  I'm so excited to make her and her attendants!

After some serious sitting around, I've made some serious progress on my massive pile of knitting.  I've also learned that using cloth napkins on the nose is no less unkind than using kleenex (with none of that lotion residue).  Don't worry, I'll have them well washed when you show up to dinner. . . :-P



In Progress: The lace scarf.  I'm getting quite proficient at this pattern--I actually caught myself knitting quickly.
Complete: The Candy Cane Scarf--I love it!



Complete: One Blazin' Orange hat for Anna.
In Progress: Her other Cinnamitten.



Complete: One Peanuts snow-themed scarf.  I had a eight inch by 2.5 yard strip left over, so I scarfed it.  Does anyone love Peanuts and/or snow?  I'd love to wash it and send it off to you.



In Progress: One itty bitty knitting project done on the bamboo markers I got from mittenswap.  I'm thinking of a very woolly Christmas ornament. . .



Found: The Holiday Knitting stamps from the USPS.  I love them!!




In My Company: My Fluffy Flowers menagerie and my electric fireplace.  Some of the critters have been wrapped up for Christmas.  All sorts of meowing coming from the gift pile now. ;-)

Oh, and I've made a little progress on the cold.  I should be much better tomorrow.

Or, "Brandy Shows Off the Sheen of a Clean Floor."

Yesterday, made giddy by the cold, I thought it would be really neat to see how many knitting projects I could cast on and have going at one time.  Let's see. . .



The Candy Cane Scarf. 
For me, because I love these yarns
and Christmas
and snow
and the rice stitch.



Orange! Hat.
For a friend who works in the woods and needs to be seen.



Cinnamittens.
From the organic cotton yarn helenkosings sent me with my mitten goodies.
For the Name-that-Plant winner, wetkneefarm.



Herringbone Lace Scarf.
My first lace knitting.
I'm having to actually pay attention.
For my mother at Christmas.
Dad, please don't tell. ;-)



Those socks.
Are they still in progress?
Yes.
Have I made any progress since the last WIP's?
No.



Finally!  Not knitting!
A blurry top-secret Work in Progress.
Details forthcoming.

Something about Fall makes me pile on every possible bit of work I can.  I'm knitting socks--what's a few extra hats and a scarf?  Napkins--sure, I'll make 46 in two weeks! 

      



These are our new Autumn hats.  Mike's is Cascade Peruvian wool and mine is a locally grown, dyed and spun candy color.  I love both of these.  I did Mike's in a k3 p1 rib and mine in crochet.  I love my new hat.  I'm usually not this girly and pink, but I loved the yarn from the moment I saw it.

      

I'm sorry the Nature Frames are blurry, but it was dark outside and I was shivering from the no campfire ordinance.  Mike and I made these with some hosts and campers at Hurricane Campground during last week's non-campfire.  We glued bits of Fall to them--seeds, leaves, acorns, oak galls, pine nuts, hemlock cones, bark and fallen lichen.  It was all stuff I found on the ground.  I loved this craft!



The napkins are for wetkneefarm.  Twenty-six, mainly red for all the tomato sauce she and Mark consume on the farm.  She's getting them on Sunday at the Clinch Coalition Naturalists' Rally.

      

Since Mike's parents are coming this weekend and I've been crafty in lots of secret Christmas ways (which I cannot share here since my dad reads my blog), I had quite a few goodies to wrap.  I've found lots of handmade and locally produced goodies to supplement my usual homemade gifts.  I will reveal that the purple wake-robin pin will be a gift for a certain mother-in-law.  :-)

The owl is the most persnickety craft--to make and photograph.  He would not come out clearly regardless of the number of photos I took!  I've been experimenting with making softies lately and the owl fabric I got at Sew What really got me inspired.  I'll just say this--he's cute, he's colorful and his name is Hedwig.  Oh yeah, and he was a real test of my patience to design. 

Whew!  I've put away the sewing machine for the first time in weeks in an effort to tidy the craft room before the in-laws come.

Here it is, my first dress.  And even though it's supposed to get up to ninety today, I'm wearing it.  It's so comfy and pretty.

Mom and I worked most of Saturday and half of Sunday on it.  It had been a struggle to find all the sewing notions we needed, since Sew What is a quilting store and not a store for garment makers.  Luckily, mom has scoped out a place in Abingdon where we can get lots of zippers and patterned trim and other gluttonous sewing goodies.   I made this one rather simple, but I envision version 2.0 having lace trim on the sleeves and ruffle, or some pretty patterned ribbon around the bodice.

I learned lots about gathering fabric, since the sleeves, waist and ruffle are all gathered.  I got a refresher on sewing zippers so they can't be seen and even made my own bias tape to hold the elastic for the wrists.  The pattern was pretty sensible and now that I've found tracing paper, it should be even easier the next time.  It would have been quicker if we'd had that tracing paper beforehand. 

Mike did a special photo shoot in the woods around the cabin just for me. :-)

Time spent: about 12 hours. 

Last week I was finally brave enough to cut out the fabric for my new dress.  After washing and ironing it, I set to work in the morning laying out the pieces according to the plan and carefully cutting them out.  Mom helped me work on it this past weekend at the cabin and it is finished.  Pictures coming soon.

The dressmaking process made me think of These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder when she and Ma were making a dress after getting a sewing machine:

Next week Ma studied the instruction book and learned to run the machine, and the next Saturday she and Laura began to work on the lawn dress.  The lawn was so crisp and fresh, the colors so dainty, that Laura was afraid to cut it lest she make a mistake, but Ma had made so many dresses she did not hesitate.  She took Laura's measurements; the, with her dressmaking chart, she made the pattern for the waist, and fearlessly cut the lawn. . .