I Knew It Would Be Perfect...

 My Coffee Club girlfriends celebrated my Birthday last Saturday.

It was my turn to receive a collaborative wall hanging from the girls.

They chose one of the few French General fabric lines that I don't have.

(They know how I adore Kaari Meng's fabric lines!)

 They fussy cut the coffee mugs and tea cups, satin-stitched

the appliques' and chose the most wonderful quilting designs

to finish the piece. I love every little detail. There's so much to see!

I can't tell you how delighted I was to see my gift. The fact that I
 received the wall hanging wasn't a surprise...we make one for each
member of the group on their special day. I knew it would be perfect for
me, but they really outdid themselves! These girls really know me!

To Kathy, Nora, Brenda, Joni and Fay:

Thank you. I'm so blessed to call you friends.

I'm looking forward to more happy days and years

of shared projects and experiences with each of you.

Love you all to bits!

xo

Dream The Day Away...

Today, I thought I'd share my newest book with you. Honestly, I fear this has become a mild obsession (if there is such a thing). Kaari Meng is The French General, and this is one of her fabulous "How To" books. I thought my taste tended toward my new-found Scandinavian furniture and decor, but I think I may have to reconsider.
Imagine dreaming the night away on fresh linen, hemp or even nettle bedding? Natural fibers that only get softer with age. Vintage linens would be even better. (Let's agree to not talk about cost, shall we?)
Or perhaps setting a fine table with vintage-looking placemats you've created yourself? Of course, the French General has just what a girl might need in their fabric lines, and all the instructions, too.
I can just see this clean, tailored ottoman slipcover on my little suede-y cube in our living room. All of my colors are blues, tans and whites, but don't worry about that. Kaari has my color theme covered, too!
An old French country table on the patio, or under the beautiful oak tree in our yard...covered with a scalloped tablecloth, mix-n-match antique china and silverware, bowls of fresh fruits, cold lemonade, and Mason jars filled with seasonal flowers. What a dreamy way to spend an afternoon.
Then, there's this...I finally found a local shop that carries the French General's "Rural Jardin" fabric line in the blue colorway. (I kept running into the reds, but needed the blues.) I purchased plenty of fabric to make a quilt to cover our antique oak table, with enough left to cover that little cube in the living room.

If you love books (which I do), and you love inspiration, then you'll want to get a copy of Home Sewn. Why should I be the only one to dream the day away?