Progressing Nicely, Thanks...

I'm just giving a snapshot of the placemats I'm making in the French General "Rural Jardin" fabrics. I'm doing pinwheels on these, instead of the half-square triangles that were the focus on my "Rouenneries" set.

I'm going to make all of the mats first, and then I'll bind them while I chat with the girls at Books A Million this evening. Something simple to do while we giggle and tell "fresh lies", as an old friend used to say.

I'm also going to make my mug mat for my swap partner today and will bind that this evening, too.

I just realized that I hadn't shown you our new floor in the dining room yet. We had a little side project that had to be completed before I could photograph it to share. So, without further ado...
This is the dining room with the old light fixture still installed, and our artificial palm in the corner. It was so past time to tear out that carpeting and now, you can see the "after" photo.
Here it is! No extra charge for the model in the photograph. The chairs are usually all around the table, but Handsome wanted to keep the leaf out of the table for a little while, and the chairs don't fit with the leaf stowed away. I especially like that this table stores the leaves right under the top. Those clever Scandinavians!

We also have a roll-top desk in the corner that previously hosted the palm tree. I store table linens in the bottom drawers, so it's handy to have in the dining room. All of the pieces are teak and are easily cleaned and maintained with an occasional wiping of teak oil. The fixture above the table is also teak. Man, I like it so much more than the fancy chandelier that hung there before. This is more "us".

Hope you all like the new look as much as we do. It really is a vast improvement for us. So, I'm on my way back to the studio for part of the morning; Soundsations rehearsal from 1-3; and then gabbing with the girls this evening. Wishing all of you a fun and creative day, too! Later, 'gaters!

The General's Garden...

These are my fabrics for the next set of placemats, napkins and a small table quilt I'm making. They're for something really special, but I won't be revealing the reason until my Silver Sunday post next weekend.

The fabrics are from the French General's "Rural Jardin" and I've selected all blue/white/tan colors for my pieces. I'm told that "Jardin" means garden in French, so the beautiful florals make total sense. Another French General line to steal my heart!

The piece on the bottom of the stack is the toweling fabric, which I will again use for 17" square napkins. (We've been using the cream with red stripe napkins that I recently completed and are really liking them.)

The rest of the assorted pieces will be used to create the placemats and a 45" square table quilt. I'm going to create a different design for these placemats than what I used on the red colorway. I don't want to repeat the large half-square triangles. I want them to look a bit different.

I'll start sewing on them today, so I'm sure I'll have something to show you of my progress tomorrow.
I also want to share what I received over the weekend from my friend, Denise in Vermont. She doesn't have a blog to link to, but she and I have been friends for quite some time, and she reads my musings here.

She sent this gorgeous ceramic acorn, with the most beautiful lid. She and her husband had found one of these for me over the summer, but it was somehow broken before it was mailed to me. Apparently, she and her sweet spouse went on the hunt for a duplicate and she told me that he's the one who found the new one. Niel, you're wonderful! I love this canister and it will get lots of use.
They also tucked this pretty little snowbird into the canister. See what it's perched upon? I now have an adorable little bird to join my little menagerie in the studio.

Dearest Denise and Niel...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful gifts. I love them and will think of you whenever I look at them. Sending you love and hugs from Florida. I'll write a proper thank you note to you, but just had to let everyone see the sweet surprises you sent my way.

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?