Thursday, January 28, 2010

Living beautifully.

2010 01 27 012

I first encountered April Cornell’s amazing linens, and clothing line years ago at the Vancouver gift show. My boss literally dragging me out of what had to be one of the most impressive booths there.  According to him we were there to buy for the garden centre, silly man.

Over the years I have always looked for shops that carried her product line.  The soft floral designs, and beautifully coordinated colors drawing me into bliss.  They are special stores with great taste that carry her product.

I became friends with a coworker who had a similar love of April Cornell tablecloths, in fact she has a beautiful antique cupboard brimming with many April Cornell linens, and placemats.

And when this friend gave me a gorgeous luncheon cloth to celebrate my first anniversary with my husband, that tablecloth became the cornerstone of special celebrations.

Used for anniversaries, and birthdays, and all special occasions, it truly is a favorite of mine. I have matching pink goblets, and antique dishes from my Mom to celebrate with.  And every year for my birthday, my friend makes sure to tuck in more pink flowering paper napkins with my gift so I don’t run out.

2010 01 27 021

I wrote about this in April Cornell’s blog contest, and won my choice of tablecloths. And the choices were outstanding, each more beautiful than the other.  I feel so very lucky!  Thank you April Cornell.

2010 01 27 018

Take a moment to visit April Cornell’s blog, it is a wonderfully creative, and interesting site.

I do so agree with her motto: Feel Beautiful, Live Beautiful, Be Beautiful.

I plan to.

~ Jen

18 comments:

  1. Lovely post, Jen. What a find! The floral patterns and colors are very beautiful. And nicely photographed. Hank

    ReplyDelete
  2. How lucky to have found a friend who treasured the same linens as yourself and then to win a contest put on my the creator you so admire! I am sure your table looks spectacular when all set out. Very feminine and lovely! I should love to see it along with your flower compliments! ;>)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I do love the tablecloth and your dishes go so perfectly with them. I love the tiny rosebuds of your china. I too, love nice dishes and am somewhat of a collector...I have 3 sets. Thank you for sharing about April Cornell.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Score on winning the linens - how cool for you. I like her motto as well. Feel, live, be beautiful, words to live by, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Men...don't they know how to shop? You are lucky to have such a good friend. You can tell her mine is in October and I like pretty things too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations on a wonderful win. I'm all for beautifying our lives. You know, Jen, your photos put me in mind of the style I see in Victoria Magazine. Yours would be very much at home between their pages, as well.

    Carolynn

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love to see pretty things. This is indeed quite beautiful!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lucky you wining such a beautiful tablecloth. I love April Cornell's clothing line as well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jen, Your tablecloth is lovely. The fact that you use it is even more lovely. These gorgeous items are meant to be appreciated.
    God Bless You and have a Safe Warm Weekend

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow - I'm not usually a pink kind of girl, but the tableware and cloths are just stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am not into pink either..but this is so very pretty! Makes me just want to come over for lunch!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. How lovely - I have an April Cornell dress - all white and gauzy - I've never felt more feminine than when I'm wearing it. Love the new look of your blog. I haven't been about in a while, so am just getting caught up on my favourites. The sunflower made my night...as the wind howls through the dark and the snow piles up outside.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jen,
    I must say your tablecloth is just beautiful. Lucky you to have won the contest. Thank you, too, for posting this. I have been on the lookout for some new table linens, and was having a hard time finding some that I like. April Cornell's collection is just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are beautiful Jen. I am not familiar with this line at all but I would totally fall for them too. I'll pop over and check out her blog. I love the motto and absolutely agree with it. Life is too short not to make the best of it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is so very pretty, gorgeous colors. Great for Valentine's Day, too. So romantic! I love pink now but didn't used too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wanted to ask the name of this pattern on the tablecloth just in case I might ever see one on ebay or amazon. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Becky, I think that the newest tablecloth was called Anna - plum. There is a link to April Cornell's web site, or you can just google her, and check out her web site for the name of the pattern. I have never known the name of the pattern for the soft yellow one.

    Hope this helps.

    Jen

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are the flowers that bloom in my virtual blogging garden.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

PS: No word verification here, sorry I cannot reply to blogs that use word verification.