Soft beautiful shades of neutrals can be found throughout the shop as we set the scene for our annual “Farmhouse Spring Open House” April 11th – 13th. 

The florals are all the trend for spring this year actually I have never encountered so many choices, thus we have a great selection for you to choose from and ideas and inspiration on how to put it all together. 

Lavender is so popular with its wispy appearance, it is easy to work into baskets and other great found items or simply to tuck into a designated space.  The scent is heavenly too and fits right into the French and English Country brocante style  you are seeing in catalogs and big box decor.  There is also an obsession with the many shades of white found in textiles, and timeless found signature pieces that help define your style. 

 I love this particular photo showing off some of my favorite samplers and especially the new “Sarah’s Basket” pillow. (kits available for $58.50)   The framed Old Southern wallpaper makes the perfect backdrop for our angel and samplers we even have sofa pillows and cloth napkins coming with the same old southern print.  You can also see our new tobacco basket side lamps.  They are kind of perfect and would be great flanking your bedside as well.  The cost per lamp is $215.75. 

We have so many beautiful tulips in an array of colors, they are the real touch so they never wilt or have to be thrown out they last forever.

Notice the wispy lavender pots mixed in between the tulips.   We have several different sizes of lavender and tulip containers.  Our small tulips would be so great on the table for showers, a mother’s day brunch, or just a spring luncheon with friends.  In the photo you will also notice one of our swell birdcages, some amazing new rabbits and the signature piece de resistance is the beautiful old theater mirror reflecting the store at its best.

  I am quite excited over found pediments and flea market vintage door panels, and ladders.  They add so much to your vignettes and purposed for hanging quilts make them an even easier choice.   We have so many this spring that when you come have an open mind and be inspired to use some of them.

 Another  couple of items I love to incorporate into a space are mirrors and of course mirrors  I just talked about one of my favorites,then there are clocks, and signs, some with good wisdom, some that welcome and some that are fun to use seasonally. 

We all need clocks  not only is it practical they come in so many diverse styles and can dress your space.  Containers are also popular items because they keep you organized and you can store and display so many great things in them. 

 You all know this about me but I am also a fan of wreaths and this season we have hops, cotton  pussywillow, boxwood, and even lavender.  You don’t have to limit yourself by putting them on your door only they are great tucked atop of a cupboard,  hanging in windows or off mirrors with swell ribbons, even using them as a focal on your spring tablescape, the possibilities are limitless. I simply could not resist the lambs head, he is just one of our spring lambs this season.  He is so regal and only $64.95.

I hope you have noticed our wonderful little white wall basket hanging on our cupboard door.  It’s filled with our peonie bundles but oh my, just think what you could do with one of these.   The baskets are so reasonably priced at $21.25 and the white and blush peony bundles are $22.50.

  

These peonies are so real looking no one will ever know the difference.  As you are examining the photo you will also see peeking out the best little white tin organizer.  It has sections on top for storing ribbons, waxers, needles, needfuls in general and a great drawer for even more storage.  When I saw this i knew it was for all of us that love to do handwork and like to keep ourselves a bit tidy

and organized.  The cost of this little gem is $87.50.

Mary’s “Spring Green Fling” is a perfect topper to welcome the new season.  The topper measures 32″ x 32″ and kitted sells for $52.00.  Pattern is needed, cost $9.00. The project was meant to be as the Riverbanks signature print proved to be the right color and perfect choice for this project.  We decided to round the corners and we even carry the tool to do that if you are interested.  We have done scallops this spring and different sizes and the tool comes packaged to do just that for only $17.00.

To top off our tablescape we got an amazing new white farmhouse mirror that completed the look we were looking for.  Nothing like a great mirror that reflects your style.  The pussywillow wreath and tin tote are all useful tools when you set out to do a spring or summer luncheon. 

I am a little, well more than a little excited over our tin peacock.  I honestly was thinking my good friend Stacy Nash needs this guy.  So swell!  I also
have amazing peacock napkins all of girls are crushing on.  The tin screened container makes a great place for your spring eggs.  We have lots to choose from and you don’t have to have fake grass, they are good to go on there own and not at all messy. Of course this is a multi-functional piece you could store many treats inside of here, fresh bread its phenomenal.

  Mary has two other new more new spring quilts.  I love a good neutral quilt and we got in a line of Moda fabric that was special and we just hadn’t landed how special and for what project.  My friend Maggie owns a great old basket quilt and as I was looking at a photo of it we began to think how swell this could look if we used the florals we were hoarding to make “Maggie’s Gathering Baskets“.  Mary had another brilliant idea to scallop the edges.   It measures 50″ x  62″.   Kits are $82.00 and you will need a pattern.

 I’m beginning to think we have a little French Style vibe going on this year because we are obsessed with the scallop.  I am also having our Marilyn upholster quilted stools and cover a new headboard our Ken made up with our beautiful linens.  Our Jeanne made up a quilted travel bag too.  It is fun to think out of the box, fabric is so amazing and has so many other uses beyond piecing .  We never get tired of piecing at 133 but I know some of you get thinking you don’t have room for more fabric so maybe you might enjoy ideas on ways to repurpose it and use it to spruce up your spring and summer decor. 

It’s time to start adding the fluff and for me since flowers are all the rage and so trending this year for all seasons I decided to order fresh and since our Mary is such a wonderful floral arranger i left the task at hand to her.

Our found vintage wall fountain had to be used and I’m having her fill some of our great baskets.  Everything has a purpose and sometimes it takes seeing it purposed to imagine where you could love it.

  Think of the statement you would make with this wonderful piece of art, it retails for $225.00.  I have them outside of the shop with pussywillows and there really isn’t anything that doesn’t look amazing in them. 

Soooo I happened to snap a photo of our fabric and the rainbow of beautiful color was as breathtaking as the flowers so I decided to share the inspiration with you. 

Blue is one of the other popular go to colors this year so popular the girls all wanted to run with the concept.    Knowing  I had an amazing antique that needed to be reproduced  Barb volunteered to tackle the project.  We decided to call it “Rhapsody in Blue”.  It is a great size measuring 72″ x 80″.  Kits are available for $135.00. and patterns are $9.00. 

The quilt you also see that is thrown over the headboard is called “Ever Yours”  it is made out of my Farmhouse Blues.  It is airy and makes you begin to dream of summer.  This particular quilt is 65′ x 63″.  Kits are $81.50 and you will need a pattern and they sell for $9.00.

  The next quilt I want to mention is one Barb designed.  She calls it “Morris 1881″because we all love morris fabric. 

This quilt measures   53″ x 70″ and I am convinced it will be a joy to piece and  quilt.  I look for quilts that are pleasoning to live with and this quilt is all of that and more..   Neutrals and beautiful Morris prints make this quilt a must.  The kit is $108.50 and a pattern will be needed.  

I will leave you today with a little more handwork to  think about.  You’re a Grand Old Flag” sampler it is kitted up @ $86.55. 

 

Maggie’s “Pot of Violets” is a favorite wool project of mine and a perfect choice for this time of the year, the  kit is available for $42.00.   Finally the last project is from With Thy Needle, a great little bunny on in the pink linen called “Spring Fling”.  kits available for $63.70. 

I will close with a few pictures of my new “Reed’s Legacy” fabric line due into shops in this July but you can preview the collection and do a pre-order of your favorites for the first time during our Spring Open House that starts tomorrow April 11th -13th.  We have had some big old snow flakes today and that is no April Fools!  It seems to be  over so I hope you will still find the time to join us despite the weather.  Praying Spring will come soon..