Loving lustrous linen

Growing up in England with a dressmaker Mother meant living among beautiful fabrics. Heavy silk embossed bridal fabrics, sheer chiffons, crisp cottons, soft brushed wools, and my favorite, Irish linens. Linen is as ancient as the Egyptians, so sturdy it has survived intact in their tombs. Linen breathes and cools the body in hot weather. As it ages it softens, becoming lustrous and even more wonderful to handle. Its strength allows daily use in the home as tablecloths, placemats and napkins, curtains, and those beautiful antique French bed linens.

Neutral colors of linen are all you need - natural fabric made from the flax plant doesn't require colorful dyes.

Ooh! Linen shirts and tunics - how cool and refreshing - just need the swimming pool, or even better a long stretch of sandy beach to stroll along at sunset.

Love this linen window blind and the adorable French iron birds.

Plan to get my linen clothes out of Winter storage soon. Do you iron your linens? Or, like me, just let them look a bit rumpled - that's part of the comfy cottage look anyway.