The Perfect Day with a Friend

Yesterday was one of those lovely days where Fall, friendship, and fashion collide. Throw in good coffee, and a yummy toasted sesame bagel at Panera Bread, time to relax and chat................what more does one really need on a sunny Autumn morning here in the South.

Sign at SuzAnna's Antiques

Vanessa hails from Brazil and is one of my dearest friends. We met a year and half ago via our blogs and have spent a lot of time together in person as we live just 1/2 hour apart. Her smile alone makes the day sparkle. She always arrives looking SO cute and I'm kicking myself for not taking her picture yesterday. Her neat black French beret was adorned with one of her handmade felt flower pins in the brightest scarlet........which matched her lipstick. She makes skinny jeans look elegant topped with a velvet jacket - of course being in a single digit sizes does help - you looked gorgeous Vanessa! Why she wants to hang out with an old bumpy gal such as me is a mystery! I must say we always have such fun together, swapping stories of leaving home and family, emigrating to America, and treasure hunting local vintage shops where she always finds great things she knows are perfect for my home. She loves fabric as I do, and is always making lovely things for her home. Vanessa has beautiful manners, is polite, and shares values not always seen in the young these days. She is a caring wife and mom, she is thrifty and creative, she is generous in thought, word and deed, she is the perfect friend................and I think the world of her.

Vanessa's latest fabric creations are beautiful felt and fabric flower pins with vintage button centers. When I spied this pretty one in her Etsy shop I immediately wanted to buy it for this cashmere cardigan as I knew it would be perfect. Instead, Vanessa brought it to me yesterday, beautifully wrapped as a belated Birthday present. Thank you so much - as you can see it IS perfect on this sweater - I love it!

Edited: ........and look how cute it is on one of my Autumn hats!

Of course I'm sending you all to visit Vanessa's Etsy shop where there are lots of the cutest flower pins ever. Some of you already know Vanessa from her blog Vanilla Lavender and you can access her shop there.


This sign caught my eye at the ScreenDoor in Asheville - seems appropriate for this post. Do you have a special friend who always brings a smile to your face?