happy easter!

at this time of year, as I turn my attention to the garden, I think of Beatrix Potter and her contributions to our lives a hundred years later...with commissions from her children's books, and her famous Peter Rabbit illustrations, she purchased farmland in the lake district and gave it to the National Trust to preserve this rural  landscape  for everyone to enjoy...I'm hoping to visit Hill Top Farm on my next trip to England...here are a few photos of her timeless children's china  from my book " At Home With Wedgwood"...

first day of spring...

love having this laundry room one side/flower arranging space other side ...especially in spring, when things are blooming and budding and leafing out... I keep all sizes of glass and milkglass vases and tin containers stored here and its easy and inspirational to pull arrangements together...especially in all shades of white and cream...photograph by eric piasecki for Martha Stewart Living

early morning walk in ireland

at my friends' home in county mayo, an early morning walk by the sea and through the gardens is  heaven...

a rainy weekend is perfect for catching up on laundry...I love my laundry room, so love putting on an old movie and ironing all those linen napkins that pile up! the smell of the dryer and using those perfect Laundress washes make it even better... also finding lots of things popping up in the garden, so filling glass vases with snowdrops and daffodils make it even more enjoyable...photo by eric piasecki for Martha Stewart Living

a visit to colonial williamsburg

I spent a day at one of my favorite places this week, on a sunny day with the gardens sprouting and spring in the air...always inspiring, always welcoming, always so much to see and so little time...here are some of my favorite images...

snowdrops

a sure sign of spring...the snowdrops are blooming!

black slipcovers

the winter look...black linen slipcovers on the sofa...  black jugs and bowls  and  shawls transform the sitting room...with a crate of blooming paperwhites to usher in spring!
photograph by jeff mcnamara