Primavera Tablescape + Printable Invite

We are well into April - my most favorite month - and it’s time to celebrate the colors of spring! Whether I’m experiencing the April Showers of Vermont or the hot skies of New Delhi, the allure of pinks and yellows on fresh green always calls to me. Here’s a table dressed for “my month” with a cloth in our Primavera collection – so appropriate for spring!

As nature mixes colors and textures in a garden, you can carrying a table to the next level by providing an array of coordinating placemats and napkins. Alternating between jacquard weaves and prints is a great way to add dimension to your table. Featured here is the Papillon Jade and Garden Pink woven napkins layered with the Eden and Madeline collections.

Some waffle weave tea towels await a warm dessert from the kitchen and our coordinating Primavera dishware serves as a punch bowl for some delicious fruity refreshment.

Here’s to celebrating the changing days as we wake up to a new season and herald the arrival of spring!

Click here to print/save this invitation for your spring party! (Fun little printout for little girl's tea parties as well). Enjoy!

April

Feel Beautiful Live Beautiful Be Beautiful

(For more information about Tablescape Thursday and all its beauty, click here)

Easter Memories: Dressing Up & Chocolate Smiles

Easter brings back memories of being a little girl, one of three sisters, sitting on the front porch having a photo taken of us in new outfits. From head to toe we would be freshly outfitted, each with an Easter basket of eggs and bunnies in our hands and chocolate smiles for the camera.

Easter’s in the North East can be cool some years, or delightfully warm and sunny other years. This Easter I’ll be wearing my Flanders Jacket in baby wale corduroy, a soft powdered blue, the ruffled Emma Blouse in delicate peach voile, and the Lovely Linda Skirt tossed with coral and pink flowers on self striped cotton. I think I’ll have my picture taken with three imaginary little girls- one floating like a dancer in the Posyette Dress in pretty orange, one In the Dotty Dress with playful polka dots, and one in the Fleuri Dress, a flurry of red flowers to go with her sassy smiles.


Search your personal memory album for special moments, and choose something wonderful to wear for your spring wardrobe.


April

Feel Beautiful Be Beautiful Live Beautiful

Decorating your Spring Table

It's official - Saturday is the first day of spring! This is a wonderful time to freshen the home, and with Easter and Passover quickly approaching a new table setting could be the perfect way to officially welcome the changing of the seasons.

To get started, a few of my favorite things to do are:

• Begin with a color scheme or pattern
• Definitely mix & match
• Contrast shapes and details
• Have fun and trust your instincts!

For a more in depth steps read my newly posted article on my website: Decorating your Spring Table



If you’re curious about what I used above in the picture – here’s a list of the new spring linens on my spring table!

• Papillion Jacquard Jade Tablecloth as layering cloth
• Primavera Peridot Tablecloth folded to create a runner affect
• Poet Jacquard Blue 20" Napkin Bundle with the Flora Pink Beaded Napkin Ring
• Garden Jacquard Pink 20" Napkin Bundle with the Dragonfly Pink Beaded Napkin Ring
  
• Rose Garden Patchwork Multi Quilted Placemat
• California Check Green 20" Napkin Bundle basket lining
  

Live Beautiful, Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful

April

A Magic Purse + Handbag Giveaway!

Do you have a magic purse? A bag where all of your life is stored?

I do - My paints, my keys, a cotton nighty, my passport, a box of raisins, and piece of dark chocolate. There's my granddaughter's photo, a special letter from my son, makeup, a wooden comb, salty nuts and a toy for a child; there's a 'words of inspiration' book, my journal, my nataraj pencil and a nail biting mystery - seriously I could be marooned with my magic purse and still have a good day.

Tell me what is in your magic purse that tells your tale? For posting an answer, I'll choose a random winner on Friday afternoon at 4pm to win a beautiful new (spring 2010 collection) handbag!
**Remember to include your email address (so I can get let you know if you've won)**

April

Feel Beautiful, Live Beautiful, Be Beautiful

Let's Springify! + Linens Giveaway

My home in Northern Vermont is still snow coated and cool, with just a tease of warm air and cracking ice to be heard.

I say it is time to Springify! I am grabbing the hot colors of spring and bringing them indoors. The last of my Xmas brocades are heading for the basement and oranges and roses are decorating my table. I love the hothouse pinks of our new Paisley Bouquet print and they marry up nicely with the real pink roses from my favorite market. I add some matching red pears, limes and oranges to my table, and you would never know that outside is dove grey and brown.

What do you do to brighten up your February days?
Tell me your tale and you may be chosen to win a set of colorful placemats and napkins from my Spring 2010 collection (please remember to include your email address, so I can contact you!)

April
Live Beautiful Feel Beautiful Be Beautiful

UPDATE: We have a winner! Please congratulate Holly S.!

Destination: Fashion Capital - New York City

Next week I'll be in New York City for the Nouveau Collective Fashion Trade Show to show off our upcoming Spring 2010 line. The picture shows a sneak preview of a few items that we're excited about! There are sure to be lots of beautiful styles out for this spring - and I'll make some notes to post on the blog about what will be in style this Spring 2010. It doesn't hurt to be in the know!

To see more about the Show, here's the link: http://nouveaucollectivetradeshows.com/home.html

(And if there are any Store Owners or Sales Reps reading this that are interested in coming - I'd love to meet you! Please contact me at aprilcornell@aprilcornellholdings.com)

April

Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful, Feel Beautiful