Living Beautifully in the Red Hills

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Annie's invention of Chalk Paint,so 2025 will be exciting with LOTS of news and events that we all get to participate in!

Highlights of the training included Annie's tutorial on colour theory (yes, I feel the need to spell it the way she does, as she's from one of our favorite cities: Oxford, England!) and the joy of perusing Annie's personal art journals with her.

And home for almost 7 years now is Thomasville – this adorable, historic little town tucked into the Red Hills of south Georgia. There were sparks of “this reminds me of Thomasville” all around as we walked (and walked, and walked, as I noted earlier) through the boroughs of London. Yes, London reminds me of Thomasville – not, as you would think, the other way around!

If I had to pick the best part of our time together, it would be that by the time they left, it felt like Karen and Hadley were Thomasvillians. It got to where people were greeting them by name when they saw them! The people of Thomasville are so friendly and so welcoming that they just make you feel at home and like you never want to leave.

This part is especially poignant and gets to the heart of what a creative strives for: "As a seasoned author, editor, and English educator, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the art of self-expression. Today, I still love to tell stories — through fabric! I strive to bring narratives to life not only with words, but also with the colors, textures, and patterns of my designs."

There’s one last way I know it is truly fall: in the shop we are playing a favorite playlist, Autumn in the Shop. It just makes us happy! But not only that, I love fall so much that I created Another Autumn in the Shop playlist for double the autumnal feels. You can try them both out to keep the shop vibes going even after you’ve visited us!

It was on that decisive, impactful holiday in the Cotswolds during which the idea for The Hare & The Hart itself was born that I visited Annie Sloan’s shop in Oxford, England. I’d actually painted a portrait of an English bulldog (long story, ask me next time you’re in the shop!) for her and dropped it off with her assistant.

In Thomasville this week, we were able to open our arms, shops, and homes to evacuees from the Gulf coast and central Florida. Hugging friends old and new in the shop has been a privilege and blessing. We met so many sweet families and found connections to strangers which made them immediate friends. It truly is a small world.

It's actually here! Can you feel it? The "-ber" months have begun. I adore September. What do I adore about September?

Drum roll, please... The Hare & The Hart is now on a clothing label! Literally. I mean, our logo is actually on a label that is sewn into some very pretty women's clothing....

Early (early!!) mornings with Rugby. He likes to get us up before dawn to enjoy the backyard before the heat of the day. It stormed last night, so in addition to the usual sounds of the train (oh the Thomasville train!) and the crickets, I am listening to....

One of my favorite bits of Wendy’s advice that has popped up repeatedly is: “Please stop telling yourself you’re not good at ____. Stop it. Add the word ‘yet’ to that thought and reframe. I’m not good at ____ YET.”

I have to say, watching the magnificent pairings of horses and riders in the spectacular environs of Versailles has got me itching to ride again!