I am making steady, wondrous progress on my "before-school's-out" list.

The swim cupboard is accessible (no small feat) and pleasing to the eye. The school file boxes have been readied. The ironing has been completely caught up. (A gasp and three cheers are in order here, should you feel so inclined.) I have made summer pillows and bought the fabric to recover the cushions in the girls' room. I've made cookies twice, for no reason at all except pleasure.

On Saturday afternoon I bought a round table on Craigslist (oh joyful day!) and I have begun sanding my kitchen chairs so that I can stain them to match. (I'll take before and after pictures and save them for another post, because, as you know, there is nothing I like quite so much as bragging.)

In short, I am a domestic goddess.

And so that you might be too, (I find most people want to be like me...that's what happens when you're amazing) here are a few things to help you on your way:

1. This Book

My lovely and talented Aunt Jill wrote this book and it is gorgeous and drool-worthy for several reasons:

There are lots of pictures of me in it (reason enough right there to buy it). There are also lots of pictures of lots of people who are related to me and who happen to look EXACTLY like me as well, so if you like pictures of me (and who doesn't?) this is the book for you.
It is FULL of beautiful quilt patterns (really beautiful quilt patterns) that you can do with a group (if you have lots of domestic goddess friends to hang out with) or by yourself (if you are into making everybody else jealous of how amazing you are).
So many other cute projects like pincushions and notebook covers made from selvages. Just yum!
Speaking of yum, it also has some favorite recipes.
I wrote the foreword. And some people have told me that it made them cry. And I think even if it doesn't make you cry, it will make you want to call all the women in your life and tell them that you love them. And even if it doesn't do either, it may be the one and only time I am ever legitimately published and so get it while it's hot.

2. Bamboo Sheets

A long while back I heard Martha Stewart say that she only sleeps on bamboo sheets and I thought, "Egyptian Cotton is out? When did that happen?" A few weeks ago I put the summer sheets on the bed only to find that they were worn out and threadbare and needed to be replaced. I went to Tuesday Morning (where I always go to buy sheets, because I love quality sheets, but I refuse to pay for them. See how that works?) Anyway, they had a set of bamboo sheets and my inner Martha was delighted.

It's been a couple of weeks now, and I've got to say, for the record, that there is a reason she is Martha Stewart. And she was absolutely correct about the bamboo sheets. They are so soft they are almost more like leather than fabric. Even though that sounds a little weird. (Probably especially to Kelly. You'll have to trust me.) I told David these are the sheets that Adam and Eve slept on to populate the world. They are that good. And cooler than cotton too, which is a delightful characteristic in your summer sheet set.

3. I am recovering my kitchen chair cushions after I re-stain the wood and so I have been looking through upholstery fabric swatches. Talk about joy! (There are times when I am completely my mother's daughter...this is one of those times. She used to carry swatches around in her purse for months. I am just now discovering that she did this just for the fun of it.) Anyway, I found these lovely designs from Thomas Paul. (The two owl prints at the bottom are Alexander Henry.) You have my permission to drool, and then find something to recover. I think I will do the piano bench while I am at it. Perhaps Aviary in Tangerine. Be still my heart.