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Text by Cathy Gordon •
Photography courtesy of Leontine Linens
While shopping for her wedding trousseau in New Orleans in the
summer of
1995, Jane Scott Hodges was surprised to find that the
historic city was lacking
a source of beautiful, heritage-inspired,
monogrammed linens.
“Here I was,
living in this city steeped in
tradition and history, and I couldn’t find them
anywhere,” says the
founder of Leontine Linens. “When people get married, they
love to
create a new monogram. I sensed an untapped market.”
Fate intervened.
When she returned to her native Kentucky to plan the wedding, she
discovered the
Hardinsburg-based Eleanor Beard Studio, an all-female
contingent of talented
artisans whose exquisite handwork transforms
quilts, sheets, towels, and other
household items into timeless family
heirlooms.
Smitten with their work,
Jane Scott put in her trousseau
order and then stitched together a plan. “I
asked if they could make
some goods for me to sell in New Orleans,” she recalls.
“It was the
beginnings of a great relationship.”
Jane Scott’s vision and the
talent of Eleanor Beard’s seamstresses turned out to be the best match
since
needle and thread.
(a) Jane Scott Hodges in her New Orleans showroom. (b) A needle and thread
form an eloquent “L” in the company logo. (c) Paprika-colored linens with a
“Nancy” border, named for Eleanor Beard Studio manager Nancy Mingus.
Monogrammed Memories page
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