Beach House Sheet Rental

My cousin Jackie's son is getting married and her family is renting a North Carolina BEACH HOUSE for a the week before the wedding. Some family members are flying in -- my cousin Linda will be driving from Iowa.  Because the linens are not part of the rental -- it seemed logical for Linda to bring the bed linens. Three queen size beds, and two twin beds.

However, Linda didn't have enough sets of sheets.

Apparently, when it comes to bed linens, many people have "a pair and a spare".  I had no idea..!!

Owning only two sets of sheets for my bed would feel like a poverty to me.  I LOVE my linen collection and I knew I had plenty of sheets for the North Carolina beach house....This was the perfect way for me to share my elegant sheets and NOT HAVE TO CLEAN MY HOUSE for houseguests.  I AM SOO EXCITED.... 

I didn't know how many sheets I actually had. I have many, many extraordinary bed sheets....I've been collecting them for years.  Some are linen, or vintage ...some I made myself from damask tablecloths, some are monogrammed, or appliqued....some are new long-staple 100% Pima cotton.  I have new sheets from the Country Store in Vermont or Lands End...

As it turns out -- I could actually BE A SHEET RENTAL BUSINESS....

The beginning of the challenge was to freshly launder every sheet and pillowcase -- and HANG THEM OUT ON MY IOWA CLOTHESLINE to dry...(the scent is the real gift!)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hanging sheets out on the line.  This was just one load of many for the North Carolina beach house....I wanted to have CHOICES...

Linda was here for my porch sofa unveiling breakfast -- and I surprised her with FIVE bundles of sheets...

One set included pink appliqued pillowcases...

The queen sheets are all white...but the twin sheets are more colorful...

Before it was over, I upgraded the sheet sets several times. AND, I wrapped each set with a piece of zebra fabric, and included a note card with what I knew about those specific sheets....Yes, I know I am annoying...

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA.....I talk smack all the time about my wonderful bed linens...the feel of antique hand-embroidered french linen...the smell of line-dried cotton sheets.  I happily sent my sheet bundles across the country for Jackie and Linda and their families to enjoy.  Just in case they're reading this blog -- there are a few simple rules.

#1.  DO NOT WASH THE SHEETS.  When your vacation is over -- take them off the beds, and wrap them in a big bundle and put them back in Linda's car.  I actually love washing my sheets, and dryers are DEATH for bed linens.  I'll want to hang them outside myself...

#2.  EVERYBODY HAS TO SLEEP NAKED.  Otherwise -- really -- there's no point, people...

#3.  SEND PICTURES OF THE BEDS....