The Matriarch

Some people don't just shape a family.

They shape the generations that follow.

My grandmother, whom we all called Mimi, was the matriarch of our family in every sense of the word. Raised as a poor farm girl, she built an extraordinary life through determination, humility, and an unwavering work ethic. She quietly instilled those same values in her children and grandchildren, creating a legacy that continues to shape our family today.

Looking back, I can see that the heart of Linen & Hue began with her. My love of home, timeless beauty, gardens, family traditions, and meaningful acts of service. The values that define Linen & Hue were first nurtured by Mimi and then woven into my everyday life by my mother.

Together, they taught me what was truly worth preserving.

I chose this portrait from one of her black-and-white modeling photographs taken during World War II. She rarely displayed it herself—a reflection of the humility that made her beauty even more remarkable. When I rediscovered the photograph while celebrating her 90th birthday, I knew it was the portrait I wanted to paint.

For years, every one of her children and grandchildren called her on a weekly basis—not out of obligation, but because we genuinely enjoyed spending time with her.

The fact that all of us called her was not a coincidence.

It was a direct result of the legacy she built.