The children had a picnic of their own on colorful cushions and a cloth spread on the grass. Each child was given an individual basket filled with finger sandwiches cut into animal shapes, crudités, fruit salad nestled in hollowed apple halves, root beer, and a wedge of homemade apple pie from a local farm. Sage-green linen napkins were personalized with each child's first initial.

Hodges entertains frequently, often gathering groups of 8 to 10 friends for intimate dinner parties in her home "where people can really talk." No matter how informal the dinner, however, she is likely to use monogrammed linens and some of her good silver or china.

"I don't believe in having fine things and keeping them stored in a drawer," she says. "They are meant to be used -- that's how traditions and memories are created. As you set the table, you remember your grandmother setting the Thanksgiving table with the same silver or linens, and in turn, your children quietly form those memories."

As Hodges says of her custom-monogrammed bed, bath, and table linens, "An heirloom is distinguished by the memories tied to it. Every dinner party that lasts well beyond the extra bottle of wine becomes a part of your linens' history as well as your own."

THE FINE ART OF MONOGRAMMING

Hodges has revived the centuries-old art of monogramming, updating it with overscaled 12-inch monograms, whimsical designs such as monograms in the shape of a sailboat, and a custom approach to designing each client's initials. Here she shares pointers for choosing and using your design.

· Traditionally, a three-initial monogram uses the initials from the woman's first name, maiden name, and married name. But many couples now opt to use the wife's and husband's first initials combined with their last initial. Women keeping their maiden name might opt to have their initials on one pillow sham, and their husband's on another. And there's no reason why single women shouldn't have their own monogrammed linens as well. A bolder, more contemporary approach is to use a single, large initial.

· On the bed, the monogram is typically placed on the center of pillow shams and bolsters that aren't slept on, on the hem or upper center of pillowcases and shams that will be slept on, and on the upper center of European shams. Hodges suggests having a large monogram embroidered in the center of the duvet cover, then folding the cover in thirds so the monogram is visible and placing it at the foot of the bed. Or you may prefer to have the blanket cover monogrammed instead.

· Oversize monograms on a duvet or shams are generally 10 to 12 inches; standard monograms on shams are 4 inches. Monograms on dinner napkins are generally 2 1/2 inches and embroidered in the corner. Leontine Linens often does 6-inch monograms on hand towels for a bolder, more decorative approach.