Hello Dahlias

Hello Dahlias

September 29, 2014

This summer I discovered dahlias in all their glory –at a family farm in Cornwall CT. Their size, varieties and colors are obscenely extravagant. If you haven’t been there, you can learn more here- http://www.somethingtocrowaboutdahlias.com and, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to buy some tubers of your own. I plant VERY few summer bulbs because they have to be pretty special for me to dig them up in fall, then store, plant and stake them again come spring. For these babies, I will make an exception. Related Images:
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Paola Pillows and Starbucks

Paola Pillows and Starbucks

September 25, 2014

What do Paola Pillows and Starbucks have in common? They both raise the bar on a product once thought to be a commodity. Not every flower finds itself reproduced on a luxurious 18” pillow. I have a passion for making beautiful things an important part of everyday life.  Related Images:
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Seasonal Optimism – Azalea Bloom in Autumn

Seasonal Optimism – Azalea Bloom in Autumn

September 22, 2014

I was surprised to find this bloom on one of the azalea bushes yesterday as I was weeding in preparation for their autumn holly tone application. I’m pretty sure the bush bloomed in early spring.  I was glad to see there weren’t any other buds this close to snowfall in Litchfield, Connecticut… Must be a left over. Related Images:
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Pillow Comfort

Pillow Comfort

September 18, 2014

Sometimes life feels like a race against time. Rush here, do that, finish up, start another project, can I do three things at once? My husband and I escaped to Maine for a couple days and were sitting at dinner doing some people watching. Almost everyone around us was older. After a few minutes I inadvertently caught someone’s eye. She smiled at me. The race in my head stopped. I squeaked out a half smile…and continued on with dinner. Then I thought. This feels good. Comfortable to just be in one place and not stretching for the next. Comfort is
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Colors Make the Home

Colors Make the Home

September 15, 2014

If you’re like me, colors create the mood in a room. Some colors offer a quiet backdrop, others excite and still others complement one another. All are players in the space we call home. I still remember being in grade school and my teacher telling me that violet and red just didn’t go together. Maybe I’m still being reactive…. but I really do think that all kinds of hot colors go well together! Related Images:
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Mid-Century Modern Design

Mid-Century Modern Design

September 11, 2014

The shoe was designed by French designer Ora-Ïto as a tribute to American furniture designers Ray and Charles Eames. It’s a prototype- Nike hasn’t bought it yet. You can see its similarity to the Eames lounge chair designed for Herman Miller in 1954. Related Images:
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Summer’s End

Summer’s End

September 4, 2014

There’s a certain drama to the garden in late summer. It’s almost as if plants know they haven’t much time left to soak up sun and rain. The light is more intense and the plants more hardy. The leaves that have made it this far and the blooms still hanging on  after their color is gone have a certain character about them. A last hurrah before the New England frost shuts them down for another season. Time to hibernate. Related Images:
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Home Remodel

Home Remodel

September 1, 2014

 We re-did our home in 2012 a couple years after purchasing a small ranch that needed an update. The project included a complete remodel inside and out, as well as an addition for a foyer and office. As an artist, I had every intention of driving the design and color choices. My husband and I were intimately involved from the onset with the builder, room layouts and window placements. Central to the plan was the decision to bring as much light as we could into a dark interior. Related Images:
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