Tulips Bring Spring Magic When You Really Need It.

Tired of snow? Now that it’s Spring, thoughts turn to tulips. This purple tulip reminds me of a crocus too. Honestly, I’ve never been a huge tulip fan, partly because you need to plant so many to achieve a reasonable outdoor presentation. Especially if you’re always stealing flowers for inside. Related Images:
Read More

Bring Your Own Sunshine To the Party

It’s time to get Spring serious. March 20 was the first day of Spring! If you have piles of snow outside like many of us do, it’s time to bring your own sunshine to the party. One of my new, up and coming Paola pillows is called Sunny- created from a sunflower in full bloom. Related Images:
Read More

In Savannah, Old Friends Are Forever Young

Telfair Academy is a neoclassical Regency mansion turned museum- built in 1818 in downtown historic Savannah. First home to the son of an American War patriot and later a public building. You may recognize the fellows out front from school studies of the ancients. I know I did. Related Images:
Read More

American History Offers Respite

 On Thursday and Friday we were en route home to Connecticut from Savannah. If you’ve never been south, you owe it to yourself to go. As per usual, it was wonderful. Full of the people and sights that many of us growing up in the Northeast haven’t had occasion to experience but need to. It was a visit full of American history. Related Images:
Read More

Spring and History -Comfort in Repetition

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Savannah. It’s been a few years yet it feels like little has changed. It’s spring and the azaleas and camellias are in bloom. The grass is green -it happens sooner here then in New England, which is one reason we come. Related Images:
Read More

Tea-A Winning Combination of Comfort and Good Health

People cannot live on Paola Pillows alone- and as the cold lingers, rewarding yourself with a soothing hot beverage is a great habit to nurture. Recently, I’ve become a convert to the pleasant multi-sensoral experience of tea. A virtual postprandial delight-sample after lunch before fading. Alison Birks, my favorite nutritionist, is a world-class herbalist who also makes awesome tea blends. This one is especially great in winter and loaded with things to make a body happy. You won’t find the ingredients in a typical grocery store chain. Look for them in a large health food store or, in Woodbury CT at
Read More

Winter into Summer – Flower Shows

It’s getting warmer….Do you get confused about what season it is when you step outside? Winter, Summer, Spring??? The plants are waking up and unfurling leaves as they feel the heat. Let’s just hope old man winter goes easy on them this year. I’m expecting at least one more snowstorm. We ALL want Spring and Summer ASAP. Related Images:
Read More

Textiles- Making History Through Innovation

Having sewn since childhood, I still remember walking to the store to buy lace and fabric at fractions of a yard to make doll clothes. I am passionate about textiles of all kinds and at a certain point I was making banners with recycled materials from dresses we wore. This is the first banner I made- many years ago- the pink was velour from the bridesmaids’ dresses at my brother’s wedding.  The banner reminds me very much of the Japanese “Boro” tradition. Very cool. I still remember where each piece came from. Textile literally means “that which has been woven”.
Read More