Fighting Off Cold Weather Naturally

Fighting Off Cold Weather Naturally

February 28, 2015

Frigid outdoor temperatures, indoor heating, crackling fires in the hearth -these hallmarks of winter can take a toll on skin and lead to dry, cracked hands, flaky, itchy bodies and rough red faces.  Enough! You too, can beat winter dryness with a few changes to your daily routine and proper nutrition. Alison Birks is my nutritionist and sometimes I twist her arm to give me health tips. I was whining the other day about my dry hands and feet and here’s what I got…Thanks Alison! Related Images:
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Why I blog

Why I blog

February 24, 2015

It’s a time consuming process to shoot many photos and work on them until I’ve achieved a design I consider to be “viable pillow art”. Maybe one in 2,000 photos is even brought under that kind of scrutiny. So, I enjoy the opportunity of sharing its evolution in pictures and words. In that way, blogging balances the creative part of my life. Related Images:
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Springtime is Around the Corner

Springtime is Around the Corner

February 19, 2015

Today was Ash Wednesday- the first day of Lent. The word “Lent” comes from the Middle English word ‘lenten” meaning Springtime.  These flowers were blooming in my Connecticut garden at the end of last Spring. Do they make you feel warmer? Yes! Like many people in the NE, we’ve been inside a lot. The wood stove’s been acting up so we shut it down until we can get it looked at -which means no more wood gathering. (Not all bad..) The stove guy is busy rescuing people with no other heat source (we have oil back-up) whose pipes have frozen.
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Sunflowers Warm

Sunflowers Warm

February 16, 2015

As I was working on my photo for this post, it was especially hard to figure how to graphically separate the flower from the pillows. I like them to relate since each Paola pillow original is taken from a real photo, shot in the last three years. I never got to it- until today… Related Images:
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Home Décor Trending 2016

Home Décor Trending 2016

February 12, 2015

Attending trending seminars for fashion and home décor is a little like preparing for Valentine’s Day. Growing up, we had eleven kids congregating around a dining room table overflowing with piles of valentine cards- all kinds of red, Related Images:
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New York NOW- A Really Good Show

New York NOW- A Really Good Show

February 5, 2015

Just back from NYC in the ongoing quest for knowledge. A whirlwind tour of the NY NOW show at the Javitts Center followed by another go at “Trends for Spring 2016” -this time for home décor. As expected, lots of crossover in colors and concepts to apparel – a really interesting talk by Patti Carpenter at the Cliff Young Showroom in the NY Design Center. More on that next time. (One of my favorite topics). You can get a  hint about color by my photo on this post. And… Related Images:
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Super Paola 2015

Super Paola 2015

February 1, 2015

This time of year, one can feel eclipsed by all the goings-on. Having raised three college athletes, I learned early to let the game roll and entertain myself on Super Sunday. This year, the sport’s latest controversy has been deflating to say the least.  But I was so pleased to find the Super Bowl has new excitement for Paola Pillows. Related Images:
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A Ray of Sunshine

A Ray of Sunshine

January 26, 2015

Paola pillows are soft feather and cotton sateen- and NOT outdoor pillows. This Ancient Hosta pillow just seemed to warm the yard. We were feeling pretty heroic in Litchfield after weathering a four-inch snowfall last week. Related Images:
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