Blog - Page 5 of 52 - PaolaPrints

Talking Textiles in New York

September 25, 2019

Every person has a unique approach to getting a project done from start to finish. Some would call it “creative process.” Recognizing what our own personal style is can be useful in getting better results the next time. Like many others, I can be a slow learner applying new info consistently overtime. This week, I trained into NYC for the 2019 “Talking Textiles” conference- part of New York Textiles Month. The event was again hosted by Lidewij Edelkoort, a world -renowned trend forecaster, and the Associate Provost and Dean – Parsons School of Design. Living in Northwest Connecticut is tremendous in so many ways.
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Getting a Head Start on Fall 2019 Scarves

September 14, 2019

#1. Pay No Attention to the Head Inside the Scarf Introducing the new Paola infinity scarf. Some of you were asking last year for a scarf more suited to colder weather. I’m addressing both fabric and styling changes. Infinity scarves aren’t new of course.. The Infinity scarf is a different creature. Natural fibers and printing are also more costly as the goods are less wide. Monday, I should get back some color swatches. I ordered a bunch to see what the colors will do on three different fabric options. Considerations For You Today.. What do you think? As with the chiffon
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Patience is a Virtue

September 10, 2019

We’re told from childhood that patience is a virtue. I’m pretty sure that many activities, including the art of gardening, and the creation of art in general, are about learning that lesson. Creating a new scarf design has been a bit grueling. We’re introducing different fabric, potentially a different printing method because cottons take color differently than polyester chiffon and the size will be new. This one has been fun though. My husband told me he thought it looked modern. Interesting thought. I’m going with it. When to fertilize the Alberta Spruce? The two front spruce are of similar height. Replanting the
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Transplanting Has Begun

September 3, 2019

I finally dug out two leggy pale yellow foxgloves that have been a lot of work for not great blossoms. I replaced one with a new peony- longing for sun. It will be MUCH happier in its new bed. I removed all the peony stakes and ties, trimming back some leaves already browning. Which also allows for better visibility of the sedum that are just coming to bloom. All the lilies are finished by the road, so that garden was ripe for weeding. I took great pleasure ripping out a recurring slew of old morning glory vines wrapped around captive primroses.
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Deadheading in the Garden

August 27, 2019

The temperatures are growing slowly cooler as Connecticut begins to prepare for autumn. This year, we’ve had alternate wild rainfall interspersed with hot/humid days. The garden has welcomed the rain but because of the heat, the soil dries out dramatically quick, requiring more watering then usual. Earthworms are on the rise, I’m told that’s because of the additional moisture. I have so many earthworms that the soil is eroding in many places to the point where groundcover on a hill just slides down. At first in disbelief about the veracity of my tale, the local nursery finally suggested trying buckwheat
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The New Britain Museum of American Art

August 24, 2019

“Sleeping Children” by William Henry Rinehart (1825-1874) at The New Britain Museum of American Art. The original sculpture was a memorial for the children of benefactor Hugh Sisson. Another summer is coming to a close and I think it important to appreciate a local museum that offers one a spirit of contemplation. End of summer is always a thoughtful time as the garden, still full of life, is also poised to wind down to cold once again. The New Britain Museum is the first museum in the country dedicated to American Art. We visit when the spirit moves and are NEVER disappointed.
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Curious Bedfellows- Deck Refinishing and Scarf Design

August 13, 2019

The weather gave us a short series of sunny days to clean and stain the front deck. It’s taken roughly 500 days to get here. (We missed last year entirely) Happily, I was able to take short breaks to visit our little cactus- boasting four flowers this year- three in a row! Deck Refinishing Friday, we taped, wet down and applied cleaner and brightener to the mahogany deck. The process is challenging- you wet the wood, apply the product, let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub the surface with a bristle brush, and rinse it off. Sunday, we stained and rubbed
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Clothes From the Garden

August 6, 2019

You grow the plants. Photograph them at high resolution with your Nikon of choice and design new creations in Photoshop. Apply those to a finish product and SELL said item. A tall order. Even though I’ve bought printing for marketing purposes, experimenting with printing to fabric was a whole other story. It would be exhausting to think about doing even part of the job, if I hadn’t fallen head over heels about the potential for creating beauty. The love of transferring nature to fabric has had its way with me relentlessly. Blogging about it is my confession. Pretty or handsome?
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Maine Travelogue

July 30, 2019

Our summer vacation this year began in Somerville MA, a comfortable driving pause enroute to Newburyport and Maine. The bonus was lunch with my son and his fiancée. Caught up in a whirlwind of late fall wedding plans as they are, we figured the best way to get their attention was over a meal. It worked really well! After lunch, we drove to Newburyport for an overnight at a bed and breakfast called the Essex Street Inn, close to downtown. Great location. Lovely people. The following day we drove to Harrison ME to catch up with old friends. Harrison is
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Teak, Citrus and Tung Oil

July 20, 2019

Wood finishing ingredients with a seductive ring to them. For some foolish reason in updating our house, we surrounded ourselves with outdoor materials that demand protection from the elements. Mahogany decks and bamboo fencing require sun/mold protection almost every year. A wooden statue and Asian door made for tropical weather were not created for Zone 5- Connecticut. What were we thinking? Last year we added two more items- teak deck chairs in need of re-finishing. Sheer insanity. I know it, you know it. What could make it more complicated? Sealing with natural products of course. Last year, I used a combination of Tung
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