The Sound of Silence

The forecast for this morning was “a wintry mix by 10:00” so it made sense to jump out of bed and put the bulbs in before breakfast. Later, as I ran down to empty the wheelbarrow of leaves and branches, I heard it. The sound of silence. Related Images:
Read More

Tulips: Cultivating the Right Attitude

You have to begin with a nod to their roots. Tulips are natives of Eastern Turkey and the foothills of the Himalaya. They don’t belong here. Whether they behave as annuals or perennials is largely beyond our control. If you go in with that attitude it might be less stressful. (I’m working on our Paola Prints pillow listing for Amazon- The photo above shows you the progress). After much consternation (mine) I’m approaching the finish line and hope to go live very soon. Wish us luck! Related Images:
Read More

New England in Season

We were away last week and during that time, summer ended in Connecticut. It was almost a relief. You know how that works? We came home to lots of branches down from a rainstorm and wilted plants that couldn’t sustain the incoming cold. As much as I adore the spring-summer flowers, I also love seeing the changes that fall in New England brings. New England is in season now. Related Images:
Read More

Halloween and the Fabric Between Life and Death

It’s been said that Halloween marks the time when the fabric between life and death is at its thinnest. Maybe that’s the underlying reason why people get spooked. Or, maybe it’s because we’ve  been commercially conditioned to scare each other on Halloween since childhood. Related Images:
Read More

Dreaming in Chagall Color

I’ve always enjoyed the work of Marc Chagall. Moishe Segalin (Marc Chagall) was born in Lithuania in the town of Vitebsk in 1887. Half of the town’s 60,000 inhabitants, including Chagall, were Jewish and considered outsiders in the larger, frequently hostile society. Jewish market-villages formed throughout today’s Eastern Europe had their own markets, schools, hospitals, and other community institutions. Limited movement and banned from public schools meant that Jewish people lived and worked sometimes their entire lives in one place. Related Images:
Read More

Mid Century Art -in the Eye of the Beholder

We visited the Bridgeport Technology Center in Bridgeport on Friday to preview the Black Rock Gallery (BRG) Mid-Century Art Auction – currently online. This was our first visit  and it was an experience. Took a while to find in a town that time seems to have passed by. Downtown Bridgeport- been there? It’s best to know exactly where you’re going. The show was held in a large collection of  industrial buildings. The viewing was on the 2nd floor of a very large building. Related Images:
Read More

Garden Design as Outdoor Theater

I recently discovered a landscape architect named Steve Martino, based in Arizona. He creates artwork through landscape design.  Given the arid nature of the surroundings, it makes sense that his color palette is frequently shades of green and bright orange. Interesting enough, even though we live in New England, the colors are a close match to our wonderful autumn colors. Related Images:
Read More

Is Mid-Century Modern Decor For You?

We’re headed to an auction preview in Bridgeport by Black Rock Galleries at the end of the week. It will be held at the Bridgeport Technology Center Warehouse- a two-day auction of contemporary and Mid -Century Modern home furnishings. It starts to close on October 25th at 7:30 pm. I chose a couple of Mid- Century Modern Lounge Chairs by Norwegian Designer Oddvin Rykken to host Paola Prints Woodland pillows. Their pairing is a testimony to the versatility of good Mid-Century décor- clean lines and it goes with everything. Related Images:
Read More

Green Works In Every Season

Palma is a Paola Prints pillow that looks splendid all year round in living rooms of all styles. Hosta leaves are like that. Green is like that. Even those of us addicted to the color red have to admit there’s a reason green has been so popular in home decor all these years. Related Images:
Read More

The Life and Colors of Colonial New England

Roses were an important contribution to life in colonial America. In England, roses were considered so valuable that rose and rosewater were considered legal tender and fell under the control of the king. Historically, rose bushes were passed down through generations. For myself, I just love the scent and colors! Related Images:
Read More