The New Britain Museum of American Art

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.
Read More

Clothes From the Garden

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?
Read More

Garden Design

Garden Design

May 14, 2016

I don’t know about you, but my flowers have been funky this Spring. They seem to have been arrested by a premature warm spell followed by snow. The azaleas have just started to bloom, but in a manner I’ve never seen. They’re flowering at the ground level. All other buds are still tightly closed. I have three or four azalea bushes in different colors all doing the same thing. Time to start a new garden! Related Images:
Read More

Living Local

Living Local

August 15, 2015

Let me be clear. There’d be no Paola Pillows if not for Mother Nature dishing up incredible flowers I get to shoot and share with you. I love this job! Related Images:
Read More

Living Green

Living Green

May 30, 2015

We make Paola Pillows from 5.6oz. 100% cotton sateen, and I love to work with it. It’s soft to the touch and the fabric saturates intensely with the beautiful colors from my garden. La Violetta is a dramatic looking pillow I re-created in Photoshop from a photo of a hybrid lily. Quite the showstopper. Related Images:
Read More

Coming Up Green

Coming Up Green

May 25, 2015

Most everything outside is green right now (except for lazy azaleas with lingering blooms.) I took this hosta leaf photo and got some great ones with the sun playing through it in the early morning.  My Paola pillow called Aquilina is headed for the sunlight. Aren’t we all looking for sun this time of year? Related Images:
Read More

Azaleas and NYC

Azaleas and NYC

May 23, 2015

Just for the record….The azaleas are officially- in bloom in Litchfield, Connecticut. I feel happy…when I see them coloring the landscape. Related Images:
Read More

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:
Read More