About Angelina
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At my shop, Angelina's Parlor, you will find pillows made with love, using only high-quality, luxurious fabrics and fine notions. My hope is that these beautiful throw pillows will perfectly complete your décor or refresh your home, reflecting your unique style and taste. The inspiration that keeps me motivated to create new pillows comes from memories of my beloved grandma Angelina, in her tiny, cozy living room, filled with handmade pillows crafted by her caring hands. She would use remnants from previous projects and mostly passed-down, recycled cloths and rags—whatever she had on hand. I often remember Grandma Angelina sitting in her quiet parlor on brocade upholstered couch covered with mismatched, colorful pillows. She would spend hours there, watching soap operas on TV and quietly painting her nails in bright colors. She always wore one of her satin dresses or one of the cotton floral ones, surrounded by warmth and creativity.  My granny Angelina and I, in August of 2014, sharing stories about my brother's wedding from the day before. Note the cushions stacked on top of the couch as we were trying to make room to snuggle in for the picture.
ABOUT ME Hi, I'm Jana Machado, a Brazilian-American mom, former Historian, and maker at heart. I am renaming my shop Angelina's Parlor in honor of my grandma, whose warmth and creativity were a big part of my journey with textiles. Angelina would sew entirely by hand, using only fabric remnants from old clothing and rags, which she turned into cushions and rugs. Every time I visited her, I'd notice a new cushion in her tiny living room, filling up her couch to the brim! We always had to rearrange the pillows, just to make a space to sit! Before realizing the influence my grandmother had on my journey, I first discovered my love for textiles nearly two decades ago while living in Brazil. For two years I ran a small business making colorful handmade bags that were especially popular with teenagers at the time. My love and appreciation for textiles only grew over the years as I explored my interests in history, art, quilting, and interior design. I also enjoy incorporating concepts of paper collage and mixed media into some of my patchwork pillows. Each pillow is handmade in my home studio in California using carefully chosen designer fabrics (which I'm completely obsessed with!). I believe a pillow can brighten a room, bring comfort, and spark joy in everyday life. With so much love, Jana.   |