Who is Janet Bernasconi?... and why does she want to thank  Oprah Winfrey?

"Pinch me, am I dreaming?" "Is the Home Reporter Newspaper really going to run a story about me and my pillows?" "I must be dreaming." 

These words resonated from Janet , a loving wife, stay-at-home mom, a former brown belt karate trainee, student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Sunday School teacher, and Secretary, who now has a heart full of new dreams and hope, thanks to Oprah Winfrey.

While teaching religious instruction at the Most Precious Blood in NYC, Janet’s students excelled in arts and crafts.  All the children participated and designed a beautiful mural that was displayed.  Her artistic spirit is leading her to fill her life long dream of 'making a difference in the world' and 'giving back' by nurturing and embracing God's creative gifts. Janet has been blessed with many innovative talents, which she inherited from her artistically endowed parents.

Often on her lunch breaks, Janet would stroll along Fifth Avenue looking at the beautifully created store windows. The ingenious holiday showcases displayed imagination, brilliant colors, hues and awe-inspiring themes. She used to envision selling her artwork to big companies and seeing her creations everywhere. 

While watching the Oprah Winfrey show, she was inspired by one of the segments about ordinary stay-at-home moms who started successful businesses from home. Janet's innovative ideas were racing through her mind. Two days later, as she was cleaning out a closet, she found Laura’s first dress; a pretty pink and white polka dot outfit.  As she held the dress recalling memories about her sister, an overwhelming sadness enveloped her. Silvia Cousin, was Janet's older sister, who at age 42 passed away from stomach cancer. Silvia’s words of wisdom, ‘Life is too short. We should enjoy every day like it's our last!' have been a guiding light for Janet. As she rebounded from this emotional rush, she was holding the little dress and remembered how adorable Laura looked in it.  Flashbacks of Laura's joyful giggles, and how her precocious little daughter began reading when she was three years old, filled her heart. She could almost hear Laura say, 'Mommy I want to be a doctor when I get bigger'. Janet wanted to preserve and display this precious little dress that was overflowing with special memories.  

   As Janet pondered about the sentimental emotions that this little pink dress evoked, she began to wonder if other moms had similar feelings about their children’s unique things. An angel of inspiration planted a creative seed into Janet's heart. By turning a cherished memento such as a Christening dress, baby or wedding announcement into a keep sake pillow, it could last forever. Laura’s first dress has been created into a stylish little girl’s pillow with green bows and embellishments. It sits on her bed, surrounded by other pillows which Janet has created. Some of these decorative pillows are hand painted, artistically unique originals.  

Ebay....

She then began advertising her hand crafted specially made children's pillows on Ebay. She started getting personalized orders along with new creative suggestions for designing pillows. Janet was inspired to choose a name for her pillow collection. Carol G. Kelly created a beautiful web site www.janetscreativepillows.com which shows Janet's artistic catalog of beautifully hand crafted one-of-a-kind pillows.