I am a daughter, a sister, a widow and a friend who cherishes the connections that have helped me find my way even when my path seemed unclear. I sing when I drive, laugh while I cook and yell when circumstances require it. I now live in the Midwest with my wife and our three spoiled fur babies.
I am mother to two grown children, mother-in-law to their spouses and grandmother to the light of my life. But first and foremost, I am an artist who has spent decades not only perfecting my skills but learning how to listen so that those skills can be used not only to express my vision- but, yours.
My earliest memories are of gathering together with my large Italian family. Whether it was to eat a meal, watch the Eagles, attend a wedding or mourn the loss of someone close, I was taught the importance of community. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins were as integral to my world as my siblings and parents. Milestones of all kinds, joyful or full of pain, meant gathering together. Are you thinking Hallmark movie here?
Only if Hallmark makes a movie including eighty year old cage match champions and sisters whose hairstyles required a call to air traffic control before leaving the house.
Looking back, one of the most important lessons I learned from my family was the importance of celebrating and recognizing one another and the moments of our lives. Sharing and celebrating the traditions and rituals that bound us together was the foundation that helped me journey towards the woman I’ve become.
I learned growing older isn’t simply a matter of marking off days of the calendar. For me, it has been to learning to acknowledge and embrace all the transitions life has brought me- not only the happy ones like the birth of my first grandchild, but the painful ones, like the loss of beloved family members.
Over the years, my definition of family has expanded and evolved. The rituals and traditions I recognize may have changed but my commitment to acknowledge, celebrate and honor the turning points that make us who we are as individuals and as families has only grown stronger. Creating heirloom pieces which go beyond accessorizing a single day, but are created to be touchstones, conversation starters and tangible reminders of moments too priceless to be lost is the central focus of my artistic journey. It’s also one of my deepest joys and greatest honors.
