Me...in front of my grandparent's beach house

I was lucky to be born into a family with wonderfully strong and interesting women.  My grandmother Mildred was one of my best friends until she passed away in 1999 and still shows glimmers of herself in mysterious ways.  ”Grams,” as I called her, traveled extensively through Asia with my grandfather and developed a deep love and appreciation for all things Japanese.  She collected Asian art, practiced the art of ikebana, was pivotal in the creation of the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon and even won an award of appreciation from the Japanese Emperor.  Through her eyes, I learned how important it is to have an open mind about other cultures and all of the wonderful things that you can incorporate into to your own life by seeing how others do things.

My uber-stylish grandparents & my mom saying goodbye to Honolulu after living there for close to a year in 1951

One of the coolest things about my grandmother was that she was simultaneously elegant and classy, yet able to throw on her blue jeans and dig into her garden or frolic on the beach.  She was famous for the plethora of blueberry bushes and other fruit growing in her garden in Portland, Oregon.  We would often help her pick baskets and baskets of blueberries and then make blueberry muffins and pancakes.  She would always leave out huge crates of berries and other fruit for her friends to pick up by her front door to make sure that everyone could enjoy.

My daughter toiling in her garden as my grandma did...

And when not toiling in the garden or her flower beds, she was very involved in many different organizations and museums in her town.  She was a woman who led by example, always clear with her words but very kind with her heart. She taught me that it is important to dream and see the world beyond your front door and not be afraid to be bold in your life. When I started to travel and lived abroad, Italy quickly became my Japan.  Much in the same way she incorporated her favorite elements of Japanese culture into her everyday life, I have done the same with my favorite Italian ways.

Many of the treasures that she gathered in her travels (jade buddhas, vintage chains and necklaces, fish pendants, etc.) were the impetus for my starting Adesso.  I had all of these special things that I wanted to reinterpret and recreate, blending the old and the new through my lifelong hobby of making jewelry.  The incorporation of international traditions with the new continue to fuel the energy behind Adesso and Sorellina.

A jade buddha from my grandma that I reinvented in a new, long necklace.

As I have grown older, I have enjoyed many of the traits I loved in my Grams in my mom and already see so many of them in my daughter at almost age 4. What a beautiful thing!

My daughter and I on our own little adventure.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we are offering the special below through Sunday, May 8th.

I heart mom fabric bag

**Use the discount code: ADESSOLUVSMOM at checkout to receive 30% off your purchase. If you would like your order to arrived prior to Mother’s Day it is recommended that you place your order no later then Monday, May 2nd. All items will be shipped via USPS. Adesso can not be held responsible for any lost or delayed items**