Last week I wrote about what could happen if we extended ourselves to a stranger: We might make a new friend. Coincidentally, I caught up yesterday with another woman I met by doing this in Tuscany, almost ten years ago.
One who, along with her sister-in-law, have since become dear friends.
Anna Porcu, at a trunk show of her pieces in San Antonio. Follow her on Instagram @anna.porcu or on her website.
As you may know, for most of my life I wasn’t a jewelry girl, but that all changed when I paused to look at a pair of earrings in a store window in Pienza, Italy. A small Renaissance village that’s bathed in warm earthy shades of sunset ochers, peach and gold. I will always remember that day because I walked away with not only a gorgeous bracelet but a dear friend as well.
Two of Anna’s stunning antique cameos to which she’s added a silver bezel to one and on the other she used lapis and made them into beautiful belts.
My friend, Anna Porcu, is a world renowned Italian jewelry artist who specializes in turning museum quality antique cameos into stunning modern wearable works of art. That first day we met, when I told her I lived in San Antonio, her eyes lit up because she said she was coming there for a trunk show of her pieces.
With this cameo, Anna designed a gold frame for it and added a black leather band for a bracelet.
Feast your eyes on the Greek key bezel around this gorgeous cameo on a black leather necklace. I’m so lucky to own one of Anna’s bracelets and one of her necklaces. They are keepsake pieces to be passed down to future generations.
When the venue didn’t work out, I introduced her to my friend, Sherrie Sanderson, who has a gorgeous store, A Little Room, located in Rooms & Gardens in Alamo Heights. And a yearly home was born for Anna to show the fabulous cameos her craftsmen fashion onto leather bands for necklaces, bracelets and belts and the cameos she makes into rings and earrings.
Sylvia Pavanello wearing one of her dark English tweed kimonos, a gold cicada brooch and a gold butterfly ring. Follow Sylvia on Instagram @Officine904 or on her website.
The next year, Anna’s sister-in-law, Sylvia Pavanello, came as well. Sylvia is another creative designer who, in addition to jewelry, also makes chic kimonos that may come in indigo blue velvet (I have one of these! Oh, my stars!)or grey English tweed on the outside, and lined with exquisite Italian silk in unexpected colors like pink and gold.
I’m crazy about Sylvia’s colorful scarab rings and brooches!
This year, Sylvia has continued to add to what she calls her “Insectarium,” gold and enameled butterflies and cheeky scarabs, cicadas, ladybugs and bees. They’re fun and modern and look uber chic worn as a brooch on her kimonos.
Look at the beautiful detail in the gold wings of Sylvia’s bee brooches. The late Joan Rivers was a bee jewelry fan. She would have loved these.
Yesterday I watched women try on all of Sylvia’s gorgeous pieces and Anna’s stunning cameos and delighted in their purchases and reactions to my talented friends and their world class creations.
Put yourself out there ladies! I hope I’ve inspired you because you never know when you’ll make a stranger a friend.
8 thoughts on “MAKE A STRANGER A FRIEND”
You introduced me to Anna, and she, in turn to Sylvia many years ago. I have a couple of each of their pieces (bracelets and kimonos). They are all lovely, high quality pieces, with added historical interest! I’m sorry to have missed their show this time around, but saw them at Round Top, when they came to Texas last fall. Highly recommend readers keep an eye out for their next tour!
Hi Barbara, Round Top! I haven’t been there since before Covid. It’s a long hike for me, there and back in the same day, although it’s on my list every year to attend. Anna had a horse head cameo and leather bolero tie, and I thought of you. xoxox, Brenda
I can’t believe it’s been TEN YEARS since that trip to TUSCANY!
I follow ANNA and adore what she makes I’m sure I will love the sister in laws stuff as well!
What did you buy yesterday?
Care to share?!!
By the way your connection person got back to me and answered my questions !!
Nice Man!!
Grazie for that tip!
Xoxo
Elizabeth, I’m happy he got back with you. I didn’t buy anything, but not because I didn’t fall in love because I did with one of Anna’s cameo belts and Sylvia’s tweed kimono. The expenses surrounding my book are out of sight so everything else for a while is just window shopping. xoxox, Brenda
The first brown cameo of a lady is gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a brown background. What a creative way to make cameos current and wearable today. Although, the leather necklaces do feel a little heavy for a delicate cameo. Strange I feel that way but love them on a belt. . I have my mother’s cameo sitting in my jewelry box. I think I’ll try attaching it to a black leather belt. I really should be wearing it and not have it sitting in a box all these years. My mom passed when I was 44 and I’m now 71.
It was lovely of you to arrange a showing and in doing so make a friend. It does the heart good to have a new friend.
Joanna, Until I saw Anna’s beautiful cameo jewelry and the modern ways she’s reimagined them, I didn’t care for them. But now, I adore her pieces. Yes, find a way to repurpose your mom’s cameo. I love that idea. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, you have the best friends. Anna’s jewelry is exquisite. I like Sylvia’s tweed kimono. She looks really stylish wearing it. I wore a kimono to a holiday party last night and it felt quite luxurious. I have collected Joan Rivers bee pins for years.
Hi Colleen, Yes. I’m blessed to have some wonderful friends in my life. Happy you like Anna’s and Sylvia’s pieces because they’re knockouts. I had a Joan Rivers bee pin as well but it disappeared a few years ago. Not sure what happened to it. If you like Joan Rivers’s pieces, did you read the interview I did with her dear friend and CEO of her company, David Dangle? You may recognize him from QVC. He’s one of my favorite people. https://1010parkplace.com/david-dangle-ceo-joan-rivers-worldwide/ xoxox, Brenda