Taking something precious from the past and building something new is the basis of the fiber art of Adele Gentile.
One old sheet from her grandmother‘s house, accented with pieces of fabric found in the same house, transforms into a beautiful table clothe with matching napkins,.
When we had the farmhouse in Flagtown, New Jersey, I would troll shishi home goods stores looking for sales on something that looked French Provençal. My creative pal, Adele, would hit her family’s attics or go to the market and buy a piece of fabric. Recycling fabrics suits Adele and her lifestyle. The retired pharmacist has a great eye for color and loves to create tableware that suits her lifestyle.
Adele’s lifestyle includes a zest for living. About ten years ago, I went to a doctor in nearby Santa Croce. It was close to seven pm and I knew I wouldn’t get back to the pharmacy in Pontelandolfo to get the prescribed pills. We pulled into the Santa Croce pharmacy and speaking what I thought was passable Italian asked the glamorous woman in the white coat to help me.
“Are you British?” She asked.
“American,” I said.
Ten minutes later we were blabbing on and on about travel, ex-pats, entrepreneurial women and where we could meet for drinks. Those ten years have flown by and we are still meeting for drinks.
Last week on our way Radici Enoteca Libreria, the neat Morcone wine bar/bookstore, we stopped at her storefront. Adele has set up a show of her recycled works and hopes it inspires other to make something new out of something old. Entrance is by appointment only – she is retired you know and can’t be expected to sit there all day! You can easily message her through instagram page, adele_concept.
Walking around the industrial space, I started giggling. I don’t know about you, but I stopped wearing jeans, and somehow they still manage to live in the back of my closet. Well, if you have that problem, eliminate the jeans and turn them into interesting bags, pillows, baskets, table runners. That’s what Adele did.
Old boxes that may at one time or another have held cigars became a piece of art that could hold any mysterious object in your future
Don’t throw away that panettone box. It looks remarkably like an interesting 1930s hat box. Box sculptures, glued, stacked, cut and decorated could be an interesting place to hold your necklaces. Adele kept saying, “Just let your creativity flow.”
Remember that fancy dress that you wore once to that posh event and now you can’t get your arm in? Don’t just toss it to Goodwill. Buy some hardware downtown or online and turn that dress into adorable little purses that will make all your lady friends happy at Christmas time.
Adele, is so used to working and so high energy she just can’t sit still. Nights find her crocheting. Anyone can make a cute blanket – Adele certainly can. But who else but someone with a passion for life turns yarns into booze gift bags! She made bags for everything from a magnum of Champagne to back pocket pints.
Ci vediamo!
What to meet fun filled creative people? Come Cook in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo!
We have two spots open for this
September 19th through the 26th.
Nonna's Mulberry Tree 