Gia gave me a shirt...that gave me a new pair of earrings.

Most of my wardrobe consists of my girl Gia's old attire. When I lost 45 pounds and drop about 4 pants sizes, you could imagine how my closet became almost vacant. Gia, my shop-a-holic, happened to be makin room for the new additions she was making, which we all need to do from time to time and she still does. I love you my girl, you know I appreciate it cuz everyone knows and sees I make use of it all.

Before this summer started one of the tops she gave me was black with a beed halter top...very limiting. I am in need of a few tops that have no straps what so ever so many I'll have a chance of getting an even tan. By removing the beads on this top, I was able to create a whole new top, and a pair of earrings...with the help of paper clips =).

At Nonna Lina's ...

My grandmother, the one I was named after, Lina, in Las Vegas. My Uncle Angelo on the left, and my grandfather and I; he;s showing me grapes he grew in the garden my grandmother and him had at the house he built on Bradley avenue in the Stat. ...I looked at 2 of her photo album collection, and came across a few really special ones that threw me back. This is another method for me to get inspiration for the work I create myself, for I think what has gone down in the past molds the future. That's an artist's perspective of the importance of history...also the answer to the same question every year on the first day of school:"Why do you think history is important?" My cousin Mariann, "Mari", my grandfather, "Nonno Sal", and me, chubby as can be. Ma and Pop at someone's wedding. A view of a rainbow after a sunshower from my grandparents' house on Bradley ave. on Staten Island. The house was knocked down a few years back where on that property new homes including the one my grandmother currently lives in is at.

My cousin Mariann and I. From Left my Aunt "Zia" Antonella, Pop, Salli Boi, and cousin Joseph at Sal's communion dinner.