Patterns that surrounded my childhood.

Surface Pattern Design + Gnocchi Boards, AZZAMARIE Studio

The 195 Collection started as research into surface pattern design, a subset of Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) Design after my grandmother’s passing in 2022. The underlying theme of this work pairs with projects in my classrooms and beyond, with community-making, community-learning, and community-creation as main areas of focus in my research.

What started as a swing studio in graduate school has lingered, sitting on my creative back burner for roughly a decade. In 2021-2022 two major life events reconnected me to exploring surface pattern design again, 1) breast cancer, surgeries, and recovery., and 2) my grandmother’s passing.

Through the Fatto a Mano Project we are researching food as a communicative tool, and along with the hand-making of food comes the tools, stories, cultural signifiers, and experiences from our Italian-American upbringings.

The 195 Collection is part of a larger project to revive and preserve my grandmother’s recipes. My journey with her in the kitchen began at an early age—everything was made by hand, or fatto a mano.

While she did write down recipes, many were never fully documented, leaving out details that made her dishes unique (probably on purpose). Using a combination of memory and taste, I’m working to recreate and update these recipes to modern standards to archive family traditions.

Alongside her cooking, my grandmother always took great care in setting the table—no meal was complete without a well-dressed table. My sister and I were tasked with 'setting the table' and took pride in preparing the space for fellowship.

This collection is inspired by the vintage Italian lace tablecloths, doilies, and patterned linens that framed my childhood. The outcome of this research will be a series of surface pattern designs, culinary tools, and a collection of recreated recipes aimed at reviving and preserving tradition, celebrating craftsmanship, and honoring the art of gathering around the table.