Donatella Annoni has kindly been our adopted
Italian Auntie. Friends of our Italian apartment owners Donatella speaks
moderate English and so has helped us to bridge the communication gap between
my flat mates and the landlord! I can’t begin to express how grateful we all
were for not only having lovely owners who welcomed us several time into their
own apartment, sharing cake (they baked me a traditional birthday cake!) and
beverages, gifts and play time with their adorable dog Tipo, but for Donatella’s
helpful input along the way!
Donatella is a very inspiring woman, and at the age
of 64 has accomplished many cultural travels, languages and talents. Now
retired she spends her time hand making jewellery and selling it to friends and
family. As part of our User and Social Innovation course at the Politecnico
University, Millie and I had to interview three creative people who fell into
different occupational groups, Donatella being one of them:
1. Describe
your typical day
“I wake up around 9am and make my
jewellery. After lunch I usually meet friends in the afternoon and continue
making my jewellery in the evening. I go to sleep around 3am most nights!”
2. Why
do you make your jewellery?
“For fun. I enjoy making my jewellery
but if people want to buy it then they can! I sell necklace between 10-15 euros
and earrings and rings at 5 euros.”
3. What
is your creative process to making the jewellery?
“First I get an idea
by looking in shop windows and seeing what jewellery is being sold – what is
fashionable. Then I produce inspired ideas of my own with the parts I collect
such as coffee caps and bits from old jewellery which I use to produce my
designs.”
4. What places inspire you in Milan?
“Oh I love all of Milan, but particularly
the Duomo square and Park Sempione”
5. What do you find illuminating about the
city?
“The Fashion in Milan. The stores
are beautiful with beautiful windows, like Dolce & Gabbana and Armani. I
also love the museums such as the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition. I prefer
ancient history compared to modern art.”
The visual evidence for Donatella's
creative output displays her imaginative use of upcycling materials that others
would regard as rubbish. She puts so many hours into creating her jewellery and
yet reaps no direct rewards for them other than admiration, which seems to
fulfil her far more than earning money from it would. Donatella's eye for
detail gives her work a cultural feel when she uses Milan's current product as
inspiration for her designs. A vigorous and passionate woman, her hard work and
desire to create keeps her occupied and her mind illuminated and linked to her
city. She let me keep a pair of her blue fish hook earrings too!
