Remember who you are
& where you came from. . . 

Hello there! I'm Adrianne Smelko and ANDERLONIS is my mom's Lithuanian maiden name.  I've always thought it was a pretty name when you say it, hear it and see it written down.  So using this name is a tribute to my roots. How do you honor yours? 

My Grandpa Anderlonis was a tool & die maker and was always 'piddlin' around in his shanty, yard and garden or at his workbench with his optivisor on; he had an eye for finding four-leaf clovers. Once, he forged rings from silver half-dollars for his four daughters, and each of his granddaughters a ring from a quarter. I treasure mine and even after my metalsmith schooling, I am still amused.  

Grandma Anderlonis was a no-nonsense firecracker, a waitress at the local Lithuanian Club, cleaned houses and made clothes for her four daughters in her 'spare' time and was a heck of a cook.

My dad used to say that I have a lot of Anderlonis in me. My dad was a dentist. I credit him for my dexterity and meticulous patience for working on all things tiny. 
Rest their souls. 

I believe. . . 
. . . in timeless, graceful + effortless style. 
. . . well-curated boutiques provoke day-dreams. Support your local brick + mortar!
. . . there's nothing better than a quirky stop on long, un-charted road trip.
. . . camping and hiking and climbing and yoga-ing; skiing and trying to surf are
SOUL FOOD. (It took me a long time to realize you can have so much fun doing something even if you aren't really any good at it.) Have you?

I am. . . 
. . . a nostalgic dreamer.
. . . Sagittarius, Libra Rising, Leo Moon. 
. . . a lover of beach walks, sunsets and thunder+lightning.
     (+ don't care that it's cliche.)
. . . a seeker of beauty, peace and quiet, solitude.
. . . mostly vege-, occasional pesca- tarian who relishes in well-crafted food + drink.
. . . the older sister who feels like the younger sister.
. . . an auntie, not a mom.
. . . a dog person who somehow has a cat that I love so much.
. . . enthused by attention to detail and I credit a handful of my (formal and informal) teachers along the way for seeing that within me and encouraging it. And I credit my mom for her willingness to sew my prom dress designs. 

". . . going to make everything around me beautiful.
That will be my life." -(Elsie de Wolfe, American actress, author + interior decorator)

I will try. 
XOX, 

A.

Now,
WHO ARE YOU?
(Who, who, who are you?)

• Born in 1978 in rural Western Pennsylvania + raised in Punxsutawney, PA
  (Yes, Punxsutawney Phil, the Groundhog)

• Lehigh University, BA Journalism + Communication; BA Studio Art , Bethlehem, PA

• Rhode Island School of Design, MFA Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Providence, RI

• After 8 years in Santa Cruz, currently resides on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California with her ceramicist beau (sannyceramics.com) and their cat, wild Rye.