Ciao a tutti! 👋 Hello Everyone! Welcome to my Italian American Journey!

Welcome to Figs & Famiglia! My works highlight Italian culture and my family's Italian American journey. The overarching theme is the artistry of growing and harvesting your own food. I grew up with a large backyard garden surrounded by fruit trees. The garden was my father's pride and joy (still is), especially his tomato plants, and fig trees of course! We had no irrigation system, so it was my job to move the hose and give just the right tautness or slack to move water down the rows. It was the perfect time for me to ask questions and listen to my father tell stories of his childhood growing up in Italy. 

For my very first show & tell in kindergarten I brought a fig to school and my teacher had no idea what it was. I remember feeling embarrassed. But now I know that many people are still new to this luscious, exotic fruit. Figs will always evoke a sense of nostalgia and special memories for me, hence the title of my website. Thanks again for visiting. I hope you enjoy, and... "May you never lose your fascination in the magic of a seed." -Tonya Russo Hamilton