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Featured Pro: Angie Edelson The Ranch House Legacy
BY ILONA SAARI
ANGIE
EDELSON A Date With Destiny
ANGIE & STEVE WEDDING
Angie Edelson (née Maria Angela Perna) was born under the glorious Italian sky in the medieval town of Perugia, the Capital of the Umbria region, called the Green Heart of Italy. Music filled the air — Umbria’s jazz festivals brought musicians
A Date With Destiny
from around the globe, and opera poured from an ancient theater built in the late 1700s where “La Forza del Destino” (The Power of Fate a/k/a The Force of Destiny), was probably performed. Art and craftsmanship filled the streets, and theater and education (Perugia is famous for its university) were highly regarded.
him, was the personal driver of the Duchessa Pallavicini and travelled often to Rome and other European destinations. Later, he opened a butcher shop in town making his own salami, sausage, prosciutto, and his famous porchetta. The pork’s filling of pepper, garlic and spices, slow cooked overnight, filled Perugia’s air and townsfolk would line up outside his shop to buy his panino alla porchetta. As his business became more successful, Sereno bought property in the countryside with 1500 olive trees, fruit trees and
Her mom, Lina Magni, designed and made all of Angie’s clothes, as well as designed their home linens and accessories. Nonna Gilda, Angie’s grandmother, filled her small kitchen with mouthwatering aromas of fresh pasta and bread, further sparking Angie’s interest in food. But it was her Aunt Loredana’s (Dodi) visits from Milan that opened Angie’s eyes to high fashion. Dodi would bring bags of
ANGIE EDELSON’S JEWELRY DESIGNS, LEFT, WORN BY A MODEL, RIGHT.
She had her first date with destiny at the age of eighteen when she was in a bad car accident and spent five months in bed. Unable to walk, she began reading about Buddhism and Indian philosophers and religions, became a vegan for two years and later a vegetarian for more than fourteen years. She attended Naturopathy and Anthroposophy schools, travelled to India and experienced the “New Age” in Rimini, the city of Fellini, all creating a more esoteric/holistic approach to life, which prepared her for her future.
Angie’s design studies began at the prestigious Leonardo Cappiello Academy of Art and Design in Florence. Later she attended the advertising and media school at Perugia University. After she won a fashion accessory competition at the Italian Fashion Chamber in Milan and graduated “Brand Designer,” Angie entered an intense training program at the Material ConneXion New York-Milan Library, learning about innovative and sustainable materials and processes.
In 2001, Angie started her own label, “Samodiva” and specialized in high-quality, handcrafted jewelry and accessories. Soon, she was collaborating with some of the greatest fashion designers and design houses in the world, including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Armani, Kate Spade, Vuitton, Max Mara, Ferragamo, Versace, Gaultier, and Saint Laurent. She designed handmade jewelry and accessories such as buckles, shoe clasps and heels, handbags and handbag clasps. Her designs showed up in “Sex and the City,” (and few years ago, attending an Alexander McQueen vintage Valentino, Armani, Versace or Fendi clothes and accessories, which jump-started Angie’s collection of classic designer items and her “commitment to preserve and promote handcraft folklore and re-contextualize it in contemporary modern design.”
exhibit at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, she was “sweetly surprised,” to see some of the designs she had created for him as part of the exhibit).
Angie had a deep desire to expand her artistic passion for art and theater and, in 2006, she won a national competition as costume designer at the International Festival of Arts Santarcarigelo, designing handmade costumes of felt, lace, feathers, pearls, silk and leather, a contemporary take on Baroque femininity.
Destiny reached out to her once again when she discovered and fell in love with the lustrous glazes and primordial pottery of artist, Beatrice Wood (Beato). Angie collected everything she could find of Beato’s work. She devoured online articles and read all her books and biographies. She even created some collections inspired by Beato’s art. “One day I will go to the Happy Valley to see her museum,” she told herself.
English and loved the presence of so many working artists and artisans. She researched the history of movies and costume design at The Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After obtaining an O-1 Visa (for individuals who have extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, sports or education), she became a creative collaborator with local artists, designers, and directors. Unfortunately, she found herself struggling with
hard times after trusting the wrong people, but learned to put her ego aside and persevered. “In my way, I believe we are all travelers,” she says, “the world is getting pretty small and we are like space cowgirls and boys exploring the universe and new galaxies.”
Ojai became Angie’s new galaxy when she interviewed with Adriana Goddard of Love Heals LLC, jewelry designs, an Ojai company, and saw that Adriana was wearing one of her buckles! Destino! Ojai’s topography reminded Angie of Italy and she temporarily moved to Ojai to work with Adriana. After several months staying in the Capri Hotel, she saw a man on a ladder in the lobby changing a lightbulb. He was the Capri’s owner, Steve Edelson, who excitedly showed her the new lights he had installed to upgrade the hotel. “It was pretty funny,” she says, “but that was the first time we met, under a rainbow of lights.” They met again briefly at a Christmas party, but their relationship evolved with time, “naturally and surprisedly,” as love and respect for one another grew. Destino e amore!
Steve, a restaurant/nightclub owner and hotelier originally from Chicago, owned a variety of properties in Ojai. In 2014, he bought the legendary Ranch House, “one of the most romantic restaurants in the country,” which he gave to Angie as a wedding gift when they married in the restaurant’s garden gazebo in 2016. Now settled in Ojai permanently, Angie dreamed of fusing old-world Ojai and the culinary principals of original owner, Al Hooker, with a contemporary flair. Founded in 1949, the restaurant began as a vegetarian refuge for new age friends such as Beatrice Wood and Krishnamurti, then evolved into a groundbreaking farm-to-table (pre-Alice Waters) full-dining experience. The legacy continues today under Angie’s guidance and she enjoys working with her chefs creating exciting new twists on old and new recipes for the restaurant’s prix fixe menu, which has included her father’s panino alla porchetta. She is now planning her dream of having a post-pandemic calendar of al fresco classes, live music and poetry nights.
While still dating, Steve knew how much Angie loved art (but had no idea of her love for Beato’s work) and surprised her by driving her to the top of a hill in Upper Ojai to the Beatrice Wood Center.
When she met Kevin Wallace, the curator of the Art Center, she was “shaking with excitement and in tears, overwhelmed by emotions and astonishment by how bigger forces that we can’t understand work in unexpected directions to bring us to the right places at the right times,” she says. “That was also a sign for me that Steve was meant to be in my life.” As an artist and supporter of the Center, Angie has been allowed to use Beato’s studio and library and often takes the workshops there.
The force of destiny indeed brought Angie together with her work, her husband and her Happy Valley, creating a perfect galaxy for her in Ojai.
ANGIE EDELSON & ADRIANA GODDARD
DESIGN WORN BY MODEL
Donna Sallen
Enter through the gates of Rancho Matilija and instantly feel the majestic beauty of the area. Surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, Rancho Matilija is one of the best-hidden secrets in all of Ojai. This neighborhood features estate homes that appeal to those who appreciate the tranquility and privacy of a secluded, gated community, in a country setting. Sitting perfectly on over two acres with gardens, meandering walkways and mature trees. Once inside you will be delighted with the open, spacious floor plan, vaulted ceilings, three fireplaces, cooks dream kitchen all the while showcasing views from every room. This home features five bedrooms and a separate guest quarters. Cool off in the pool surrounded by nature. The gardens produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables; all watered with your own private well.
There’s no place like home ... Let me find yours.
Welcome to downtown Ojai. Nestled in the hills, yet within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and Libbey Park; this home blends the perfect mix of indoor/outdoor living. As you enter through the courtyard you are welcomed into the home with lovely glass doors and windows which lure you to the outside. It has an open floor plan with vaulted and beamed ceilings, large windows and three fireplaces. This spacious home still feels cozy as it is surrounded by trees and has a nearly 1,000 square-foot veranda for outdoor living. There are five bedrooms, a nanny quarters, amazingly large garages and parking — all gated and private. The land is just over an acre with mature trees, majestic oaks, and a variety of fruit trees. Once you are here you won’t want to leave. You will love the grown-up tree house for those hot summer nights. Don’t miss this home!
Donna Sallen
805-798-0516
