Le Piracante is a corner of the rural world where it is possible to experience a slow pace and season it with regenerating rest, the taste of a km0 breakfast, the beauty of nature, and encounter the creative spirit that lives in almost every corner of this small bucolic world. A “diffuse laboratory” in the truest sense of the term, because it lives in many places and because it lives in me, as I practice my creativity in many different ways. It is the RuralArtLab, the creative laboratory I speak of in a dedicated section of this site, which I have recently updated. In this article, I reveal some details of my creative arts and some of the news and areas that make this space a small “ecosystem of manual skills.”
A Project in Constant Evolution
RuralArtLab is the creative soul of this place. The updates you see on the site try to narrate and express a simple and essential concept: we do not simply create objects; we cultivate stories, we give life to ideas and creative experiments, we always try our hand at something new. Like a raw canvas that welcomes different colors, the laboratory is the place where ideas and suggestions from rural life are transformed into unique artifacts, intertwining with evolving emotions and thoughts.
We firmly believe in the value and utility of recovery. In the section dedicated to furniture restyling, I tell how old pieces of furniture, loaded with history, are reinterpreted to enter our home to perform functions of utility or decoration. It is not just a matter of aesthetics, but of sustainability and respect for the past, transforming forgotten objects into the protagonists of the home.
It is necessary to explore the site and, even better, obviously come here to grasp details that would otherwise be difficult to gather in a single article. The work is so varied and vast that it is impossible to bring everything together at once.
To give a few examples, we have the old windows of the house reused as decorations, vintage furniture and furnishings with a somewhat “heavy” tone transformed into unique pieces that give character to the environments. Small objects created from the assembly or modification of waste objects, furnishings modified to make them functional for specific purposes or to better integrate them into the aesthetics of the room, and so on. I learned to sand wood, to create colors and paints for specific purposes, to give textures and material effects to surfaces, and much more. All this, for me, is synonymous with freedom. Knowing how to modify something to make it suitable for your own purposes, ideas, or desires is a revelation. Not having to settle, seeking and developing your own aesthetic sense, and learning to know and respect materials—being able to reuse something that already has a history—is beautiful. I don’t necessarily have to settle for choosing something already made.
The Story of the Cheese Cabinet: I transformed an ancient cheese-aging cabinet into a bar cabinet for our B&B common room. Found in a state of total neglect, it took me three years to decide its fate. I decorated it with Bourbon lilies (a historical nod to our land) and aged the surfaces to keep its “lived-in” soul. As for the interior… well, I won’t spoil the surprise.
You’ll have to come and see it for yourself!
2. Crochet & Embroidery: The Art of Patience
In a world that rushes, crochet and embroidery are our acts of resistance. This “slow art” enters daily life through timeless accessories: from table linens to personal items.
I dedicate ample space to these techniques, applying them to timeless accessories: from table settings to accessories. It is “slow art” that enters daily life.
Sachets with my lavender, in ancient hemp fabric, with free-hand embroidery and crochet lace.
I started as a young girl with the legendary cross-stitch, then I discovered classic embroidery and then Broderie Suisse. A world of stitches to realize infinite ideas. Crochet arrived later and slowly, as a self-taught artist, I learned enough to be able to carry out many different types of work, after countless mistakes. What I neglected to tell is my experience with creative sewing and patchwork.
Lavender Sachets: Made from ancient hemp fabric with free-hand embroidery and crochet lace.
I started as a young girl with cross-stitch, eventually discovering classical embroidery and Broderie Suisse. Crochet came later, and through many errors as a self-taught artist, I found my way. I also love creative sewing and patchwork. Today, I create most of the home linens I want: curtains, tablecloths, and runners. Our guests often enjoy breakfast on hand-embroidered mats or sleep in rooms with curtains I’ve personally cut, sewn, and stitched.
Crochet stole made for a friend, in “princess pink” color.
I learned the basics; now I create most of the home accessories I want by myself. Curtains, tablecloths, centerpieces, and much more. I often combine different techniques to create something that fully responds to what I need or desire. B&B guests, for example, often have breakfast with hand-embroidered runners or placemats and sleep in rooms with some curtains cut, sewn, and embroidered by me. And so on.
Mindful Stitching: These crafts are perfect for short experiences at Le Piracante. We call it “Mindful Stitching,” where the social setting and the quiet countryside provide the perfect frame for mindfulness, creating a tangible memory you can take home.
3. “Free-Hand” Drawing Workshop
Drawing is the basis of every creation of mine (including our logo!). It all started as a child with a pencil, then pastels and even oil paintings. I never stopped, changing techniques, tools, and materials, even if throughout my life I had even long breaks.
Considering the great relaxing power of this creative activity, whether it is just a pencil or any type of colors, I thought of proposing this activity also to my guests, through the “A Mano Libera” (Free-Hand) workshop.
The possibilities are manifold. There are Mandalas to draw and then color (or just color), the possibility of trying your hand with pastels or watercolors to paint the panorama or the context that surrounds us. For those who simply want to unload their mind a bit and follow a guide, there is Doodling and Zentangle. In particular, these drawing activities lend themselves very well to freeing the mind and finding one’s center. Drawing or “The Thought-Sign”: Resonances between Hand and Nature. Here it is possible, and it is a light experience that takes as much time as you want, and you can take away something that was born and lived here.
This is “The Thought-Sign”: a resonance between the hand and nature. It’s a light, meditative experience that allows you to take home something born right here.
4. ClayArt: From Polymer Clay to Raw Earth
My first approach with polymer clays dates back to my adolescence. I created mostly pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and other small accessories, then I began to coat objects and do other experiments.
Years later, in one of the most difficult moments of my life several years ago, I took this material back into my hands and decided to give life to a small brand. I succeeded, and for a few years, my works were very appreciated. They traveled through Italy with exhibitions in art galleries, fashion shows, and jewelry design events. Working this material was an immersive experience; I totally lost track of time, and often what I ultimately created was dictated only by an aesthetic instinct that was generated in my mind and imprinted in the matter.
I later fell in love with traditional ceramics and sculpture. Working with real clay was a cathartic, intense experience. While the demands of running a B&B and country life have temporarily paused my ceramic work (as it requires a dedicated, fixed studio space), I am currently looking for ways to bring this art back into my daily rhythm.
For our guests, we often use air-dry clays. They allow for a great variety of projects that can be completed during a short stay, offering the satisfaction of modeling and finishing a piece before you check out.
More Than Just a Room
By now, you’ve probably realized that RuralArtLab isn’t just one specific room; it lives everywhere. It’s made of instinct and inspiration. One sign of its presence is that every time a guest returns—even after just a few months—they find something new.
This story is an invitation to experience a different kind of stay. Imagine a country courtyard in spring, birds singing in the background, a cold drink by your side, while you learn to crochet a shawl or color a Mandala with your partner.
Le Piracante is much more than just a bed for the night—it’s a place to bloom.
For questions, comments, or requests, contact me via email at info@lepiracante.com or visit our social media profiles and leave a comment under your favorite post; I will be happy to read from you.
