Hand Embroidery: an ancient art living in the present

n September I'll be at the XXII Mostra del Ricamo e del Tessuto di Valtopina — three days entirely dedicated to handmade textiles, thread, and patience. An event that feels close to me, because embroidery has been part of my creative process long before Fiordalysia existed.

A passion that came naturally

I didn't learn to embroider at university. I taught myself — watching, trying, making mistakes. It's one of those things that always drew me in naturally, without needing a reason. For a period I embroidered paintings, pieces made purely for the joy of it, with no specific purpose. Perhaps that's where my idea of embroidery comes from — as artistic expression before technique.

No favourite stitch

I follow my instinct, which means every piece of embroidery is different. I don't have a fixed style — I love floral motifs, abstract forms, shapes that seem to emerge on their own while the hands are working. It's one of the few moments when I stop planning and let myself be surprised by what appears.

Embroidery on a wedding gown

When I create an embroidery for a gown, I think of the person who will wear it. It's not a generic ornament — it's something designed for her, for her personality, for her style. A detail that exists only in that gown, in that size, for that woman. That's what makes it precious: not technical perfection, but uniqueness.

Hand embroidery takes time, patience, and a certain inner quiet. It cannot be rushed. And perhaps that's also why I love it so much — it forces me to slow down, to stay with one thing at a time, to enjoy the process without thinking about the result.

If you're in Umbria on the 4th, 5th or 6th of September, come find me in Valtopina. I'll be bringing some gowns, embroidery samples and fabrics — it will be wonderful to show the work in person, to touch the fabrics together, to talk.

📍 Valtopina (PG) — XXII Mostra del Ricamo e del Tessuto
🗓 4 - 6 September 2026