Vetulonia, Tuscany
Updated: 4 hours ago
I just spent ten days in Vetulonia, an ancient Etruscan village tucked into the Tuscan hillside.
time moves differently
Each day began and ended with a walk. We hiked up and down the mountainside trails between the cottage, La Pesca, and the studio. The gravel crunched underfoot. Olive trees lined the path. The sun warmed the earth. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that lets you hear yourself again. We made that climb more times than I can count. Each trip wore us in and opened us up.
clay and connection
We came together for clay, but it became something more.
We fired a wood kiln, tending it like something alive. We fed it, watched it, and waited. We pulled pieces from a raku firing, still glowing. The air was sharp with heat and smoke. Fire did what it does best—transforming everything it touched.
Working with our hands in a place that has held human hands for thousands of years shifts something. The Etruscans shaped this land long before us. You can feel it—not in a grand way, but in a steady, grounding way. It feels like you’re part of something continuous.
deepening connections
The connections came just as naturally.
Strangers at first, then not. People from all over the world gathered in this small village. We found common ground in clay, in conversation, and in shared experience. Conversations unfolded over shared tools, long meals, and tired legs at the end of the climb back to the cottage.
Somewhere along the way, those connections deepened into something lasting. Relationships formed that will carry beyond the village, beyond these ten days, into whatever comes next.
meals that matter
Food was lovingly prepared from generations-long recipes of the region. The meals were simple, honest, and deeply rooted. They weren’t rushed but experienced. Another kind of craft. Another way of carrying history forward.
At the end of the day, we soaked it all in—literally. We relaxed in a hot tub under the stars. Our bodies were tired, our minds quiet. It was the kind of stillness you don’t find; you arrive at it.
more than just making
By the end, it wasn’t just about what we made.
It was about what softened. What opened. What slowed down enough to be felt.
Ten days of clay, connection, fire, and walking the same path—until it no longer felt like a path but a part of you.
embracing the journey
This experience was transformative. I learned to appreciate the small moments. I found joy in the process of creation. Each piece of clay held a story. Each connection with others added depth to my journey.
I discovered that the act of making is not just about the end product. It’s about the journey, the relationships, and the memories created along the way.
As I reflect on my time in Vetulonia, I feel grateful. Grateful for the land, the people, and the clay. I return home with a renewed sense of purpose and creativity.
I hope to carry this experience forward. I want to share my artisan-made jewelry, welded sculptures, and sustainable home goods with a broader audience. My goal is to grow my online presence while maintaining the charm of my Maine-based craft.
In this journey, I embrace the beauty of simplicity. I aim to inspire others to appreciate the art of making and the connections it fosters.
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