My name is Ilaria: l’ila.

I was born in Italy, and today my life moves between the Netherlands and France, where I am exploring a more nature-rooted life in the countryside.

Creating things with my hands has always been part of who I am. When I was a child, I used to paint little stones and ring my neighbours’ doorbells to sell them. Even then, there was already a small maker inside me, curious about colours, shapes, and the joy of transforming simple materials into something meaningful.

For many years, however, I followed a different path. I became an engineer and spent a long time working in demanding, high-performance environments. It was an intense and rewarding journey, but somewhere along the way my creative side started asking for attention again.

Macramé entered my life almost by chance, and quickly became a passion. I was fascinated by the richness of this craft: the traditional macramé lace techniques, passed down through generations, and the vibrant, soul-connected spirit of colourful boho macramé.

Each piece you see in this portfolio is created slowly and with care. I enjoy every step of the process: choosing the threads, exploring patterns, letting the knots take shape, and allowing the design to grow naturally.

My work embraces the idea of slow creation — taking the time needed to make something by hand, with attention, patience, and love.

In a world that wants to run so quickly, macramé invites me to slow down, to focus, and to reconnect with creativity. Through these pieces, I hope to share a little of that feeling with you.