At Home in Bologna with Alison Hoeltzel

 

Earlier this spring we were chatting with Alison Hoeltzel, founder of our favorite accessories line Officina del Poggio, about a travel guide to Northern Italy...Alison, is a native Texan who now lives and produces her beautifully crafted bags in Italy. And while the "travel guide" reality mighttttttt have shifted a little bit, we were still just as curious to learn about what her life is looking like right now as she's tuning in from Bologna. Below, a day in the life from her home, and a snapshot of togetherness while apart...

 

"I am spending this quarantine period in my home right outside of Bologna, Italy.  I really can’t complain, and am grateful to be surrounded by nature and this springtime has been especially beautiful."

"Our pantry is always stocked with pasta as we often have last-minute guests in the summer, so I am the master of recipes which take few ingredients and are easy to whip up on a whim. This has come in very handy during lockdown! During these past few weeks I enjoy taking a little time to cook and enjoy a proper meal, especially outside when the weather is nice."

"Even though I am so fortunate to be here, I miss the city center of Bologna. In the past two months I have only gone into the city to send shipments from my studio, and quick trips to the grocery store."

"All bars, restaurants and stores are closed. I miss the simple daily routines such as getting a coffee at the local bar and chatting with the barista, walking under the porticos, aperitivos on Piazza Santo Stefano, and wandering through the open-air food markets near the main square."

"My husband and I have been working from home, and in the late afternoons and weekends we spend time working in the yard with the dogs.  We finally found time to finish the area under the pergola, which has been a work-in-progress for the last year. 

We also finally hung up a hammock, which we bought at the end of last summer but never got around to hanging up… I guess that is the silver lining of all of this time at home: finally checking off those to-do lists of home chores."

Follow Alison on Instagram and shop ODP here!