Inspiration Found in Rome {A Lesson in Handmade Simplicity}

My husband and I just returned from a family vacation in Europe. It was a wonderful couple of weeks of slowing down… well, not really. It was go, go, go. But, it was a complete letting go of our normal daily life. 

For ten days, we focused on being fully present, exploring new places, and making memories together.

One of the places we visited was the Abbazia delle Tre Fontane (Abbey of the Three Fountains) in Rome. 

The abbey is believed to stand on the site where the Apostle Paul was martyred.  According to tradition, when he was beheaded, his head struck the ground and then bounced to two other locations because of the sloping terrain. At each place, a spring of water miraculously appeared, giving the abbey its name: The Three Fountains. 

Today, it is a peaceful place filled with history, prayer, and beautiful works of art. 

The Trappist monks who live there have long supported their monastery through the work of their hands, producing simple goods that visitors can take home. 

We were actually in search of the monastery’s famous chocolate after friends insisted we couldn’t leave Rome without trying it. 

We found the chocolate…

and soap. 

I couldn’t resist bringing home a few bars. 

Holding them in my hands, I found myself unexpectedly inspired. 

Here I am, just beginning my own soapmaking journey, standing in a place where generations of craftsmen have quietly practiced theirs. 

It reminded me that handmade things carry stories. 

Every bar represents someone’s time. 

Someone’s patience. 

Someone’s willingness to learn. 

Someone choosing to create something useful and beautiful. 

That resonates deeply with me. 

When I started Act III Co., I wasn’t simply looking for a hobby. 

I was looking for a way to build a slower, more intentional life. 

A life where creating with my hands mattered. 

Walking through the abbey reminded me that this idea isn’t new. 

For centuries, people have found purpose in simple work done well. 

In valuing the process as much as the product. 

As I begin experimenting with recipes, testing oils, infusing botanicals and learning from plenty of mistakes along the way, I’m grateful for reminders like this one. 

So today, instead of sharing something I made…

I’m sharing something that inspired me to keep making. 

I came home with three bars of soap. 

But I think I brought home something much more valuable. 

Confidence that simple doesn’t mean insignificant. 

Sometimes…

simple is exactly what lasts. 

This little piece of Rome will sit in my soap room as a reminder of why I started.