THE SECRETS OF THE GOLDSMITH CRAFT

DANIELA, goldsmith workshop

At Ponte Vecchio's Casa dell'Orafo, in a location with a strong Renaissance touch, in the same monastery where the Medici family wanted to bring together the Florentine goldsmiths. Between mergers of gold and pure silver, crucibles, cuttlefish and chisels, we will show you some of the secrets of the 'Florentine goldsmith's art in a simple and original space, creating with our guidance the thin rings of a hammered chain, as it happened over 2,000 years ago. We will try to hand down the passion, the art and tradition, the creativity of Florence, the industriousness of its people, the history that has made this city and made it unique in the centuries. A simple, authentic and original location, a place that has not changed over the years in the furnishings and tools which, as in ancient times, are used to create and restore jewelry and art objects. The artisan tradition, the restoration and creation of jewelry are the core of our business. A heritage that fascinates and it's renewed everytime.

FIRENZE, Fi

YOUR FIRST JAPANESE PRINT

Mara, engraver

Become a carver and printer for a day and create your first Japanese woodblock print. An afternoon to be introduced to the wonders of this ancient printing technique that does not require the use of solvents or acids. After a brief introduction where you will have the chance to admire some original vintage woodblocks and some original Ukiyo-e prints; I will explain you the steps to create your first print. At this point you can work at your own design, or you can let yourself inspire by the many books in the studio. Carve and print your first simple printing with two wooden matrices and then print more copies of them on Japanese paper.

AVIGLIANA, To

IL CAPPELLO ED I SUOI SEGRETI

Maria-Federica, milliner

Apertura del laboratorio alle visite. Vi racconterò del mio mestiere e vi offrirò una panoramica sui suoi segreti. Racconterò come nasce un cappello fatto a mano, vi mostrerò i materiali di cui è fatto, gli attezzi e le forme che si usano per modellarlo. Potrete vedere e toccare utensili antichi e saperne di più su un mestiere ormai raro. Parleremo dei diversi modelli di cappello da uomo e da donna e di etichetta e galateo. Una pausa interessante di circa un'ora fra una giornata di escursioni alle 5 Terre ed una visita alla città della Spezia.

LA SPEZIA, Sp

CREATE YOUR OWN STAMP

Anita, engraver

The creation of your own stamp begins with the definition of a logo. After that we'll etch on lino or wood the chosen drawing. In the first part of the workshop, in the morning, we'll define the drawing and we'll start the etching. In the afternoon we'll conclude the definition of the stamp. Later we'll do some printing trials on different types of papers, handmade papers, card-boards, fabrics and plastic materials. Each participant will bring home his own stamp to be used on his own letterhead, on letters and envelopes!

VENEZIA, Ve

RAKU FOR EVERYONE!

Cinzia, ceramist

An appreciation day for Raku pottery and nude Raku. The participants will be asked to decorate and glaze three artifacts made and prepared just for them. The objects will then be baked in a special gas fueled oven and completed within the end of the day with the Raku and nude Raku techniques. This is an old Japanese process that creates stunning objects: covered in marked cracks or strong iridescent metallic colors that aren't reproducible. An important part of the course will be a careful analysis of the coats you can use, as to allow every student to learn how to decorate in full autonomy. During the course of the day there will also be the opportunity to observe the workshop, see the process that goes in to making pottery and lastly to see the various finished products. The seminary starts at 10:00 and finishes at 18:00 and breaks briefly for lunch (which is included). The pieces will be left to the students at the end of the day.

SENIGALLIA, An

THE WOOD: TECHNIQUES AND DESIGN

Giacomo, ebony joiner

The experience consists in taking direcly part in a workshop of cabinetmaking and design. Visitors can try out tools and traditional techniques. It will address the design, planning and execution. There will be practical experiences as the realization of an interlocking or the squaring of pieces with hand instruments. The workshop continues in the afternoon and a wonderful lunch will be cooked and eaten in the laboratory!

VITERBO, Vt

IN THE SIGN OF "FEDERICO"

Maria Josè, restorer

Do you want to learn the techniques of the XVI century knowledge? We'll show you and tell you our manual skills in restoration, in faithful reproduction of vintage furniture, in cabinetmaking, in painting and gilding. We'll re-experience emotions, the study, the passion in doing the faithful reproduction of the “Studiolo del Duca di Montefeltro”, of which the original is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. We'll have lunch together in a typical restaurant of Gubbio. Later we'll go together to see the replica of the “Studiolo del Duca di Montefeltro”. We created it and now it is possible to see it in its original location, at the Doge's Palace in Gubbio. In this important context, you'll have the chance to admire other fine artifacts that we restored.

GUBBIO, Pg

THE WOOL PRODUCTION CHAIN

Lucia, felt maker

This full working day will be a complete focus on the wool production chain. I will tell and show you how raw wool is carded, colored and wired. We will try two different technique to card the wool and then you'll be introduced to the coloration stage, starting with the extraction of the color itself from seasonal natural materials (such as onion's peel and walnut's husk) and ending with the dyeing of the fleece. We will then have a lunch break in the lab before going on testing the wool spinning.

PERGINE VALSUGANA, Tn

FACCIAMO IL PAIO SHOES & DRINK

Olivia, shoe maker and designer

Tre serate esclusive all'insegna del romanticismo in cui potrete gustare un aperitivo in laboratorio a lume di candela mentre progettate le vostre scarpe di coppia. Possiamo incidere insieme i vostri nomi come all’interno delle fedi o progettare qualsiasi altra personalizzazione che racconti qualcosa di voi! ...un modo diverso per festeggiare non solo San Valentino, ma anche tutto il cammino che si fa a due. Le scarpe saranno poi realizzate da me e spedite direttamente a casa vostra!

PESARO, Pu