YOUR UNIQUE JEWEL

Negar, goldsmith

Gerd Rothmann is a master goldsmith and his contribution in making the theme of unique jewel internationally recognized has been huge. The unique jewel is the one made with your fingerprint, or with that of a person we love. In this hands-on workshop we will re-elaborate this concept and you’ll be able to make your own brass jewel, under my guidance. Once in my studio, you’ll be fingerprinted and we will decide together if you are going to create a pendant or a ring. Then we will proceed with some sketches and the design before the actual realization of the jewel in wax. The experience will end with the creation of the wax jewel, after which I will send it to a specialized lab in order to brass molding it with the lost wax casting. I will then pick it up and polish it before sending it to you within 10 days after our meeting.

FIRENZE, Fi

YOUR SPECIAL MOSAIC

Matteo, mosaic maker

What better than your name can identify you? Decorate with a mosaic the initial of your name or of the person you want to give it to. Imagine the letter of your name with a mosaic part in it. You can use it to furnish an old dresser, a shelf, or any other place to bring your personality. In fact in this workshop you can decide the decoration and the color of the tiles. These will be used to fill up with a mosaic the etched space in the wooden letter. Later I'll show you how the marbles, stone-paste and gold leaf tiles are cut. We'll see how to lay the glue down and how to position the tiles to create the decoration of your personal letter. Of course, once the object will be finished, you can bring it back home with you. The only things I ask you is to tell me the chosen letter, so that you can find it ready to be decorated. Moreover you can choose between the blue or dove-grey color to paint the letter yourself. The workshop will last about 2/2.5 hours.

PARABITA, Le

THE WEAVING ART IN PERUGIA

Marta, weaver

Welcome to my atelier in the heart of Perugia! It will be a pleasure to host you in my atelier, the former Church of San Francesco delle Donne, a deconsecrated building that in 1200AD was the first Franciscan church in Perugia. Since 1996, the hand-weaving workshop of Giuditta Brozzetti—my great-grandmother and founder of the atelier—has been based in these magnificent premises, and today it is one of the last places in Italy to practice hand-weaving. I will tell you the history of the workshop, started in 1921 with the intuition of Giuditta who recovered traditional motifs and designs from the Umbrian territory and founded the workshop-school for the production of high quality artistic fabrics for home furnishings. Millennial techniques and ancient production phases are still used today to create incredibly contemporary fabrics of historical inspiration. I will show you our artistic production that has been hand-woven in linen, cotton, silk, cashmere blend and gold and silver laminate on antique eighteenth-century pedal looms and nineteenth-century Jacquard looms. You will understand the functioning of our imposing Jacquard looms and of my beloved original loom of the 1700s, with which I still make copies of the fabrics found in the frescoes by Pinturicchio, Giotto, and Luca Signorelli, but also the initial phase of the work process: the preparation of the warp and weft, set up with a machine that was modified by Leonardo da Vinci, according to a system that is more than 500 years old! After discovering the secrets of production, you will test yourself under my guide, creating a decorative tassel made with the yarns I use for my production, which you can take home with you as a souvenir of the experience!

PERUGIA, Pg

CARVE THE WHITE CHALKY STONE

Stefano, sculptor

I propose a full day hands-on workshop (eight hours; eg. 09:00 to 17:00 hours) in which you can visit the laboratory and the sculptures exhibition, watch me while I'm working with mallet and chisels, and try realize a small manufact under my guidnce. I will provide everything you need to work and the apprentices-visitorswill take away what they have achieved. A little eating time is scheduled, so that you can taste the flavors of Salento in my amazing garden.

SOGLIANO CAVOUR, Le

PRINTING AND ENGRAVING

Agnes, ceramist

I also love engravings along with printing techniques on nylon slabs, in my workshop I have a press roller that will allow us to print manually. All you have to bring with you - apart from comfortable clothes and a apron - is a nice photo or a drawing (if you do not have one we will provide one for you). In the first part of this workshop you will engrave what you wish on the nylon sheet with a cold engraving needle. Then we will have a brief rest in the atelier, have a chat and a small vegetarian lunch (glass of wine included). We will then start again and prepare the stencil to be printed: colored or not they will be put to soak. When the paper and your stencils are ready we will print a first copy to check the quality of the engravings: if you are not satisfied with some of the details you will have the opportunity to correct them. After that we will do the final print! You will be able to take home the various copies in a folder along with your stencil. If the copies are still too wet to bring home I will send them to you during the next few days (the sending price to Italy is included in the price of the workshop).

COMO, Co

YOUR MICROMOSAIC JEWEL

Alessandra e Silvia, mosaic

In this experience we offer you something absolutely unique, a journey through the history of micromosaic! We will then show you the spinning of the glazes for the preparation of the tesserae and the authentic composition of the stucco. You will then be able to choose a semi-finished piece of jewelry that you will complete by making your own micromosaic. At the end of the workshop you will take home your own unique and original piece of jewelry!

ROMA, Rm

CREATE YOUR RAKU JEWELRY

Cinzia, ceramist

The participants will learn to create in full autonomy small shapes of clay or gres, that after the drying time will be baked and sent by post (free in Italy). We will also have some pearls in various shapes for you to decorate that will be put in the oven right away and processed with the Raku pottery procedure, these you will be allowed to take home at the end of the day and will be ready to be made in to necklaces, earrings, broaches or anything you want. The Raku technique origins in Japan and it allows the glaze to dry in a shorter amount of time, creating a very particular pattern and iridescent colors. The pieces you create will be of great impact and most of all.....completely unique! The seminary starts at 10:00 and finishes at 18:00 and breaks briefly for lunch (which is included).

SENIGALLIA, An

A DAY AT THE ATELIER

Mara, engraver

An entire day to explore the wonderful world of Japanese printing. We will spend the entire day together: from 10 am until 6 pm (with a break of one hour for lunch) and you will have the opportunity to see all the steps that go into creating your own print. After the initial phase where you will learn about the techniques and see some original prints, you will be allowed cut out your first drawing (or you can take inspiration from one of the various books we have in our studio) and create your own 3 colour print on Japanese paper. This workshop is perfect for people who want to create their own cards or presents. This experience is for beginners and people wishing to improve their techniques: in case you have former experience please contact me in advance so I can prepare myself to accommodate your needs.

AVIGLIANA, To

FROM WOOL TO FELT

Lucia, felt maker

During the experience, the artisan will explain the various stages of wool processing, starting with the production of sheep's wool by small local farmers in Valsugana. In particular, the processing of carded wool and the subsequent transformation into felt will be proposed. The artisan will explain the path of raw wool from washing to carding using a special tool. After a short break with an organic snack you will go on with the design and construction of a personalized felt hat or alternatively a felt seat / seat cover, suitable for all seasons and all uses. You can choose your favorite hat model and add decorations with various colors wools, that can also be used for the seat cover.

PERGINE VALSUGANA, Tn