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

MAKE YOUR OWN FELT HAT AND SILK SCARF

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. The workshop also includes ecoprint dyeing of 1 silk scarf. All items made will remain with the participants.

PERGINE VALSUGANA, Tn

MAKE YOUR PAIR OF SHOES

Olivia, shoe maker and designer

The beauty of a bespoke pair of shoes lies in its construction. This course offers an alchemic journey from the raw material to the finished shoe, a journey through which you will appreciate and understand the hidden beauty of creation. Thanks to slow and repetitive motions, just like a mantra, you will forget about hectic life and delve into a very special mood. The model of shoes for this hands-on workshop is a traditional unlined lace-up with Norwegian structure, but different kind of personalization are more than welcome. The process will be split in two parts: a stage will be totally directed by me and the other one will be carried out in collaboration with other professionals. This second stage consists in a 25 hours program that can be organized upon your schedule. During the module that we will have together, we will also prepare the necessary tools to work, such as leather covers for the fingers and twine for the handmade binding. I suggest you this experience if you want to dedicate some days to creativity and manual work, and it will also be a perfect occasion to enjoy the beautiful Pesaro and Urbino. I’m more than available for any kind of tips for your accommodation and I’ll be glad to suggest you the most peculiar places around the city. Since we will share the whole week together, everyday I will offer you a very special break with the best tastes that Marche has to offer!

PESARO, Pu

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE

SANTI, ebony joiner

The courses will be held in my workshop where you’ll be able to get to know the tools of my trade by completing a small marquetry project or learn how to approach the restoration process of an antique piece of wooden furniture. I’ll welcome you to my shop and we’ll have Vin Santo, fruit juice and cantuccini while I’ll tell you about the materials and tools of my work. Then I’ll follow you through the making and finishing of a small project that you’ll get to take home along with a mounting box that will allow you to put your project together once home using the techniques learned during the course. The price is intended for a family group of 3 or 4 people. If you should need a different option, please ask in the green box "customized experience": it will be a pleasure for me to find out the right solution for you. We can offer a translation service to English on request.

ANGHIARI, Ar

YOUR WOODEN INLAYED FLOWER

Renato, inlayer

During this 4-hour workshop I will show you the various wooden inlay techniques: fretwork, "buio", "toppo", the perspective inlay and the boulle technique. In particular, the fretwork technique will be studied in depth with demonstrations of the various processing phases, up to the final polishing. Afterwards, we'll try an easy workshop, where you'll learn the use of the fretworked arch, and I'll show you how to create three small inlays with floral motifs which will also be sandblasted. Three wooden flowers made by your hands, that you'll bring home as a perfect souvenir of this experience and that can be used as a bookmark.

FIRENZE, Fi

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

IN THE SIGN OF

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

STUCCO WILL BRING YOU LUCK!

PATRIZIA, artisan of gypsum

Are you ready for a journey among beauty? I'm going to take you in the fascinating world of stucco, a history as ancient as man. Imprints in mud can be considered as primordial molds. It all begins from the gypsum's dust that capable hands transform into artworks. With this you will prepare the mixture to be poured into molds that are made in the atelier. All the creative-productive process, in fact, is the result of research, experience and know-how accumulated over many years. Now have fun: wear Renaissance fashion aprons, use brushes, colors, soils, glues, shine with brass, silver, and gold leaves, paint with ancient lacquers, rub the beeswax, sign your work to make it unique! Believe it or not, it's suggestive and fascinating to create an object that brings good luck and wellness within our homes. During this workshop I will initially present to you my activity. After an introduction to the ancient art of stucco, we will go through the preparation of the dough base. Once we have done this, we will proceed with the pouring in the horn of plenty and pomegranates' molds. We'll then get ready for the leaf gilding. At this point we'll move to the leaf lightening of the relieves, before passing to the pictorial decoration and to the brush writing. Once we are done with these stages, we'll be ready for the painting, the coating and the final lacquering. At the end of the workshop I'll provide you with the object that you created, the booklet, the Diploma of Participation and the “weirdo license” of Gubbio. This envisages a really particular procedure to be carried out, exactly in front of my atelier!

GUBBIO, Pg

WOOD INLAYING 5 DAYS WORKSHOP

SANTI, ebony joiner

This course is spread on 5 days of 6 hours each. Here you’ll be able to learn all about marquetry: both theory and practice will be covered together, discovering the history of this trade, testing different methods and materials. You’ll learn the differences between different kinds of wood and how all the tools work. As a starter you’ll be given the book Tarsi that contains all the notes I’ve taken during my 40 years of activity and you’ll be able to take whatever you made during the course home! If you want to cover special techniques or make a specific piece you can ask for a custom course by sending me a message.

ANGHIARI, Ar