CARVING THE PIETRA SERENA

Andrea, stone worker

We offer a guided tour within our lab. We want to give you the chance to get to know the main steps that allow us to create pavings, benches and gates starting from a piece of stone. At the end of the visit one of our stone-cutters, will help you carving your name and/or surname on a piece of Pietra Serena. You will have your special souvenir then, so that you will remember of our meeting.

LASTRA A SIGNA, Fi

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

PAPER MAKING WORKSHOP IN APULIA

Andrea, paper maker

The Aremu association and Gruppo Cubiarte present to you a fascinating journey in learning how to make paper. In the itinerary we have put together the ancient Washi technique (oriental paper from the Han dynasty, 200 d.c.), with the medieval fabrianesi techniques (XIII century) we will also create paper from natural fibers extracted from Mediterranean plants. The course will be divided as follows: 1. Selection and picking of the natural fibers (common fig plant) 2. Skinning phloem 3. Beating and washing the cellulose paste 4. Creating the paper in a basin 5. Sieving and calendering 6. Distillation of the garriga vapors to perfume our sheets of paper 7. Coloring techniques with natural pigments: ficus carica leaves

SOGLIANO CAVOUR, Le

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

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

IMPIRARESSA FOR ONE DAY

Marisa, glass bead

Do you like creating objects with beads? Are you interested in the various techniques for threading ordinary and Venetian glass beads how the "impiraresse", threaders of glass beads from once upon a time used to? Would you like to see how I use them now? This workshop then is perfect for you! We will learn about Venetian beads, how they traveled across the world and how they are used, we will decide how best to use them to create your own jewelry! I will share with you all I've learned during a life time with glass beads! Take the most of it as we "impiraresse" tend to be volatile and I may change my mind ;) The only thing I will not be teaching is working with corals, as it is a secret, but the rest of my knowledge is at your disposal in my small and colorful workshop in the center of Venice.

VENEZIA, Ve

LEATHER CLASS

Giuseppe, leather craftsman

During this experience you'll be able to create 4 small leather or fabric goods, such as frames for your photos or a hard cover for your personal planner. You can choose the type and color of material to work with and, under our guidance, you will learn all the steps for the realization of the products that you will bring home as a memory of the experience. The workshop will end up with a dinner based on pizza, cooked in a wood oven at the craftsman's house.

GUBBIO, Pg

BUCCHERO, THE BLACK TERRACOTTA

Gaetano, artisan of bucchero

The day will begin with a brief presentation of our atelier and an introduction to the main working techniques of pottery. In particular we'll focus on the Bucchero. At this point we'll be ready to put into practice that described, but first we'll have to familiarize with the tools. We'll then wear an apron and we'll clean the object with sandpaper and steel wool until we removed all the scratches of turning. Once we completed these operations, we'll polish the surface rubbing it with boxwood sticks. After that we'll engrave it by choosing a decorative technique between freehand drawing and pouncing. To complete the product we just have to fill the etchings with gold and platinum by using small brushes. We'll eat local products without cutlery, just with our hands. You'll then try the "crescia" which is a particular non-rised bread with the round shape that is cooked on carbon. It can be combined with cheeses, cured meats, cooked vegetables or sausages. After having signed the piece, we'll have to wait it to be dried out, and only then we can fire it. This will be done at a later stage in the open countryside. It is so since the process requires the use of coal with the resulting formation of black powder, moreover it has to be done when you have many pieces to be put within the furnace. Finished the firing, that consists in reaching about 900° C. in ten hours, and the consecutive cooling in 48 hours, we'll send the object to you at no extra costs everywhere in Italy. The day will end in the most beautiful square of Gubbio, in front of the “Palazzo dei Consoli”. We will get there by means of a neighboring elevator to the meeting place and we'll talk, sipping an aperitif, of medieval architecture, of the size and shape of the Palace resulting from the application of symbolic relationships related to esoteric numerology.

GUBBIO, Pg

BEADS IN FAMILY

Marisa, glass bead

Do you want to play with the glass beads in my colorful lab with your family? It seems like being in a treehouse! You will learn how to string beads as the Venetian "Impiraresse" do, and the kids will challenge their parents in some games of skill and fantasy. Then, once you get familiar with this art, we will create a little wonderful present that you will carry with you to remember our meeting. And if you want to discover more about the venetian glass beads, their preciousness and their travels to far horizons, I will be happy to tell you some good stories about them. Trust me, we will have fun!

VENEZIA, Ve