POTTERY DECORATION

Agata, ceramist

The experience begins with a guided tour around our factory. There you will be introduced to all the phases that are necessary for the creation of our products. In addition we will give you a brochure. There you could find all the information that have been explained to you during the visit. Decoration. In this workshop you will decorate an object in terracotta. We will choose it together. The first step is to glaze it. The second step is to decorate it. We will decide which decorative technique to use among: free-hand drawing, pouncing or by stencil. You could decorate one or more pieces. To complete them, they will be cooked for 48 hours. We will ship them to you once they are ready. (Free shipping only within Italy).

CALTAGIRONE, Ct

RAKU BENEATH THE STARS

Giuliano e Claudio, ceramist

The experience is full day one, from 1 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.. At the beginning we'll spend about 4 hours at the “Laboratorio Artistico”, our atelier. There will be a brief introduction on Raku technique. Later each participant will glaze 2 or 3 pieces freely chosen among a wide range at the atelier (vases, dishes, sculptures). After the glazing we'll move in the hills, at about 20-minute drive from the atelier, where we'll fire the artworks. Raku technique in fact envisages a second firing, open-flames almost 1000°, at which will follow the extraction of the pieces, still incandescent. Moreover we'll do a number of operations, with water, air, smoke, that will confer to the pieces unique colors and shades. During the firing, that will last about 3 hours and that will happen during sunset/evening, we'll offer to the participants a happy hour/dinner. The end of the experience is expected to be at about 10.30 p.m.. You can then bring home with you your creations.

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, Re

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

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

YOUR HAND-SEWN BOOK

Paola, bookbinder and restorer

This experience is for those who want to take a trip inside the magic world of bookbinding. You will discover the whole lab, the machineries and the working tools, but most of all I will tell you how they work and how a book is made. After this tour we will put our aprons on and start working in order to create your own hand-sewn book. You will decide how to make your book cover by choosing the material and I will teach you how to create a book only with needle and thread so that you’ll be able to do that. We will create together the structure of the book and the cover that can be personalized even with a golden engraving (yes, I will also show you how hot foil stamping is made!) The final work will then be a unique book to bring home with you as a keepsake of our experience together.

TORINO, To

INSIDE - FOOD ART

Monica, pottery designer and maker

The technique envisages the creation of clay's plates where to stamp fruit's tracks, to shape texture and low relieves. The concept of the “montessoriana” mold, is to show to the children “how to do to do”. This is done simply giving tools and technical information. The goal is to let them create through examining, rather than just do. Food art is reproduction by means of real tracks. All the techniques will be adopted gradually. In this way children will have the chance to create and decorate their own objects. The plate will be cooked during the night, and could be taken and painted the afternoon after. We will use natural non-toxic colors.

CARPENEDOLO, Bs

FULL COLOR GLASS MELTING

Chiara, glazier

Nearby the historic center of Brescia, in the area of Isolabella, is located my atelier of glass melting. It is closed to the historic “Borgo Trento”, that has always been characterized by the presence of artisan's ateliers. Here, immersed in colors and in a northern style environment, I create my projects. With this workshop I want to share my passion and knowledge for this amazing material. Everyone can get close to the world of artistic glass. In particular I'll make available some simple drawings and all the material that is needed to create an object through the plain glass melting technique. It will have dimensions of (25*25)cm, and it could be used as a tile or as an everyday object furniture. I'll take care of the shipping since the object needs a cooking and bending process of at least 36 hours. Otherwise it will be possible to collect it at the atelier by appointment during the next few days the cooking. Shipping costs are included in the price of the workshop.

BRESCIA, Bs

YOUR BESPOKE JUTE HAT

Carlotta, milliner

To open the doors of a workshop means to unveil the most intimate secrets of a craftsman. A small world in which ideas are shaped by the most valuable tool that we have, our hands. And this will be our starting point. Through a tactile experience we will understand how to identify the key features of different fabrics. In particular we will analyze the potential of jute, a natural fiber, 100% biodegradable and recyclable, lightweight, durable and very malleable. Together we will explore this amazing malleability and we will discover how to create a unique and precious object with a material which is considered "poor". Every participant will challenge his creativity producing a bespoke hat. Starting with an off-cut of jute you can choose to work with a base-made pattern or to adopt a fully-manual technique like the Moulage. Both methods will be explained and shown during the workshop. The experience will last the whole day, from the morning until the afternoon. Timing are flexible, I will do what I can to meet your personal needs and requests. A buffet - lunch is scheduled on the fresh porch facing a wide garden.

VERBANIA, Vb

MARBLE AND STONE TAKE SHAPE

Luca, sculptor

This experience in my workshop will last a few hours, during which I will support you in the creation of an artifact carved in stone, with hammer and chisel in your hand and you will experience the thrill of giving birth to a piece of work just with your creativity and your manual skills. At the end of the workshop you will bring home your own creation.

GUBBIO, Pg