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

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

SCAGLIOLA, BETWEEN ILLUSION AND REALITY

Elisabetta & Alessandro, scagliola

We will tell you about the history and the state of art of this ancient, and somehow "lost" craft, showing you some secrets and some stylistic and technical aspects. Starting from a "simple mineral dust", with a practical exhibition we will took you back in time, when the ability and skills of the craftsman began with the preparation of the tools, the sketches and the color pigments. The realized artwork remains yours. Finally we will discuss together about the most important existing collection, with the practical support of some antique pieces, dating from the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, collected with great passion by our family.

PONTASSIEVE, Fi

INSIDE THE LUTHIER LAB

Eugenio Lorenzo, luthier

People that come to visit me in my world find measurements, cuts and sounds. I like to explain my job and tell people why I do it. By spending a couple of hours with me, you'll be able to discover how a guitar is crafted starting from a piece of wood, in a journey through many sensorial experiences: different wood smells, weights, colours or textures. Being a job that's strongly connected to this land, you will see how a joiner's shop works, and during your visit, you will have a chance to see a musician try a brand new instrument, learn how wood is bent or how the guitar neck is sculpted. My job is not made out of secrets, but instead its main ingredient is experienced dexterity. Discover it by yourself!

VIBO VALENTIA, Vv

LAMPWORKING HANDS-ON WORKSHOP

Patrizia & Evelina, glass bead

Become a "perlera" for a day! In two hours Patrizia makes you experience the magic of Murano's glass lampworking, she tells you the story of Venetian beads and shows you some techniques. You will be then able to make your first bead that will be sent to your home very soon.

VENEZIA, Ve

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

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

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

BBQ AND LEATHER IN TUSCANY

Tommaso, leather craftsman

We are very happy to invite you to this special event. Here are the ingredients: an artisanal lab that works with leather in a very unique way, using parts of grapes; Tuscany and its amazing hills; a barbeque, live music and great cocktails. Do we need anything else? We don't think so, then you just have to save the date! Between 21 and 22 of August, we will welcome you in our lab located in the Tuscan countryside and we will have an hands-on workshop during which you'll be introduced to our special working method before trying it yourself. You will then relax before the evening: a barbeque party, some live music and cocktails are waiting for you to spend a convivial night with us. On the day after you will have breakfast before having some chilling time on the porch. You will also have the chance to take another tour in our labs if you want to discover more about our activity. We are waiting for you for this special event, availability is limited so grab your chance to enjoy this weekend!

PESCIA, Pt