Detailed Itinerary - Jewellery Making Holiday

www.bestfrenchholidays.com

The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:

Day 1 – Arrival day

• Arrive at Agen train station to be greeted by your hosts before being driven to the farmhouse where your holiday will begin (airport collections can be arranged upon request for a supplement-please see the costing and extras tab)

• Settle into your charming room before getting to know your fellow students over delicious aperitifs

• Enjoy a social evening with a 3 course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days

Day 2 - Naturals jewellery making workshop

• This morning you will go to a local delightful village market for coffee and croissants to discuss your first project designs with the rest of the group and your tutor Caroline

• You will choose something natural of your choice, such as a leaf, before returning to the studio to begin creating the jewellery of your choice

• Caroline will teach you the basic techniques with using precious metal clay (PMC) to give you maximum freedom to develop your own designs

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen with views of the countryside all around to help inspire your creative side

• Those needing guidance for ideas will be supported throughout the week

• This afternoon, you will learn about the processes of designing, creating and finishing your pieces, including how to use tools such as kilns and torch burners, sanding and polishing tools

• Once your fine silver piece is finished you will be taught to add findings and beads if chosen so that your jewellery is ready to wear

• There will be free time to use all the on-site facilities before aperitifs are served by the pool

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served in the grounds or the farmhouse kitchen accompanied with local delicious wines

Day 3 – Ring design and visit to Armagnac distillery

• After breakfast you will create a ring design and be taught the techniques for correct sizing and achieving your chosen design

• There are several techniques to ring making which will be covered on this day from texturing, carving and stone setting

• A delicious lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen

• After lunch, you will fire and polish your ring to create the finished product

• Early evening, you will visit a family run Armagnac distillery (which Gascony is famous for) and learn how it is made and the history behind it and, more importantly, tasting before returning for dinner back at the farmhouse

Day 4 – Learning about metal clays and wine tasting

• Following breakfast, you will try other types of metal clay in the workshop and learn how they work and are fired

• Try your hand using bronzes and coppers, or what is available for your week

• You will have fun making your chosen designs using the different clays and new techniques

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen depending on the season

• Late afternoon you will visit a beautiful chateau famous for its aperitifs and wines for an afternoon of wine tasting

• Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool firstly, or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities such as table tennis or cycling

Day 5 – Making glass cabochons using glass fusing and visit to Condom

• After breakfast, you’ll choose your glass and colours and learn how to prepare the glass for fusing

• Once made, these can be used in learning the techniques for setting stones and setting them in one of your own designs

• Late morning we will go to the pretty market town of Condom for coffee and a chat with local artists living in the area to gain an insight into their creative vision and help to give you ideas for new designs

• Lunch will be taken out in Condom with the group, before returning to the farmhouse to finish your projects or relax

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served in the grounds or the farmhouse kitchen this evening

Day 6 – Working with enamels and colours and wine tasting

• Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your workshop class for the day

• Today you will learn all the techniques required to add colour to your metal clay pieces using enamels

• The enamels will help you to learn which colours work well and the different processes of using enamels which require a kiln and those which do not require a kiln

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen

• After lunch some time will be spent giving advice to those who wish to start a business using metal clay and photos will be taken of the finished work

• You will also have time to think of the design for your final project tomorrow, which will be a larger piece

• You will learn the technique of making hollow forms today also, which is perfect for creating hollow forms such as classical silver ball earrings or a beautiful textured bead pendant

• The technique of using cork clay will also be taught

• Before dinner a trip to the local vineyard for wine tasting is a very relaxing way to finish the day and you will enjoy tasting infamous Gascony wines

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served back at the farmhouse

Day 7 – Friday- Final workshop day

• After breakfast you’ll spend the morning finishing your final project

• Make the finishing touches to your jewellery by adding beautiful jump rings or ear wires

• You will then learn how to get the best light and background for photographing your work and ways of presenting them in a gift box to show your designs off to their best potential

• Enjoy a leisurely lunch will be served in the gardens or in the farmhouse kitchen before spending the afternoon finished your projects or simply relaxing and soaking up the sun!

• For your final night, a special celebratory dinner will be served as you reflect on what you have learnt with your fellow guests and showcase your beautiful finished products to the room, reflecting on how much you have learnt over the week

Day 8 – Saturday – Departure day

• After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10am

• You are welcome to relax and enjoy some free time if your flight is not until later in the day, before being taken to the airport or train station for your return journey

You will return home with fantastic memories, beautiful unique jewellery, and memories and new skills to last you a lifetime

As with all of our exclusive breaks, this holiday can be tailored to meet the needs of the group. From private helicopter transfers to special private tours, please contact us to discuss your personal requirements and we will ensure your holiday is exactly as you want it to be.

 www.bestfrenchholidays.com 

www.pmcstudiofrance.com 

Jewellery Making Holiday

The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:

Day 1 – Arrival day

• Arrive at Agen train station to be greeted by your hosts before being driven to the farmhouse where your holiday will begin (airport collections can be arranged upon request for a supplement-please see the costing and extras tab)

• Settle into your charming room before getting to know your fellow students over delicious aperitifs

• Enjoy a social evening with a 3 course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days

Day 2 - Naturals jewellery making workshop

• This morning you will go to a local delightful village market for coffee and croissants to discuss your first project designs with the rest of the group and your tutor Caroline

• You will choose something natural of your choice, such as a leaf, before returning to the studio to begin creating the jewellery of your choice

• Caroline will teach you the basic techniques with using precious metal clay (PMC) to give you maximum freedom to develop your own designs

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen with views of the countryside all around to help inspire your creative side

• Those needing guidance for ideas will be supported throughout the week

• This afternoon, you will learn about the processes of designing, creating and finishing your pieces, including how to use tools such as kilns and torch burners, sanding and polishing tools

• Once your fine silver piece is finished you will be taught to add findings and beads if chosen so that your jewellery is ready to wear

• There will be free time to use all the on-site facilities before aperitifs are served by the pool

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served in the grounds or the farmhouse kitchen accompanied with local delicious wines

Day 3 – Ring design and visit to Armagnac distillery

• After breakfast you will create a ring design and be taught the techniques for correct sizing and achieving your chosen design

• There are several techniques to ring making which will be covered on this day from texturing, carving and stone setting

• A delicious lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen

• After lunch, you will fire and polish your ring to create the finished product

• Early evening, you will visit a family run Armagnac distillery (which Gascony is famous for) and learn how it is made and the history behind it and, more importantly, tasting before returning for dinner back at the farmhouse

Day 4 – Learning about metal clays and wine tasting

• Following breakfast, you will try other types of metal clay in the workshop and learn how they work and are fired

• Try your hand using bronzes and coppers, or what is available for your week

• You will have fun making your chosen designs using the different clays and new techniques

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen depending on the season

• Late afternoon you will visit a beautiful chateau famous for its aperitifs and wines for an afternoon of wine tasting

• Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool firstly, or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities such as table tennis or cycling

Day 5 – Making glass cabochons using glass fusing and visit to Condom

• After breakfast, you’ll choose your glass and colours and learn how to prepare the glass for fusing

• Once made, these can be used in learning the techniques for setting stones and setting them in one of your own designs

• Late morning we will go to the pretty market town of Condom for coffee and a chat with local artists living in the area to gain an insight into their creative vision and help to give you ideas for new designs

• Lunch will be taken out in Condom with the group, before returning to the farmhouse to finish your projects or relax

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served in the grounds or the farmhouse kitchen this evening

Day 6 – Working with enamels and colours and wine tasting

• Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your workshop class for the day

• Today you will learn all the techniques required to add colour to your metal clay pieces using enamels

• The enamels will help you to learn which colours work well and the different processes of using enamels which require a kiln and those which do not require a kiln

• Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen

• After lunch some time will be spent giving advice to those who wish to start a business using metal clay and photos will be taken of the finished work

• You will also have time to think of the design for your final project tomorrow, which will be a larger piece

• You will learn the technique of making hollow forms today also, which is perfect for creating hollow forms such as classical silver ball earrings or a beautiful textured bead pendant

• The technique of using cork clay will also be taught

• Before dinner a trip to the local vineyard for wine tasting is a very relaxing way to finish the day and you will enjoy tasting infamous Gascony wines

• A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served back at the farmhouse

Day 7 – Friday- Final workshop day

• After breakfast you’ll spend the morning finishing your final project

• Make the finishing touches to your jewellery by adding beautiful jump rings or ear wires

• You will then learn how to get the best light and background for photographing your work and ways of presenting them in a gift box to show your designs off to their best potential

• Enjoy a leisurely lunch will be served in the gardens or in the farmhouse kitchen before spending the afternoon finished your projects or simply relaxing and soaking up the sun!

• For your final night, a special celebratory dinner will be served as you reflect on what you have learnt with your fellow guests and showcase your beautiful finished products to the room, reflecting on how much you have learnt over the week

Day 8 – Saturday – Departure day

• After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10am

• You are welcome to relax and enjoy some free time if your flight is not until later in the day, before being taken to the airport or train station for your return journey

You will return home with fantastic memories, beautiful unique jewellery, and memories and new skills to last you a lifetime

As with all of our exclusive breaks, this holiday can be tailored to meet the needs of the group. From private helicopter transfers to special private tours, please contact us to discuss your personal requirements and we will ensure your holiday is exactly as you want it to be.

Learn to turn clay into beautiful silver jewellery to treasure forever. Design and craft your own luxurious jewellery whilst staying in a beautifully restored 180-year old farmhouse in the heart of Gascony, South West France. Metal clays are a new jewellery making product which are easy to mould and shape – just like clay – so you’re not limited to what you can design. Watch as the metal clay is fired and turns to pure silver before your very eyes on this unique and innovative course.But it’s not all ‘work’ and no play - your hosts also make sure that you have time to relax and to sample the delights of Gascony, which is a gourmet’s paradise for food, wine and Armagnac!

www.bestfrenchholidays.com 

www.pmcstudiofrance.com