Kari McKnight-Holbrook

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• Visit backporchartessa.blogspot.com to learn more about Kari and her work.
• Contact Kari at karimcknightholbrook@yahoo.com with questions or to reserve a space.

Dayle Doroshow

Capturing Ancient France:
A Mixed Media Journey

In this spirited workshop let's create Artist Journals with your original prints, Jewelry and small medieval artifacts to capture our week in the French countryside. The region is rich with medieval villages, artists, flea markets and fairs, which we will draw on for inspiration, ephemera gathering and our art work.

Start the week making a handmade journal covered with beautiful French fabric and polymer clay elements – an idea collector to capture your inspiration and techniques. New printmaking techniques will be explored – easy, low tech and unique! Next, we'll create Jewelry and small artifacts that tell a story inspired by French medieval village life, the Renaissance court and your imagination.

We will learn a cornucopia of techniques using polymer clay, textiles, handmade prints and flea market treasures to create your ideas – jewelry, artist books, and mixed media collage and assemblage.

We'll spend instructed studio time each day in the lovely and well-equipped studio at La Cascade. Then, each day we'll jump in our cars for adventure and treasure hunting that will inspire our artwork. Field trips include sunflower fields, the nearby monastery En Calcat with its outstanding art bookstore, t he renowned Saturday market in Revel with its visual feast of goodies and treasures for body and soul, the Sunday flea markets and Albi, home to the Toulouse-Lautrec Musee, an awesome cathedral and other delights.

Open studio at night… Exquisite food from our personal chef… New friendships… Art-making… Live and work at La Cascade where time relaxes and creativity flows.

• Cost: $1,900
• Visit www.dayledoroshow.com for more information — and to learn more about Dayle and her work.
• Contact Dayle at dayledoroshow@hotmail.com or 707-962-9419 with questions or to reserve a space.

Doreen Kassel

Sculpture and Whimsy in France:
Masquerade Parade

Create and explore in this magical, week-long retreat in the charming village of Durfort, in the south of France. Sculpting whimsical figures and animals inspired by the stories of Commedia dell'arte, Masquerade balls, characters, beasts, and masks – we'll create narratives of our own.

Our troupe will be sculpted in polymer, fashioned over an armature of glass and wire. They will be cured and painted with multiple coats of oil paint to achieve a warm, vintage feeling. Learn how to stand your unique creation, on two spindly legs, with a special wire and balancing technique. We'll create the illusion of movement with these spindly legs. No special sculpting skills are needed for this workshop … my students are consistently surprised and delighted with their creations! With my techniques there are no mistakes, just happy accidents. Much laughter and fun sets the tone for all of my workshops.

We'll visit the newly renovated Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi, where we'll draw inspiration from the offbeat characters of Lautrec's world, the patterned French gardens and grand palace. When we're not consumed with our creations, there will be leisurely excursions exploring the glorious mid-summer sunflower fields, area flea markets, the En Calcat monastery (and its wonderful art bookstore), and the famous Saturday market of Revel, where locals like to shop.

All excursions are optional; this is a week to satisfy yourself. Relax in the village with a book, sit on the terrace with a glass of wine, or, if you wish, take a nap in the afternoon.

Enjoy fine, fresh, local food prepared by our own personal chef, Nese. We'll meet for a delicious and sustaining breakfast. Lunch, which is served on the terrace, will ready us for the afternoon's adventures. Candlelight, wine, and chef Nese's dinner, accompanied by laughter and shared experiences will complete our delightful days.

• Cost: $1,900
• Price includes:
  • Charming double occupancy room (seven nights)
  • 7 breakfasts / 6 lunches / 6 dinners
    … Lunch & dinner prepared by chef Nese with fresh, local ingredients
  • Workshop Instruction, 24-hour open studio, plus local excursions.
• Visit www.doreenkassel.com to learn more about Doreen and her work.
• Contact Doreen at doreenkassel@gmail.com with any questions or to reserve a space.

Dayle Doroshow & Suzanne Jenne

Bookmaking and Painting in France:
A Mixed Media Retreat!

Join us in southern France for a week of art-making, wonderful food, field trips, and new friendships. The region is rich with medieval villages, artists, flea markets and fairs, which we will draw on for inspiration and ephemera gathering.

This spirited workshop will explore painting, painterly collage, and easy printmaking – all gathered into one wonderful handmade artist journal. We’ll also work with polymer clay embellishments that "tell a story" inspired by French medieval village life, the Renaissance court and/or your imagination.

Both Suzanne and Dayle will offer instructed studio time along with daily field trips for inspiration and treasure hunting. Sunflower fields, flea markets, charming villages, Albi (home of the Toulouse Lautrec Museum) – we’ll take off on a wonderful field trip everyday! We’ll go on location to capture photos for inspiration and then paint in the serenity of our surroundings – by the side of the river where the waterfalls run in this ancient village or in our studio.

Be inspired to explore and create ideas of your choice ... jewelry, small paintings, artist books, mixed media assemblage. Fall into the rhythm of this historic hamlet where time seems to stand still and you can finally hear yourself think … and creativity flows.

The Workshop: Instructed Studio time … A delightful field trip everyday to artist studios, villages, a local monastery, flea markets, village events, and Open Studio each night. Field trips are optional if you want to stay home and nap, work in the studio or explore on your own. Taste wonderful wines and exquisite food by our personal chef.

• Cost: $2,500
• Price includes
  • 7 nights lodging at La Cascade – double occupancy
  • Daily afternoon field trips
  • All breakfasts, and most lunches and dinners
  • Workshop instruction and many supplies
• Visit www.suzannejenne.com for more information — and to learn about Suzanne and her art.
• Visit www.dayledoroshow.com for more information — and to learn more about Dayle and her work.
• Contact Dayle at dayledoroshow@hotmail.com or 707-962-9419 with questions or to reserve a space.

Nese Pelt & Dayle Doroshow

The Art of Cooking

If you would like to learn how to cook easy, healthy and delicious cuisine, create a handmade journal/recipe and menu book to record your adventures and discover this charming part of France, please accept our invitation to a very special event. For those of you who have been waiting to study cooking with Nese, the chef at La Cascade and Art Heaven, this is finally your chance!

You will reside at La Cascade – a beautifully restored house in the village of Durfort on the River Sor, one hour east of Toulouse. Durfort has been making copper since the Middle Ages, and today there are copper studios, leather, glass and other artists to enjoy. The area is rich with medieval villages, working artists, flea markets and fairs, which we will explore as the week unfolds.

Nese will teach cooking classes in the kitchen at La Cascade. Using the superb organic produce of the region and other specialties, she’ll share her recipes for delicious healthy food. On Saturday, we’ll spend the morning at the renowned Saturday market in Revel (just five minutes away) with its visual feast of goodies and treasures for body and soul. This market has been named one of the 100 most beautiful markets in France. You will have time during the workshop, if you want, to relax and experience gentle Yoga and stretching directed by Nese in her own nearby center, Centre Melisse.

Dayle will guide you in creating a handmade recipe/menu journal to use during the week to record your notes, sketches, and a place to gather mementos and treasures collected on our field trips. She will lead several field trips exploring nearby villages with plenty of time for wonderful photo-ops, including Albi with its astounding cathedral and the newly renovated Toulouse Lautrec Museum, the Sunday flea markets and other adventures connected to the local food & wine artisans of the region.

All activities are optional and you are welcome to relax by the river, work in the studio, join Nese in the kitchen, or explore on your own!

• Cost: $2,050
• Price includes
  • 7 nights lodging at La Cascade – double occupancy
  • Cooking classes, studio class, yoga classes, daily field trips and much more!
  • All breakfasts, lunches and dinners except one dinner and one lunch out
  • Many supplies and all ingredients for cooking classes
• Contact Dayle at dayledoroshow@hotmail.com or 707-962-9419 with questions or to reserve a space.

Nese (pronounced Nesha) studied sports science and sports medicine at the University de Goethe in Frankfurt Germany. She has taught self-healing techniques at her health center, Centre Melisse, in Soreze France since 1996. She teaches yoga and mind-body awareness in German, French, and English. "We are all magic," says Nese. "We just forget it. Using a variety of techniques, I help you discover your own inner lamp, so you always have a light in your hand to show you the way."

Dayle is a mixed media/polymer clay artist and owner of design studio ZINGARO, Stamp of Distinction. She trained in traditional ceramics in NYC and sold her pottery there. In recent years she has emerged as an innovator in polymer clay and has won numerous awards for her work. She has been featured in several books on polymer clay, alternative photography and collage. Her jewelry, home décor, handmade books, and art dolls can be found at art shows on the West Coast. She teaches extensively throughout the US and enjoys the shared creative experience that happens during class!    www.dayledoroshow.com

Dawn Hammond

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Linda Larsen

Bijoux Souvenirs

What could be better than creating fabulous mixed jewelry from the only-found-in-France-souvenirs you personally cull from incredible flea markets? Your own discoveries + your dream vacation destination = the most memorable take-home treasures ever!

Join friends and mixed media DIY jewelry experts in Paris for Week #1, then the South of France at La Cascade in Durfort for Week #2 … and cobble together a souvenir of souvenirs! We have almost-French-she's-been-there-so-much Linda Larsen as our teaching host. Linda, Debbi Simon, and Brenda Schweder will guide you (first) in finding – and (then) designing and executing one-of-a-kind treasures as only you could craft.

Round out your travel experience with like-minded souls, sidewalk cafes, museums galore, village farmers' markets, the Eiffel Tower, and fabulous Chef Nese's luscious but not-pound-adding meals!

• Register for one or both weeks! This great adventure only accommodates eight and will fill super-fast.
• Visit www.objectsandelements.com to learn more about Linda and her work.
• Contact Linda at linda@objectsandelements.com for all the details or to reserve a space.

Jana Benzon

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• Visit janarobertsbenzon.com to learn more about Jana and her work.

Keli Sim Deritis

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• Visit kelisimderitis.com to learn more about Keli and her work.

Ronna Sarvas Weltman

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• Visit ronnaround.com learn more about Ronna and her work.

Ann & Steve Mason

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Dayle Doroshow

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• Visit www.dayledoroshow.com to learn more about Dayle and her work.

Stephanie Jones Rubiano

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• Visit stephanierubiano.com to learn more about Stephanie and her work.

Barbara Roth

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• Visit www.barbararothart.com and www.barbararoth.blogspot.com to learn more about Barbara and her work.

Linda Larsen

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• Visit www.objectsandelements.com to learn more about Linda and her work.