May 17th-24th, 2024 - Artist/Instructor Patti Euler
Saints and Sinners; A triptych Through the South of France
Immerse yourself in the picturesque French countryside and let the stunning churches and cathedrals inspire your creativity. Our exclusive art project offers a unique tryptic substrate (designed exclusively for this event) and a plethora of options to design and embellish your artwork. From iconic images of saints, renaissance women, statuary, gargoyles, local scenery, church windows and doors, you will have everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. With our array of paint, stencils, stamps, and collage techniques, the possibilities are endless. We'll also be visiting the Saturday Market in Revel and the Sunday flea market for more inspiration. Join us for an unforgettable artistic journey through the Saints and Sinners of France. This retreat is SOLD OUT. Please email to be put on the wait list.
Patti Euler
“I’ve designed a unique art piece to reflect the character and architecture for our medieval adventure. Tell me, are you a saint or a sinner? ”
About Patti Euler
Patti Euler, a mixed media artist and Golden certified artist educator from Savage, Maryland. Patti's passion for art is not only reflected in her own work but also in her dedication to helping others refine their technique and transform their art. Her 23-year reign at The Queen's Ink has been marked by her generosity and warmth, making her classes a fun and laughter-filled experience. Patti is also the creative force behind The Queen's Ink online art supply store, which is specially curated to inspire creativity. Her latest endeavor, Art Escapade, promises to be an exciting series of mixed media retreats featuring many guest artists from her studio. Patti is a catalyst for artists, from the novice to the skilled artisan, to refine their techniques and bring their beautiful visions to life. Learn more about Patti at her website.
May 30th-June 6th, 2024 - Artist/Instructor Kate Richbourg
Je Rêve en Couleur; A Journey through Beads, Color, & Memories
Join Kate Richbourg for an immersive beading, art, and shopping experience in the South of France. In this intimate setting, students will embark on a creative journey with Kate to make a statement necklace woven with memories, new and vintage finds, thoughts, dreams, innovation, and tried and true techniques.
Based on Kate's Advanced Stringing Techniques Multi-Strand Necklace, this project teaches a variety of stringing techniques and ideas on creating multi-strand statement necklaces. Students explore design, color, balance, create tassels and fringe, make secure and stylish closures, as well as other tips and tricks along the way.
There are two group shopping opportunities at weekend French markets and large flea markets – vide greniers - where you will have ample opportunity to purchase special treasures to incorporate into your piece. This immersive experience is filled with creativity, art, good company, good food, laughter and making memories.
Students will be provided with a materials list and the minimal tools required for the workshop and each will each receive a curated collection of beads hand selected by Kate, as well as a handmade sketchbook and tote.
Host Jen Cushman will also lead a mini workshop on encasing tiny treasures in jewelers-grade resin to incorporate into your necklace or to save for another project. Basic materials of vintage ephemera, resin and bezels are provided for this mini workshop. You bring any special treasures, charms, paper or other ephemera that you wish to incorporate.
Spaces are limited! Only 2 few spots left so act now to secure your spot.
Kate Richbourg
“I daydream in color...” That was my first thought when “dreaming” up this workshop, hence the name “Je Rêve en Couleur.” This experience is truly the trip of dreams and I cannot wait for you to join me for this intimate and immersive experience as we journey together and create a spectacular jewelry piece. ”
About Kate Richbourg
Simply put, Kate Richbourg loves jewelry. She loves to teach it. She loves to make it. She loves to wear it. Teaching and designing jewelry since 1992, she teaches at national shows, bead societies and bead shops and is published in a variety of jewelry magazines and is the author of the popular blog “We Can Make That at Home.” She has also appeared on several episodes of the DIY and HGTV network shows “DIY Jewelry” and “Craft Lab.” Kate is the author of two bestselling books Simple Soldering: A Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing Made Easy from Interweave Press. Kate is the co-owner and educational guru at www.beadshop.com. Watch Kate's twice weekly jewelry making broadcasts on YouTube every Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 AM PT.
June 7th-June 14th, 2024 - Artist/Instructor Cas Holmes
Stitch Drawings Inspired by the Places We Visit
Be inspired by the places we visit. You will be creating an art journal made of the drawings, watercolours, stitch, collage, and ephemera collected along the way as we visit beautiful and ancient places in the Midi-Pyrenees region in the South of France. There will be lots of guidance and help from me along with a lot of freedom to include your own style.
The course connects drawing and experience with stitch. We start with approaches we can take with cloth, paper and stitch to explore the dynamics of line, texture, mark and scale. These ‘stitch-drawings’ will then form the starting point for work in colour that will look at the ways in which qualities of the cloth and found materials might be translated and interpreted using a variety of accessible media and techniques. As well as working with the inherent qualities of any given material, we will also be looking at ways in which those qualities might be altered or changed in order to create constructions which combine colour, stitch, cloth and paper.
Materials and techniques covered:
Developing ideas referencing locality or place through drawing, recording and collage
Use of ‘less invasive' and reversible methods as part of the investigation of our collected materials and ‘precious finds’
Combining paper and textiles as part of a mixed media approach.
Simple drawing techniques and its combination with the stitched mark
Creating your references, photos and notes. Seeing with new eyes
Spaces are limited! Only 1 spot left so act now to secure your spot.
About Cas Holmes
Cas Holmes
Cas Holmes is a British artist, author and tutor of Romani heritage specialising in textile work with found materials. She is interested in interdisciplinary projects in community and gallery settings to demonstrate the accessibility of mixed media textile processes. Her practice centres on the use sustainable materials and themes surrounding issues of identity and place. Research in traditional paper and textile crafts in Japan and India continue to inform her practice and writing (Winston Churchill Fellowship, Japan Foundation Fellowship and Arts Council England Professional Development Award).
She collaborates with organisations and projects on curatorial and community events including most recently the Romani Cultural + Arts Company as a recipient of Gypsy Maker Award and Craft Scotland on a collaborative exhibition Places, Spaces, Trace; an exploration of the concept of ‘place’ and our understanding of the importance of heritage; how our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture can impact upon our identities and the space we call ‘home’. You can learn more at her website.
