Priscilla Treacy

Sketchbooks of La Cascade:
From Color Theory to Color Freedom in a Medieval World

Join me in Durfort, France, in the ancient Midi-Pyrenees Region, for a week of fun and illuminating art-making.

We will be working in Caran d'Ache pan Gouache (opaque watercolor), that is a versatile, easily-manipulated medium, besides being compact and affordable. We will also use water-soluble graphite for a mix.

We'll start our week with some entertaining, educational color exercises. Our sketchbooks will be the record of everything we do. We'll solve any confusion about Hue, Value, Temperature and Intensity! We'll learn how grays and design can be the foundation of a picture.

We'll spend class-time each morning in the large, sky-lit studio. Then each day will present a choice of relaxation, painting, or jumping in the car for nearby field trips to see fields of flowers, the Sunday flea markets, the town of Albi, the home of Toulouse-Lautrec, with his museum there, … the list goes on. Any treasures we bring back can become inspiration for our work, as part of a small still life, or just as a study of a precious object, a memento of La Cascade.

At night is open studio – open 24 hours a day, actually. Wonderful food prepared by our personal chef. This is artistic paradise. Come stay and work at La Cascade, where time will take on a different meaning, and your love of art can be your muse.

• Cost: $2,100
• Price includes:
  • Instruction
  • Charming double-occupancy room
  • 7 breakfasts / 6 lunches / 6 dinners
  • Lunch & Dinner prepared by our own personal chef
  • 24-hour open studio
  • Local excursions
• Visit priscillatreacyartwork.blogspot.com to see more of Priscilla's work & experience.
• Contact Priscilla at ptreacy49@gmail.com with any questions, or to reserve a space. There is space for eight students.

Kari McKnight-Holbrook

Ideas & Inspirations in France

… A magical week filled with Art, Architecture, French Markets and Fabulous Food, designed to invigorate the creative spirit!

Create, shop, dine, wander and explore in this magical, inspirational week-long retreat in the charming village of Durfort. In the breathtakingly beautiful south of France, you will create innovative, soul refreshing art while exploring techniques and materials in a supportive, encouraging and productive environment – with a generous dose of inspiration from native son Toulouse Lautrec! Think color , movement and excitement, gentle waking life and vivid dreams -- we'll explore ways to capture this in our own active stories! Investigate ways to take your art further than ever before! Nurturing pushes, innovative techniques, inspirational tips, instruction and free play will release your inner muse to fearless creativity levels yet explored.

You will create several on the go journals, and fancy faux metal and leather journals, all waiting to be adorned with the perfect flea market charm or treasure! We’ll cast molds of even more treasures, multiplying our stash! You will be successful with watercolor and acrylic painting even if you’ve never painted before; you’ll be relaxing and sketching even if you’ve never sketched before! Kari will share photography tips from her award winning photography career so that you can capture perfect images to use in your art for years to come! The laughter, friendship, support, instruction and fun create the magic for memories and art of a lifetime! (Even a bit of jewelry magic inspired by our flea market treasures might surprise everyone!)

Just a few places we'll visit: the newly renovated Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi to draw inspiration from Lautrec's world. We’ll see the world famous patterned French gardens and Palais de la Berbie. When we're not energetically creating, there will be leisurely excursions exploring the glorious local colors and flavors in area flea markets, the En Calcat monastery (and its renowned art and bookstore), and the famous Saturday market of Revel, where visitors and locals both find amazing treasures. There is even the possibility of a personalized French cooking class or two! Once there we will have a multitude of seasonal events to explore!

All excursions are optional; this is a week to pamper yourself and invigorate your muse. You might wish to stay focused, read, catch up on emails, visit darling local shops, enjoy the terrace with a cool drink, relax, work on a personal piece in the studio, explore the local waterfalls on your own or, if luxury of luxuries, take a nap during the sunny French afternoons.

We have the pleasure of enjoying 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 nourish us for the afternoon's adventures. Candlelight, wine, and chef Nese's dinner, accompanied by laughter, memories and creative discussions will add to our delightful time in Durfort.

• Cost: $2,000
• Price includes:
  • Seven nights of lodging at La Cascade- double occupancy
  • Many afternoon field trips
  • All breakfasts, and almost all lunches and dinners
  • Workshop instruction and many lovely supplies
  • Marvelously rich goodie bags, including a collector’s edition of stamps and stencils, specifically designed for attendees of Kari’s workshop
• For complete details on Kari and her workshop, visit backporchartessa.blogspot.com.
• 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
• Price includes:
  • Seven 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.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 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 suzannejenne.com for more information — and to learn about Suzanne and her art.
• Visit 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

… Private class

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.

Christine Sutherland, Master Silk Painter, SPIN

Silk Painting Workshop Retreat

Find yourself living in the rich ambiance of La Cascade retreat in the medieval village of Durfort, France, loving the food and laughter with new creative friends while learning to paint on silk.

Learn the basics of soy wax, bees wax and Resistad used to create cool textures and new techniques developed by Master Silk Painter Christine Sutherland with over a decade of painting exclusively on silk.

This workshop & retreat experience will give any level of artist a great level of inspiration to reinvent yourself and your artistic endeavors.

The daily projects will be created on a 15” x 15” silk, along with a scarf a day. Bring your own designs to paint or be inspired by the beauty of France in the fall where you will find plenty of time for sketching the countryside and being intrigued by the people walking through the enchanting streets of Durfort.

• Cost: $2,500
  ...includes 7 nights at the Medieval Artist Village of La Cascade, an artist retreat that sleeps 8 double occupancy rooms for artists, and
  7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners with wine, prepared by Chef Nese.
• Visit www.csutherlandart.com for more information about Christine, her work, and the workshop itself – including a brochure, supply list, and more.
• Contact Christine at info@csutherlandart.com or 602-284-4388 if you have questions or to reserve a space.

Jana Roberts Benzon

Dancing on the Razor's Edge:
A Journey of Exploration & Discovery

Join Jana for a full immersion workshop into the power that is unleashed when a simple cutting blade meets with various clay assemblages and configurations. This will be a week of thrilling revelation and exciting discovery as we plumb hidden depths (both literal and figurative!). We will explore and create some of Jana's most popular and groundbreaking techniques, including "Taking Flight" and "Arabesque Collage", plus an advanced and updated version of "New Age Bargello", and finally, hot-off-the-presses and brand new "Faux Canvas" (or, commonly called "there is no way this isn't real fabric!!"), "Encrusted" (and its variations) and "Fakir", in addition to impromptu lessons and flight-of-fancy tangents!

An aspect of learning each of these techniques is that you'll open your creative process up to new and unconventional ways of working, thinking and executing. You will discover that there are no boundaries, no rules, and this freedom of creation is liberating! Each of our five days together will be devoted to one of the techniques, with the final full day set aside for you to explore those techniques that particularly piqued your interest. … Or, you can just take a nap :) 

Prepare to come away from this experience with a broadened view of the endless (truly!) possibilities of creation, and an understanding of your power to remove limitations and boundaries, and yes, to not only think outside the box, but to get rid of the box altogether. So, don your explorer hat and meet us on the Razor's Edge!

• Cost: $2,000
• Price includes
  • Charming double occupancy room (seven nights)
  • All meals prepared by Chef Nese with fresh local ingredients
  • 7 breakfasts / 4 lunches / 7 dinners
  • Lots of class time ... and open studio when class is not in session
  • Delightful local excursions
  • NOTE: Price does not include airfare, trip insurance or shared rental car (approx. $150 per person)
• Visit janarobertsbenzon.com to learn more about Jana and her work.
• Contact Jana at jana@janarobertsbenzon.com with questions or to reserve a space.

Jana Roberts Benzon draws on her diverse artistic background in creating new and innovative works in the wondrous medium of polymer clay. Having come to polymer late in her creative life, she's reveling in the never ending possibilities of this medium! Jana teaches her techniques internationally in Master Workshops, and has been published in many books and magazines, including Art Jewelry Magazine, Belle Armoire Magazine, and the Lark Book publication, "Masters: Polymer Clay". She has also published three instructional DVD's, and is presently recording her fourth. Jana lives in Salt Lake City, and spends any free time she might have hiking the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, reading, and enjoying her family.

Keli Sim Deritis & Janet Crawley

Consummate your affair with art in the French countryside

We'll bring life to inspired creations in La Cascade's large sky-lit art studio, working with acrylic paints, gels and mediums, building up luscious, vibrantly colored scenes from our village walkabouts, adding interesting little treasures that we collect on our trips to the local flea markets. We’ll enhance our artistic senses as we dabble in paper clay sculpture capturing the animal characters of the French countryside.

Each day we will stretch our bodies and minds with a gentle yoga practice and sharpen our observational skills, unlocking our creative flow through guided meditation and simple sketching exercises. Using charcoal in shades of gray, we will capture the lusciousness of the fruits and vegetables found in village markets, while learning about highlight, shadow, contrast and blending.

The week will present a choice of relaxation, painting, collage, sculpting or jumping in the car for nearby field trips. Among our adventures will be the famous Saturday market in Revel, the Sunday Flea Market in Albi, as well as visiting En Calcat Monastery, famous for its collection of art books.

Most mornings will be spent together in the studio, which is open 24 hours a day for artistic play. We'll expand our palate as we dine on the wonderful food prepared by our personal chef. A French cooking class will be included, with Chef Nese sharing the intimate art of French cuisine with us, as we create an evening meal. This special week will nourish your senses and feed your soul. Come stay, work and play with us at La Cascade, where you can celebrate your love affair with art.

• Cost: $2,100
• Price includes
  • Charming double-occupancy room (seven nights)
  • Most meals prepared by our own personal chef
  • Evening Cooking Class
  • Instruction & Materials ... 24-hour Open Studio
  • NOTE: Price does not include airfare, trip insurance or shared rental car (approx. $150 per person)
• Visit kelisimderitis.com to learn more about Keli and her work.
• Visit clayqueen.com to learn more about Janet and her work.
• Contact Keli & Janet at frenchartaffair@gmail.com with questions or to reserve a space.

Ronna Sarvas Weltman

Adventure in Creativity

Join Ronna in this adventure in creativity. We will create art using a variety of mediums and techniques. You may want to create art jewelry, you may want to create small vessels or containers, you may want to create and write in a handcrafted journal … or do all of the above. This will be a week of creating and collaboration in which we take our art seriously while never, ever taking ourselves too seriously. Design principals will also be explored, since a better understanding of design makes our art better.

We will also have field trips to local impossibly charming places. Why go to the South of France and not indulge yourself in the magic of the South of France?

• Cost: $2,000
• Price includes
  • Charming double occupancy room (seven nights)
  • all meals prepared by chef Nese with fresh local ingredients
  • 7 breakfasts / 4 lunches / 7 dinners
  • lots of class time, and open studio when class is not in session
  • Delightful local excursions
  • NOTE: Price does not include airfare, trip insurance or shared rental car (approx. $150 per person)
• Visit ronnaround.com to learn more about Ronna and her work.
• Contact Ronna at ronnaround@comcast.net with questions or to reserve a space.

Ann & Steve Mason

Silk Painting

Step out into the beauty of an ancient French village and learn the craft of silk painting. Our weeklong workshop in Southern France will allow you to explore and create using vividly coloured dyes on the soft natural fabric that is silk. Discover how dye moves through the weave and settles at the core of the thread. Learn to blend colours, to inhibit the dyes movement, to build layers and have depth in your pictures. Two experienced tutors will guide you slowly and with increasing confidence from the first stretching of fabric to the realisation of something personal and unique. We will provide instructed time over four hours each day helping you to realise the grace and diversity of silk art. The medieval village of Durfort is the perfect setting, steeped in history with an ambience, which encourages relaxation, invigorates the soul and stimulates the creative urges of all who visit. Those who visit this magical place once always come again.

Your time in Durfort will be based at La Cascade, a fine 18th century stone house sitting on the banks of the river Sor. The rooms are tasteful and very comfortable. furnished with the intricate details of French life through the years. Meals are cooked fresh each day by the wonderful Nese with fresh local ingredients. When not painting you can relax and visit the local area whose markets, towns and villages are rivalled only by the stunning undulating countryside of sunflower fields and dense woodlands. There will be group trips to the famous Saturday market in Revel as well as a local flea market and charming ancient hamlets. From the village we can walk into the mountains or drive up to St Ferreol a world heritage site, for swimming, boating and general calm time.

• Cost: $2,350
• Price includes
  • Charming and comfortable double occupancy room (7 nights)
  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 6 dinners
  • Lunch & supper prepared daily by the wonderful Nese with fresh, local ingredients.
  • Four hours daily workshop instruction & 24-hour open studio access
  • Comprehensive range of materials. Some local cultural excursions.
• For much more information about the workshop and Steve & Ann, please visit silksart.co.uk.
• Contact Stephen at stephen.mason7@gmail.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
• Price includes:
  • Seven 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.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

Stephanie Jones Rubiano

Butterflies In Her Stomach:
An Altered Book Sculpture

Ah, France! Historically known for its wine, food and art…come experience all of this and more with Stephanie Rubiano in the south of France! For a week you will reside at La Cascade, a beautifully restored house in the village of Durfort on the River Sor. The villa sits alongside one of the many waterfalls that tumble down the mountainside and you can hear its music throughout the house. Working copper into vessels, jewelry and other art pieces has been the trade of choice in Durfort since the Middle Ages. The surrounding area is rife with medieval villages, working artists, flea markets and fairs that we will get to thoroughly explore during our stay.

In the workshop, an old book becomes the base for a fun and funky 3D sculpture. You will learn how to create a secret niche in the book block and insert a wee winged person…yes, the wings are real! An acrylic window is bolted in and allows you to view your butterfly person at any time. Vintage spindles become arms and legs with wire-worked joints and attachments. An interesting face from Stephanie’s personal antique photo collection is mounted on birch plywood and cut out by hand with a jeweler’s saw. Fabric and resin wings sweep out from the back of the sculpture. A crown shaped from copper mesh completes the adornment of your doll. You will also learn how to turn flea market finds into wonderful items to decorate your doll through the use of resin and wire. The sample shown is rather simple, but you can see that there are lots of design and decorative opportunities! This doll can perch on a shelf or hang on the wall, and it can be disassembled for easy packing in your luggage. Although this is a project-oriented class, the techniques that you will learn will further your own art projects once you return home.

Each morning will be spent in the well-equipped studio at La Cascade. In the afternoons we will take excursions to discover all we can about the surrounding countryside! Some of the sights will include: the monastery at En Calcat with its incredible art bookstore, the Palais de la Berbie, the newly renovated Toulouse Lautrec museum in Albi and the renowned Saturday market in nearby Revel where we will search for unique treasures. Other local delights include sunflower fields, patterned French gardens, winding streets through small towns and Sunday flea markets. Please keep in mind that this is your week! Venture out and about with us or simply stay at La Cascade to work on your project, read a book on the terrace…or take a nap!

To fuel our creativity, most breakfasts, lunches and dinners will be prepared fresh at La Cascade by our own personal French chef, Nese (pronounced Nesha) Pelt! Lunch will be served on the terrace and in the evening, candlelight and wine will mix to create a wonderful ambience where we can relax, discuss our day and strengthen new friendships.

• Cost: $2,000
• Price includes
  • Double occupancy in a charming room at La Cascade
  • Meals prepared by Chef Nese with fresh, local ingredients
  • 7 breakfasts / 6 lunches / 6 dinners
  • Instructional time and open studio time when class is not in session
  • Local excursions each day to see the sights in and around Durfort
  • Comprehensive range of materials. Some local cultural excursions.
  • NOTE: Price does not include airfare, trip insurance or shared rental car (approx. $150 per person)
• Visit stephanierubiano.com to learn more about Stephanie and her work.
• Contact Stephanie at info@stephanierubiano.com with questions or to reserve a space.

Barbara Roth

Pocket Watercolor Journaling

Imagine yourself traveling through the French countryside, recording your journey in a journal small enough to fit in your pocket. Come and spend a week in the village of Durfort at La Cascade, a centuries old home especially restored with artists in mind. Daily art lessons will teach you techniques to help you draw and paint journal pages. You’ll paint outside and in the cozy well lit studio under the eaves at La Cascade. At the end of your week at La Cascade you will have created a personal book of travel paintings and memories.

Everyday you'll grab your journal, go out and visit wonderful, off the beaten track local villages where you will paint and sketch the luscious colors and charming scenery of the French countryside. You’ll also meet friendly local people, eat delicious fresh food and taste the wonderful wine of this region. Highlights of your week will be many. We'll shop at the local farmer's market in Revel where you can find anything from an affordable French bra to a basket of fresh string beans. When we visit the Sunday local village Flea Markets, you'll find vintage French treasures and ephemera that you can bring home in your suitcase.

Whether you are new to painting and drawing or experienced you will find this workshop helpful to teach you the skills of watercolor painting and drawing or bring your already existing skills to a new level. In addition to watercolor painting you’ll work with pen, ink & wash, gouache and water-soluble pencils and crayons. You’ll also learn a variety of methods to work on artwork in 15 minute chunks of time. With the skills you learn and practice during your week at La Cascade you will be able to continue keeping a watercolor journal anywhere you find yourself, from your backyard to your next safari. You'll learn from the instructor as well as from the other students in the class and bring home plenty of pictures, ideas and inspirations to paint from for years to come. Plus you’ll learn all about methods to use your sketch book pages as reference for full size paintings.

• Cost: $2,150 … + approximately $250 for your share of the rental car cost
• Price includes
  • Lodging plus all breakfasts, 6 lunches & 6 dinners. Meals prepared by Chef Nese with fresh, local ingredients
  • Art instruction … and open studio time when class is not in session
  • Transportation to & from the Toulouse airport
• Does not include airfare … or shoe purchases!
• To view Barbara Roth's work, visit www.barbararothart.com and www.barbararoth.blogspot.com.
• Contact Barbara at rabjsl@pacbell.net with your questions about the workshop or to reserve a space.

Keith Lo Bue & Linda Larsen

Precious Little: Poetics of the Found-Object
Précieux Peu: Poétique de l'Objet Trouvé

Join found-object artist Keith Lo Bue for his first time in Europe(!) Linda Larsen will lead him and an intrepid group through Paris — on a thrilling flea-market-fueled exploration of the found object in jewelry making! Then on to La Cascade to enjoy the beauty of the countryside … Using treasures found, you will create objects of mystery and beauty as you learn the varied methods of selection and assembly this limitless palette demands.

No previous jewelry experience is required; all that’s needed is enthusiasm and the desire to work with your hands. Whatever your interests, you will come away with new insights into the possibilities of creativity – and all in the glow of the mecca that is Paris!

Keith Lo Bue is a jeweller, sculptor, teacher, and self-described 'stuffsmith' who has work in many major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. For over two decades, his work has been exhibited all around the US and in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Dozens of books feature Lo Bue's work, including: One of a Kind: American Art Jewelry Today (US), 1000 Rings (Lark), The Art & Craft of Collage (UK), Virtual Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery CD-ROM (UK), and The Compendium Finale Of Contemporary Jewellery Makers (Germany) – as well as Metalsmith, American Craft, Ornament and Belle Armoire jewelry magazines (US).

His workshops have been presented to enthusiastic reviews at Haystack, Penland and scores of other art and craft institutions across the United States, Canada and Australia. Lo Bue lives and works in Sydney, Australia.

• Register for one or both weeks! This great adventure only accommodates eight and will fill super-fast.
• Vist lobue-art.com to learn more about Keith and his work.
• Linda Larsen has spent many idyllic hours in the flea markets of Paris and the surrounding country side! She loves bringing home the treasures found there for her customers and blogs frequently about her techniques and ideas at objectsandelements.com.
• Contact Linda at linda@objectsandelements.com for all the details or to reserve a space.

Anna Schueler

From abstraction to portrait –
a mixed media journey in France

Join me for a week full of joy in creating exciting artworks, kissed by the muse of an ancient times and spaces.

Feel the inspiration of La Cascade and the artisan village Durfort,which is located in the Midi-Pyrenees Region. Get connected with likeminded people in the most beautiful area of South of France, exchanging experiences in creativity and sharing a relaxed time with enjoyment and fun.

This workshop & retreat experience will bring artists from all levels, beginner to advanced, a lot of inspiration and new discoveries.

We will dive into pigments and papers. By using newfound inspiring treasures, such as old french photos, ancient book pages and more, we will create magical-looking images.

Starting with mixed media practices we'll go one with some entertaining exercises in portrait and in anatomical drawing and enjoy our journey from abstract mixed media art to portrait.

Instructed studio time is every morning so that you have the choice of working in the studio or exploring on field trips in the afternoon. You can check out the local artist studios, villages, a local monastery, flea markets, village events and not to forget the amazing mountains and all the nature that surrounds us.

• Cost: $2,500
• Price includes
  • 7 nights lodging at La Cascade – double occupancy
  • Lots of instructed studio time and 24-hour Open Studio
  • All breakfasts and most lunches & dinners with wine, prepared by Chef Nese.
  • A rich goodie bag, including a collector’s edition of vintage book papers and handcarved stamps, specifically designed for attendees of Anna’s workshop
• Visit annaschueler.de for more information – and to learn about Anna and her art.
• Contact Anna at anna.schueler@gmx.de if you have any questions or to reserve a space.