Holiday itinerary
This fun 3 night jewellery making short break in a beautiful rural setting near Rodez in Averyron in France, is a wonderful creative short break which combines a relaxing setting, cosy accommodation and creative jewellery making.
This holiday focuses on two unique skills known as fold-forming and riveting, both newly emerging jewellery making techniques that are rising in popularity, particularly in the United States.
During your two full workshop days, you will explore the concepts of fold forming and riveting. Fold forming was invented by Charles Lewton-Brain and is a completely new way of forming metal which enables you to create 3D shapes in your jewellery as well as interesting textures. Fold forming can be chunky or delicate and you will be mainly working with silver and copper to create earrings, bangles and pendants.
Riveting is a way of joining metal without soldering and again using silver and copper you will make your own fine silver nail head rivets to join differing pieces of metal, as well as discover the techniques to wire rivet multiple layer for pendants and earrings.
Accommodation is in the beautifully renovated cosy cottage on the grounds of your hosts 300 year old renovated barn property. The cottage comprises of two attic bedrooms with shared bathroom in between and downstairs is a small kitchen area, workshop table for your jewellery making classes and cosy lounge area with log fire keeping the property warm and inviting even in winter.
Karen, your host and tutor has a real passion for jewellery making which has developed over 20 years, and was inspired by her realising the commercial offerings of jewellery weren’t quite what she wanted and so began exploring how to create her own bespoke pieces. Karen and her husband Tim have been based in the Averyron department of France for a number of years after falling in love with the area and the 300 year old converted barn property that they now call home. Karen takes real delight in teaching others her passion and her instruction is friendly and approachable. Along with Tim, they create a warm and welcoming environment for all their guests and are on hand to offer local tips and suggestions for visitors.
Combine fun and fascinating jewellery making workshops with a wonderfully relaxing stay in one of France’s most rural and attractive regions under the expert guidance of a tutor who inspires, coaches and is truly passionate about her craft.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from beginners to those with jewellery making experience wanting to expand their skill set
- These short breaks make great singles holidays as solo travellers can stay in a private room with NO single supplement
- Your hosts are English speakers
Travelling Solo?
- This fold-forming and riveting short break is excellent for solo travellers as all rooms can be offered for sole occupancy with NO single supplement
- Many guests travel solos on the course and enjoy small group classes, or even private tuition depending on availability
Fold Forming And Riveting Start Days
- Courses are on set dates year round
- You will arrive on Friday or Monday
- Departure days are on Monday or Friday
- Jewellery making short breaks are generally for 3 nights/4 days but durations can be flexible
- It is possible to stay for 2 nights/3days and if your flights do not fit with the dates of the course or you would simply like to spend more time in France to explore the surrounding area and countryside, you can choose to add an extra night during the booking process under the 'Extras' section for £75 per person per day extra
- If you would like to arrive or depart on alternative days please send your requests to
Fold Forming And Riveting Itinerary
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
- If you arrive at Rodez airport or train station, Karen your hosts will collect you (other airport collections on request for a supplement)
- The short 45 minutes drive back to the farmhouse will give you the chance to admire the scenery of Aveyron and your surroundings
- The evening is free for you to do as you please, and if you’d like to take dinner out in a nearby village then transport can be provided
Day 2 & 3– Fold forming and riveting workshop classes breakfast and lunch provided
- After breakfast you’ll head to the farmhouse table to begin your fold forming or riveting workshop class
- All materials and tools will be available and you’ll be under the excellent guidance of your jewellery making tutor Karen
- After a morning of jewellery making you will break for lunch and also have some free time to relax or explore the area
- Each evening is free to make your own arrangements and transport can be provided to visit a local restaurant or there are kitchenette facilities in the gite to prepare a self-catered meal
Day 4 - Departure
- After breakfast, guests are asked to check out of their accommodation ready to begin the journey back home, perhaps spending some time in Rodez before being taken to the airport or train station taking with them new creative skills to ignite a new passion, hobby or even business venture along with wonderful holiday memories
Your Jewellery Making Tutor
- Your tutor Karen began making jewellery herself more than 20 years ago after being disappointed with the commercial findings of offer
-She set up the jewellery making holidays in France a number of years ago after visiting and falling in love with the local area and the 300 year old barn property where you’ll stay
- Karen’s jewellery making knowledge and expertise is vast and varied and she continues the learning process herself, constantly adding new techniques to her repertoire sourced from inspiration world-wide
- She can offer standard jewellery making, wire work, silver smithing, fold forming, riveting, bead work and even special wedding jewellery and tiara making
- Karen takes great pleasure in being able to teach others her passion and offers a wonderfully relaxing and hospitable environment for all her guests
What Will I Learn?
- About the different types of jewellery making tools
- How to use the tools to create your own jewellery according to your specifications and designs
- How to use the fold forming techniques to form shapes and create 3D shapes in your jewellery
- How to create different textures and decoration in your jewellery using fold forming techniques
- How to make jewellery chunky or delicate
- The concepts of riveting and how to form different pieces of metal without soldering
- How to make your own fine silver nail head rivets to join bangels and rings as well as wire riveting multiple layers for pendants and earrings
The Accommodation And Jewellery Workshop
- Accommodation is set in a tastefully converted cottage in the grounds of your tutor’s 300 year old barn house
- The cottage has two twin bedrooms in the attic with a shared bathroom with good shower in between the two rooms
- Rooms are decorated with good quality white cotton sheets, TV with DVD and easy chair
- Downstairs in the cottage is the kitchen area and cosy lounge with log fire as well as the big work table where your jewellery workshops take place
- Wi-Fi is unavailable in the area
- Your hosts own cats but the pets are not allowed in the guest areas
- Accommodation is included for 3 nights / 4 days
- Check in anytime after 4pm on day 1 and check out by 12noon on day 8
Meals
- Breakfast is included daily
- Lunch is included on the 2 days when the jewellery making classes take place
- Dinner is not provided and guests are welcome to make their own arrangements
- There is a small kitchen areas for self-catered meals or Karen can arrange tranposrt to one of the villages to eat out at a local restaurant
- Vegetarians can be catered for, please make a note in the special requests box at the time of booking with relevant dietary requirements
Free Time In The Averyron
- Averyon is the 5th largest department is France but has one of the smallest populations making it a beautifully unspoilt rural region of the country
- The department is part of the Midi-Pyrenees region and so has a wealth of beautiful countryside to explore
- Near to the cottage where you’ll stay there is good fishing to be done and Karen and her husband can help arrange a fishing trip to those interested
- There are also nice country walks in the valley
- Rodez is the nearest town and also the capital of the Averyron department
- Rodez is steeped in history and you can easily spend an afternoon or morning before your flight exploring its largely pedestrianized streets
Explore the concepts of fold forming and riveting to add interesting textures and shapes to your very own handmade jewellery on this relaxing jewellery making short break and come home relaxed and with a new skill to last well after the holiday is over.