A personal renaissance in "bling" in Tuscany!with Laurel Skye Cortona, Italy May 28 - June 4, 2011
Limited spaces remain for this workshop!
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Welcome to the first ever Mosaic Tapestry Workshop to be taught at Toscana Americana Workshops in Tuscany!
So, what is Rajasthani Tapestry Mosaics anyway? A brief description is as follows: For years I have been collecting gorgeous wall hangings that are assembled in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jaipur, India. These hangings are richly embroidered and embellished with silks, jewels, sequins, seeds, beads, pearls, rhinestones, shells, etc. Each piece of fabric is overlaid onto another piece of fabric, and woven together like a crazy quilt.
The fabrics that are used for these wall hangings come from remnants that have been collected after ceremonies (such as religious celebrations or weddings). Gatherers scour deserts and villages for these treasures, often antique and one of a kind. They are then taken back and assembled into these lush patchwork tapestries. It has been a desire of mine to re-create these tapestries in mosaics. After experimenting for a couple of years with various tiles and techniques, I feel I have finally found the right materials and method that captures the beauty of these ancient fabric tapestries.
In the workshop we will be using mastic, which we will pre-color with powder and liquid pigment, and embedding, using a variety of tesserae and findings. I will bring lots of glass, tile, millefiori, 24 K gold, glitzy glass, copper tubing & wire, and beads. Mastic, colorant, substrates and some tools will also be provided. We will learn how to lay a pattern and create sections that appear overlaid as in quilting. The finished mosaics will be textural and remain ungrouted.
I will bring additional embellishments available for sale, such as:
Gold, Swarovski crystals, rhinestone chain, ball chain, pearls, iridescent beads, jewelry pieces, various additional millefiori, sequined trims, etc.
This method of working will then be adapted to our Wine Bottle workshop, incorporating the techniques we have learned and taking it even further, by adding soldering and patina, images and text under glass, several different adhering methods, beads, sequined trims, tiles, jewelry and ball chain to create bottles that will be truly spell-binding.
This tradition of decorating bottles actually began in Haiti, after off-shore European fashion designers left Haiti, discarding their fabrics, feathers, trims and sequins and returning to France and Italy. All these left over remnants became the source of the creative genius that was to be employed into the Haitian voodoo bottles that adorned all altars and shrines throughout this Caribbean country.
Decorated bottles are common to vodou, being a combination of magic and folk art. "Libation bottles"— bottles covered in sequins or beads— are placed on most altars as offerings. These "Magic bottles" serve as protective amulets.
We will be using these Haitian embellishments as well as Rajasthani Tapestry methods to create our unique wine bottles in the Tuscany country side. Our own Italian Mosaic ‘Libation bottles’!
Join Laurel Skye for this one-of-a-kind workshop in Tuscany!
Ms. Skye, renowned author and teacher of millefiori and mosaics, will introduce you to the wonderful possibilities of creating jeweled mosaics, the likes of which you have never seen before. Taking traditional methods and materials and incorporating flea market finds, jewelry and beads, Ms. Skye will show her students how to create and embellish, turning fantasies into realities. Bling!!
It’s no wonder that Tuscany has been the setting of so many feature films…it is simply an artists’ dream come true and the perfect environment for any kind of creative journey! Whether you’re experiencing it’s enchanting and inspiring sculpted countryside, or it’s charming towns and piazzas full of art and history, your Tuscan adventure is sure to be unforgettable and inspiring!
Travel back in time to the ancient city of Cortona where you’ll… …enjoy the discovery of new-found friends, …experience the delicious foods, wines and flavors of Italy …relax amongst the beauty of the Tuscan countryside …appreciate the beauty of Italy’s art and culture …learn and create in a warm, friendly and inspiring environment!
During our week together, your days will include lots of instructional, hands-on time to create, as well as plenty of free time to explore and enjoy Cortona and the renaissance festival of the Archidado.
Hotel Oasi Neaumann proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops since 2003
Visit Hotel Oasi Neumann online
About this workshop...
Saturday -Escorted group travel from Florence to Cortona -Welcome to Cortona ...evening wine and chocolate reception followed by dinner.
Sunday
Morning Session 1) Introduction to Materials
This is a brief Introduction to Italian Tapestry mosaics and Wine Bottles mosaics Participants will take a close examination of the types of tile and tesserae used in this intricate method of mosaicing a tapestry; followed by a shopping trip to the local flea market to search for treasures to be incorporated. This introduction will help to identify the pieces best suited for this method of tiling. Ms. Skye will show the various ways to include texture into the mosaic, with the additions of jewels, findings and beads.
Afternoon
Lunch and shopping in the local antiques fair and flea market
Evening Session 2) Focus: Cutting Techniques (Evening session will include a pizza dinner break at hotel/studio)
Preparing substrate: Sand, Score, and Seal. Ms. Skye will demonstrate and teach two methods of cutting techniques: Triple P and the Tunnel Cut -Tratto di Matita, and students will learn how to cut and hold their glass and wheel cutters to get the most control and precision in their cutting.. Students will be working with ceramic, stained glass, mirror and van gogh glass, smalti, 24 K gold and millefiori. Students will learn to make simple rosettes from millefiori and an array of rich and detailed patterns.
Getting started tiling. Students will apply copper and copper head nails for accent, to the edges of their tapettini. Students will learn how to color their adhesive with pigment and create the appropriate consistency. Ms. Skye will instruct how to spread mastic, creating an even bedding and how to use tratto di matita (drawing lines with glass) to create fringe. With Ms. Skye’s supervision, students will begin drawing out their sections and masking off areas to begin tiling. The first bedding will be laid and the fringe will be embedded.
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session - Laying a Border Starting border design.
Students will choose their colors and arrange their border designs. Students will cut and arrange tiles, glass and beads for border design tiles. The arrangement will be moved to the side and the mastic will be spread, and students will learn how to set in beads on strands, with the tesserae and how much adhesive is appropriate for an even bed.. Beautiful, elaborate borders will be created.
Tuesday
Morning Session - Finish Border, Begin Center
Students will proceed to lay the rest of the border, spreading mastic in four- inch increments. Ms. Skye will show how to create patchworks of patterns and how to draw overlaying sections to create a tapestry ‘overlaying’ effect, showing samplers of patterning and designing within their Tappetini mosaics. Students will start their center design, beginning with a smaller section in one corner. Students will also be introduced to working with copper tubing and wire, to be inlaid for an addition textural element.
Lunch Break
Afternoon Session - Center Design
Students will work on center design, and finish Tapestry mosaic, drawing out design of overlaying patches. Students will cut tiles for each patch before spreading mastic, then embed them into the adhesive, learning to mark off sections with masking tape. Ms. Skye will show how to develop texture by incorporating jewelry, beads, trims and findings in with mosaic tesserae and how to fix in place loose beading, how to create focal points, and sections that have the look and feel of fabric. Students will have made a beautifully intricate mosaic miniature rug by the end of this workshop.
Wednesday - Day trip to Tarot Gardens of Nikki de St. Phalle
Join Ms. Skye for a fun and exciting day trip to The Tarot Gardens of Nikki de St. Phalle. Gain inspiration from one of the most innovative mosaicists of our time. These jaw dropping Gardens are not to be missed!
You will leave exhilarated, filled with inspiration that will overflow into the next mosaic project awaiting your return! This trip is a must for any artist and will bring out the artist in you! Lunch stop in the seaside village of Porto Ercole.
Thursday
Morning Session - Preparing Bottle, Begin Soldering
Students will prepare their bottles for tiling, and begin with soldering. Soldering is a great way to give bottles a beautiful, antique finishing touch, and is a perfect method for going over edges of bottles, as well as the crown. Ms. Skye will work one on one with students teaching soldering techniques and how to adhere ball chain to solder, as well as how to patina, to age the look of the solder. Bottles will be prepared to begin tiling.
Lunch break
Afternoon Session - Setting Imagery Under Glass/Begin Border
Students begin tiling bottles. They can either leave the labels on the bottles or pick out their own images and text to be used as focal points. Ms. Skye will show students how to adhere photos and text, and set transparent glass (or amber glass for an antique look) over photos. Borders can be designed and set, using a variety of mateirals such as beads, glass, mirror, millefiroi, and rhinestone around images to create a nice, elegant finishing. Students will start designing their bottles, and will cut their tiles and have them ready before setting them into the adhesive. They will start mosaiking the bottle with bottom border design. Two or three adhesives may be employed in this project.
Friday
Morning Session - Adding Textural Elements
Students will proceed with mosaiking bottle, learning how to cut and lay the tiles to hug the curvature of the bottle. Ms. Skye will show students how to implement other tesserae and textural elements into the mosaic, such as millefiori, rhinestone chain, and findings, as well as with beads, trims and fabric; creating a a bejeweled Tapestry mosaic on a wine bottle.
Lunch break
Afternoon Session In our (sob, sob... add crying, wailing sounds here) final session, Ms. Skye will work one on one with students to either complete their wine bottle or begin a bonus project, of creating an amazing wine glass to take home to accompany their gorgeous wine bottle and Tapestry.
Saturday Check-out & Departure
About Cortona...
Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.” Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years. As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains.
All-inclusive enrollment options include: Instruction in the classroom and on location Escorted group travel from Florence to Cortona May 28, 2011**** Seven nights accommodations in historic Cortona** Local museums and events All meals*** (Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities Day trip to
A farewell wine tasting dinner Selected materials **Included with "Hotel" plans only, see details ***Included with "Group Meal Plans" only, see details *All-inclusive plans are Hotel plans only. Air travel is the responsibility of each participant. Florence (FLR) is the suggested arrival and departure airport in Italy. ****Specific departure time from Florence airport only; time to be announced, return train ticket to Florence provided (not escorted) Early morning arrival in Florence on May 28, 2011 or at least one day earlier.
Departure from Cortona is the responsibility of each participant.
: APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 16 OZ (SUCH AS A COTTAGE CHEESE CONTAINER)
**1/2 DOZEN WOODEN COFFEE STIR STICKS
**1 ROLL OF MASKING TAPE APPROX. ½”
**1 BLACK SHARPIE MARKER
**1 RULLER 12”
If you are a person who loves detail, patterning, and has a love for bling and glitz, this workshop is for you! I look forward to working with you all and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or email me.
(but highly recommended)
*BEADS ON STRANDS SIZES: #9 and #10, and a few #8 (this relates to how many beads to a linear inch on strands) *ALL KINDS OF FINDINGS
*RHINESTONES
*COSTUME JEWELRY
*KITCHY JUNQUE JEWELRY
*ANY SPECIAL TILES OR GLASS FROM HOME
*THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE OPTIONAL, AS WE WILL BE SHOPPING AT THE LOCAL FLEA MARKET AND I WILL BRING SOME JEWELRY PARTS AND FINDINGS
AVAILABLE FOR SALE, BUT IT IS FUN TO BRING YOUR OWNLITTLE BOX OF GOODIES FROM HOME AS WELL, AS THE MORE BLING YOU HAVE IN YOUR MOSAICS THE MORE FANTASTIC THEY WILL BE FOR THE BOTTLE WORKSHOP, ADD TO THE ABOVE LIST: A PHOTO IMAGE-THIS CAN BE A XEROX (NOT HEAVY PAPER STOCK, TO REPLACE THE LABEL, OR WE CAN USE THE ACTUAL WINE BOTTLE LABEL AND ANY TEXT YOU MAY WANT TO ADD UNDER GLASS TO WORK INTO YOUR DESIGN
Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
