Lucy Till Hat Courses
Come spend a week in the South of France, making hats in a millinery atelier located in a village surrounded by potters and other artisans. This holiday offers you the opportunity to make two or three hats in straw and felt; enjoy life in a provincial French town, taste the local wine and food, and visit some significant historic sites particularly the roman Pont du Gard.
You will be creating hats in a veritable Aladdin's cave of hat blocks and forms, with straw hoods of all types, ribbons, silk flowers and feathers. This charming boutique is a delight for anyone interested in hats, their history, and their fabrication. I offer courses in basic hat making, working with both straw and felt, which are ideal for beginners, but also appeal to more advanced hat makers who would like to experiment with different forms, exchange ideas and methods.
Group sizes are limited to 4 students to ensure personal attention.
One-week Courses
The plan is to make one felt and one straw hat, and a head piece or fascinator.
Day 1 - Saturday:
Arrive and settle into your accommodation.
Day 2 - Sunday:
Meet in the atelier to select forms and materials for the hats you are going to make. Begin to block the straw brim and crown, and leave to dry.
Day 3 - Monday:
Block felt hat. Leave to dry. Stiffen straw hat on block.
Day 4 - Tuesday:
Wire straw brim, join straw brim to crown. Stiffen felt hat.
Day 5 - Wednesday:
A day out: visit to Uzes market in the morning and a look around the town and shops including two specialized hat shops, and a number of accessory shops. In the afternoon, visit the Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, and enjoy some wine-tasting.
Day 6 - Thursday:
Finish your felt hat and trim. Design sinamay fascinator, make base.
Day 7 - Friday:
Finish trimming straw hat, felt hat and fascinator.
Cocktail party and display of week's work to passing public.
Farewell dinner.
Day 8 - Saturday:
Pack up to leave, but time permitting visit large market in Uzes.
Proposed Dates and Prices
- Saturday, June 6 - 13, 2009
- Saturday, October 10 - 17, 2009
- Saturday, November 7 - 14, 2009
- Saturday, March 20 - 27, 2010
- Saturday, May 8 - 15, 2010
- Saturday, June 5 - 12, 2010
- Saturday, October 9 - 16, 2010
- Saturday, November 6 - 13, 2010
Price of Course - Euro 595 per person. This includes:
- All tuition
- Some hat-making materials
- Use of atelier and equipment
- 4 light lunches
- Visits to Uzes and the Pont du Gard
- Wine-tasting session, cocktail party and farewell dinner
Accommodation
Self-catering accommodation is available in the following luxury apartments:
In Uzes: Sleeps 1/3 - 1 double, 1 single sofa bed. Price per week - Euro 400
In Uzes: Sleeps 1/4 - 1 double or 2 twins, plus 1 double sofa bed. Price per week - Euro 650
In St. Quentin La Poterie: Sleeps 1/4 - 1 double or 2 twins, plus 1 double sofa bed. Price per week - Euro 500
For more information about these apartments, and about staying in the region of St. Quentin and Uzes, please go to our website at www.espritdusudfrance.com
These apartments are ideal for sharing. If your partner does not want to participate in the hat-making course, there are many other courses in painting, pottery, cycling, photography, cookery etc in the area. I would be happy to help you find such a course if you wish.
Transport
Closest airports
Nimes - 40 minutes service on Ryanair from UK
Avignon - 1 hour service on Flybe from UK, and TGV Paris and London
Montpellier - 75 minutes service on BA and Ryanair from UK
Marseille - 2 hours service on many airlines
Train Stations
The TGV train from London and Paris comes to Avignon and Nimes.
Car Rental
Cars can easily be rented from all the stations and airports. If you do not want to rent a car, transfers from airport or train stations can be arranged, plus daily transfers between the atelier and your accommodation. The cost is depends on the airport or station, but you should budget about Euro 150 - 200 per person.
Alternative Courses
Shorter 2 - 3 day courses can also be arranged, tailor made to suit your needs, especially for people already staying in the area. To arrange this, please contact me to arrange dates. Group sizes are kept to a maximum of 4 students so that personal attention can be assured.
Course Enquiry
You can fill in the form below with your preferred course date and I will get back to you with more information regarding the availability and course structure.
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