Issue 34 Making Magazine May 2013

We were very pleased to be mentioned in the May issue of Making Magazine.

La Vidalerie
Karen had been a passionate jewellery maker for over 20 years when she and her partner Tim discovered La Vidalerie, a ruined 300- year-old farmhouse perched high on a valley in the beautiful Aveyron in South West France. They soon set about making it into a space where they could run their jewellery making classes as well as provide comfy cottage accommodation for their students.

Now in their 5th year they run an ever growing range of informal and fun jewellery making holidays with workshops from beading to silversmithing and tiaras to stone setting. New workshops are added each year as many students are returning for their 3rd or 4th visit.

Classes are kept small, (1-4 people) ensuring you get lots of one to one tuition, and their style of ‘Kitchen table' jewellery making means the students can carry on practising their new skills at home. Interested in escaping the rat race and learning new skills in an idyllic setting? Then visit www.lavidalerie.com or call/email Karen for more information 0033 6 30 74 20 35 karen@lavidalerie.com

Please click on either image to view a pdf of the Making Magazine Craft Courses page

Click here to have a look at the photos of all the jewellery Allison made during her 2 day Beginners Stone Setting Workshop at La Vidalerie -

2 Days/3 Nights - £295 including accommodation & materials & airport pickups

Bead Magazine Issue 43 - December / January 2012/2013

Beading Retreats in France
A weekend in rural France learning new jewellery making techniques, whilst staying
in a picturesque cottage - Allison Hudspith tells us about her stay with La Vidalerie.

I couldn’t believe it when I opened the email which said I had won the Bead competition to win a weekend bead retreat at La Vidalerie in France - it came on the same day as the email to tell me I had passed my PGCE!

I did a beading course at La Vidalerie three years ago and have always wanted to go back, but having just gone self employed and studying, both money and time had been tight. When I saw the competition in the magazine I entered it straight away and then forgot all about it! I had done some very basic silversmithing in the past but desperately wanted to learn soldering and stone setting.

On arriving at Rodez on the Friday afternoon I was met in arrivals by Tim from La Vidalerie and enjoyed the short car ride through beautiful countryside to the cottage. The cottage is well equipped and you have the choice of self catering or having your evening meals with Karen and Tim (for a small charge). The location of the cottage is fabulous with views of the valley and total peace and quiet. After dinner and a catch up with Karen and Tim, I immersed myself in the fantastic library of books they have available action the next day.

Teaching began on the Saturday morning at 10am, with an explanation about safety procedures and a discussion of what I wanted to get out of my visit. We stared making a set of stacker rings, Karen took me through measuring the wire so the rings were the right size, how to solder them together and get a good join. Th e level of teaching is excellent and Karen is very knowledgeable, patient and supportive. After giving the rings di erent textures and showing me how to re-size them we went on to make a stamped pendant with a stone set in a handmade bezel. Karen explained all the way through how and why we do things and the order to do them in.  is project took a lot of time but I was really pleased with the  nished result, and there was still time to make a pair of domed textured earrings. Everything I made was put in the tumbler overnight to polish them up.

The next morning I made a spiral ring with dichroic glass. This was more dif cult, as the bezel was stand alone, as opposed to being part of a bigger piece, but I got great satisfaction knowing I had made it from scratch and not just bought a bezel. After a gorgeous lunch in the sunny garden this piece was Finished o and I drew the design for a pendant with a heart on. Karen offered support and encouragement for me to make this from scratch. By the end of the day I could not believe just how much I had learnt and made in two days.

As my plane on the Monday was not until the afternoon, the morning was spent finishing o and Tim gave me tip on how to photograph th jewellery I had made. I have to say this weekend was definitely what the doctor ordered, it is so calm at La Vidalerie and I have learnt so much, which will be put into action as soon as possible. As well as coming home with some beautiful jewellery, a disk with all the photos and some really useful info sheets on, I know that if I am stuck I can email Karen for help. Also I get such a sense of satisfaction when someone comments on my jewellery and I can say I made it
all myself. I hope I to go back again and do more courses, many thanks for this opportunity.

Jewellery Stringing Magazine - Fall/Autumn 2012

We were really pleased to have our silver and copper handmade ear wires chosen by Jewellery Stringing Magazine for their 100+ best new beads, findings and tools.

Craftseller Magazine Issue 13 - August 2012

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Making Jewellery Magazine Issue 43 - Summer 2012
Summer Courses - Please click on the images to read the articles
Wire Work Weekend & Introduction to Silversmithing

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Making Jewellery Magazine Issue 43 - Summer 2012 - Retail Therapy - Artisan Earring Kit by La Vidalerie

Craftseller Magazine Issue 12 - June 2012 - GiveAway !

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French flavour
Sell more of your jewellery by improving your skills, introducing more handmade elements and making it truly unique ! La Vidalerie runs a variety of jewellery making short breaks in the beautiful Aveyron region of south-west France. We have a £150 voucher to give away, which you can redeem against a break of your choice. Classes include an Introduction to Jewellery Making, Wirework, Tiara & Wedding Jewellery, a Findings Masterclass and an Introduction to Silversmithing, with a short photography workshop at the end to help you show off your creations. Weekend breaks cost £285 - £295 and include two days of tuition (small classes), materials, accommodation, breakfasts, lunches and pickup from Rodez Airport.

Please click on the image for a larger picture. GIVEAWAY CLOSES 2ND JULY 2012 !