Quilting, Painting, Cooking
Under The Tuscan Sun
A Luxurious All inclusive Experience
With Esterita Austin
October 6-13, 2024
In this seven-day trip, four days of which are painting and quilt workshops, your artwork will be inspired by the beautiful architecture and landscape of Tuscany. The workshop, with morning and afternoon sessions of instruction, lecture and demonstration, will be taught by Esterita Austin an internationally known quilt artist and teacher. The cooking class, which is three mornings, will be taught by the chef at the villa.
Tuscany is a region rich in history, art and culture. On our day trips you will learn about the cities you will be visiting, their history and art treasures. The Renaissance comes to life. There will be an evening of music and dancing, an evening tour of the villa's museum, another of the Cantina or wine cellar and a presentation on the resurrection of the villa from the ruins. The cooking classes features authentic Tuscan recipes taught by a professional gourmet chef in the villa's kitchen. You'll have plenty of time over lunch to enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you or your companion chooses not to take a class, you can just kick back and do nothing—read or go for swim at the pool, stroll through the vineyards and olive trees or have a game of tennis on the clay court. Bicycle rentals available for non-participants. www.villabarberino.it
Each morning starts with a wonderful breakfast featuring a variety of foods and the best cappucino on earth. A buffet lunch is included on the four workshop days and each evening ends with a sumptuous four-course dinner with new friends.
For two of the seven days, we will tour the sister cities of Siena and Florence. Siena is the medieval jewel of Tuscany, Florence the cradle of the Renaissance. We will see fabulous ancient architecture and centuries-old art works in two of the most beautiful cities on earth.
Whether you choose a workshop in painting and art quilting or cooking you'll be absorbed in creative activities, good company and wonderful food—all in the beautiful environs of our Tuscan villa. Join us for this unique and unforgettable experience, create an art quilt, painting or fabulous meals -and make memories for years to come.
To download the enrollment form, click here and return it at your earliest convenience.
esterita2@icloud.com
THE EIGHT DAY PACKAGE - $3,400. in US Currency - See Details Below
Quilting, Painting, or Gourmet Cooking
ART QUILT WORKSHOP - no sewing machines needed, short supply list
With Tuscan architecture, landscape, and the villa as your inspiration you will create a memorable piece during the week, four days of which are workshops. If you're a beginner, you'll be guided through the art quilt process in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. If you're an advanced quilter, you will get the kind of guidance you request. It's your workshop, so you let Esterita know what you need, and she will do her best to accommodate you. We will begin with photographic scenes from Tuscany and the villa, or you may want to draw your own image with some guidance. You will make a pattern on vinyl and turn your image into a painting Then, if you choose, into a quilt. The villa's immediate surroundings will serve as inspiration. Using Esterita'stransfer techniques, you'll create a paint-transfer quilt which will be a memento of your stay in Tuscany. Organza, Paint, and brushes are included in the cost of the workshop. This is an opportunity to capture the beauty of Tuscany in your own art piece. Supply List
The Instructor: Esterita Austin
Quilt maker, designer and teacher, Esterita Austin created "The Well," a prize-winning piece in the American Museum of Folk Art's 2001 international competition "Quilted Constructions: The Spirit of Design." Her pieces have been published in the periodicals Quilting Arts, The Quilters Companion, American Quilter, Quilter's Newsletter, American Style and Distinction Magazine and Folk Art, as well as the books Contemporary Art Quilts and Fiber Arts 7. As an entrepreneur, Esterita has been featured on The Sally Jesse Raphael Show and in the "Threads" section of Newsday. Her work has appeared on the covers of the Indiana Gazette leisure section and the Arts and Lifestyles section of the Times Beacon and Times Record newspapers of Long Island, NY. You can see Esterita give a demonstration of her techniques on HGTV's Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson, segment 1134. On "The Quilt Show" and on Quilting Arts TV.
Esterita currently teaches, lectures and shows her work internationally. To see her full calendar and view her work, please visit her Calendar page.
PAINTING WORKSHOP
Our painting workshop day starts with a drawing class and lesson in watercolor or acrylic paint. Your instructor will make sure you have the foundation you'll need to build your work. The subjects for your studies include the villa, vineyards and olive groves of the beautiful Chianti valley, along with its 13th-Century buildings and the lush gardens of the villa where we will be staying. Painting classes will be taught "en plein air", but some lectures may take place indoors.
GOURMET COOKING
The Chef will teach authentic Italian dishes in the villa's kitchen. The lessons are served with Italian flavor and humor.
Here is a sample of the menus you may prepare:
A variety of homemade pastas
Pappa al Pomodoro: bread and tomato soup
Zuppa di Fagioli: white bean Tuscan soup
Panzanella: bread and vegetable salad with red-wine vinegar
Alla Brace: grilled herbed meat delicacies
Carpaccio: paper-thin slices of raw beef or fish served with Parmigiano-Reggiano and drizzled with olive oil
Cantucci di Prato: Traditional biscotti (twice-cooked) dessert biscuits
Tiramisù (pick me up) a favorite recipe with custard, pan di Spagna and liquori
The gourmet cooking class is three mornings from 10am-1pm with afternoons free to enjoy the villa.
Our Excursions in Tuscany: