Mozaiek course in Greece - Smashing Stones

Want to partake of an extensive glass-on-glass and mosaic jewellery course and enjoy a wonderful holiday on the Peloponnese in Greece? That's possible! In 2012 Smashing Stones will be giving a mosaic course for Griekenland aan Zee in the quiet seaside village of Kantia again. Griekenland aan Zee has been organizing creative holidays in Greece for fifteen years now.

What does the course involve?
During this course you can make a piece of mosaic jewellery and a decorative glass-on-glass panel, vase or small lamp, using all sorts of coloured (mirror-)glass. Naturally, before you get to work, you will be first given detailed information about the materials, backgrounds, types of glue and tools and the various cutting and grinding techniques will be explained and demonstrated. On the first day of the course you will make one or two pieces of jewellery and a design for your glass-on-glass mosaic, which you will then be executing during the rest of the course.

When is the course held?
In 2012 this course will be held from 16 September - 23 September and - if there are enough participants - from 23 September - 30 September 2012. Each course will consist of five morning sessions from 9.30 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. During the afternoons you are free to carry on working alone or you can choose to go to the beach or make a trip to a place of interest. There will be no class on Thursday, which gives you the opportunity to do some more sightseeing.

How much does it cost?
The costs depend on the kind of apartment you will be staying in and vary between € 1,250 and € 1,395, including your return-flight Amsterdam - Athens (if applicable) by Olympic Airlines, transfer to and from Kantia, booking fees, airport taxes and various surcharges, your seven nights stay in an apartment, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except for dinner on Thursday), wine and mineral water during dinner, the course and all materials used during the course and transport of your mosaic piece(s) to the Netherlands (if applicable).

Want to sign up?
If you are interested in taking part in this course or if you want some more information, you can contact Nick van de Berg from Griekenland aan Zee via telephone-number 0031 (0)20 6733241 or mail to smashingstones@xs4all.nl.

The participants are working on their mosaic jewellery

Mosaic jewellery piece made by one of the course members

Mosaic course in Griekenland aan Zee's new studio

One of the participants and her mosaic at the weekly exhibition

Mosaic jewellery made by one of the participants

One of the participants working on a mosaic jewellery piece

One of the participants is showing her glass on glass mosaic at the exposition

The course members are working at their mosaics

Mosaic pendant made by one of the course members

Mosaic pendants with pebbles from Kantia beach

SUMMARY OF THE 2011 MOSAIC COURSES IN KANTIA
The students arrived at Sunday afternoon and were served a delicious lunch. The teachers then introduced themselves and the programme for the coming week was announced. Next morning the courses immediately started. Hella Steins from Smashing Stones taught her students how to make mosaic jewellery and glass-on-glass mosaics, while at the same time there were several other activities going on, such as sculpting, painting and photography classes. These courses were also organised by Griekenland aan Zee.

The morning was completed with a tasteful lunch, after which the students were free to spend the afternoon in whatever way they wanted. Of course many of them immediately went to the beach, which is situated directly next to the hotel and course location.

The sun, the sea and the beach

An extensive Mediterranean dinner, made by Relinde Fontaine, topped off the day in a perfect manner.

The programme for Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday was identical to the programme of Monday, with two exceptions. On Wednesday the students were offered the possibility to visit an impressive marble-quarry and marble factory and on Tuesday dinner took place in an authentic Greek restaurant in Nafplion or Vivari. Once the capital of Greece, Nafplion now is a bustling harbourtown. There are many souvenir and jewellery shops, galleries, and restaurants, as well as an imposing Venetian castle which towers high above the town. Vivari is a pretty fishing village, where you can spend a wonderful time at one of the terraces near the sea.

On Thursday the students had their day off. Many of them took this opportunity to rent a car and do some sight-seeing, others stayed at Kantia to continue working on their mosaics, sculptures, paintings etc.

The last day of the course took place on Saturday and was concluded with a festive exhibition.