Teaching happens in a dedicated art studio at Baron Figues, with Caroline — a qualified teacher for over twenty-five years. With six to eight guests in the studio, nobody gets lost. Everything is provided: silver clay, glass, tools, kiln, and as much guidance as you need. The rest of the week — meals, drinks, pool, walks — is your genuine holiday.
What's included
- A week's stay in your own en-suite bedroom (Thursday to Thursday)
- All materials — precious metal clay, glass, findings, tools
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- All drinks — local wines, Armagnac, aperitifs, soft drinks
- Use of the studio, kiln, and all equipment
- Finished pieces to take home (usually five to ten items per guest)
- Complimentary transfers from Agen train station
- Airport transfers on request
The magic moment every time is when someone holds their first fired PMC piece. It started as a soft lump of clay and now it's solid silver — they've genuinely made it. You can't fake that feeling, and you don't need to be 'creative' to have it. You just need someone to show you.
Read the full guide
What is precious metal clay (PMC)?
PMC is fine silver powder suspended in an organic binder. It handles like soft clay — you can roll it, carve it, stamp it, and press textures into it. When it’s fired in a small kiln, the binder burns away and what remains is solid fine silver. The technique was invented in Japan in the 1990s and transformed jewellery-making at home.
You don’t need any previous craft experience. Most guests make a ring or pendant on day one.
What you'll make
Across a week you’ll typically produce:
- At least one fine-silver pendant with a glass or textured detail
- A ring — plain, stamped, or with an embedded stone
- A pair of earrings
- Fused-glass pieces for pendants, cabochons, or dishes
- Optional experiments in stone setting, patinas, and mixed media
You leave with the finished pieces, properly polished and gift-ready.
Glass fusing — the second craft
Alongside PMC, we teach glass fusing — cutting and layering coloured glass and firing it in the kiln so it melts together. It pairs beautifully with PMC (a fused-glass cabochon set in a fine-silver bezel is a genuinely impressive piece) and gives you a second set of techniques to take home.
A typical creative week
- Thursday — Arrival, pickup from Agen, welcome aperitif, studio tour.
- Friday — First PMC session: textures, forms, your first piece. Firing overnight.
- Saturday — Polish and finish your first pieces. Morning at leisure or a local market visit. Second PMC session.
- Sunday — Introduction to glass fusing. Cut, design, fire.
- Monday — Day of your own design — Caroline supports your chosen project.
- Tuesday — Finish pieces, optional stone-setting, farewell gala dinner.
- Wednesday — Breakfast and departure with your jewellery.
Getting here
Baron Figues is in rural Gascony, but well connected. Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) is about 90 minutes away by road; Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) is a similar distance. Agen train station takes the TGV from Paris; we collect all guests from there at no extra cost. Airport transfers can be arranged for a small additional fee. We send self-drive directions once you book.
Frequently asked questions
I've never made jewellery before. Is this for me?
Especially yes. PMC and glass fusing are the two most beginner-friendly serious jewellery techniques in the world. Caroline has twenty-five years of teaching experience and the week is paced for complete beginners from day one.
How many pieces will I actually take home?
Usually five to ten finished pieces per guest — a mix of pendants, rings, earrings, and fused-glass items. The exact number depends on how ambitious you get with your designs.
Is all the silver and glass included in the price?
Yes. A generous allowance of PMC, glass, findings (chains, earring wires, ring blanks), and all tool use is included. If you want to make something unusually large and use extra material, there's a small top-up fee; otherwise it's all-inclusive.
What if my partner doesn't want to make jewellery?
We welcome non-participating partners at a reduced rate — they get the accommodation, meals, and drinks but not the workshop time. The pool, gardens, walks, and day trips are open to everyone.
Can I bring stones or materials from home to incorporate?
Yes, absolutely. Many guests bring family stones or small sentimental items to work into pieces. Let Caroline know in advance so she can plan the firings around them.
When's the best week to come for jewellery-making?
Any week of the season — the studio is indoor and climate-controlled, so weather doesn't affect the craft. Quieter months (May, June, September) give you slightly longer one-on-one time with Caroline; high summer is more sociable and pool-heavy.