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A Creative Week in Spain

Highlights

  • Learn to craft in small tuition groups in a beautiful off the beaten track location
  • Spend a week in luxury accommodation in a scenic Spanish setting
  • Enjoy time with likeminded travellers
From £1210 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

Experience a new destination, meet locals and indulge in your creative side during this 1-week craft taster course, learning a new skill each day in beautiful cortijo, Andalucía. Have the perfect balance of experiencing a new culture and craft techniques with relaxation in an idyllic location. If you struggle to sit still on holiday, this will be perfect for you!

2023 Dates

11th-18th November - 1 room left (The Casita)!

NOW BOOKING FOR 2024!

6th April

20th April

4th May

8th June

7 Sept

21 Sept

5 October

19 October

2 November

11 November

 

You’ll be staying in the beautiful Cortijo Panes with your hosts, Kathryn and Karen. The Cortijo is set in 3.7 hectares of mountain and there are far reaching views and great walks to enjoy.

Accommodation:

We accommodate up to 6 guests in 3 twin bedrooms. At the Cortijo there are three types of accommodation, each with double bedroom, private shower room and outside space.

The Casita is a one bedroom apartment with its own kitchen and lounge which has direct access to the swimming pool. The Cabin is a one bedroom wooden lodge with a beautiful shower room and direct access to the hot tub. The Guest room is a large room with a very large and private terrace.

The Cortijo is surrouned by beautiful gardens of various cacti, vibrant flowers and palms. There are various patios, terraces and shady areas perfect for a quiet moment to read or have a siesta! The pool sits in a grassy area surrounded by sun loungers and parasols with gorgeous views that are seemingly endless.

Food:

Your stay with us at our Cortijo is on a full board basis, served in the main house. Breakfast includes homemade granola, fresh baked bread, jamon, cheeses, seasonal fruit from our orchard, eggs from our hens and Kathryn’s homemade whisky marmalade. Depending on the day, lunch is served at the Cortijo under the pergola or at local restaurants. Home cooked evening meals, using locally sourced ingredients, are served with a pudding and Spanish wine or beer.

Workshops:

Each day you will try your hand at a new craft; soap making, PMC silver clay, wet on wet ink painting, silversmithing, mandala painting, cyanotype printing and mosaics. You can also learn how to make a traditional paella.

There will be one excursion to the local whitewashed town of Mojacar to shop, explore and enjoy the views. We will eat lunch in Mojacar Playa before returning to the Cortijo for the final evening together.

In between crafting there’s plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings with a beautiful swimming pool, hot tub and plenty of secluded spots to read a book, chat to your travel companions over a G&T or go for a walk in the countryside

Arrival Day

Pick up from Almeria airport or transfer from Murcia Airport (we can arrange this for you, just ask!). Upon arrival at the Cortijo we will have welcome drinks, lunch and time to get to know each other.

The afternoon will be free for you to start enjoying your surroundings.

Dinner will be served in the early evening. Afterwards, you can relax and chat to your new friends.

Accommodation

At the Cortijo there are three types of accommodation, each with double bedroom, private shower room and outside space . The Casita is a one bedroom apartment with its own kitchen and lounge which has direct access to the swimming pool. The Cabin is a one bedroom wooden lodge with a beautiful shower room and direct access to the hot tub. The Guest room is a large room with a very large and private terrace. There is an ancient olive tree for shade.

Meals

Dinner

Crafting Mosaics

After a leisurely breakfast we will start our mosaics. You can choose to use a moulded pattern or go freeform with mosaic mesh backing.

Lunch will be served in the shade under the pergola, weather permitting.

We’ll head back to the craft room for the afternoon to finish our mosaic pieces.

Dinner will be served at the Cortijo in the early evening.

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Organic Soap and Greetings Card Workshop

Wake up to a delicious breakfast, and afterwards we’ll enjoy a day at the Cortijo, making organic soap in the morning. A perfect gift for a friend, partner family member!

After lunch Julie will come to run a handmade greetings card workshop, using wet on wet ink techniques.

Dinner will be served at the Cortijo in the early evening.

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit to Clare's Studio

Today you will meet Clare at her home studio, Castellon de Bedar.  Here you will learn how to make a silver ring using traditional methods.

​Lunch will be served at Castellon de Bedar and you will be picked up and transferred back to the Cortijo in time to relax before dinner.

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cyanotype Prints and Paella Demonstration

Today you have free time to practise your crafts.  We have a large collection of crafts for you to try.  Why not set up an easel and sketch one of our beautiful landscape scenes, or pick up one of our group crafts.

This afternoon we will make cyanotype prints. We need to have a sunny day for this activity to take place. If the weather is inclement, we will try our hands at pyrography!

​Tonight we will eat delicious paella and drink sangria. This is a demonstration and you will be welcomed into the kitchen where you can take notes on how to prepare this traditional Spanish dish!

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Metal Clay Workshop

Today we have the precious metal clay workshop where you will learn how to work with PMC and to design your own unique pendant, earrings, bookmark or even a silver name tag for your pet!

Then in the evening enjoy a delicious dinner at the house.

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Mojacar

Today we will visit the local, whitewashed, hillside town of Mojacar, where you can shop in the boutiques and share tapas on a terrace.

Tonight we will eat our farewell dinner and show and share the works we’ve created throughout the week.

Accommodation

Either the Casita, Cabin, Guest Room

Meals 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Farewell

An early breakfast will be served to accommodate the airport transfers to Almeria or Murcia airport.

We hope to see you again soon!

What's included

Included

  • Transportation
  • Welcome drinks and canapes
  • Food and drink
  • Crafting materials
  • Tuition
  • Robes and slippers
  • Restaurant meal on day out
Your local host

Kathryn and Karen

Karen and Kathryn have been running craft holidays for several years now and both enjoy being creative in their own ways. Karen’s passion is for silver clay and Kathryn enjoys mosaics, soap making and book binding. Both share a passion for great food and general life enjoyment.

We have lived in Bédar for ten years and have met many local artisans who enjoy joining us at Creative Escapes to share their passions and skills with our guests.

On our holidays you can expect to have a good balance of learning new skills and improving existing skills while having fun, eating great food and meeting new people. Our holidays are for all abilities.

 

Karen and Kathryn have been running craft holidays for several years now and both enjoy being creative in their own ways. Karen’s passion is for silver clay and Kathryn enjoys mosaics, soap making and book binding. Both share a passion for great food and general life enjoyment.

We have lived in Bédar for ten years and have met many local artisans who enjoy joining us at Creative Escapes to share their passions and skills with our guests.

On our holidays you can expect to have a good balance of learning new skills and improving existing skills while having fun, eating great food and meeting new people. Our holidays are for all abilities.

 

Kathryn and Karen image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

Learn More

Location

The holiday is centred around the village of Bédar with most activities taking place at the Cortijo.

We provide a free in-person pick up and drop off from and to Almeria airport on the start date and end dates.

If a guest prefer to travel to a different airport we will help arrange a transfer and we will pick up and drop off at the specified location.

FAQs

What food is included?

Your stay includes a full board!

Breakfast includes homemade granola, fresh baked bread, jamon, cheeses, seasonal fruit from our orchard, eggs from our hens and Kathryn's homemade whisky marmalade.

Depending on the day, lunch is served at the Cortijo or at local restaurants.

Home cooked evening meals using locally sourced ingredients are served with Spanish wine or beer.

What are the facilities?

Our facilities include a beautiful craft room, superb swimming pool, amazing views, patios and terraces, wifi throughout the property, well stocked honesty bar and a comfortable lounge.

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