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NEWSLETTER ISSUE 86 / August 2017

Dear Friend,

Pictures by at the watermill in Tuscany

We’ve spent the last three or four days going through the Watermill website page by page and line by line, preparing all the updates for our 2018 season. Now our wonderful webmaster Les van Jaarsveldt is putting together all the pages for us. So, we should be publishing our website for 2018 season by 1 September.

It will be an exciting season, with new painters, writers and knitters joining our ever-popular established Watermill tutors to bring you a wide choice of creative courses.

We are delighted to welcome new painting tutors Paul Talbot-Greaves, Claire Warner and Vicki Norman. They’ll be joined by the regular and popular members of the ‘Watermill painting team’, Maggie Renner Hellman, Sandra Strohschein, Sarah Yeoman, Terry Jarvis, Rebecca de Mendonça, Mike Willdridge and Tim Wilmot. There will be one more painting course, in May, but we haven’t yet finalised the details.

We’ll also be running three of our world-famous knitting courses in 2018, with inspiring knitwear designers and tutors Sarah Hazell, Marie Wallin and Lisa Richardson.

And we are also delighted to announce the return of Jo Parfitt, journalist, teacher, editor and publisher, with her stimulating week-long residential creative writing course How to write your life story in the middle of May.

Add to that two yoga and meditation retreats, with newcomer Dina Sheldon and old friend Claire Murphy, and you can see we have an exhilarating season ahead. We're also welcoming Caroline Carr for one of her special personal-development retreats.

And, last but not least, you can immerse yourself in an Italian Language week with the lovely Giulia Balestri from Langues Services.

We’d love you to join us – and now is the time to reserve your place, especially if you would like to take advantage of our generous unique offer: if you book for 2018 before the beginning of September 2017 – see below for more details.

There’s been so much recent interest in the Watermill that we already have some 70 firm bookings for 2018, so if you’ve a favourite tutor, a particular week, or a special bedroom that you like, please get in touch and we’ll set aside a place for you. Just email us and we’ll reserve your reserve your place.

The pictures above and below capture some of the essence of Summer at The Watermill. Our daughter, Lara Breckon, has recently acquired a posh new camera and is using it to capture life here. Above, the bees enjoy the artichoke flowers, while a swallowtail butterfly rests in the lavender. Below, a reminder of one of humankind’s most important endeavours, wine-making: damigiane, demijohns, nestling under the orange floral trumpets of our bignonia; and to the right, an invitation to paint: work in progress in the Watermill courtyard. Come and see for yourself.

 Lara's pictures at the watermill in Italy

Come to the watermill in Tuscany with your partner
Come with your partner!

We’d love to welcome you here for one of our sun-filled, fun-filled, inspiring weeks.

Why not bring your friend or partner? They don’t have to participate in the course, but they will be able to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the mill and, whenever they want, to come out with you to our beautiful locations.

We also offer a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2017 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.


An attractive offer for early Early Birds (it only lasts two more weeks!)

Flavio's birds at the watermill

Our gardener Flavio Terenzoni’s picture of blackbird chicks among the roses in our walled garden earlier this year, reminds us of our unique offer for early Early birds!

As we won’t be publishing all the details of our 2018 painting courses on our website until 1 September we decided that early 'Early Bookers' can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. You must reserve your place by 1 September 2017.
Please email us if you would like to reserve your place.

Here’s the list of courses so far:

  • 28 Apr - 5 May 2018 Painting course Paul Talbot-Greaves
  • 5 - 12 May 2018 Knitting course Sarah Hazell
  • 12 - 19 May 2018 Painting course to be arranged
  • 19 - 26 May 2018 Painting course Maggie Renner Hellman
  • 26 May - 2 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 1
  • 2 - 9 Jun 2018 Painting course Sandra Strohschein 2
  • 9 - 16 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 1
  • 16 - 23 Jun 2018 Painting course Sarah Yeoman 2
  • 23 - 30 Jun 2018 Yoga course Dina Sheldon
  • 7 - 14 Jul 2018 Painting course Terry Jarvis
  • 14 - 21 Jul 2018 Knitting course Marie Wallin
  • 18 - 25 Aug 2018 Personal develpment retreat with Caroline Carr
  • 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2018 Yoga course Claire Murphy
  • 1 - 8 Sep 2018 Painting course Nel Whatmore and Rebecca Mendonça
  • 8 - 15 Sep 2018 Painting course Mike Willdridge
  • 15 - 22 Sep 2018 Painting course Claire Warner
  • 22 - 29 Sep 2018 Writing course Jo Parfitt
  • 29 Sep - 6 Oct 2018 Knitting course Lisa Richardson
  • 6 - 13 Oct 2018 Painting course Vicki Norman
  • 13 - 20 Oct 2018 Painting course Tim Wilmot

Most artists, writers, knitting designers and yoga teachers have their own websites, so you can see what they do by Googling them!

And if you want to see what we are doing in 2017, please go to www.watermill.net.

You can see details of our bedrooms and their 2017 prices. The costs for knitting, writing and yoga weeks are the same.

One of our new bedrooms at the watermill in Tuscany - The Ghirlandaio
Our Ghiberti bedroom,
just one of the enticing places to stay

So why not join those extra-early Early Bird and spend a year dreaming of your Watermill holiday! We’d love to welcome you here. As we said, if you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. Please email us if you would like to reserve your place.

We had a fun time on all our courses this year, and it’s a bit invidious to single one out, so we’ll be telling you about our fun-filled experiences as 2017 rolls on. First, however, here’s a little taste of Maggie Renner Hellmann’s course in May.


Memories of Maggie’s painting week

Maggie,s students at Monte dei Bianchi

That’s Maggie’s group above, settling in to paint is the spectacular setting of Monte dei Bianchi, the hilltop village where we go to paint (and eat in a gourmet restaurant) on Fridays. Here’s what some of them had to say about Maggie’s teaching:

“Participating in a workshop with Maggie is a delight! She is one of the rare artists who like sharing her knowledge nearly as much as she likes to paint. Her demos are a delightful opportunity to be a fly on the wall as she goes through the various steps in the process while simultaneously explaining each step: composition, sketching, laying in the colors,developing a completed painting, and demonstrating and explaining her courageous use of color. Her critiques are equally helpful to the novice and the experienced artist. They are honest, very helpful, and still kind. It was great to see the improvement in each artist's paintings though out the week. These things, along with her availability to help and answer questions throughout the day are reasons I would be happy to take another workshop with her when the opportunity arises" LN

"Maggie is good at teaching in all mediums and with all levels. She did wonderful demos in watercolour, acrylic, pastel and oil. Every day we did critiques together and learned from each other. I highly recommend this art workshop as well as the most wonderful accommodation with great food and wine. A little piece of heaven in experiencing Italy." LS

"Our experiences at the Watermill were definitely the highlights of our tours!"

"Maggie’s gentle and helpful manner coupled with technical skill and aesthetic sense opened the gates of motivation for students, making them comfortable in their new surroundings and primed for an exciting creative experience in those beautiful hills of Tuscany. I also appreciated Maggie’s husband, Lou's ready assists for our physical comforts. What a dream adventure, the two of you, along with Bill and Lois, prepared for all of us!!" PM

And some general comments about the Watermill from Maggie’s group:

"The Watermill was a perfect place: beautiful, well appointed, organized, and the comradery of the gracious gatherings, and the food!"  LN

"Maggie, our wonderful instructor, along with hosts Bill, Lois and their daughter presented week-long experiences that were unforgettable, enriching and so satisfying each day. Thank you all. There were 14 of us enjoying three delectable meals together, with drinks, hors d'oeuvres before dinner under the grape arbor and after-dinner-liquors in the living room accompanied by Bill's wit and stories." PM

Maggie's group at the watermill

That’s Maggie, left above, demonstrating on the Watermill vine verandah, and to the right, Aphrodite kidnapped. A bust of the goddess, normally in the Watermill sitting room, placed artistically in the walled garden.

All this and more on a Watermill creative holiday. Come and be inspired with us!

Remember, early Early Bookers can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. You must reserve your place by 1 September 2017. Please email us if you would like to come on Maggie’s 2018 course.


Still a place or two left on Claire’s yoga and meditation retreat next month

Claire Murphy

We still have two places on Claire Murphy’s wonderful yoga and meditation retreat, called Nourish — mind, body, soul, which will run from Saturday 9 September to Saturday 16 September, and we’d love you to join us. You can find out more about the course here.

A comment from one of our guests here with Claire last year: “I was extremely impressed by the beauty of the Watermill itself and of its location. The buildings are beautiful and comfortable and the location is green and luscious. The Watermill itself is surrounded by beautiful grounds and well tended gardens where you can sit or lounge and relax or go for peaceful walks and the only noises you hear are birds, water, and the occasional rutting deer! The yoga studio is airy and peaceful and the yoga tutor was all we could have hoped for. Also, great food and wine. And all, and I mean all, even a meal in a local restaurant and transfers to/from Pisa airport, is included in the price you pay, no hidden costs.”

We’ll nourish your soul on rural walks and visits to ancient walled towns and hilltop villages, castles and convents. You’ll also savour the relaxed atmosphere of la bella vita italiana in local cafes, shops, restaurants and markets.We’ll venture a little journal writing and painting in The Watermill studio overlooking the river or under the shade of the vine verandah tonourish your mind. And we’ll nourish your body with fresh, home-cooked, nutritionally balanced meals lovingly prepared by the Watermill cooks, with many of the ingredients freshly picked from The Watermill’s own gardens. There will be vegetarian options for every meal, of course. Private sessions with a local Shiatsu practitioner are also available, at cost, on request.

Claire's yoga group at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Yoga, meditation and massage have been a way of life for Claire Murphy for more than 25 years and she’s passionate about teaching them. Together we’ve created a unique seven-day programme. You can see the itinerary by clicking here.

In addition to her yoga capabilities, Claire has studied meditation within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for many years as well as being a qualified mindfulness for stress relief teacher. It’s this presence and focus that she brings to all her teachings and infuses all her sessions with mindful awareness.

The sessions at The Watermill will be friendly and welcoming and no prior experience of yoga or meditation is necessary: all levels from beginner to intermediate will be catered for and we’ll also tailor our sessions to your particular needs.

Come and join us and nourish your mind, body and soul.


Watermill in Tuscany's Painting NewsPAINTING NEWS

You, too, can have a ride on Flavio’s vintage scooter!

Terry's vespa painting

We had another talented group of people with us last month to enjoy a week’s painting with our Australian cobber Terry Jarvis. Here’s one of our guests, Geraldine Larkins, getting ready for a spin on our gardener Flavio Terenzoni’s vintage Vespa motor scooter. Behind is Terry himself, holding up a sketch of the scooter, which he made as a present for Flavio.

Terry and his painting group in the rose garden

Terry will be back with us next year, for another inspiring, sun-filled, fun-filled week, from Saturday 7 July to Saturday 14 July 2018. We’d love you to join us to sample for yourself the delights of life and location in unspoilt rural Tuscany.

As we said, if you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Terry’s course


Waiting lists only on our remaining 2017 painting courses

Although we have no places left on our 2017 painting courses it might be worth trying, because there could be last-minute cancellations.


Varvara Neiman

Varvara Neiman - last-minute cancellation: one or two spaces left
26 August to 2 September 2017
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolour
To learn more about Varvara, her course at the mill and to see more of her pictures, please visit her Profile Page


Mike Willdridge

Mike Willdridge - fully booked, waiting list open
2 September to 9 September 2017
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics with an emphasis on sketching and drawing on location)
To learn more about Mike, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page


Nel Whatmore & Rebecca de Mendonça

Nel Whatmore & Rebecca de Mendonça
- fully booked, waiting list open
23 September to 30 September 2017
Pastels
To learn more about Nel & Rebecca, their course and to see more of their pictures, please visit their Profile Page


Charles Sluga

Charles Sluga - fully booked, waiting list open
30 September to 7 October 2017
Watercolours (and acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Charles, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page


Tim Wilmot

Tim Wilmot - fully booked, waiting list open
7 October to 14 October 2017
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim, his course at the mill and to see more of his pictures, please visit his Profile Page


Come and join us and enjoy the magic at the mill!

Painting by Tim Wilmot - The watermill riverside

*** Why not bring your non-painting partner as well?

There’s a generous £250 discount for him/her if they share a room with you - and there’s plenty for them to do. Have a look at our Partner’s Activities Page for suggestions.

Use the 2017 programme link below to view the full list of our inspiring 2017 painting tutors


Watermill in Italy's Knitting NewsKNITTING NEWS

New projects for Sarah’s 2018 knitting course

Sarah Hazell

Sarah Hazell, who has stepped in to take over Sarah Hatton’s knitting course here in September (when Sarah Hatton had to withdraw because of an illness in the family), has agreed to come to the Watermill next year as well. We are delighted to welcome her here again for her very own course.

Sarah is a designer in knit and crochet, and author of several books. She says: “I have a passion for beautiful yarn and textiles and am endlessly fascinated by colour, pattern and texture”.

Sarah’s workshop at the mill will show you to elevate your knits from homemade to handmade, in particular with cable stitch and sequence knitting. Sarah says: “I have tried to come up with different techniques to the other tutors to give variety to your programme. I am offering two projects:

Sarah's Beanie

Creative Cables – this will be a cushion project and include beaded cables, cables in two colours, different textured cables and cables that require using two cable needles.

Sequence Knitting – this will be a shawl project: introduction to the concept of sequence knitting worked flat and in the round, there will be a project as well as the opportunity to design your own scarf or cowl.

Knitting by Sarah Hazell at the watermill in Italy

Here are a couple of images of sequence knitting and cables. Sarah says: “These won’t be the final projects, but will help to give participants an idea!”

Sarah is also more than happy for participants to bring along their own projects and offer advice/assistance with those. You are encouraged to bring along garments you would like to try and recreate (handknit or store bought), patterns you would like to amend etc. And If you have yarn in your stash that you are keen to make a simple garment from, but no pattern, now is your chance!

Sarah Hazell’s knitting course Knitting and La Bella Vita will run from 5 - 12 May 2018. As we said before, if you book now, you can have a place this course or any of our 2018 creative courses at 2017 prices. You must reserve your place by 1 September 2017. Please email us if you would like to come on Sarah’s 2018 course.


2017 Knitting courses

Due to a cancellation this week we have the Vasari Suite available for Sarah's course. This accommodation is suitable for a single, friends sharing, or a couple.


Sarah Hazell

Sarah Hazell - one or two places remaining
16 September to 23 September 2017
To learn more about Sarah and her courses at the mill, please visit her Profile Page


Fun-filled knitting weeks – we’re already taking bookings for next year!

Marie's knitting group
The goodies on display.
The start of Marie Wallin's first knitting course this year

A guest on one this year’s knitting courses said: “Such perfection, I am spoiled for anywhere else!” and everyone has seemed to have a lovely time on our knitting and La bella vita courses.

We are already taking bookings for 2018, in fact there’s already a waiting list for one of our courses!


2018 Knitting courses

Full details of our 2018 knitting courses will not be on our website until September 2017. If, however, you would like to reserve a place on any of these 2018 courses at 2017 prices, please use our Knitting Enquiry Form by clicking here and scrolling down to 2018 courses. You can find the 2017 prices by clicking here.


Sarah Hazell

Sarah Hazell - still plenty of places
5 May to 12 May 2018
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Sarah and her courses at the mill, please visit her Profile Page


Marie Wallin

Marie Wallin - course full, waiting list open
14 July to 21 July 2018
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Marie and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page


Lisa Richardson

Lisa Richardson - three or four places remaining
29 September to 6 October 2018
Knitting and La Bella Vita
To learn more about Lisa and her course at the mill, please visit her Profile Page


Knitting group at the watermill in Italy

Full details of our 2018 courses will not be on our website until September 2017, so do take advantage of this advance notice!

And don’t forget that your friend or partner doesn’t need to participate in the creative course, whether it’s painting, language, knitting or yoga.

We offer them a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2017 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.


Yoga News at the watermill in ItalyYOGA NEWS

Two yoga and meditation retreats at the Watermill next year

Yoga group at the watermill

We have two relaxing yet invigorating yoga retreats planned for 2018, with our old friend Claire Murphy and a new yoga teacher, Dina Sheldon.

There could be few better places to relax and unwind than The Watermill at Posara, with its lovingly restored buildings set around a sunlit courtyard. Set in a gentle valley with mountain peaks in the background, the mill is a peaceful spot, surrounded by the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and The Regional Park of the Apuan Alps, home of the marble mountains of Carrara. This is the heart of Lunigiana, in the North-west of Tuscany, a truly unspoilt part of Italy.

(1) Seeing: Yoga & Discovering the Self through Portraits.

Yoga group at the watermill in Italy

Dina Sheldon is from Michigan USA and her unique week will blend the essential elements of art & yoga to create a fabulous retreat called Seeing: Yoga & Discovering the Self through Portraits. It will run from Saturday 23 June to Saturday 30 June 2018.

The precise timetable will depend on the needs and desires of the group, but will include a variety of yoga techniques, NIA (Neuromuscular Integrative Activity - combining dance, martial arts and mindfulness, to tone your body while transforming your mind. And with artist Pamela Cohen there will be amazing guided self-portrait work to help you further to discover yourself.

Come to the watermill in Tuscany with your partner
Dina on a Watermill terrace

Currently owner of A2 Yoga in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, Dina was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when under 40 years old. Through cancer she discovered the depth to which yoga can transform life into the joy of living! Her approach is integrative and fun - bringing together body, mind, emotion and spirit.

Dina says: “To embody living yoga, conscious awareness must be present. Every morning just by waking up and stretching, we are doing yoga. Every day Yoga is opening oneself to the possibility of seeing the self as being special. Knowing that is yogic teachings. Yoga becomes accessible, and easy to approach with a willing heart and self-understanding.”

For Dina, Yoga = Life: “We are all born with the knowing of movement.We all come into this world on an inhale, and we will all leave on an exhale...let us learn that in life we live yoga!”

As we said, if you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative weeks at 2017 prices. Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Dina’s course.

(2) Nourish – mind, body, soul

Claire Murphy will nourish your mind, body and soul in a unique seven-day yoga and meditation retreat. It will run from Saturday 25 August to Saturday 1 September 2018.

Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Claire’s 2018 course.


2017 Yoga retreat

There are still a few places left for Claire's 2017 yoga retreat. Please visit our 2017 Yoga retreat programme if you would like to join us.


Claire Murphy

Claire Murphy - three or four places left
9 September to 16 September 2017
Nourish - mind, body and soul
To learn more about Claire and her course at The Watermill, please visit her Profile Page


2018 Yoga retreats


Dina Sheldon

Dina Sheldon
23 June to 30 June 2018
Seeing: Yoga & Discovering the Self through Portraits
Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Dina’s course. If you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative weeks at 2017 prices.


Claire Murphy

Claire Murphy
25 August to 1 September 2018
Nourish - mind, body and soul
Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Dina’s course. If you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative weeks at 2017 prices.


 

Creative writing News at the watermill in ItalyCREATIVE WRITING NEWS

A creative writing week in unspoilt Tuscany

Jo Parfitt

Thousands of people who would like to write their life story, or at least a part of it, but just don’t know where to start. How do you capture on paper all the interesting, exciting, amusing, inspiring things that have happened in your life? And how to you make them into a series of stories, or a longer memoir, that other people really want to read? Who better to help you than Jo Parfitt, author, journalist, teacher, blogger, conference speaker and poet, who has helped more than 100 authors get into print.

Jo's course is the perfect first step for any writer wanting to develop the skills and confidence necessary to move into writing memoir, non-fiction, articles or blogs. It’s designed to help both enthusiastic beginners and more experienced writers. Many of her students have gone on to publish full-length books.

You will have the perfect opportunity to make new friends in the company of like-minded people, learning innovative writing techniques with skilled help from Jo ... and enjoying unspoilt Italy and, of course, fantastic food and wine.

Writing under the vines at the watermill

The Write Your Life Stories creative writing course is designed to help you produce your best work, to find your true writer's 'voice' and to write authentically. Among other things, you’ll discover the secret of SPICE, the seven steps to writing life stories, and put this into practice right away.

Jo says: "The course at the watermill will provide a safe haven in which to unlock your creativity, write from your heart and hone your writing craft. It will also help to remove blocks to your writing. Sessions at the mill will empower students to write in a compelling way that makes real experiences come to life."


Jo Parfitt

Jo Parfitt
22 September to 29 September 2018
Write Your Life Stories
Please email us if you would like to reserve your place on Jo’s course. If you book now, you can have a place on any of our 2018 creative weeks at 2017 prices.


 

The watermill in Italy's newsletter specialsNEWSLETTER SPECIALS

Everything's included in your watermill painting holiday, yoga retreat, knitting week, personal development, or Italian Language course

Don’t forget that everything is included in the cost of a painting holiday, yoga retreat, knitting, personal development or language holiday: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; an excursion by train to visit the ancient walled city of Lucca or the stunning seaside villages of the Cinque Terre). All you have to do is to get to Pisa airport and we do the rest. If you book before 1 September you will enjoy next year's course at this year's prices, starting at £(GBP) 1,445 per person per week (based on two people sharing), with a discount of £250 GBP for a non-painting or non-writing partner. Single rooms start at £ (GBP) 1,575.

Whether you're travelling alone or with a partner you can be sure of a warm welcome, and that you'll be well looked after. We have built our reputation on the comfort of the mill and the care we provide.


Become a friend of The Watermill at Posara

Visit our Friends Website (Link below). Just follow the instructions to Register as a Friend and then Log In to enjoy special privileges. If you become a ‘Friend’ (it will cost you nothing) you’ll enjoy many exclusive benefits, including dozens of practical and inspiring tips from our international painting and creative writing tutors and recipes from the watermill’s mouth-watering menus. And there will be exclusive offers for Friends to make our courses and holidays even more attractive.


Thank you for reading the watermill in Italy's newsletterTHANK YOU

All that remains is to wish you a really great tail-end of summer from all the team here in Italy. If you haven't been already, we look forward so much to welcoming you to The Watermill at Posara in the coming weeks!

Your hosts at the watermill, Italy

With very best wishes a tutti

Your hosts at the wtaermill in Tuscany

Lois and Bill Breckon