Top Dutch artist Marlaine Verhelst will be running her famous doll making holidays for the 8th year in row from the 24th of October until October 31st.

The location of the weeks activities is a beautiful farm house located only 45 from the Paris city centre and the wonderful Chateau de Versaillies.
This unique setting will be the location for the Dutch Doll Artists and NIADA member Marlaine Verhelst yearly Autumn workshop. The workshops have become a meeting point for doll creators and doll lovers from around the world, and in recent years visitors from Australia, Belarus, Canada, Israel, Spain, England and the USA, have come to enjoy the classes.
Due to the international flavour of the week the language is English.

The participants arrive on Saturday, mostly in the afternoon. After having a little rest everyone is invited to come to the house called 'Le Roi Soleil' (the Sun King) for a welcoming meal, French style this means 4 courses and wine is included.
This is one of the delightful things about the week, meeting people from different cultures, sharing the same interest and working on your hobby.

But the main goal of the week is to finish a complete doll in six days.
Mostly students also work in the evenings.
The experience level of the students varies (from beginners to professional doll makers) and if students prefer to learn how to sculpt directly into porcelain that also is possible.

On Friday afternoon (the last day of the class) there is an exhibition of the dolls made during the workshop week and in the evening there is a traditional dinner party where everyone is invited again.

Some of the students come back year after year. Like one of them said: "this is much more fun than laying on the beach".

To find out more visit the official website: http://marlaineverhelst.com/parijs-eng.htm