• Knitting with Galina Khmeleva: March 22-31 The Italian Alps and Venice
  

• Knitting with Sally Melville: March 22-31 - The Italian Alps and Venice

• Knitting with Beth Brown-Reinsel: June 15-24  The Italian Alps and Venice
  
  • We have room for only one more student.

• Freeform crochet and knitting with Jenny Dowde: June 24-July 3 - The Italian Alps and Venice
  

• Knitting/ Crochet with Joan McGowan Michael: July 4 - July 13 - The Italian Alps and Venice
  

• Faroese Lace Shawl and Seamen's Scarf Lace Knitting Workshop with Myrna Stahman: August 29 - Sept 7 - The Italian Alps and Venice
  • Held in conjunction with our Tyrolean Cooking Vacation - students can mix and match both workshops.
  • Due to the enormous response and popularity of this workshop, we have decided to waive the late fee completely and will take late sign ups up to the beginning date of the workshop.

• Crochet with Doris Chan and Karen Ratto-Whooley: Sept 19-28 - The Italian Alps and Venice

• Knitting and Crochet with Lily Chin: July 15-24 The French and Italian Riviera
  

• Handspinning lessons
  
  • Taught on a wheel and hand spindle by an experienced fiber arts instructor and lecturer are available during all of our events. An Ashford Joy wheel is available to our guests for their personal enjoyment during our workshops.

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(All footage shot, edited, and produced by Daniela Anderson. All rights reserved. This video may not be used in any fashion without documented consent from Daniela Anderson and the Alpine Adventure Agency.)

We spoil our students with spacious, private salons, floor to ceiling windows providing superior lighting, and deep, wide, comfortable chairs perfect for knitting and crocheting.  Photo: Daniela Anderson

The look that says, "I'm buying Italian Cashmere!!!"  Canetta Yarn Shop, Genova, Italy. Photo: Daniela Anderson.

Knitting at the Cant Del Gal.  Photo: Daniela Anderson

Knitting on top of the world at the top of the cable car in the restaurant at the peak of the Rosetta. Photo: Daniela Anderson

Knitting at Cant Del Gal. Photo: Daniela Anderson

Students plan out individual colors and schematics for Galina's exclusive Orenburg project for her workshop in July 2009.  Photo: Daniela Anderson

Our Spring/ Summer Italian Tyrolean Alps and Venice workshops

Feature exclusive outings thanks to our life-long friendships with friends and businesses in the areas we visit. Some of your personalized experiences include visits to:

• A local yarn shop
• A local weaver who creates unique Tyrolean fabrics
• A local hand spinner (upon the spinner's availability)
• An informal evening with a group of Tyrolean knitters who still knit, crochet and spin in the "old way."
  
• A Tyrolean wood carver whose statues adorn both entrances to the Eurotunnel
• Cable car rides to spectacular peak-top restaurants with unbelievable, scenic views
• Wine (optional) and regional food degustations
• Several cooking demonstrations with top chefs at the restaurants where we dine
• Optional strolls and hikes on easy paths on the outskirts of town
• Photography lessons on location with our full-time outdoor/nature photography instructor
• Cheese-making demos with local farmers on location in high mountain dairies
• Bus-driven scenic tours of the surrounding mountain chains (optional)
• A private tour and tasting at a cheese and butter making factory
• A private concert and yodeling lesson with the top folk trio in the region
• Private consultations with Daniela to help you plan a customized visit for your day in Venice and other free time during your vacation
• Your day in Venice is yours to explore: yarn and bead shops; local lace-makers; a Venetian mask-maker whose family has created beautiful costumes for Carnevale for generations, lunch (optional) at the world-renown Caffe' Florian, and enjoying beautiful and inspiring locations. 
  
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We will enjoy a traditional Trojka sleigh ride through the parks of Villa Welsperg and Val Canali.  Photo: Courtesy of Agh and Girovagando in Trentino.

All of our workshops include a special, private concert with the internationally renown, yodeling trio, The Beatrich. Photo: Maxine Jones.

OUR WINTER ITALIAN TYROLEAN ALPS AND VENICE WORKSHOPS:

• The winter workshops include most of the daily excursions and special gourmet lunches that are featured in our Spring, Summer and Autumn workshops. All of our group excursions take place indoors with options for more active, outdoor activities to enhance your experience.

• The winter workshops take place during milder winter months to give our fiber students and their families the opportunity to blend a fabulous workshop with an amazing ski vacation in the legendary Alps.

• Our March workshops incorporate free time to play in the snow and enjoy all of your favorite winter sports - skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, skating, ice sculpture carving, and many other unique pastimes in these magical mountains.

• If you prefer to stay indoors, just imagine yourself sitting cozily by the fire, sampling pastries and freshly-made strudel, sipping espresso or grappa, and  knitting, crocheting, and spinning away while gazing upon the spectacular,snow-capped Tyrolean Alpine peaks!

• These winter workshops are the PERFECT place to wear and show off all of your incredible, hand-crafted sweaters!
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The winter packages include the following season-specific activities:

• A sleigh ride through a feudal estate located in a magnificent valley

• A late-afternoon wine, cheese and regional foods degustation at the top of the Tognola mountain led by the top enologist in the region while viewing the sunset over the spectacular Pale di San Martino and witnessing the phenomenon of the Enrosadira in person. The final highlight of the event is the choice of descent - either by cable car or on skis in a torch-lit procession!

• Easy guide-led snowshoe walks along trails on the outskirts of town (optional)

• Kart races on ice (optional)

• Skipass skiing and snowboarding packages are available for purchase (optional)

• Evening skiing available on the run next door to our hotel (optional)
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Explanation of how Spaetzle are formed when they are dropped into the pot.  Photo: Alessandro Simon

Maria Giovanna, owner of the Malga Ces, watches as one of her chefs demonstrates the preparation of Spaetzle to our group. Cooking demos are part of every workshop vacation we offer.  Photo: Daniela Anderson.

Daniela translates into English each step in the chef's preparation of the dish. Photo: Alessandro Simon.

Snowshoe hikes have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. Photo: APT

Evening view of downtown San Martino di Castrozza lit up by the snow's reflection. Photo: APT

The Rifugio Tognola, the charming chalet where our afternoon wine and cheese tasting is held. Photo: APT

There are many indoor activities to enjoy if you would rather stay indoors than play in the snow. Here, Luciano Da Canal from Girovagando in Trentino shares a glass of wine with Renzo Debertolis in his wine bar, La Mia Enoteca. Photo courtesy of Agh, Girovagando in Trentino.

Luciano Da Canal and friends from Girovagando in Trentino share a glass of wine with Renzo Debertolis in his wine bar, La Mia Enoteca. Photo courtesy of Agh, Girovagando in Trentino.

Our "Autumn in Italy" Italian Tyrolean Alps and Venice workshop package:

Most of the activities listed in our Spring/ Summer workshop packages are included in this workshop. The unique feature of our this autumn workshop is a very special annual event, the ancient Festival of the Desmontegar.

Students will have the rare opportunity to witness one of the oldest, sacred rituals of this Alpine region - Thr Festival of the
Desmontegar: the return of the cows and shepherds from the high mountain meadows and farms at the end of summer, marking the symbolic beginning of Autumn.

The special activities planned for this unsurpassed workshop include:

• A spectacular parade through town with the cows decked out in flowers and alpine hats and the locals dressed in regional costume

• Many organized food and wine events

• An Octoberfest with our own yodeling trio, The Beatrich, performing

• A lunchtime performance by the a capella all-men's choir, Il Coro Sass Maor, in a beautiful valley meadow

• An amazing artisans' fair that showcases fiber arts and many other regional crafts

• Demonstrations of felt-making, cheese-making, honey extraction, Tyrolean wood carving,and other artisanal specialties.

• Many of the daily outings featured in our summer workshops - Cable Car rides, cooking demos, and VENICE!
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The Festival of the Desmontegar celebrates one of the oldest, sacred rituals of this Alpine region - the return of the cows and shepherds from the high mountain meadows and farms at the end of summer, marking the symbolic beginning of Autumn. The grand finale is the parade in which the cows, goats and other farm animals are adorned with flowers and walked through the town.

The Festival of the Desmontegar draws guests from all over Italy. Three days of festivities culminate in a huge parade that includes cows, horses, goats, floats, dancing troupes, local marching bands, and our own yodeling trio, The Beatrich. The parade ends with a joyous Octoberfest under the big tent and continues through the rest of the day.

A visit to Venice is included in all of our Italian Alps-based vacations:

• The day is yours to customize and explore:
• Visits to local yarn and bead shops
• Visits to see the local lace-makers and glass-blowers on the islands of Burano and Murano (optional)
• A group presentation and demonstration with the most famous mask-maker in Venice of historical daily life and society through the cultural use of the Venetian mask.
• Eating Tiramisu where the natives go to indulge themselves
• Optional lunch at the historic Caffe' Florian  in Piazza San Marco (the oldest caffe' in Italy opened in 1720)
• Enjoying beautiful and inspiring locations and landmarks
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OUR FRENCH AND ITALIAN RIVIERA WORKSHOPS AND YARN CRAWLS:

explores another one of our favorite locations in the world!  We had so much fun with our Yarn Crawl down the Riviera in July 2009 that we decided to add it permanently to our dossier of fabulous, annual workshop destinations.

We begin in Nice, France, and explore Monaco, Monte Carlo, Genova, legendary Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo,  Zoagli, and Valsesia (where we have been invited for a private visit of the famous Loro Piana Cashmere headquarters and factory!!!)!

Imagine sitting along the promenades and beaches of some of the world's most famous stretchs of oceanfront, enjoying the sun on your face while you knit, crochet or spin the time away in such an exotic location!

Daniela's grand-paternal family hails from the antique port city of Genova, and has had a presence there since the mid-1700's. Daniela has spent a lifetime shared between the United States and the Riviera along with the Italian Alps and Venice, so this workshop group will be treated to some very personalized excursions and interesting locations thanks to her connections and friendships in this region of Europe as well. We have included a more detailed outline with pictures of this workshop on this page because it is our most recent workshop addition to FSSA.  Please enjoy the pictures!  Return to Page Menu

The Hotel Italia e Lido and the Medieval Castle of Rapallo, seen straight ahead, enjoy one of the most coveted locations in this shoreside town. The hotel boasts its own private beach nestled between the hotel and castle, and both are located adjacent to the Promenade, a lovely place to sit and enjoy the ambiance! If you cross the street going away from the water, you find yourself in the boutique-rich pedestrian zone.  Everything is within a stone's throw!  Photo: Daniela Anderson

• A trolley-ride through this beautiful sea-side town.
• A visit and demonstration with the Gandolfi, the last family of bobbin-lace makers (Also known in the region as Pizzo al Tombolo) that still maintain a studio and retail store where they offer the consigned lace created by generations of other lace-makers in the region. Rapallo is recognized as being the most important center for Italian Bobbin Lace.
• A visit to a wonderful local yarn shop - the only one out of 5 that has withstood the economy and online yarn sales. Our guests who visited this shop in 2009 fell in love with the shop and its delightful owner and we all lugged away bags of "delicious" luxury yarn to fortify our stashes!
• A cable car ride up the mountain for a breath-taking, scenic view of the bays of Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure, and Portofino.
• A visit to a nearby bakery to learn how to make authentic Genoese Focaccia (considered unique and the best in Italy - think San Francisco Sourdough).
• Cooking demos of REAL Genoese Pesto and Gnocchi with our hotel's chef.
• A visit to Rapallo's bobbin-lace museum is available but optional because we are not able to reach that destination with our group vehicle. It is a 5 minute walk from our hotel, and taxis are available if you would rather get there by car.
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The workmanship on every part of the self-designed, handknitted and lined girl's coat was impeccable. Photo: Daniela Anderso

The "Vogue" Knitting Shop in Rapallo, Italy. Photo: Daniela Anderson

The private beach nestled between our hotel and the castle.  Photo: Daniela Anderson

• Boat ride in a traditional Battello to Portofino enjoying the views of the brightly colored villages that dot the shoreline along the way.
• A visit arranged by some of Daniela's local friends with some of the village's lace-makers.
• Free time to explore Castle Brown on the cliff as well as the Church of St. George.
• Lunch in Portofino is on your own to maximize your own personal exploration of this legendary fishing village. If you choose to have lunch with Daniela at her favorite caffe by the water's edge, she happily will introduce you to Portofino's special dessert: Paciugo (translation: a "mess" in Genoese dialect). The owners of this caffe' will make Paciugo for our group the way they have made it traditionally for Daniela and her family for almost 40 years since they opened their doors. Traditional Paciugo hasn't been available on menus anywhere in Portofino for at least 20 years, and the caffe' owners were thrilled to re-create the original confection for Daniela's yarn crawl tour group in July 2009. Prepare yourself for a real treat.
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Valsesia, Italy:

• The special visit planned in Valsesia truly is one of the highlights of our Riviera tour.  Thanks to Daniela's connections in the region, our group will enjoy the privilege of a VERY exclusive private tour at Loro Piana's global headquarters, factory and nearby retail store.  Loro Piana is, without doubt, the number one Cashmere Label in the world.

• The Loro Piana family started as merchants of wool fabrics at the beginning of the 19th century. In the 1940's, the company made a name for itself as a supplier of fine fabrics for the "haute couture" industry, which was a growing phenomenon in the post-war period. Today, Loro Piana owns 130 stores worldwide that distributes luxury sportswear and leisurewear, knitwear, accessories, home collections, bags, shoes and small leather goods, and one of the most complete made-to-measure services available on the market.  In the knitting world, Colourmart, a very respected British yarn label, works with Loro Piana to produce some of its exquisite 100% Cashmere yarn.
  
• During the factory portion of our visit, our group will enjoy a rare opportunity to view the transformation of cashmere from raw material to finished product.  We also will watch the complex methods used to treat finished cashmere products that result in a superior garment.
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Testimonial: I just finished the wonderful French and Italian Riviera Yarn Crawl and tour and the Italian Alps Knitting Workshop and can't say enough about how helpful Daniela and our driver were. Our hotel at Rapallo was right on the beach and was very accessable. Daniela really took everyone's condition, ability, and desires into consideration as she planned the tours, locations, and events.

If you have physical limitations or needs, make sure you are up front with Daniela about what you can and can't do. That way she can let you know if you can be accommodated.

We had a great tour of the Riviera, saw Monte Carlo, and visited some great yarn shops. Then we went up into the Alps, where we stayed at a lovely hotel built in the 1800's. We slept each night with our balcony door open and woke up looking at the most beautiful mountains.

Each day included a morning tour, then lunch, followed by our afternoon knitting workshop. We visited a cheese factory where we saw them make the region's cheese, ate samples, and bought cheese. We saw food demonstrations, weaving demonstrations, and wood carving. There was definitely something for everybody.

Some of the men went hiking while we were having our knitting workshops, and all were pleased with what we did, the knitting, and hotel, and food.

I would definitely recommend Daniela and her agency, I had a tremendous time, saw beautiful areas, and learned some new knitting techniques.  -Jean     Return to Page Menu