Mon 25 Aug
|Château de Saçy
The Silk Canvas with Hilary Simon
Dive in to the wild colours of French silk painting with expert tutor Hilary Simon in a week of engaging workshops. Yoga classes, lake swims, outings, feasts, and a pop-up group exhibition will be part of the fun and you'll return home with vibrant treasures and a magical new skill
Time and Place
25 Aug 2025, 17:30 – 31 Aug 2025, 11:50
Château de Saçy, 1 Rue Verte, 60190 Sacy-le-Petit, France
What's Happening
THE SILK CANVAS
Welcome to the wonderful, wildly colourful world of silk painting and travel wizard Hilary Simon. With a fiesta of colour, textures and a glorious location to draw on, you'll be shown how to master the Sertí technique on silk (using spirit-based gutta gum and Dupont dyes) over a series of twice-daily workshops at the château.
The week will be structured around design and drawing, with demonstrations and hands-on learning of the various techniques using salt, layering, alcohol and methods of applying the dyes and gutta gum. The dyes are French Dupont which mix beautifully and run like vibrant watercolours.
Your piece can be framed or there will be a sewing machine to transform them into beautiful wall hangings, greeting cards, hair accessories, cushions or pillow cases, and silk threads to embellish them with embroidery. On the final day we'll exhibit your pieces in the chateau for an evening of admiration! The media is easy to grasp, very therapeutic, and all levels can produce masterpieces
All bedrooms have a desk and there are other peaceful spaces to work in – the salon, the barn, the gardens, the studio
Daily workshops will cover:
Gutta gum application
Dyes, crayons and ways of covering the silk
Wet on wet application
The varying effects of salts and alcohol
Faux Batik hot wax for a crackled effect
Inspiration - researching images, either structured or free hand, that will work on silk
Still life drawing from the environment.
Creation of a final piece of work to display in a pop-up, celebratory exhibition at the end of the week.
YOGA
The beautiful old barn, or the front lawn, makes a perfect space for pre-breakfast Vinyasa Flow yoga classes, run for all levels by popular Sacy regular Megane Thiboust. These will clear your mind and prepare you for the focus of the day ahead.
FOOD AND DRINK
Meals will be Ottolenghi-inspired, largely vegetarian, nutricious and locally sourced where possible. We can cater for various diets on request.
Each participant will pair up with another to prepare one dinner, with ingredients and recipe supplied and help at hand.
Coffee, tea, fruit, pastries, bread and cheese will be available throughout the day in a separate communal kitchen.
Wine will be served with dinner.
ACCOMMODATION
We offer a range to suit different budgets - from a furnished bell tent in the orchard that can be shared with a friend, to an en suite with windows giving on to both sides of the garden. All the rooms are private. You can find out more about each option here or by clicking on the images below.
OPTIONAL OUTINGS
Thursday To the magnificent Chateau de Chantilly, home to many masterpieces, including three Raphaëls
Saturday To a wonderful local arts centre in Verderonne, as well as a medieval convent where the Poor Clares once lived and worked, and an alternative swimming lake
FREE TIME
Walk through the nearby woods to the Chapelle Saint Catherine, a spot visited by Joan of Arc
Swim in a large, gorgeous lake surrounded by wildlife
Explore the countryside on our boneshakers, ie bikes
Learn to walk our tightrope
Play table tennis or French billiards
Dive into the theatrical dresses, suits and hats of the Dressing-up Room
Book a massage (extra cost)
Or just relax and soak up the atmosphere at the château
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Six nights in your own room or furnished bell tent at the château (sheets, towels and toiletries provided)
Morning and Afternoon workshops
All materials needed, with the option to buy more
A3 Picture Frame for final work
Five yoga classes, with equipment provided
Lifts to and from the station
Welcome cocktail
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at the château
Wine (within reason) at dinner
Coffee, tea, juice, snacks at all times
Use of the communal kitchen
Run of (most of) the house, gardens and outdoor buildings
Use of our bikes
Wifi
Parking space
Outings to local lake and places of interest
Travel advice
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Travel costs
Airport transfers
Travel Insurance
Visa fee if required
Meals/drinks away from the house
Entry tickets on excursions
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST RETREATS
'Came here with no ideas and nothing on paper and left with a concrete plan and words on paper. Gained many kilos as a result of the great comfort food.' Marieke Heikens
'Great week, help, inspiration and women in an unforgettable setting. Thank you!' Kate Slater
'What a week! What a house! Thank you for an incredible experience and the out of this world food. Loved the dressing-up room. Special.' Emma Louise Gallic
Find out more about Hilary Simon and the schedule here. More about each room here.
BOOK YOUR SPOT
Bell Tent
The furnished, 4m Bell Tent is pitched in the orchard and has a single bed (another may be added), bedding, a rug, low table, desk and camping lights. You will have use of the shared loos and shower in the house. The tent can be booked for one participant or two booking together.
From £899.00 to £1,699.00
£899.00
+£22.48 ticket service fee
£1,699.00
+£42.48 ticket service fee
Mansarde
A cosy, carpetted room with twin beds, clothes rail, skylight and desk. The shared loos, shower and bathroom are down a flight of stairs. Can be booked for one participant or two booking together.
From £899.00 to £1,699.00
£899.00
+£22.48 ticket service fee
£1,699.00
+£42.48 ticket service fee
Attic Double
A large, basic but romantic room under the eaves.. It has a concrete floor with a rug, wifi, desk, clothes rail, full-length mirror and contains many historical objects. The shared loos, bathroom, and shower room are down a flight of stairs. Can be booked for one or two of you together
From £999.00 to £1,899.00
£999.00
+£24.98 ticket service fee
£1,899.00
+£47.48 ticket service fee
End Room
A delightful room full of light on the first floor. It has a large, curtained-off single bed, tiled floor, fireplace, two windows and desk. Shared loos, bathroom and shower room are along the corridor.
£999.00
+£24.98 ticket service fee
Blue Room
The picturesque blue rooms have a striking, ancient patina with a tiled floor, desk, a marble fireplace, marble washstand, and an annexe with a daybed to store clothes. Shared loos, bathroom and shower room are along the corridor. The rooms can be booked for one participant or two booking together.
From £1,099.00 to £1,999.00
£1,099.00
+£27.48 ticket service fee
£1,999.00
+£49.98 ticket service fee
Apartment
This large, carpeted double has its own loo and shower, excellent wifi, comfortable armchair, wardrobe space, alcove bed, marble fireplace and adjacent communal kitchen. It can be booked for one participant or two booking together.
From £1,299.00 to £2,399.00
£1,299.00
+£32.48 ticket service fee
£2,399.00
+£59.98 ticket service fee
Total
£0.00