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Artisans

I moved to France and became owner of a reclamation and salvage yard

When Nick Powell, 55, came to France at the tender age of 20, it was to help with a building project on a house close to Poitiers

Art of trimmings: The artisans who supplied French and Monaco royals

Only one firm specialising in the ancient craft operates in France. Its owners describe the challenges that their business is facing in contemporary times.

Mimosas blossom in south of France as season begins

The bright, highly-scented trees bloom from January until the end of March, and are prized in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var for everything from perfume to candles to chocolate

magazine

A brief history of French time and ‘timekeepers’

Which French city was home to the earliest mechanical clock? Who was Jean-André Lepaute? We delve into France's history of 'timekeepers'

France lockdown: Can artisans continue to buy materials?

There are over 1 million artisanal business in France, with the majority in the building trade

Meet the shamanic (spiritual) drum maker in Dorodgne

Only five percussion makers exist in the entire country, according to the Institut National des Métiers d’Art, and Louisa Vinciarelli thinks she is the only one who makes her instruments from scratch

Rules for providing a quotation, or 'devis' for work in France

Providing a quote for services or work is obligatory by law for businesses in certain cases. We explain

‘I am still captivated by the magic of my stained glass windows work’

The world of restoring stained glass windows is still a masculine one, but this did not stop Audrey Rogers from becoming a Maître Verrier, despite being told several times she was too small and would never succeed

Artisan soap maker: 'After six years, it still gives me a thrill’

Anne Handel is one of around a hundred artisanal soap makers in France. She talks about her craft, which she gets a great deal of pleasure from

‘Why artisans in France should vote in Chambre de Métiers elections’

A business owner in the south-west says that your local CMA organisation can make a significant - and positive - difference to your working life

'We are proud to continue the craft of traditional straw brooms'

Marie-Laure and Arnaud Gabriel from Normandy have revived a dying craft, and become one of only two makers of traditional straw brooms in France

Should France allow bread to be sold seven days a week?

A bakery union is the latest group to fight a 100-year French law that bans the sale of bread seven days a week - but not all bakers are in favour

Meet Paris' last artisanal mattress maker

Patrice Sébille runs the only 'atelier' of its kind left in Paris. He stepped in to save an ancient skill, but is finding it tough to keep going

France’s last chess piece maker saved by Netflix show and lockdown

Thanks to people playing chess during the Covid lockdowns and Netflix hit 'The Queen's Gambit', Tournerie Roz is once again making chess pieces

Laguiole knife makers seek trademark to fight counterfeits

Makers of the famous French steak knives are calling for official geographic recognition to protect the brand from low-quality copies made in China and Pakistan

Craftspeople in France: Cabinetmaker/Carpenter

Renovating furniture and creating objects with wood is what David Mournard loves doing – and his wands have been a surprise success.

Craftspeople in France - ski maker

The artisans keeping alive proud French ski traditions

British designer behind south of France fashion empire

Beverly Smart moved from London to Lagrasse 31 years ago but it was her need to make money that started a successful business, she tells The Connexion

Craftspeople in France - candlemaker

Holding a candle for veggie wax

Architecture of France: Périgord Noir

Hammering home beauty

France's crafts in focus - April 2019

I loved hats so much I learnt how to create them

France's crafts in focus - May 2019

Versace family’s handcrafted and traditional tiles

France's crafts in focus - June 2019

Life and loves of an ‘accidental’ glass blower

France's crafts in focus - September 2019

Modern-day careers in the age-old art of bookbinding

Fight to save Normandy lace school

A British woman has stepped in to try to save Bayeux’s only lace school from closing due to lack of funds.

Group calls for “1,000 village cafés” to revive France

A social and environmental enterprise is calling on 32,000 communes across France to create or re-open 1,000 rural “village cafés”, in a bid to revive the sense of community in small towns.

Bright future for 239-year-old French pastels firm

Karine Loiseau , owner of France’s oldest dry pastel-making company explains what goes into making the paint sticks by hand in 2019

How a mason climbed his way to career carved in stone

Christophe Allegri has worked with stone for 30 years after discovering his interest in architecture during student antics climbing on scaffolding, pipes and church guttering

Handcrafted bicycles enjoy renaissance as works of art

Some of the bicycles in this month’s Tour de France are likely to have been hand-built by a frame-builder, a cadreur in French.

86-year-old is France’s artisan winner

A woman who took up embroidery at the age of 80 has won a best craftswoman of France award (Meilleur Ouvrier de France ).

The return of baby-foot

Classic French bar game is enjoying an unlikely renaissance

Modern apprenticeship from the Middle Ages

One way to join the best trained and most respected craftsmen and women in France is to sign up with Les Compagnons du Devoir, an organisation which has passed on skills from generation to generation since the Middle Ages.

French food focus - March 2019

A focus on food in France

How romantic movie inspired successful brolly business

Jane Hanks discovers the myriad possibilities presented by a quality, handmade parapluie from a man whose father was inspired to start making umbrellas by a well-known Sixties French musical

Chef who taught France to love cupcakes

Celebrity pastry chef Chloé Saada did not set out to make her living in the culinary world, she tells Jane Hanks

French bakers accused in court for working too much

Two bakers from Calvados (Normandy) have been summoned before their local courts, accused of illegally selling bread through their bakery seven days per week.

Are non-RGE workers not legally registered?

I have been advised to only use renovation professionals who are ‘RGE’ registered – does this mean other workers are not legally registered? T.B.

‘Each window is a creation’

Jane Hanks meets a window dresser whose job is to tempt you into shops this festive season

Kiwis taught me my passion for cheese

October is a great time to eat fresh goats’ cheese (as well as spring) and cheese expert Thomas Métin, who discovered his love for French cheese in New Zealand, passes on some tips... such as why you should not keep cheese on the fridge top shelf