Join Wendy in Charante Maritime August 23rd-30th, 2025. Get all the details here!

Jessica Hickman-Woolcott didn’t have a grand plan when she moved from the UK to France—just a feeling that it was the right move. She fell in love with a centuries-old château, took a leap without knowing exactly how it would all work out, and along the way, opened the Cognac Jewellery School on her property. In this episode, she and Wendy talk about what happens when you trust your instincts, throw logic out the window, and say yes to something that excites you—even if it doesn’t make perfect sense on paper. They also dive into the slower, more intentional way of life in Charante Maritime and what it feels like to truly settle into the present moment. Plus, Jessica shares a sneak peek into the hands-on jewelry-making experience she’ll be leading as part of Wendy’s hosted trip to France this August—an opportunity for anyone ready to say yes to adventure. If you've ever felt the pull to shake things up and follow your heart, this conversation is the reminder that you don’t need a perfect roadmap—just the courage to take the first step.

About Jessica:

Jessica has over ten years experience designing, making, and teaching Jewellry and Silversmithing, using traditional and modern techniques. She learned her craft at the Kingham Jewellery School in Oxfordshire, England, and then at the historic Guild of Handicraft in Chipping Campden. With four years of dedicated training, Jessica honed a wide variety of metal-working skills creating both intricate jewellery and large-scale silverware, including designing and creating commissions for prominent figures. 

Her journey led her back to the Kinghham Jewellery School as a tutor, where she taught and shared her silversmithing skills while simultaneously launching her own award-winning jewellery brand. Now living in the heart of the Cognac Region of France at the Château de Puyguiller, Jessica continues to share her knowledge and creativity as the founder of the Cognac Jewellery School, established in 2022. 

Connect with Jessica:

On Instagram @cognac_jewellery_school

On Facebook

On YouTube

CognacJewellerySchool.com

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Say YES to joining Wendy for her:

Say YES Sisterhood
PWH Farm Stays
PWH Curated France Trips
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Website: Phineas Wright House

Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective
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