Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing reviews

13 Sep 20'

Andrea reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"Great day learning new skills in a relaxed and easy manner with Louise and Simon. The combi-day is an excellent idea to be able to have a taster of playing with Wood and Clay. All done in a beautiful setting with lunch and great humour. Thank you."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"We're so pleased you enjoyed the 2 in 1 workshop :-). We had a very enjoyable day too! Lovely to give you both a taster in woodturning and ceramics. I'll let you guys know when your pottery pieces are ready to post out :-)."

13 Sep 20'

Tara reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"Had such a great day and were really welcomed by Simon and Louise. Both are clearly very skilled and talented in their individual fields and were able to easily translate their knowledge into teaching even us...complete beginners! A fabulous, fun, learning experience and surprisingly therapeutic. Also a great idea to combine the Wood and Pottery into one day. Perfect to be able to try out the basics of both before deciding if you want to invest more in one, the other or both. Highly recommended."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Tara, thank you for your lovely review! We really enjoyed having you guys here and we're so pleased you had a great day :-). You both made some super pieces!"

10 Sep 20'

Amelia Howe reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a fantastic time on the day's woodturning course. I was a total beginner but was given lots of support and so happy with my pieces. It was great to be given the right amount of time and freedom to explore the tools, but also know that I had support there whenever it was needed (quite a lot!). Lunch and snacks were also of the highest standard! Simon has been really helpful in advising about tools and I can't wait to develop my skills further in the future."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Really glad you enjoyed the day and that you got the course notes afterwards. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any help or advice."

10 Sep 20'

Alex reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Highly recommend this course very informative and very enjoyable."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Thank you for your review Alex. It was a pleasure teaching you and you made some lovely pieces! :-)"

7 Sep 20'

Angela Hodgkins reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"I don’t remember enjoying an afternoon so much in a long time! I have wanted to try my hand at pottery for years; I’m in my mid-sixties and the last time I touched clay (other than a garden pot) was when I was at school and always regretted not having tried hand throwing. It was fantastic!! We tried our hand at pinch pots, slab construction and hand throwing and, despite all the concentration ? it was very relaxing. Louise was so easy to talk to and was also very patient, encouraging and tolerant. She made us feel very comfortable. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her course to anyone"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Angela, I really enjoyed teaching you and Francis, and I'm so glad you enjoyed what was evidently a "surprise" afternoon :-). You've both made some beautiful slab pots and you were very natural on the wheel - you looked thoroughly absorbed! I'll be trimming you pots this evening and I'll let you guys know as soon as they are ready for collection. Thanks again for the lovely review!"

23 Aug 20'

Kim reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Great course- we got hands on very quickly and Simon was an excellent tutor. Gave very good explanations to all questions without throwing too much information at us. We made some beautiful bowls and had a memorable day. Absolutely loved it."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Really pleased you had a good day Kim, and thank you for your fab review. You just need to convince Annie to to buy a lathe now ;-). Well done making some beautiful pieces!"

23 Aug 20'

Annie reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"As a total novice at wood turning (and all other crafts!) I had an amazing day. Simon pitched the day perfectly so we could get the most out of it. We learnt a lot and felt that we really achieved something. It was also great fun! We had a lovely lunch and felt utterly welcome with Simon and Louise."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Annie, thank you for your lovely review. We're so pleased you enjoyed the workshop. You made some beautiful pieces and you should be very proud of your efforts :-). Thanks again!"

23 Aug 20'

Alex Keating reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"I brought the half day beginner pottery workshop for my mum for Christmas. We had a wonderful time with Louise. The instruction was clear and easy to follow. We really enjoyed the morning & can't wait to see our finished pots!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Thank you for your lovely review Alex. So pleased that you and your mum enjoyed the pottery workshop! I'm sure your glazed pots will look wonderful. Thanks again!"

22 Aug 20'

Beth Trew reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"I had a brilliant day with Louise. Not only did I learn how to throw, centre, cone up and down, open and pull a pot on the wheel but I also had a go at a slab vase and a pinch pot. I did the 1/2 day course and I wish I'd booked a full day as I could have stayed longer. Louise is a very talented potter and her work is all around her studio and inspires you to do better. She is encouraging, friendly, kind, patient, easy going and knowledgable. I would highly recommend doing this course. I am definitely going to re-book for some more tuition. Thanks Louise and Simon...for the tea!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Beth, What a lovely review! Thank you so much :-). Massively pleased you found the workshop inspiring - and I had a funny feeling you'd enjoy the slab work just as much as the throwing ;-). Look forward to seeing you again - we can focus a little more on the whole "cylinder" thing then ;-). I'll let you know when your pots are ready to collect :-). Take care Louise"

20 Aug 20'

Sarah reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"We really enjoyed the wood turning course, it was a lovely day and we are very happy with the pieces we made. Simon is an excellent tutor; very informative, and very patient! Simon and Louise made us feel at home, plenty of refreshments, lunch was lovely. We enjoyed every second! Highly recommend; we will be looking to book another course in the future."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Sarah, hi Robin, Thank you for the really lovely review. We're so pleased you enjoyed your day - it was lovely to have you! Simon says that Robin's a natural! Love to have you back again in the future :-) Take care."

10 Aug 20'

Keith Knowles reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I am a recent beginner to wood turning and though I recently joined a club I need a course to help me improve. On my arrival Simon and his dear wife made feel at home, including their dogs. Simon explained what the day consisted of and the safety measures of his workshop. He was very patient and fully explained on... What type of chisels there were. How to hold the chisels. How to stand in front of the lathe. The speed of the lathe. And much much more. He allowed me to be creative and gave tips to improve. I was looked after throughout the day with refreshments and the lunch was very nice. I made a bowl, the best I have ever made (my own tries before though ok were not as good) it was smooth and great. The other item was a honey spoon and though simple, was indeed welcomed by my dear wife. I would recommend all beginners to attend a course like this one before you get into bag habits. Thanks Simon a great day was had and if there are more course you do to go beyond my present standard then I will book another in the future."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Keith, thank you for your lovely review. It was fab to meet you and we'd love to have you back in the future. Simon has no problem providing a more intermediate/next step up from beginner workshop for you, so let us know when you'd like to do it. You made a beautiful bowl :-)."

3 Aug 20'

Nick reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A great day professionally presented. Simon's tuition was excellent allowing even a novice to produce a piece of work to be proud of. A very pleasant lunch in lovely surroundings added to the enjoyment of a fantastic experience."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Nick, we are really glad you enjoyed your woodturning experience. You both made pieces you should most definitely be proud of. It's amazing what you can do in a day! Thanks again for the lovely review :-)."

3 Aug 20'

Nikki reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A really great day learning the art of wood turning. Simon was extremely patient and clear with his instructions. The set up was very professional and well presented. Lunch was excellent (a big thank you to you both for catering for our dietary needs). In conclusion, a fantastic day which I would both highly recommend and love to do again. Thank you both so much ?"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Nikki, We are so pleased you had a good day! You both made some lovely pieces and it was a pleasure to teach you. Feel free to come back any time :-)"

29 Jul 20'

Sally Diggins reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"My husband and I attended the 2 crafts in 1 day, what a brilliant day we had. We were greeted by the hosts Simon and Louise in their beautiful garden where later we had lunch prepared for us. We both enjoyed learning new skills and a taster for wood turning and pottery. Both were explained fully and our hosts were very patient with us while our attempts were made. Both Simon and Louise had a noticeable enthusiasm for their crafts and would very much like to return at some point. Highly recommended and good value for money."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Sally, hi Graham, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are really pleased that you both enjoyed your workshops! We look forward to welcoming you back in the future if you fancy having a more in-depth workshop in either of the crafts. Lovely meeting you both :-)."

16 Jul 20'

Thomas Andrews reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Really good fun! I’d done some woodturning before, but it was really good to get some proper instruction on the matter. Both Simon and Louise were very friendly and made the entire day a real pleasure. I would definitely recommend this course to both newcomers and those with some experience as well."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Thomas, We're so glad you enjoyed the workshop, and it was lovely meeting you. Pleased you learnt something from the day, despite already having woodturning experience :-)."

7 Jul 20'

Brian Lamb reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"This day course was a brilliant introduction to woodturning having never done any previously. Simon was a great tutor who took time to explain things in detail before handing over the tools for me to have a try and was always on hand to give advice or step in when required. This course was very relaxed and informal which was ideal for someone with no turning experience and both Simon and Louise put me at ease from the start which was great as I was quite nervous when I arrived. Many thanks to Louise for the lovely lunch and the not to mention the endless supply of refreshments throughout the day. The information pack supplied after the course with some woodturning equipment and beginners notes as well as photos and video of the day was a nice touch. I would recommend this course to anyone who would like to try their hand at woodturning. Regards, Brian."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Brian, We're so pleased you enjoyed your workshop! You should be super proud of the pieces you made, and it was lovely to meet you :-). Don't hesitate to contact us if you need more information about setting your woodturning workshop. Kind regards Simon & Louise (Blended Monkey)"

30 Jun 20'

Mat Bryant reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon was an excellent teacher and I learned a lot of new techniques which I feel I can put to use on my own. The lunch was lovely too! Overall a great course, I would definitely recommend it."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Mat, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're so pleased you enjoyed the workshop, and we know you'll be making some wonderful pieces in the future :-)."

21 Jun 20'

Michael Lansdown reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"This was a most enjoyable course and I left with numerous tips and, of course, improved techniques. Simon and Louise were great hosts and the day started with a warm welcome from both. Simon was a very patient tutor and stepped in whenever necessary but also allowed us (a 2 person course) time to practice what we had been shown. Louise ensured we had enough drinks throughout the day, together with a lovely lunch which we ate in the very pleasant garden. When I am ready to go to the next level, I will be giving Simon a call and am happy to recommend this course to anyone who wants to start woodturning; but be warned - it is addictive!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Michael, We're so glad you and Timothy enjoyed your woodturning workshop. We're always amazed and really happy to see how much our students can achieve in just 1 day. We hope you continue to enjoy woodturning, and we'd love to see some of the pieces you make - so do stay in touch! Simon & Louise (Blended Monkey)"

19 Jun 20'

Paul Plumridge reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Brilliant introduction into the art of woodturning in a beautiful setting. Simon is such a patient tutor, which he had to be when I took lumps out of my honey dipper and blunted his tools through misuse. Nonetheless he persevered and I came away very satisfied and feeling competent enough to have a go on my own."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Paul, thank you for your lovely review. We're so pleased that you and Ben enjoyed your woodturning workshop. We hope you continue to make many more wonderful pieces :-)."

3 Mar 20'

Brian Elliott reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"An excellent day's introduction to wood turning. Simon was a great tutor allowing me plenty of time on the lathe and stepping in when I needed support (quite often!). I've wanted to try wood turning for some time and couldn't have had a better introduction. Louise kept us well watered and fed so, all in all, a very enjoyable day. Many thanks!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"You're welcome, Brian and thanks for the lovely review. You were a great pupil who listened and persevered. I wish you well in your future turning endeavours and please feel free to reach out if you need advice. Kind Regards, Simon & Louise Taggart (Blended Monkey)"

12 Feb 20'

Christian reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon was really patient and friendly, judged my learning pace really well. Excellent lunch and kept well watered. I will be back to further my knowledge. Simon has a real passion that shines through ! Came away with pieces of work I am really proud of and a thirst to develop further. Inspiring!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Christian, you were a pleasure to teach and picked up the craft really well. I look forward to helping you progress in the craft, and, now that you have a lathe, you can practice, practice, practice! ?"

5 Feb 20'

Tom reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon is a really nice guy, and did a good job of teaching me not only the basics of wood turning, but also what tools and equipment I should get as a beginner. I highly recommend if your a beginner who's thinking about having a go at wood turning."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Tom, Thank you for your fab review! We're so pleased you've enjoyed your first session, and we're looking forward to seeing you again soon. Kind regards Simon & Louise (Blended Monkey)"

5 Jan 20'

Ben Tregenna reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A wonderful and inspiring day course! As an absolute beginner I learnt so much and came home with a magnificent bowl and other bits. A really warm and friendly couple, Simon’s teaching was well paced and Louise provided a great lunch and never ending cups of coffee. Cannot recommend too highly!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Ben, Thank you for your lovely review :-). We're really pleased you had a good day, and it was lovely to meet you. We get a buzz from the enthusiasm that our 1-2-1 woodturning workshop can generate for this really interesting craft."

28 Nov 19'

Janet Patrick reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon’s woodturning course was a surprise birthday present from my daughter, something I have always fancied trying. I was a complete beginner but with Simon’s guidance, patience and kindness I was pleased and surprised to come away with what I thought were three amazing pieces. I would recommend this course to anyone who would like to try their hand at something new. Many thanks also to Louise for the very welcome refreshments throughout the day."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Janet, We're so pleased you enjoyed your day. It was lovely to meet you! Thank you for your fab review too :-)."

20 Nov 19'

Mark lee reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"A good day spent with Louise fun with throwing on the wheel and some slab work. Finished about 4 bits of work and Louise fired them and sent them by post to me a few weeks after the course. Had a nice lunch and both Louise and Simon were very helpful . A full day well spent."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Mark, Thank you for your lovely review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the course. It was lovely to meet you and Caroline. Hope you continue with the craft. Don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like information about the resources, equipment or techniques. Kind regards Louise (Blended Monkey)"