Beginners 1-day one to one pottery/ceramics workshop for 1 person

I've always wanted to give pottery a try - especially the wheel - and this day course was perfect. Louise was a great teacher and very good company. The morning was spent trying out different techniques - I made a couple of pinch pots, a coil pot plus a slab work vase and wall hanging. It was great to try out pattern rollers as well as pressing different materials into the clay. After a lovely lunch which we were able to eat outside in the beautiful garden, the afternoon was spent trying out the pottery wheel. Personally I wasn't fussed if I made anything or not, as I was enjoying simply trying to make something and as expected it's a lot harder than it looks! I was pleased with how it went although I kept making the same mistake but was improving each time. I ended up with a couple of things that were half decent for a beginner so that was a bonus. It's hard work using the wheel and the backs of my arms were quite stiff the next day!

I had a great day. My wife bought me a one day pottery experience with Louise as I've always fancied having a go especially at throwing a pot or two. I'm so glad she did. I learnt so much but had one of the most relaxed days I've had in a long while due to the environment, the hospitality and the training style. Which clearly worked as Louise had me throwing cylinders/pots shortly after lunch! Can't wait to see what comes out of the kiln. If you have an interest and like me, have never used a potters wheel or touched a bit of clay since I was at school ( some 40 years ago ) then you won't go wrong by spending a day in the studio with Louise. Highly recommended !

I had a really enjoyable day learning and making lots of pottery pieces. Louise is a great teacher and a lovely lady. Lunch was so good! :-) All in all a brilliant day had, thank you x

This course is so much fun! I loved learning all the different techniques in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Louise is kind, helpful, and fun to chat to. This experience was very relaxing, and I hope to come back again!

An excellent introduction to working with clay and the potter's wheel. Louise is relaxing company whilst offering instruction and advice throughout the day. The lunch was tasty and accommodated dietary needs, and tea was plentiful throughout the day ! Thank you Louise.

I really, really enjoyed all aspects of the beginner's one-day pottery course and would not hesitate in recommending it to others. Louise is an excellent tutor. She was friendly, supportive and encouraging and explained everything very clearly and easily and her enthusiasm was infectious.

I was given a voucher for a pottery day from my husband for Christmas. The booking process was easy and Louise checked for any dietary requirements for lunch (I avoid cow’s milk).

On the day the travel directions were very straight forward and on arrival Louise put me at ease as she is very friendly and approachable. I was a complete beginner and enjoyed learning pinch pots, coil pots and slab building. After a lovely relaxed lunch I tried throwing on the wheel. By the end of the afternoon I had a good choice of pots to have fired and glazed.

I was lucky enough to have a full day pottery workshop voucher given to me for my birthday and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day. Louise demonstrated various types of pottery techniques, including wheel throwing, which she made look very easy! It was all very relaxed and Louise made you feel confident enough to be creative with your own designs but guided you when needed. I hope to gain further wheel throwing experience in the future with Louise and would definitely recommend the workshops.

I had the most enjoyable day with Louise at Blended Monkey. I got given a Pottery Throwing voucher for my birthday and having done it before I was slightly nervous. Louise made me feel very comfortable and relaxed and she was great at encouraging me as I designed my pieces. She was a great teacher. I really enjoyed the throwing part of the day and can't wait to have another go one day soon.

What a day!! I loved every second of this course!
Started with hand building pinch pots, coil pots and slab, understanding techniques and tools.
Went on to throwing on the wheel coning and shaping and came out with three pots. I could of spent all weekend doing this!
Information that Louise gives is extremely valuable from such a talented lady.
I cannot wait to see the final glazed pieces!

Louise and Simon are great hosts and make you feel very welcome - this was my second trip to blended monkey after my partner and I completed a woodturning course, it was lovely to be back doing this pottery course with Louise.

A really good introduction to different methods of making pottery items. It was lovely touch to get a certificate and the next day a whole host of good photographs. This experience was bought by my husband as a Christmas present and I will treasure my items once I get them back after firing and glazing. I would recommend this workshop and I will want to go again for another day to do some coiled items.

This was a birthday present for my daughter who absolutely loved every minute of this workshop, she didn't want the day to end. This is way better than going to school! :) The day was full of laughs and we did learn and experiment a lot with various different styles of pottery and ways of imprinting designs on our masterpieces.

Louise was very patient and very good at explaining how to do things especially on the wheel which seemed like the trickiest part of the day as first yet the most enjoyable once the technique was mastered my daughter was addicted.

Lunch was too very good with more than enough to go round and something for everyone. The atmosphere was great too and both Louise and Simon are very easy to get along with.

Thank you both for our wonderful memories :) We hope to visit you again in the new year!

A fantastic day experimenting with lots of different techniques for making and decorating pots. Louise was attentive, encouraging and informative. I couldn’t have felt more welcome with refreshments through the day, a lovely lunch and interesting conversation. Using the wheel was great fun and totally absorbing. It’s encouraged me to dedicate some time to crafting as a hobby and for relaxation.
I enjoyed every minute!
Thanks again Louise and Simon.

I had a great day being taught by Simon for the full day beginners woodturning course. It was highly informative and hands on, I learned all about the different tools and parts of the lathe. Simon gives good demonstrations and instructions for you to create your own pieces. I enjoyed the wonderful lunch and a tour around their beautiful garden. I would highly recommend this course for anyone interested in learning the basics of woodturning or anyone wanting to refresh their skills or better learn how to utilise their wood turning tools. I was really pleased to take my lovely pieces home to show off :) Thanks Simon!

I had an absolutely amazing day being taught by Louise for the full day beginners ceramics course. The day was well planned and very fun, I was able to explore handbuilding techniques to create a pinch pot, coil pot and slab rolled works, with ample time left for having a go at throwing some work on the pottery wheel, which is definitely trickier than it looks :) but Louise was very helpful and I managed to throw a few good pieces! Louise was very professional yet relaxed and good company and I enjoyed her clear demonstrations and instructions. I also appreciated the way she provided pictures and samples as inspiration for my own work. Thanks for making me so comfortable and catering for me with a yummy vegan lunch, I felt so renewed by the chance to get creative!
Alex

My mum and I attended a full day pottery workshop. We wouldn't describe ourselves as artistic types and other than 'do pottery' we weren't sure what to expect. We had a fantastic time though, Louise was really clear showing us different techniques and had lots of inspiration for how we could use those techniques to make different items. We made some pinch and coil pots, slab vases and thrown pots on the wheel. We were really pleased with what we'd managed to acheive and can't wait to see our items when they're fired and glazed :)

Had the best 1/2 day pottery session. Despite my mother being a bit of a natural on her first attempt at hand throwing (very frustrating), we both made some great pieces that I’m looking forward to using once fully finished. Louise was great, taking the booking very last minute and making us feel very welcome.

I can’t recommend this course enough and it’s in such a lovely setting. Thanks Louise

I booked the 1/2 day pottery workshop as a birthday present for my 19 year old, recently disabled daughter. From the very first email, Louise has been attentive, generous and caring trying to ensure Chloe's needs were catered for. The morning was a huge success playing with and then working on pinch and slab pots and then finally throwing on the wheel. Everything was so relaxed with continual refreshments provided by Simon. As soon as we left Chloe stated that she wanted to come back and learn more from Louise...no greater compliment I would say!

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

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!

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!

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.