Beginners 1-day one to one pottery/ceramics workshop for 1 person
Description
Come and have some fun with clay in the peaceful setting of my studio located in the cottage garden of our home on the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
The 1-day (approximately 6 hours with an hour's break in the middle for lunch) one to one workshop is a comprehensive session aimed at those who wish to have a more in-depth experience, creating pieces which will be made using all the fundamental ceramics disciplines of pinching, coiling, slab building & throwing. The workshops are structured to be fun and creative, and students can let their imaginations run wild during their private tuition. There will be no other students in the studio.
The sessions are hands-on, and the student will be able to use all the studio facilities (clay, various tools and print-making equipment, extruders, the pottery wheel, etc.). At the end of the 1-day workshop, the student can choose up to 6 pieces that they wish to have glazed and fired. Once they have dried sufficiently, I will then biscuit fire, glaze and glaze fire the pieces. These can then be either collected by the student (if they live locally) or I can post them (I have to charge postage & packaging). Each student will also be provided with a certificate of completion.
Please understand that it takes a few weeks for pieces to dry thoroughly and for me to then biscuit fire, glaze, and subsequently glaze fire them.
I also offer a 1/2-day one-to-one workshop for 1 person (please see the "Beginners half-day one to one pottery/ceramics workshop for 1 person"), and both of the 1/2-day and 1-day workshops can be attended by two people or pairs if preferred (please refer to the "Beginners half-day one to one pottery/ceramics workshop for 2 people" and the "Beginners 1-day one to one pottery/ceramics workshop for 2 people".
This makes a great Valentine's, anniversary, or birthday gift - and also opens up the workshop to parents with children.
Contact us for more information or to discuss requirements.
About a week before your workshop date, we'll e-mail you again with more details about parking etc.
We also offer accommodation in the form of our Crafter's Retreat cabin or we can advise of other local B&Bs.
Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts. Start dates may be amended on request.
What's included in the price?
Refreshments will be provided for all workshops, and a light, rustic farmhouse-style lunch is also included for those attending the 1-day workshop.
Depending on the weather/time of year, lunch can be taken either out in the cottage garden or in our country kitchen which has a view over the garden.
Important information at a glance:
1. All tools and materials are included. We have a selection of old shirts available, but the student may wish to bring their own smock/shirt/apron. It’s important that the student wears comfortable shoes and clothing.
2. Rings and bracelets will need to be removed during the workshop (they mark the clay, and you don’t want the clay ruining your jewellery either) – I can provide a pot to put them in if required.
3. Refreshments (tea/coffee/soft drinks) are provided for all workshops, and a light, rustic farmhouse-style lunch will be provided for the full-day workshops.
4. The studio is equipped with a wedging table, extruder, large table for hand building, two Shimpo pottery wheels and a large top-loader kiln.
6. The private session is either for one or a maximum of two people; this ensures that the student gets the maximum benefit from the day with no distractions.
7. The age limit is 16+ or younger if accompanied by an adult.
8. I am insured (IWW/5102205).
9. The student will be provided with a certificate of completion.
10. The student can choose six pieces to be fired and either collected or posted out to them.
11. We can advise of local accommodation for those wishing to stay overnight in the area.
Maker
Louise Taggart at Blended MonkeyVenue
Upwell
Wisbech
Norfolk
PE14 9BG
Suitable for
- Adults
- Children
- Christmas
- Easter
- Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
- Father's Day
- Intermediate level
- Learning difficulties (SEN)
- Limited mobility
- Mother's Day
- Parking provided
- Romantic
- School holiday workshops & activities
- Seniors
- Suitable for beginners
- Teenagers
- UK Holiday
Duration
1 day (flexible times to suit)
This craft course provider has been awarded Platinum status for receiving 50 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
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Reviews
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Thank you for your lovely review Suzy :-).It was a pleasure to meet you and I'm really pleased you enjoyed the day.
You should feel very proud of what you achieved. I particularly like your slab vase! I'll let you know as soon as your pots have been glazed. I'm sure they'll look amazing!
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
It was lovely to meet you for your 1-day ceramics experience and I'm really pleased you enjoyed your time and felt at ease in the studio. I enjoyed your company and our chat too!You made some great pieces.
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Tracey, it was a pleasure to have you in the studio. You made some really lovely pieces and it was a joy chatting to you while we created with clay! Would be lovely to have you back in the studio some time if you fancy honing those throwing skills :-).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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Hi Joanna,I'm so pleased you enjoyed the pottery workshop. I know how it can be when you come to a new place to do a new thing, but I'm glad you felt comfortable and at ease during the workshop :-). It was a pleasure to have you in the studio and you've made some really lovely pieces. You'll have to come back for half a day of throwing :-). Your pieces will be ready very soon. Take care.
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Sarah, it was a delight having you in the studio.Such a creative and talented young lady!
I'm so pleased you enjoyed the day and the various aspects of handbuilding and throwing. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any more help :-).
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Veronica, it was great to meet you & thank you so much for your lovely review :-). We're pleased you enjoyed your day getting to grips with various ways of creating with clay.You made some fab pieces! And I'm sure your lasagne dish will have a variety of uses :-).
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!
Response from Blended Monkey:
Jenny, thank you for your lovely review and we're so pleased that Cassy enjoyed the day - and also that she'd like to return again in the future :-).She made some lovely pieces which will be ready for collection very soon. It's always interesting to see how children respond to the various types of clay building. The hand building is a very free form and you can get really creative with it, so although most people consider throwing to be the "thing" you do in pottery, it's always encouraging to see that students are open to the other forms of building too.
Thanks again for a lovely review!
I cannot recommend this course enough. Even before attending the Pottery full day course , I received informative emails from the course organisers with all the information I needed in preparation for the day. The last time I did any pottery was in school approximately 3 decades ago and even then it was the basics. I loved every minute of my day with Louise - she was very welcoming , supportive and I learned a great deal from her - from making a pinch pot, to coiling and decorating slab work and most fun of all experiencing throwing on the wheel. The studio environment is bright, clean and houses some lovely pieces of completed works. Louise has created a lovely balance between structuring the day and organising the sessions to learn about processes involved in making pieces of pottery, whilst still encouraging creativity and freedom to explore clay . There were refreshments throughout the day and a lovely lunch . Although it can be daunting having a one-to-one session , I felt very relaxed in Louise's company and it was very rewarding having such an opportunity to have a tutor's full attention- it felt very natural and we had plenty to talk about . I look forward to returning again in future and look forward to any other classes that may develop over time. Thank you again for such an unforgettable and exceptional day.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Marianna, thank you so much for the really lovely review!I enjoyed every minute of the workshop too, so that's always a plus from my perspective ;-).
I really appreciate hearing students' opinions about their workshop with me. I also totally understand that the thought of a 1-2-1 session with a complete stranger could be a daunting prospect at first, but I'm so pleased that all my students have felt comfortable in my company and in the studio.
The aim of the workshop is obviously to impart some pottery info and give students a grounding in the basic methods we can use to make some lovely things out of clay, but also for them to have a creative, fun and relaxed day.
You made some really beautiful pieces and I can't wait to see them glazed.
Thanks again for the fab review and see you soon!
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
Ann, it was a pleasure to meet you and teach you about the various ways we can have fun with clay!You made some really beautiful pieces and you took to the wheel super quickly too - I'm looking forward to seeing what the kiln Gods make of your pieces and I'll let you know as soon as they are ready to post out :-).
I'm really pleased you enjoyed the therapeutic benefits that come with having a day to yourself to be creative. Clay is a fantastic medium if you want to just switch off and enjoy the process.
Thank you for the lovely review!
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!
Response from Blended Monkey:
Hi Edward - I think this one was meant for the woodturning workshop section :-), so we'll respond to it there :-)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
Response from Blended Monkey:
Thank you so much for your lovely review Alex! It was a pleasure spending the day with you in the pottery studio :-). You've made some really beautiful pieces and I'm just as keen as you are to see how they look when they emerge from the kiln! Especially the contentious coil pot ;-).We hope you and Edward continue to enjoy your time in the UK, and I'd be interested to hear what other crafts you have a go at during your stay.
I'll let you know as soon as your pots are ready :-).
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 :)
Response from Blended Monkey:
Hi Emma,So pleased you and your mum had an enjoyable day.
It was really lovely to meet you both, and at the time of me writing this response your pieces have been biscuit fired and are now ready to be glazed so they won't be much longer now!
Thanks again for the lovely review :-).
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
Response from Blended Monkey:
Frances, thank you so much for your fab review :-).It was a pleasure meeting you and your mum, and lovely to see how quickly your mum took to the wheel :-) - some people are just naturals ;-).
You both made some beautiful pieces and I'll be in touch shortly as soon as they have been glazed (they've already been biscuit fired).
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!
Response from Blended Monkey:
So very pleased Chloe enjoyed her pottery experience! It was a pleasure to teach her and she's evidently an incredibly creative young woman.Look forward to meeting you both again!
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
Response from Blended Monkey:
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!
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!
Response from Blended Monkey:
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!
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!
Response from Blended Monkey:
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
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.
Response from Blended Monkey:
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)