Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

Although I had over a few years been 'playing around' with a wood lathe I’d never felt confident in what I was doing. Having looked at many YouTube videos on the subject I decided I needed some one to one tuition and the Blended Monkey site seemed to offer exactly what I was looking for. In fact the day turned out to be that and more. From start to finish it was an experience I won’t forget.
Simon explained and demonstrated each step, then used a guiding hand to allow you to experience the correct way of using the gouges. He then allowed you to continue on your own but was always there when you needed any help. I now feel much more confident, knowing the correct way to hold and use the gouges. Having the notes Simon supplied will be very useful and something I’m sure I will use quite frequently.
I would say to anyone thinking that wood turning might be for you Simon’s course is an absolute must.
Thank you Simon for a really great day.

I'm thinking of getting into wood-turning but had no background or experience beyond some basic woodworking, so booked this one-day 1-1 course to give it a go.

Simon is an excellent teacher. I felt I learnt a great deal (which I still remember!) and got to try a variety of techniques. The time just flew by, it was 5 pm before I knew it! It's a nice location and the workshop/facilities are great. The lunch was lovely too. Went away with a nice bowl. Highly recommended.

Have wanted to try woodturning for a while and my partner bought me this course as a present.

I had an amazing time learning how to turn with Simon, he is an excellent teacher, very knowledgeable & helpful.

Had a lovely day there and would recommend it to absolutely everyone that wants to try this craft!

10/10

This was one of the few courses, I have been on a few, I found it to be brilliant. I had a great couple of days, learnt masses, thoroughly enjoying every minute. The instructions were very clear and my development in lathe turning has as a result improved. I am also more confident in my approach to doing something new. Simon and Louise were both very accommodating and provided a lovely lunch. This is a course I would not hesitate in advising any lathe enthusiast to do.

After a 2 hour journey, I received an extremely warm welcome on arrival, followed by a much-needed coffee and an explanation of how the day was planned.
Both the morning and afternoon sessions were very constructive and informative. Simon soon has you hands-on on the lathe, resulting in producing a "Christmas Tree" in the morning and a Bowl in the afternoon.
Simon's workshop is very well equipped and his explanation of his various pieces of equipment was most thorough.
The communication from both Simon and Louise, before the course and after, was informative and timely.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to learn woodturning.

A great day! Simon was a brilliant instructor - patient, giving me lots of time to practice and try techniques but on hand in case I needed assistance. A really enjoyable day with a lovely lunch and got to take home a cracking couple of pieces that I can be proud of. Would really recommend!

I had a great time on this 1-2-1 woodturning course. Prior to the course Louise was quick to respond to emails and answer any questions. Simon is a great teacher and provides a great balance of guidance and space to try for yourself. Simon and Louise provided a lovely lunch and make you feel very supported and welcome. I highly recommend the course to anyone considering and wanting to learn about woodturning. Thank you both for a lovely day!

I attended a 1-2-1 beginners wood turning course, Simon is an excellent teacher giving plenty of good turning working practices. I've come away with new skills and will continue to practice those on the day which were a little poor. I am looking forward to putting my lathe to more use that just turning pens. Simon and Louise made me feel most welcome and I can highly recommend this course to anyone.
Many Thanks to you both.

My husband and I did the 2 Crafts in 1 Day with Louise and Simon & I could not recommend it more, what a brilliant day, no pressure, lovely relaxed atmosphere. If you want to forget your everyday stresses and concentrate on something that is both relaxing and addictive then book this course you won't regret it. We will definitely be back. Thank you both again.

I attended the 1/2 day beginners woodturning workshop with Simon and had a great time brushing up long lost skills on a wood lathe. Simon is clearly a very skilled woodworker and made the afternoon interesting, using a variety of handtools to make the different cuts into our piece. He was patient and explained then demonstrated what was next before you got to try out too. We still had the time to make a Christmas Tree and talk about my own tools and he even made them better on his sharpening belt. I couldn't have asked for anything more and looking forward to the next step of learning how to make bowls.
Many, many thanks.

I wanted to try woodturning and this was the perfect way to do so. Simon was an excellent teacher and After a couple of practice pieces in the morning, where I learnt the basic technics, I spent the afternoon working on turning a beautiful beech bowl. Highly recommend it to anyone even slightly interested!

I traveled 120 miles to attend my one to one day with Simon and every mile was worth the effort.
From the minute I arrived I was greeted and made to feel comfortable and drank coffee while the day was explained to me.
The instructions were clear and I had an extremely informative day that went all too quickly. An excellent lunch was provided.
Simon’s instruction technique is excellent and soon gets you hands on the lathe.
I left with an amazing bowl and real enthusiasm to get myself started on my new hobby in retirement.
I will return for a refresher lesson and definitely recommend Simon to anyone that wants an introduction to safe wood turning.
Thank you Simon

An amazing day!
Under Simon's excellent tuition, supervision, and encouragement I turned a 2x2" square section length into a passably attractive honey dribbler, and an ugly lump of sycamore into a very bowl-like piece. (I wish I could add photographs - they are quite beautiful and I am so proud!) It was utterly absorbing.
As a complete novice (but an expert klutz) I was in danger of turning (geddit?!) my bowl into an eggcup but Simon rescued me. He was generous with his time, determined we should go away with fully finished pieces.
It was also inspiring to see what SimonTheExpert achieves - paper-thin bowls in example shapes, and spindles-as-art (both in their own right, by eccentric centring, and as a set that creates female forms in the gaps between them).
Can't recommend this highly enough :-)
But, if you don't want to find wood shavings in your underwear, wear one of the offered smocks!

Everything about this course was excellent. The tuition clear and helpful taking note of my previous lack of experience. The tutor was very helpful and ensured the safety of the pupil at all times. The venue was well looked after and well stocked with appropriate equipment. This was one of the most enjoyable days I have spent for a long time and I would return for a more advanced course if it were to be offered. Lunch and refreshments were provided throughout the day, and were much appreciated. The follow-up notes and photos were unexpected and well thought through. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Excellent day had on the wood turning course. Both Simon & Louise made me feel most welcome on arrival. Very constructive morning and afternoon sessions with Simon. There to help you constantly and was most grateful for his advice. Nice to receive the follow up notes, photos and video reminding me of a memorable day.
Highly recommend the course to anyone. Will certainly be going back!
Thank you Louise for a lovely lunch by the way.
Kind Regards
John Rayner

I am a self confessed wood butcher having always enjoyed making practical objects. This course was a birthday present to allow me to experience a long term desire to try wood turning.
From the off Simon, Louise and their pets made me very welcome. The facilities are wonderful and Simon’s knowledge is extensive and he imparts it enthusiastically.
I would thoroughly recommend any course offered here due to the professionalism of Simon and Louise.
Following my rewarding day, I am designing additional storage space so I can empty my shed to create a workshop! Then I'll need another lesson (plus a lathe...) to further my knowledge.

Best wishes,
Richard

Like many of the reviews above, the day with Blended Monkey was bought for me as a present. Perhaps because I have made several walking sticks, my sons felt I should probably progress my skills!! The day exceed my expectations. Louise and Simon being the perfect hosts with a genuine welcome to the world of wood turning. Simon was patient, clear and concise with instructions along with his enthusiasm made the day one to remember. I would highly recommend Blended Monkey to novices as well as experienced individuals who want to expand their knowledge of wood turning and have an excellent value for money day out. Thank you Simon and Louise.

I was made to feel welcome by Simon and Louise the minute I stepped out of my car.
Very professional and friendly tuition, I couldn't have asked for better. Though I had some idea of what I was doing I still learned an awful lot in one day. I would recommend this course to anyone even vaguely interested in woodturning - they'd soon get the bug.
Wouldn't mind going back next year for a refresher and upgrade.

I was extremely fortunate to have the 1-day woodturning course as a surprise Christmas present from last year. I was looking forward to my workshop day which was booked in the August. It was definitely worth the wait and had a fantastic day learning about woodturning with Simon. I've learn't so many different wood turning techniques in a day and successfully made a honey drizzler and bowl. I couldn't recommend Blended Monkey enough.

Thank you Simon and Louise for a fantastic experience.

All the best, David

An excellent day spent with Simon making a mess in his workshop and creating some awesome wooden creations on the lathe. Friendly and bright atmosphere! I would highly recommend this to anyone.

My wife and I attended half a day pottery and wood turning courses. We loved them! I enjoyed learning all the wood Turning techniques and using the tools to create my honey drizzle. My wife liked making pots using the slab method and attempting a go on the pottery wheel. Both Simon and Louise were very friendly, Patient and great teachers. We are already planning our next visit! We highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different to do.

I would really recomend this course for anyone interested in wood turning. Simon was such a great teacher and so knowledgeable. It was a great introduction and it was wonderful to be able to make something lovely by the end of the day. It left me wanting to do more.
Thank you sinon and louise for the day and for being so welcoming!

The Blended Monkey 1-Day Course is a very good way to experience woodturning for the first time. It is professionally organised and run. In addition the tuition is flexible to reflect the student's interests and existing knowledge. The workshop itself is well equipped and safely managed. Simon is a fine teacher keen to share his skills and passion for woodturning in a very accessible manner. The follow-up pack of course notes and equipment guide is very helpful. Together Simon and Louise make a great team.
MSW

This was a fantastic course in a great setting. I was made welcome from the start and the level of tuition was just right and extremely good . I was given loads of tips on how to develop my wood turning, storing wood and tool care.

I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone who is starting out in wood turning!

I had a wonderful day on Simon's woodturning course, and have learned new skills which will enable me to develop my new found hobby. This was a birthday gift from my partner which will keep on giving for many years to come!
Simon really explained everything well and pretty soon I was getting hand’s on tuition and slowly but surely building my confidence under Simon’s expert and watchful eye.
Simon and Louise really looked after me well with plenty of food and refreshments during the day, and all set in lovely surroundings.
I’m delighted with my projects which I was able to take home, and would strongly recommend Simon’s course to anyone wanting to try their hand at woodturning.
Highly recommended !

The level of tuition was exactly right - clear, well explained and the right pace. I was pleased to learn so much and come away with pieces that looked good. The facilities there are good, with a good light lunch and pleasant surroundings too. I'd readily go back for more, but wondering how and where I can put kit of my own!
Many thanks to both.

Thank you Simon and Louise for your hospitality, chat, fabulous lunch and of course a great day of tutoring by Simon on the pleasures of making all things wooden. I came away with a lot of advice and pointers.
What a wonderful surround and setup!!
No hesitation in recommending Blended Monkey
Go on, give it a go, you won’t regret it. 👍👍

Simon and Louise gave me a very warm welcome when I arrived and what followed was a wonderful day of woodturning! Simon is a brilliant teacher - informative, inspiring, patient and helpful. I felt at home throughout the day and whenever I had questions or needed advice, Simon was there to help. Like all great teachers Simon stood back and let me get on with it, but always with his watchful eye to make sure I used the tools and techniques correctly.

Drinks, snacks and a lovely lunch in the dappled shade of the garden added to the day and in the end I'd managed to make a honey scoop and sycamore bowl, much to my delight and my wife's astonishment!

If you're thinking of trying your hand at woodturning, look no further than Simon at Blended Monkey - I can't recommend it highly enough!

A excellent and very informative day for me as a complete novice to woodturning, Simon is a very good tutor and the workshop environment he has set up is first class, I came away with a far better understanding of what to do and what not to do, very happy. Louise put on a lovely lunch which was greatly appreciated and the tea kept coming just when you needed it, all in all, a great day and one I would recommend to anyone interested in getting into woodturning.
Thank you Simon and Louise.

Simon’s woodturning course was a Christmas gift from my children and was something I had always wanted to do.
Both Simon and Louise make you feel very welcome. Along with Simon’s guidance and teaching skills for beginners and Louise’s hospitality ( plenty of drinks and a lovely lunch ) they make for a fantastic team.
If anyone is thinking of doing something like this I couldn’t think of a better place to start.
I am looking forward to doing the Intermediate course in the future.

I have done some woodturning for several years but am self-taught and never had 1-2-1 instruction, consequently my technique leaves a lot to be desired! I saw this 1-day course, a birthday present from my wife, as an ideal opportunity to do something about this.

From the moment I arrived Simon and Louise made me most welcome and the whole day was delightful. Simon is an inspirational teacher and as well as helping me to improve my basic skills he suggested lots of ideas for extending the range of projects I could consider in the future. I also learnt a great deal about the way Simon has organised his workshop and enjoyed chatting about many different aspects of this fascinating craft. Louise provided frequent cups of tea and a lovely lunch which greatly added to the enjoyment of the day.

I can thoroughly recommend spending a day with Simon whether you are an absolute beginner or more experienced.

The course is a wonderful introduction into a new skill. Simon has a very relaxed style of teaching that puts you at ease straight away. His enthusiasm and passion to help you achieve a wonderful bowl is second to none. I must also thank Louise for a wonderful farm house lunch. I am definitely looking forward to another session with Simon

The day was a Christmas present from my wife. I had done some woodturning at school, some 45 years ago, but remembered none of it. The workshop Simon has is lovely and the set up great. Simon is a really good teacher, explains things very clearly and patiently and lets you try things for yourself. I found the day flew by and the turning was very therapeutic. I came away with 2 really pleasing bits of work, and the bug. I will definitely do more woodturning.

As I said above, the workshop was really nice. It is well kept and safety is obviously a high priority for Simon. He provided all the gear you needed and had excellent ventilation systems.

There is nothing I could fault by the day. Louise provided a lovely lunch to round off a perfect day. I thoroughly recommend this course.

This was a birthday present , delayed by Covid. Everything about the course was excellent. The communications before hand, the environment and work shop, the lunch but especially the hands on side of it and the pieces I made. I have inherited a lathe and tools and was keen to start learning how to use them. Incredibly practical and useful as well as relaxing and the time flew by.
I know you can do a day split between pottery and woodturning, as a fun day i think that would be really good fun too.
I can't wait to get turning myself
The whole thing beats anything you could get from a book or youtube hands down
Simon was a great teacher and gave the right balance of help and being left to get on with it.
Thanks Oliver

A day to savour. Simon introduced me to lathe and tools and we quickly began to get hands on, looking at techniques and learning do's and dont's. A lovely lunch broke up the session and I was very happy with the honey dipper and the bowl which I had produced by the end of the day.

Fantastic time with Simon who is a great tutor. Really please with the bowl I made. I never felt rushed and he took time to make sure I produced something to be proud of. Lunch was really good and complimented the feel good day. Just what I needed. Wishing Simon and Louise all the best.

The follow up notes and photos of the day were a great reminder to share with friends and family.

The days 1 to 1 woodturning course was a Xmas present from my wife and although delayed due to Covid was well worth the wait as it was fantastic. Simon is very knowledgeable and had plenty if patience with a complete novice! The workshop facilities, machinery and tools etc were great and gave a very good taster for this craft.

Plenty of coffee and very nice lunch was provided, thank you Louise.

I came away with two pieces of work which my wife thinks I must have purchased, not so, I made them all be with a little help (a lot of help!)

The post course notes and equipment advice schedule were emailed over to me that evening and are compressive and full of photos and links, will prove very helpful if I take it further.

I could not recommend this course enough, it was a five hour round trip and I would be more than happy to do again - great day, thank you Simon and Louise.

What a brilliant introduction to wood turning!! Simon and Louise at Blended Monkey made the whole experience, from the booking stage to the course day, extremely easy.
Simon's enthusiasm for turning is infectious and his guidance, patience and knowledge added a different level to the day.
Plenty of refreshments 'on tap' and lunch was great.

I would recommend this course, without hesitation, to anyone who is interested in the art of wood turning.

The beginners wood turning course by the Blended monkey was great. I booked the one to one course and I had never done woodturning before at all and Simon was an excellent teacher.
Simon was patient and clear demonstrating the various techniques.
I had a really enjoyable day and it surpassed my expectations and I am keen to now put into practice what I was taught.
I would highly recommend this course.

A fantastic introduction to wood turning with the fab Blended Monkey team!

Simon obviously has a deep supply of wood turning knowledge, he pairs it well with a patient and enthusiastic teaching manner.

Both Simon and Louise were lovely, conversation flowing freely throughout the day. Great lunch, loads of coffee!

Even managed to come home with a couple of turned pieces.

Would highly recommend.

An excellent day of woodturning. A chance to try something new with patient tuition and guidance. An excellent experience, great lunch and lovely people. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed the woodturning experience. Simon, the tutor, gave a really good introduction to both the tools and the wood we would use. His balance of demonstrating what we would do and letting the student loose was ideal. In the morning I made a honey spoon and in the afternoon alovely bowl. A thoroughly enjoyable day with an interesting tutor and ample refreshments, including a tasty lunch in the kitchen. I might well be booking another session in the near future. Thanks for the experience!

My wife got me this course as a Christmas present I had a fantastic day. Simon was an excellent teacher full of useful knowledge and guidance which he happly passed on. Produced two beautiful pices of work of which I am very proud. Beautiful surroundings, nice workshop I would happily recommend this course to anyone.

Sorry for the delay in sending this review, I am not good at doing reviews as they usual sound naff if they're good.

I came on the day out at the end of October after receiving it as a birthday present, I had bought a lathe in June this year and try to get to grips with it, making a lot of mistakes and with all the catches started to get anxious when using it. Did make a few things but wasn't very happy with finished item.

So came to see Simon and we started at the very beginning with the basics, went through everything tools, sharpening, how to stand, and most important how to use the chisels the correct way!

Well worth it, if I was paying for myself I might have had second thoughts, but I would have been wrong, definitely one to one tuition was ideal for me.

I can now go to the lathe and with confidence start turning.
Recommended
Thank you, Howard

Great day we'll worth doing.
Simon is very Informative and works well towards your needs and capabilities.
I learned a lot and soon be turning bowls for fun. Thanks for a great day

Simon and Louise made me feel really welcome and the day course was really enjoyable. Simon was a patient and engaging teacher. I'm very happy with my creations and hope that I get the chance to try this craft again - I think I have caught the 'bodging' bug!

Superb day out the day flew by.
Straight from the get go I felt welcome in a relaxing environment. Learnt the basics throughout the day basically, tinkering with different techniques to get a desired outcome.
Left to go home with two woodturned pieces which I am very happy with.

Highly recommend.

Fabulous productive day with super wood crafts to take away and treasure.
Simon is absolutely a great tutor very Patient. The whole day is just so relaxing and so much fun. Simon is such a friendly and approachable guy. We had one of our best days in a very long time. We would highly recommend this day to everyone.
Thank you. 😊

WOW what an excellent day, from the gate opening to the gate closing when we arrived and finished the welcome we recieved from Simon and Louise was second to none. Simon is an excellent tutor who works at your pace, his knowledge no only for the skills of wood turning but also about the types of wood, and what the tools are used for. This being my first experience of this skill has given me an appetite for more. Louise was lovely keeping the tea and coffee coming and the wonderful lunch.
I thoroughly recommend this work shop for anyone wanting to learn this skill.

We thoroughly enjoyed our two person Wood Turning Beginners course with Simon and are delighted with what we took home. We made a beautiful bowl, a butter pat press, a light pull and two honey dippers, the latter being the result of our first practice pieces. It is amazing how a square block of wood becomes cylindrical with just a few, carefully guided, moves. Excellent, patient instruction and an altogether very interesting and satisfying experience with real, tangible, output. We learned a lot. The lunch provided was also excellent and just what we would have chosen had we been asked for a preference. We were looked after extremely well and it was just 20 minutes from home. Could not have been better.

This wood turning course was bought by my family as a birthday present in February. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions my initial date was put back until Sept. Simon and Louise were exceptionally helpful in arranging everything. The course was excellent, Simon's teaching was very thorough and his patience was second to none! It was great to take home my projects, a honey dipper and bowl, which were admired by family and friends. My daughter was welcomed for lunch which we were able to enjoy in their lovely garden.

Both Simon and Louise are lovely friendly people and it was a joy to be in their company. We hope to see them in the future at the local craft fair. I thoroughly recommend this course for anyone. Just a shame I didn't get to do Louise's pottery course. Perhaps another birthday present!

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.

Highly recommend this course very informative and very enjoyable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😊

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.