Latest reviews

Tamsin reviewed: Beginners Sewing - Day course - Get to know your sewing machine

"Really enjoyed the "Get to know your sewing machine" workshop, learnt a lot in the three hours. Thank you"

Perry reviewed: Beginners Sewing - Day course - Get to know your sewing machine

"Great fun, lovely group and very friendly. Feel impressed with myself for actually producing something!"

Penny reviewed: Beginners Sewing - Day course - Get to know your sewing machine

"Really enjoyed the workshop :) Right pace and length. Good intro, lots of advice and encouragement. Thank you"

Mandy reviewed: Beginners Sewing - Day course - Get to know your sewing machine

"Had a lovely time today in the "get know your sewing machine" workshop. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to next weeks cushion lesson."

Hanneke reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"Fabulous day in beautiful Cavendish making candles in a relaxed and fun environment. Jo is very knowledgeable, lunch was delicious and I met lovely people that day. I went home with a bag full of beautifully fragranced candles. All in all a great day and I highly recommend this course."

Marie Smith reviewed: Shave horse making at Orchard Barn, Suffolk

"The course was very informative and practical. I learnt a lot - and came home with my very own shave horse! What I loved most was the style of teaching - rather than giving strict instructions to follow, the course leaders were more keen for delegates to learn to think for themselves. There were enough leaders and volunteers to make it very easy to ask a question if you wanted to. Each tool was introduced and explained - and if it was your first time using the tool then good supervision was supplied by the very friendly and cheerful team. We really got to feel the leaders' and volunteers' passion for the skills and for the project they are collectively working on. The setting is stunning - with the inspiration of a natural building in the process of a very careful restoration project, as well as the surrounding woodlands (a natural wood yard!) and the facilities were perfectly in keeping with the situation. I left feeling inspired and confident to make a similar item on my own. This isn't the only course I've enjoyed at Orchard Barn - and if I lived closer I would definitely go on lots more."

Ben reviewed: Crafts in the Valley - Beginners glass fusing workshops in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

"A really engaging and fun workshop, I loved it! Melanie is a very patient teacher, and explains all of the aspects and techniques of the course very clearly. There are a lot of different pieces to make, and plenty of time to make them in. There is plenty of scope to put your own creative stamp on all of the pieces, and Melanie is good at helping out with ideas if you're struggling for inspiration. All in all, a lovely day out, I would definitely recommend it."

Gem reviewed: Festive wreath workshop

"Fabulous class. Never made a wreath and have to say im really impressed with it!! Great location with parking just outside. Cakes were beautiful too!!! I will be back. Thank you"

Tammy Tushingham reviewed: Bring Your Own Upholstery Project - 1 day workshop - Week Days

"Sarah really knows what she is doing! She explains everything in a clear and straightforward way and her instructions make it easy for you to follow. You are made to feel very welcome and the whole day just flys by. An added delight are the excellent cakes and lunches provided by Sarah - delicious. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable and highly productive day which I would definitely recommend."

marge whitfield reviewed: 'Glass for the garden' with the Cheshire School of Glass

"thank you Jenny. I thoroughly enjoyed this glass for the garden course today. I didn't know what to expect but Jenny held my hand and guided me through so many possibilities in making glass designs. this course was an inspirational gift from my husband and what a brilliant choice it was. Loved every minute. Jenny I shall be back! Marge."

Irene Schofield reviewed: Needle felt workshop

"I had a lovely time doing Needle Felting with Yvonne. It was very relaxing working with the wool. Yvonne started the workshop with a Mindful Meditation which created a calm still space within me and helped me to access my creativity. I loved the colours of the wool and how they came together to create a three dimensional unique piece of art.Yvonne guided and supported throughout the workshop in a gentle and caring way. Thank you Yvonne !!! Definitely recommended !!!"

Mike Richardson reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"An all round fantastic day with spike who is knowlegable and an excellent teacher of this amazing craft.I will be booking another course in the future and would highly recommend that anyone wanting to give this a try look no further than the beardedpig forge"

Mike Ballard reviewed: Woodturning courses in Hampshire - Beginners and improvers wood turning courses - Turn British, all British lathes!!

"After receiving a course as a Christmas present I attended with my daughter in law. We both had an excellent, interesting and informative day culminating with each taking home a bowl that is already much admired. Andy was an incredible teacher, patient, experienced, friendly and charming and an amazing craftsman. Oh and his wife provided an amazing cottage pie for lunch. Planning to go back - Its my birthday soon (Hint, hint to family)"

Lucy reviewed: Beginners Crochet day Workshop

"Great workshop in a really lovely and unusual location! The group was small, which was perfect as it meant everyone was able to go at their own pace and Sophie, the tutor, was able to spend lots of time with everyone individually, to make sure they knew what they were doing. Really enjoyable, would definitely recommend."

Lynda Todd reviewed: Pottery classes in Teesside

"I have recently completed two 4 week sessions at Poppy Rose. It was brilliant and Lou is a fabulous teacher. It is lovely to do something creative and go home with the end product. I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks Lou you’ve been great and hope to see you again soon. Lynda x"

PoppyRose responded:

"Hi Lynda, Thank you for this lovely review! It was great to have you in the sessions and hope to see you again. Many thanks, Louise"

Beverley Whent reviewed: Make a silver ring or bangle

"After nearly 40 years away from a bench I went to Lucy Copleston to brush up on old skills and learn some new ones. Firstly it must be said her beautiful workshop is inspirational in itself and incredibly well equipped. Lucy is an excellent teacher, very intuitive and seems to know exactly the pace required for each task to ensure the learning process is complete. She is very patient and we had a lot of fun exploring solutions in the construction of my rather ambitious design. Over 4 days of 1-to-1 tuition I felt I learned a huge amount and achieved my objectives. I'm already looking forward to returning. I would like to add that I can tell a complete novice would be totally at easy with Lucy's gentle teaching style whilst someone with more experience can feast on Lucy's wealth of knowledge and be challenged."

Lucy reviewed: Needle felt workshop

"This was my 7th needle felting workshop in 12 months. I really enjoy them and have found a craft that is very satisfying. The sessions are friendly and fun."

Needle Felt Art responded:

"I am so happy that you have found a craft that inspires you, it is so rewarding seeing your progress ."

Maria Winspear reviewed: Introduction to glass fusing at the Cheshire School of Glass

"We have just completed a two day fused glass course and i can highly recommend Jennie and her teaching skills,she is so generous with her time and patience we had a great time and learned so much. We left with some beautiful pieces and we will be back . My love is painting and to do landscapes in glass was a real thrill thank you Jennie you rock x"

Paul reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What an experience. This is a must do! Mort has some serious skills in the blacksmith workshop. Me and my dad thought we was going to walk away with nothing today but in fact walked away 5pieces of well made items. Mort is so knowledgeable and i will definitely be going again. Such a good teacher."

Chris Turrill reviewed: Blacksmithing course with Longdog Smithy

"My wife bought me a craft courses voucher after seeing my enthusiasm for a knife making programme on TV. Living in Dorset there were several courses available to me and I'm infinitely glad I chose Tom at Longdog Smithy to go to. He is clear in his teaching and has a wealth of knowledge that he is willing to share, coupled with a patience much needed for the likes of myself with multiple questions comparing what I'd gleened from the TV. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the day and am quite smitten with the seax that I left with. I fully intent to return with the wife in the near future as well as place an order for some throwing axes. I wholeheartedly recommend Tom and his course."

Jill Hamilton reviewed: Handmade cards in Hampshire

"My daughter, mum and I had a fabulous few hours learning how to make cards ...we are complete novices and each made 3 beautiful cards under the guidance of June. Nothing was too much trouble...it was delightful...we will be back. Thank you June."

Cardinal Cards responded:

"Thank you for your lovely review Jill. It was a pleasure to meet your family and to see the different cards you all made, sometimes all from the one sample. Looking forward to seeing you again soon x"

Claire reviewed: Handmade cards in Hampshire

"Did a bauble course and made a card. Lovely lady, lots of materials and so patient. Loved the evening I attended with a friend, very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Will be returning."

Cardinal Cards responded:

"Thank you for your lovely review. It's a pleasure to teach people who so want to learn and then to watch them go forward with their own ideas. Look forward to seeing you again soon x"

Sarah reviewed: Handmade cards in Hampshire

"Lovely creative course, with excellent range of materials and hugh range of designs. Easy to use and really professional finish. Great value for money and relaxed atmosphere. Will be going again"

Cardinal Cards responded:

"Thank you for your lovely review. I'm glad you have been enjoying the workshops and you are now more than capable of making your own designs and working without too much help. Look forward to seeing you again soon x"

Stuart Campbell reviewed: Hand forged rustic knife and sheath course

"My wonderful girlfriend got me this course as a Christmas present. Upside: hands down best Christmas present literally EVER! Downside: there's basically no way I'll ever be able to get her something even on par with this for her. Now for the meat of it: Andy and his apprentice(?) Dave are both what you'd expect from a blacksmith, big mountains of men. That said they've both got a very friendly demeanour, and easy smiles. Their teaching style really worked for me, a quick demonstration of how something is done, then they let you at it. While you're forging they're never too far away, and always there with a pointer or suggestion if they see you're struggling with something. All in all it was a fabulous experience and I'd recommend them to anyone with even a tiny bit of interest in forging. I was having such a blast my girlfriend decided to take the half day knife course while I finished my Seax course! The rating system doesn't go high enough for the rating these craftsmen deserve!"

Camille Parke reviewed: Pottery Tuition ~ Learn how to Throw on the Potter's Wheel, Slab-build and Coil in 1 Full Day's Attentive Teaching

"Sonya is an excellent teacher. I very much enjoyed learning in her studio one to one. It was my first time making ceramics on a wheel, which I found especially fun. I rediscovered the pleasure of making something by getting messy with my hands. A real treat."

Sonya Ceramic Art responded:

"Dear Camille, I'm so glad you found your first experience throwing on the Potter's Wheel a real treat. You worked so diligently with the clay and produced an amazing vase inspired by Hans Coper. It's now fired and ready for glazing whenever you fancy doing the decorative fun bit! Best Wishes, Sonya."