Latest reviews

Lin reviewed: Jane's Nice & Easy Crochet Workshops

"Jane is a very patient and enthusiastic teacher. Her groups are kept small to enable everyone to have individual attention. I would highly recommend Janes workshops whether you are are a complete novice or just want a refresher. I have met lots of lovely like minded people at the workshops. Its a lovely relaxing way to spend 3 hours. I was a complete novice when I started and with Janes excellent teaching I am now officially a crochet addict."

Deborah Reid reviewed: Stained glass for beginners | Lead lights

"A really wonderful course. David was such a patient and encouraging teacher and very generously shared with us his lovely studio space, plus his expertise and experience of making stained glass. It was a real sense of achievement to create our own lead light panels to take home and fun to meet new people and try something new. I would definitely recommend this course."

Ben Horridge reviewed: Knife making weekend Gloucestershire

"I highly recommend the course. Arian is a very inspiring teacher. You gain experience working with metal, wood and leather. I got the bug and taken up knife making as a hobby as a result of the course."

Felting Workshop reviewed: Needlefelting workshop at Dalkeith Country Park

"Jo is so good at helping bring the group together. She helped everyone get through their nearvousness at trying something new. It was amazing what everyone managed to create. The way she made sure everyones work was framed up made it even more precious because it could go on the wall. Its a really great group experience. Highly recommend it, even to people who don't feel 'arty'. Its like going to an art class too. Jo gave so many clever colour tips that made it all look so professional."

Tess reviewed: Taster pottery throwing lesson (various dates)

"My husband and I had a wonderful lesson with Jack. The setting is spectacular and all the equipment is provided. Jack is an excellent teacher and explained everything as we went along. Even after I had managed to stick my thumb into my spinning pot he just lent over and magiced it back together for me! We would highly recommend this course to anyone. Thank you Jack!"

GEORGE PATERSON reviewed: Make a spindle-back chair

"What a wonderful week I had taking my woodworking to another dimension by turning a "bit of a tree" into a fantastic chair using traditional hand skills. Thanks Peter for sharing your skills and expertise with me in a way that encouraged a better understanding of what can be done with green wood and opening up a whole new interest for me. As well making the chair the social aspects of the course were great, allowing collaborative working and a good ethos. The set up Peter has is well organised and resourced to allow the chair to be completed in the one week timescale. The food provided was also excellent. One week on and at home I have built a shave horse and am gathering tools from ebay and looking to source green ash. I'm hooked! George"

Beth Threlfall reviewed: Making a mosaic with slate

"This was my first time working with mosaics, and I loved it - the slate is so beautiful and I had no idea there were so many varieties of it. The conservatory was a great place to be working in, with so much natural light, and Rachel is an excellent teacher and very informative and encouraging. I enjoyed the session a great deal and am sure I'll do more of this."

Judy reviewed: Glass fusing private class - fun taster class for beginners

"I thoroughly enjoyed my first two hour session making a pendant, a Christmas decoration and a sun catcher and was delighted with the result. I was more confident with a second session and had more of a plan of what I wanted to do. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating without "taking over". I made a larger sun catcher which sits beautifully in a small round window and some more Christmas decorations which are so simple to do and very effective. I would heartily recommend this course to anyone - it is great fun!"

Lisa reviewed: Needlefelting workshop at Dalkeith Country Park

"The needle felting workshop with Jo was great. Really nice, relaxing and great fun. Brilliant to learn something new and Jo was a great teacher and friendly host. Would definitely recommend giving the workshop a try."

Penelope Land reviewed: Introduction to screen printing

"I enjoyed a really good day with Ria. A real bonus having limited numbers on the course. I'd never attempted screen printing and did have difficulty pushing my fine art to one side to enjoy the freedom of printing. Ria is very friendly and a good tutor, it was a day of friendly chat and banter."

Olwen Swan reviewed: Lakeland Landscape - gouache & mixed media at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park

"Really enjoyed my day at Watercolour Landscape at The Cowshed, wonderful place. Karen made the course so interesting and she so was very helpful. Can't knit or sew now with my fingers, but found I could manage the painting. New interest for me now. Thank you Karen and also George for her lovely home made food. Regards,Olwen Swan."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Delighted you have found a new hobby and thank you for such lovely comments."

Hilary Quick reviewed: Highland stool making course - Scottish Highlands

"What a wonderful couple of days! Relaxing, challenging, satisfying, sociable, and I'm so chuffed with the end product! Aaron's careful guidance at each stage makes it all within anyone's grasp."

Linda reviewed: ‘Winter dream ' wool painting face-to-face textile art course in Worcestershire

"This course was perfect. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Raya is a knowledgeable tutor and a talented artist who inspires you to create fantastic work. I am so pleased with my painting what I completed within 5 hours! I recommend this course to everyone! Thank you Raya. I will be back again!"

Claire Morgan reviewed: Glass fusion workshop, Cardiff, Wales

"I booked the fused glass workshop as a birthday treat for my son and mother in law. We are all different ages and this was the most enjoyable day for us all. Cathy is informative, patient and very inspirational. Its thoroughly absorbing and the most wonderful way to spend a day. The workshop is small but has everything you require to be as creative as possible. My son had the most challenging design idea but with Cathy's expertise and patience he has the most incredible piece of glass artwork very unique to him."

Glass By Design responded:

"The work produced by yourselves was unique & diverse! The 'trainer' was challenging as an interpretation in glass but the results are amazing. Well done all. See you soon"

Mags Lyddiatt reviewed: Introduction to green wood furniture making - two days

"The green furniture making course surpassed all my expectations – I learnt so much. Peter is a great teacher, very encouraging and has endless patience and Lulu was a huge help too. We learnt how to use a selection of woodworking tools and turned logs into tables and stools – unbelievable in two days. We were all very pleased and proud of our final achievements and took home our work. It was an absolutely fabulous way to spend the weekend in a beautiful location. Thank you very much Peter and Lulu."

Caroline Cobbing reviewed: 'Art of Stained Glass' - Oldbury, Birmingham

"Thank you for a brilliant day with good company. I found the talk about your work fascinating and really enjoyed making my stained glass panel. It is now hanging up in the kitchen and has been admired by family and friends."

Ally Noble reviewed: maltese limestone carving at mount pleasant gardens

"A brilliant weekend trying stone carving for the first time. A relaxed course with plenty of guidance when required. Andrew provided help with design and all the different tools we used, plus the best way to get a good finish on the piece. I have something I am proud to display. The gardens are beautiful too, with a meadow, shady areas, perennials, Japanese garden, tree ferns and a sculpture trail. Highly recommended. We will be back."

Jenny Harding reviewed: Modern calligraphy (full day workshop) - Hampshire

"Very nice day, lots of useful information. Maybe a little too much going on for me, always trying to keep up it seems. I am probably better with a shorter more structured class. Still an enjoyable day though thanks."

Elaine reviewed: Upholstery course - bring your own project

"So pleased I found Polly's upholstery course. Polly knows her subject and shares her knowledge well - excellent teacher, very supportive. My project was just a bit of a challenge so didn't manage to complete over the two days but feel confident that I will be able to carry on with it on my own. There is so much to learn about upholstery, I am looking forward to returning at some point with a different style chair. Food etc. all good. The Studio is a lovely atmosphere for learning - Thank you Elaine"

Tanya Venture reviewed: An Introduction to Green wood craft (spoons spatulas and other things!)

"It was a really excellent day in a lovely setting, with a lovely dog and endless cups of tea! Phil was a great teacher and very good at recommending tools if we wanted to carry on carving at home. I really enjoyed making all of the different items. It was great having the freedom towards the end of the day to keep working on one of our current pieces or trying to have another go at something we had already made. I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in woodcraft or just in a nice day outside in the woods."

Gaynor Twigg reviewed: Stained glass with artist Patricia Lee - as seen on BBC1 Home Is Where The Art Is

"Excellent tuition delivered in an interesting and friendly way. Lovely homemade lunch too - perfect."

Chris reviewed: Stained glass for beginners | Lead lights

"I really enjoyed the whole course, all the different processes we followed and coming out at the end with a piece to remember my whole experience. David was a great teacher, informative, helpful and very friendly. 10 / 10 for me."

Excellent Tutor and value - highly recommend! reviewed: Make your very own Tote bag

"I attended Richard's 'make your own tote bag' workshop earlier this year and I cannot commend him enough. He is very knowledgeable, and takes the time to explain processes thoroughly. The workshop takes place in an outhouse at the back of his property, which has been kitted out with all the materials and tools needed. His workshop is small enough for you get 1 on 1 guidance, which means you get way more out of the workshop than those hosting groups of 10+. I highly recommend booking one of Richard's workshops; they're great value and you'll get a beautifully crafted piece to take away :)"

Elizabeth Thompson reviewed: Lakeland Landscape - gouache & mixed media at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park

"Throughly enjoyed the day. Venue is of the highest quality, Lunch was all homemade and delicious. I was a complete beginner doing watercolours. Karen was very patient and I learnt a lot of techniques. Hopefully this will be the start of a new hobby! Thanks again George and Karen for a lovely day!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much for your lovely comments and hope to see you again."

Izzy reviewed: Upholstery course - bring your own project

"Excellent course - learnt a lot - more to upholstery than I thought and if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly you need patience and knowledge (experience in time of course). We learnt how to feed the wood, coax the materials and be patient for the end result. Polly is an excellent teacher and a walking encyclopedia of upholstery knowledge (and very patient with her students). Don't overestimate how much you will get done, it's a slow thorough process but the end result is worth it. Food was good too - definitely recommend this course."