Latest reviews

Michael Hall reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"I completed the beginner carving course with my partner yesterday. Upon arrival Stephen was friendly and approachable and did not cease being so the entire length of the session. The setting was lovely, comfortable and a genuinely nice space to learn in. Stephen took our group through the very basics of selecting wood, reading the grain, axe work, knife work and techniques. By the end we all had something that, whilst rustic, was ours. Uniquely ours. You'll leave the session able to competently pursue carving at home should you wish, it is certainly what I'll be doing."

ilan lieberman reviewed: One day leather work course - small leather goods

"Fantastic course, well organised, friendly, well run and well-fed! Great equipment and I ended up with a wallet that I would have paid proper money for. I can't recommend this course highly enough. If you want to see what leather crafting is about then don't hesitate, sign up, turn up, turn your phone off and have a really enjoyable day. They followed up with a very helpful email to assist in taking things forward. I will defo attend another day. Thanks again."

Brenda reviewed: Tree stump planter workshop - sculpture workshop using Pal Tiya Premium

"I have had another lovely day with a great group of people and learning sculpting with Joe and Bob. Second time at The Shire Workshops making things for my garden. Always enjoyable working with your hands. In our modern world we need more opportunities to be creative. I think Joe and Bob are running one of the best places to enjoy artistic experiences. Thanks to CraftCourses for promoting places like this."

Melis Erden reviewed: Glove making workshop

"I've grown a new appreciation for glove making. Vajira has been so patient with us. It's a good idea not to have more than 3 people in this course, we needed so much attention! I would've been happier if we had maybe 1 more day. :) Great fun and relaxing! I appreciated Vajira let us put creative input into our making process even though we were total beginners. That excites me! Thank you!"

Peiris Designs responded:

"Hi Melise, Thanks for last minute booking. it was lovely to have you. I loved your colour combination, and the special details and the creative touch! looking forward to see some custom made gloves!!"

Jane Hall reviewed: Kate Morrell willow sculpture courses

"Another fantastic day with Kate, this time making a rabbit - totally different from the dragonfly I made the first time I attended her workshop. Kate is very enthusiastic, helpful and really knows how to work her magic with willow! I will definitely be going back a third time - I have room for a small menagerie of animals in the garden. Thanks again Kate."

Heather Croft reviewed: Outdoor mosaic workshops - 1 day with Rachel Hyde at Creative with Nature studio Todmorden West Yorkshire

"I learnt more from Laura in an hour than what I’ve ever learnt from books or you tube on mosaics. Clear direction with a wonderful vocabulary Laura gave everyone encouragement and detailed knowledge of what tools and ingredients to use. An amazing day. Thank you so much. Will come back for the silver clay course."

Creative with Nature Ltd responded:

"Thanks heather! Lovely review ? I'll pass onto Laura. Joe. Xx"

Matt Carter reviewed: Lino Printing Day with Oxford Linocut Workshops

"I attended the lino printing in fabric workshop today. Claire was a fantastic tutor who helped me develop my idea long before I attended the course! The teaching, knowledge, hospitality, facilities and resources are all first class and I feel give amazing value for money! I enjoyed the day immensely and thank Claire for ensuring my project was completed. I am now the very proud owner of a camera print design that I plan to make into a blind for my downstairs loo! One thing is for sure no one else will have one of these prints. I guarantee that with Claire’s support you will be very pleased with what you can achieve. 100% recommended."

Chris Overs reviewed: Knife making weekend Gloucestershire

"Arian is a very likeable and good teacher; he communicated very well all aspects of the craft. It was a very enjoyable couple of days covering metalwork, woodwork and leather work as well as all other the aspects of creating and looking after the useful handmade personal tool of your own knife made by you from raw materials. If you have any basic DIY skills you will enjoy and be able to fly through this coursevand end up with a beautiful knife."

Cathryn Wood reviewed: Beginners Silver Jewellery Course

"Hi Mark We just wanted to email to say and huge hearfelt thankyou for the brilliant course today - we have genuinely loved it! You were so patient with us and we are beyond thrilled with our rings - thank you once again Mark you are a star! Kind regards Cathryn and Diane"

John Fox Richardson reviewed: Beginners Silver Jewellery Course

"We had such a marvelous day learning different processes and making several pieces of silver jewellery. Mark was so patient and so willing to help bring our idea's to life. Nothing was too much trouble. Both Mark and Terri are wonderful hosts and instantly made us feel welcome. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and as much tea/coffee as we wanted. We chose to do this class together as a couple as an opportunity to learn and create something new. We were both so impressed with the pieces we made and can't wait to show everyone. We have every intention of returning with a view to making Christmas gifts for our friends and family. If you want a day out with a difference then go and enjoy a day creating beautiful things at dandelion silver!"

Anne Boulger reviewed: Kate Morrell willow sculpture courses

"I’ve just returned from Kate’s wonderful workshop. It really was a fabulous day. Kate is so knowledgeable about her craft and definitely has an eye for form. She is patient and helpful and so relaxed with it all so in turn your more relaxed and enjoy what your creating. I left with a very big heron and I’ve passed the pictures all round my friends and the response is amazing. Thank you so much Kate...... I definitely will be back."

Andrew Simpson reviewed: Tree stump planter workshop - sculpture workshop using Pal Tiya Premium

"Excellent day, I was a complete beginner, absolutely no experience in sculpting or crafts of any description! Left with great memories and a Pal Tiya tree planter! Highly recommended."

Karrin Simpson reviewed: Tree stump planter workshop - sculpture workshop using Pal Tiya Premium

"Such a lovely day with Joe and Bob. I had never made anything like this before but I need not have worried. The atmosphere was relaxed and the guidance was excellent! I would highly recommend The Shires Workshops!"

Terri Bardell reviewed: Full day mosaic workshop for beginners - Meriden, West Midlands

"My sister in law, Lin and I had a great day doing the mosaics course with Ann. She was a a great teacher friendly and enthusiastic. Her house and surrounding garden are so lovely and the lunch and hospitality was just as good. I managed to make a mosaic slate heart for outdoors, a lovely slate vintage button heart and even had time to make a coaster!!! Lin made a lovely fish mosaic for her garden. I would thoroughly recommend a day with Ann doing such an absorbing workshop. Thanks so much. Terri x"

Joanne reviewed: Needle Felting Workshop Owl Brooch

"Attended a workshop yesterday, I was very nervous as I am not crafty or arty, but I needn't have been. Milly was great, very patient & funny, I really feel that I can try Dot Art on my own at home now, plus I will be going back for the new Autumn makes that Lana Mutado was telling us about in the workshop. Don't be in doubt, book in, I'm glad I did."

Adèle Flinter reviewed: One day silver pendant and earring workshop

"What a lovely day! I booked this course as a present to myself after a particularly difficult time and it was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve spent in a long time! With Jolene’s excellent teaching skills, guidance & her lovely, interesting studio for inspiration, I made a silver & copper ‘family’ necklace & matching earrings! I highly recommend a workshop with Jolene, I certainly will be doing another one & I have already passed on the details to several friends & family members.... I think I’ll be buying gift vouchers for Christmas! Thank you again Jolene. Adèle x"

Mara Bell reviewed: Needle felt landscapes workshop on Orkney, including lunch

"We had a great day learning about needle felting pictures. It was a new experience for us both and we were very pleased with the results and what we learned and the enjoyable day we had together. Most of all I was very pleased to have been able to book this course at reasonable short notice and that we were able to have a one to one class! What a treat!!! Thank you and I recommend the needle felting course to anyone that has an interest in wool crafts and wants to spend a relaxed day in a creative atmosphere!"

Mel Brew reviewed: Bespoke Contemporary Fine Art Encaustic Wax Workshop.

"While visiting the UK from New Zealand in June, I enjoyed a two day encaustic workshop with Lyn and it was amazing. Lyn was fabulous at sharing her knowledge and techniques to create an encaustic artwork.  I am a mixed media artist, but had not worked with encaustic wax before. I am now a convert and can not wait to return to my studio and further develop these skills. Lyn made the experience so much fun and we had a lot of laughs along the way. I love her work and she was very happy to teach me many of the techniques she uses. Thanks so much Lyn, for a very special two days in your studio."

Contemporary Encaustic Wax Workshop responded:

"Hi Mel, we did have fun, and learnt a lot too. Can’t wait to see your Encaustic pieces. Take care Lyn"

Jane Gale reviewed: One day bangle/ring workshop

"What a brilliant day! Booked the one day pendant and Earring workshop for a special friend’s 50th birthday. We both wanted something that would occupy our heads as well as our hands. With no previous experience, to go home at the end of the day with a pendant and a set of earrings in both silver and copper, that I will feel proud to wear, was amazing. Jolene got the balance so right in terms of using her expertise to guide, support and encourage us to ‘have a go’. Her people skills are brilliant and this relaxed social atmosphere made the day both enjoyable and productive. Learning that she has had whole family's doing her bangle workshop and participants being as young as five; this will definitely be my Christmas present for my two grandchildren. I would like to do some of her afternoon course sessions to learn more. Thank you so much. Jane"

Ian reviewed: Carving & sculpture workshops

"Gareth is “as mad as a box of frogs”! Like a box of frogs, he is fascinating, pleasing, natural, constantly in motion and bright green (well not that last one..). He is a unique individual with a true passion for teasing art, emotion and life-like movement out of wood and stone and other inanimate things like you and I. I had the privilege of spending several days with Gareth and tackling a more complex project which I have brought home to complete. It strikes me I have probably packed months of experience in what we christened “co-carving” where Gareth would demonstrate, I would try to repeat, he would adjust/fix and so on until I found I was actually producing results that were very (very) pleasing. I can thoroughly recommend Gareth, his amazing house, his very tasty cooking and even his choice of biscuits to you. Bring a Sat-Nav and enjoy your journey to middle-earth, once you are there you’ll realise it was worth the effort."

Lesley Shedden reviewed: Landscape photography workshop Dumfries & Galloway

"As an absolute beginner, this course was a perfect introduction to landscape photography. Derek was incredibly patient, very clear in his explanations and instructions and made sure that I had the opportunity to use my camera in a range of locations and therefore using a range of settings which I now understand. It was a very relaxed course, very much at my pace and Derek made sure I understood why my camera settings needed adjusting or if I’d managed to get them correct. The locations we visited were perfect and the lovely weather helped - though I will need to get out earlier if I want the perfect shot! I now need to practice and then sign up for my next course! Many thanks for a great introductory session - highly recommended for anyone in this position who wants to learn more but not in a classroom."

Anna McAlinden reviewed: Enamelled jewellery for beginners and improvers - fired glass jewellery techniques

"We had heard great comments about the courses that Toni delivers and we were not disappointed with the outcome of the three and a half hours spent with her. Lucy - our daughter (and fifteen school friends) were guided through the entire process from initial design, colour selection, choice of gems and firing. At the end of the enamelling session all 16 eleven year olds had created a unique ‘memory’ to treasure when moving up to secondary school. I have to confess that myself and another adult could not resist joining in and are both delighted with our end results. Toni - we will definitely be coming back!"

Adrienne Rashford reviewed: Online textile surface pattern design workshop

"I did this course online, which was excellent. Doing a tutorial a week at a mutually agreed time meant I had time to practice techniques between lessons and produce a great body of work."

Cheese + Pickles Design Studio / Henry Hedgepodge Academy responded:

"Thank you so much! Please send me photos of the curtains when they're up. Stay in touch. Debs"

ANNETTE PURKIS reviewed: Modern calligraphy (full day workshop) - Hampshire

"Had a lovely time learning modern calligraphy using nib and ink, which was a first for me. Sunita explained each step carefully so no previous experience was needed. Now it's just practice, practice, practice....."

Sarah reviewed: Tree stump planter workshop - sculpture workshop using Pal Tiya Premium

"Bob and Joe are brilliant teachers and have designed a course that teaches you how to use this great medium, and come out of it with a pretty much completed piece. I would highly recommend this course, and in fact any of their courses"