Latest reviews

Andrew Braund reviewed: Introduction to spooncarving at Hill End

"I've now been a spoon carver for just over 2 years. It all started when I went on one of David's courses. I had no idea what would be involved. I started with log of field maple and by the end of the day I walked away with a very presentable spoon. David is for starters a really nice, approachable guy. He's a great teacher, makes sure that you know what you're doing, and supports you throughout the day. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed and there is a great sense of achievement in turning a log into a spoon! David runs our local group which meets monthly in a local wood where we all sit around a log fire, carving spoons, chatting, drinking tea and sharing experiences. So in 2 years I've become part of the spoon carving community! I'm sure you'll enjoy the course!"

David Knight Woodland Crafts responded:

"Hi Andy, I really appreciate this review and your kind words. You remind me that learning to carve a wooden spoon isn’t just about learning a new craft skill but is a route through to a wider green woodworking community which is so friendly, welcoming and happy to share skills, experience and supplies of green wood!"

Louise reviewed: Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop

"A fantastic course for those new to using Epoxy Resin. Richard is knowledgeable, calm and patient, giving everyone in the class his time and support to be confident to create their own piece to a high quality. I now feel confident to experiment with my own creations and not make any expensive mistakes!"

The River Shop responded:

"Great having you Louise! Hope to see you on the next one. Good luck in the meantime!"

Paul Griffiths reviewed: 'Thinking of Beekeeping'

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and learnt a great deal about beekeeping. It was very suitable for an absolute novice like myself. There were plenty of opportunities to get hands on experience in handling the bees. The tutor was very well informed, provided good support and in current times enabled suitable social distancing measures. I would highly recommend this course to anybody considering taking up beekeeping."

Matt Underwood reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"I recently had a 1-1 tuition day with Mark through a bursary. Having not had tuition for a few years it was good to recap some basics! Mark was very accomodating and flexible to my needs experimenting with thinly turned green flowers. It is clear how knowledgable Mark is and I went home with lots of notes of tips and tools to try. Mark is also very happy to offer help and support beyond the day - it's a very relaxed environment and I'm sure I'll be back for another day!"

Mark Hancock responded:

"Thank you Matt for your comments. It'll be interesting to see how the flowers have developed."

Rebecca hill reviewed: Furniture upcycling workshop - 1 day

"Having only ever dabbled and unsuccessfully tried to upcycle befofe this was a great course to do. Hannah was patient with all my questions and was so knowledgable and approachable. The studio is a really comfortable place to be and has some interesting things to oggle at! I learned so much on the course and had a really fun time completing my piece (telephone table). She had a great range of colours and tools to use on the day which was great as i had no idea what i was going to do with my table. Hannah helped me decide what would be best and easiest to achieve on the day and sent me home with a shopping list to complete. I would love to take the course again and would highly recommend it."

Tread Softly responded:

"Thanks Rebecca! What a lovely review :) it was an absolute pleasure having you on my course. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. Your telephone table is going to look amazing, I think you have a good eye for colour and I can't wait to see it with its fluffy cushion and new vinyl! X"

Tristan Mobbs reviewed: Woodworking - Workshop/Taster Day - Wall Clock

"A very enjoyable experience guided by an excellent tutor in Steve. The course was well paced with plenty of time to develop woodworking skills, with a mix of hand tools and machinery, alongside being able to ask Steve a wide range of questions that he was more than happy to answer. I now have a lovely clock on top of my mantelpiece and new skills to go with it."

Dovetail Woodworking responded:

"Hi Tristan, thanks very much for your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the day and found it informative. Steve"

Sandy Frost reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"We keep coming back to Lucy's courses, it's becoming an annual treat and development of our stone carving skills. This year we were under social distancing restrictions and lucky enough to be able to be working and eating outside in Lucy's gorgeous garden, under a gazebo at times when rain threatened, but it worked brilliantly well using masks when we needed to get our heads together a bit! We were still able to enjoy the social times of eating together outside, which makes the weekends so special. Lucy's passion and enthusiasm as an artist shines through and I find her and her work truly inspirational. She can combine this with really engaging with wherever her students are, however experienced and working alongside them. Thank you again for a great weekend. We will be back next year of course!"

Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops responded:

"Carving & lunches can take place INDOORS as well! I'm limiting student numbers to just 2 per class (or 3 if from the same social bubble) so there's more than enough space in my workshop and around my dining table for comfortable social distancing (and there's PPE on hand so inside group spaces are safely covered). Lucky students - this means more personal tuition than ever! It's always a pleasure to spend time with you, whatever the circumstances Sandy xxx More anon! :>)"

Rachel reviewed: Needle Felting Workshop - landscape pictures

"A really enjoyable, relaxing and productive session! The 3 hours flew by, and I was so pleased with the outcome - two pictures which looked surprisingly professional for a first attempt! Pip was welcoming, patient and encouraging, thank you so much."

Pippaluk Crafts responded:

"So glad you enjoyed it."

Stephanie Rose reviewed: Needle Felting Workshop - landscape pictures

"I attended the course recently with my sister and we both loved it. Pip is such a welcoming host and an excellent tutor. I enjoyed the tea and pastry plus the relaxed kitchen atmosphere. It's a fascinating craft and I'm so pleased with my two framed pictures - they are now proudly displayed in my living room!"

Pippaluk Crafts responded:

"Thank you so pleased you enjoyed it."

Karen reviewed: One day Mosaic workshop Moon Hare Studio, Devon

"So glad I went on this course. Adela was very helpful and patient. She provided all the tools we needed as well as great tips and inspiration from her own work. Her COVID precautions meant we all felt safe and well cared for too. I would definitely recommend the course."

Chris reviewed: Glass blowing for beginners with Jon Lewis

"We had a great day with Jon trying our hands at working with glass. I was surprised by the number of things that we got to make during the day and the number of techniques that we got to try our hand with. At the start of the day we could just about make some not quite spherical marbles and by the end we were experimenting with different colouring techniques and making vases. Jon is a very good teacher and we also got to find out about the other interesting projects he has been working on and the techniques he has been experimenting with. All in all it was excellent value for money and taught us a lot of new skills. Hoping to try it again sometime and practice all the skills we learnt."

Gail reviewed: Small needle felted animals or pictures

"This course was a gift from my daughters for Mothers Day. We spent a lovely morning making our felt creatures. Barbara is a very good & patient tutor, providing a relaxed atmosphere for us to create something nice to take away with us. Would like to return to make a felt picture."

Feltworld - Creative Arts responded:

"It was a pleasure to teach you and your two daughters. Your cute animals are adorable:-). Hope to teach you and share the very exciting painting with wool techniques. Barbara :-)"

James Titley reviewed: The complete basics of woodturning (2 days)

"Great course. Went through everything a beginner could want, but clearly moved with your needs and skills. Mark was patient and supportive throughout the whole two days. Not just on how to achieve the skills, but had a thorough knowledge of kit, tools, equipment that you may want to set yourself up. Definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in wood turning - whatever your level"

Mark Hancock responded:

"Thank you Jim for your feedback. Enjoy your new hobby."

Bridget Lawrence reviewed: Embroidery kit - Garden Border Flowers

"So thrilled with my purchase, such a lovely kit. I will enjoy creating the picture. Plenty of materials provided for choice, imagination and design. Prompt delivery, beautifully wrapped, was a pleasure to open."

Tigley Textiles responded:

"Thank you Bridget, so sweet of you to write a review. I'm really pleased you enjoyed opening the package and hope you have lots of fun stitching. Julie"

Diane Malerich reviewed: Art Themes - Landscape, Urban, Portraits

"Attended first lesson of the course on Monday. Really enjoyable friendly and safe atmosphere. Looking forward to next week"

The Art and Design Studio responded:

"Many thanks Diane! Looking forward to seeing you next week for coloured pencil work. Cathy & Shelly."

Charlotte reviewed: Half day: 3 Leather Accessories

"The course was absolutely brilliant and it was lovely having time with my dad for his birthday doing something he had never tried before! We are both very crafty people so it was extremely interesting and enjoyable to learn about a new craft. Rosanna is lovely and inviting and explains everything very clearly. My dad and I both had a fantastic time!"

Glyn Williams reviewed: Guitar Strumstick Dulcimer 3 strings instrument

"What a great way to spend a day! Tim is great company and can talk about anything which is really important when you're spending 8 hours together in a small space. He was very knowledgeable about the task in hand and helped me as a novice safely through every step of the process while still leaving me with a sense of achievement. The finished product was also impressive and I happily show it off to anyone who'll listen. Thanks very much Tim, I'd recommend the course to anyone with an interest in getting to know equipment and techniques. All the best"

Teds Woodworking/ instrument making Courses responded:

"Thanks Glyn You have a lot of experience with guitars my friend, we certainly got talking about guitars and the world. I'm sure you can make a bandsaw box with me next time? I hope the Strumstick meets the wife's approval too ? A little bit of practice is all you need Glyn....let me know when you have time and hope to see you very soon and please tell your friends as well. Kind regards Tim"

Amanda Challans reviewed: Hide camp - deer skin into buckskin

"This course is so much more than learning the lost art of working buckskin. I found it really wholesome living in nature and so inspiring spending time around people who are so knowledgable and passionate about what they do. Jessie and Jane created a really lovely camp atmosphere, a fun way of life, and an interactive way of teaching. I learned a lot! And feel confident attempting tanning projects at home now. Their campfire cooking is pretty delicious too!"

Christine Hamilton reviewed: Silver clay beginners course - Lori Ridgway

"My partner and I attended the Silver clay beginners course and it was outstanding. We had a fantastic day and loved the pieces we made. Lori was an excellent teacher and extremely knowledgeable. We would highly recommend this course with Lori. In addition, there were substantial measures put in place to ensure Lori could run the workshop for us whilst complying with COVID-19 guidance. Thanks for a fab day Lori!"

LR Silver Jewellery responded:

"Hi Christine. Thanks for such a lovely review. I’m glad you enjoyed your day, you both made some lovely pieces ?"

Teresa Chlapowski reviewed: Sand Casting in Glass with Jon Lewis and Ewa Wawrzyniak

"I first took the sand casting course with Ewa and Jon a few years ago and am now completely hooked! It's mesmerizing to see glass being poured (by Jon), honey like, into your sand moulds, made a few hours earlier by me in Ewa's studio. The excitement of seeing this alchemic medium transport your ideas into something so amazing is palpable. Both Ewa and Jon are extremely patient, helpful, happy to experiment with you but also able to guide you and your ideas to fruition. All you need to bring is some inspiration and a few things to press into the sand for your moulds, though Ewa has lots of shapes too so actually you can come with nothing but leave with something truly creative, and above all having had a lot of fun."

Bryony reviewed: Glass blowing for beginners with Jon Lewis

"My partner and I had a great day on this course, learning from Jon. I've wanted to try glass blowing for many years, so this was a fantastic opportunity. Jon was really welcoming, and we got stuck in to our projects early on in the day. It is clear that Jon has a good plan for the lesson, and knows what can be realistically produced by eager beginners (us!) without ever feeling rushed. Jon was also able to provide great guidance without taking over, so you really feel that what you have created is your own! Parndon Mill is a beautiful setting, and eating lunch in the sunshine outside the studio added to the experience. All in all, a really enjoyable day."

Beverley Neeves reviewed: Hare Sculpture workshop with Jo Garden Art in beautiful Norfolk/Suffolk

"I had an enjoyable and relaxing day creating a unique hare sculpture. I was made to feel very welcome and Jo is an excellent and helpful tutor. All materials were provided and it was great to come home with a finished hare at the end of the day. All stages were explained well and Jo was there to give advice and guidance when required. I enjoyed the day so much, I’ve booked to go on another of Jo’s workshops in a few weeks!"

Jo Garden Art responded:

"Thank you Bev ! Looking forward to working with you on your next sculpture! Jo ;-)"

Val Taylor reviewed: Silver jewellery stacking ring workshop with WyeMade

"Spent the morning making silver earrings. Ann is patient, friendly, knowledgeable and a skilful teacher. A fabulous experience. Thank you"

WyeMade responded:

"Thank you Val"

Rhian G reviewed: Leather Clutch Purse Workshop

"Thanks to Tracy for a thoroughly enjoyable experience! My sister bought me a half-day workshop as a Christmas present so I chose a clutch bag workshop. There were two of us on the day, plus Tracy. Her workshop is lovely and bright, in a converted dairy barn/shed and she'd emailed me the specific details a few days before so I could find the location easily. Tracy was really patient and broke down the task into manageable steps, meaning it wasn't as intimidating as I'd feared! The process itself was immensely satisfying and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working with the different leathers. Tracy was also brilliant when I accidentally stabbed myself in the knuckle and bled all over her pristine floor - sorry Tracy! As well as coming away with a bespoke clutch bag in the leather of my choice, I got to personalise it by stamping my initials into the leather. Added to this was Tracy's homemade bara brith at tea break, which was very nearly as good as Mam's! This is a perfect gift for someone creative/practical, as well as for someone who maybe lacks confidence - it was such a buzz seeing the final product! I loved every minute. Thanks Tracy x"

Sarah reviewed: One day Mosaic workshop Moon Hare Studio, Devon

"I attended this course with my partner and we had the best time! Everything is provided, from materials to refreshments to Covid ppe. Adela is a great teacher and the whole thing was fun, informative and relaxed. My partner was so into it he barely even touched the refreshments on offer and had to be forcibly dragged to lunch - something that is basically unheard of! I cannot recommend this highly enough."