Latest reviews

Diane McTigue reviewed: Stained glass for beginners one day workshop

"What a fabulous 2 days I spent on this course, it was brilliant! I started out as a complete beginner and at the end I had made a stained glass panel which I love. However, more importantly, I feel I now have the skills and confidence to tackle my own projects in the future. Sharon, our teacher was amazing. The whole course was taught in a lovely, relaxed, friendly manner. Everything was clearly explained and as there was only 4 of us on the course, Sharon was always on hand to assist and advise if necessary. At the end we all had very different panels to take home. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to anyone and would love to do another of Sharon's courses in the future."

Manchester Stained Glass responded:

"Thank you Diane, such a lovely review! Almost didn't recognize myself :) I am so glad the weekend workshop made you feel confident to try your own projects. It was a very fun weekend and so good to see all the very different creative panels that everyone took home. Many Thanks, Sharon :)"

Sue Todd reviewed: Silver Clay Jewellery for Beginners

"I had a fabulous day on Jo's course and am thrilled with the earrings I made. She has a lovely well equipped workshop in a lovely setting. There were 4 of us in the group which is ideal for having one on one tuition but also having other creative people to bounce ideas around. Jo encouraged us to design our own pieces which makes it even more satisfying to see your finished jewellery. I wholeheartedly recommend this course although I would warn you - you will get hooked and want more!"

Jo Hunter Wearable Art responded:

"Thanks Sue - your earrings are amazing!"

Caroline reviewed: Felt Pod Vessels

"Emma's pod workshop was a really enjoyable morning. The instructions and demonstrations are clear and thanks to the detailed handouts I feel confident that I will be able to make another felt pod at home. Emma is incredibly knowledgeable and has an amazing selection of wools and colours available to use. I am really pleased with the pod that I made. Thank you Emma."

Steve Glennie reviewed: Green wood stool making weekend

"Really comprehensive and immersive course. I’ve previously been on a one day stool making course which taught basics of using the shave horse and cleaving with a froe but was a little dissatisfied. This course was a much more involved educational experience from felling the tree to cleaving eight spindles for a stool. These are dried overnight and then pressed into legs prior to an afternoon of weaving seats with natural fibres. The whole weekend is spent in the outdoors including a walk to the local pub and sleeping in one of the two available yurts, plus cooking on open fires fuelled by the ash off-cuts. I loved this course and the stool has become a feature and a talking point. Thanks George and Ivan"

Kay Duckmanton reviewed: Introduction to fused glass (1 day) in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

"My husband bought this 1 day fused glass class for Christmas for my daughter Becky and myself. Both of us had a brilliant time and I would recommend it to anyone interested in trying something new as a hobby. We both had no past experience and were a little nervous to begin with. Martin put us both at ease. He had a brilliant way of teaching whilst at the same time allowing us to find our own individual style. The class sizes were just right and before we knew it we were chatting with others and enjoying sharing our ideas and achievements. The time flew by. Becky couldn’t wait to ask what we were going to try next. Thank you Martin. I will be in touch soon to arrange another visit."

Rebecca Taylor reviewed: "Power of Place" Mosaic and Tile Making

"A great mosaic course with handy print outs and lots of excellent displays and encouragement. On the day we all made a coaster as well as a large piece which we brought home. Tracey gave us all a goody bag with grout and clear instructions on how to compete our work. A great day with loads of choice of materials and her zest for makings mosaics is fabulous!"

Tracey Cartledge Artist responded:

"Hi Rebecca Thank you for coming to the Introduction to Mosaic workshop and contributing to a very enjoyable day. I'm delighted that you enjoyed your time at the studio and produced a beautiful mosaic to take away with you. Your enthusiasm to experiment with a variety of different materials resulted in a sumptuous and very attractive rose mosaic, composed in harmonious shades of red. I look forward to seeing how it looks once the background area is finished. Have fun with it! Best wishes, Tracey"

Amy reviewed: Creative Machine Stitching

"Had an absolute blast on this course today. Helen is so welcoming and a fantastic teacher. I felt immediately at ease and had such a fun time. Even though I had no prior experience, I created a wonderful piece of art. We will definitely book on one of the courses again in future. Thank you Helen!"

Helen Moyes Designs responded:

"Thanks Amy, I enjoyed today too, facitating all your creativity. Keep Crafting!"

Stella Zeki reviewed: Jewellery workshop for beginners (ring, earrings, pendant or bangle)

"The jewellery course is excellent. I went with three friends and we all made bangles. Marion explained everything clearly and demonstrated different techniques. I love my bangle and wear it every day. I’d definitely recommend doing a course here."

Ali Sleeman reviewed: Pottery throwdown at Claynglaze Pottery

"What a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. We all surprised ourselves by how well we did and how much fun throwing off the hump can be. Great tuition, lots of time to practise and help always at hand. I loved it. Tea and the best gluten free cake I’ve ever eaten at the end topped off a day in which we learned new skills, and created stuff we need to come back to glaze. Thanks Wendy & Matt."

Julie Neal reviewed: Machine embroidery - stitch doodling with Julie Brand at Tigley Textiles in Worcester

"Absolutely loved this! I am hereby completely addicted, and need to retire off into the sunset doing only this for the rest of my days."

Jayne from Wolverhampton reviewed: Machine embroidery - stitch doodling with Julie Brand at Tigley Textiles in Worcester

"Another fabulous day. Excellent teaching, nurturing and guidance in beautiful surroundings. Workshops with Julie, “Tigley Textiles” are not to be missed!"

Steph from Cheltenham reviewed: Machine embroidery - stitch doodling with Julie Brand at Tigley Textiles in Worcester

"Simple clear instructions. Friendly atmosphere, could sew for days. Love the new skills I’ve learnt."

Alice Tew reviewed: Machine embroidery - stitch doodling with Julie Brand at Tigley Textiles in Worcester

"Such an enjoyable day. Julie is so welcoming and an excellent teacher. Relaxed atmosphere but also very productive."

Jan from Derbyshire reviewed: Machine embroidery - stitch doodling with Julie Brand at Tigley Textiles in Worcester

"A fabulous course! Julie teaches all the necessary detail along with helpful hints and tips. I produced a piece of work which has astonished me! Can’t wait to build on what I have learned today."

Gill Goldsmith reviewed: Glass bottle cutting for beginners in Kent

"Spent a most enjoyable afternoon learning how to cut bottles into tumblers, make a storm lantern and vases. Claire and Janet are so helpful and informative. There was plenty of tea and biscuits and the small group meant we all got individual attention. This was just what I wanted to learn to incorporate even more recycled makes into my own workshops, highly recommend."

Ruth Hickmott reviewed: Glass fusing private class - fun taster class for beginners

"I thoroughly enjoyed my 1:1 fused glass with Sarah. She was very well prepared for the session and very clear in her explanation and instruction. I also appreciated that she was "hands off" allowing me to play and create my own pieces rather than making me follow a pre-determined template. I was pleasantly surprised by how many pieces I was allowed to make in a 4 hour class. It was really interesting to learn some of the chemistry behind the process. Excellent value for money and very enjoyable. Hope to have another go soon."

Steph reviewed: Beginners Candle Making Course

"I had an amazing experience at the Candle making course with Paula and the rest of the group! It was a very inviting atmosphere created by a fabulous and warm host, who paid great attention to detail. I learnt so much compared to another course I have previously undertaken and am sure this is exactly what I need to kick-start my candle making business! The course was worth every penny and I'll definitely be back for some of her others! Only regret is not getting the recipe for the divine afternoon tea!"

Old Bexley Soap & Candle Co. responded:

"Thank you Stephanie for the review. I am really pleased you enjoyed the course and I wish you all the best in starting your candle business!. Paula"

Meg Black reviewed: "Power of Place" Mosaic and Tile Making

"Tracey's introduction to Mosaic course was excellent. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day and I learnt a lot about how to do mosaic. There were 5 of us and Tracey, and after a general introduction, catered to the needs of each individual allowing us to develop our skills as we wished. I was keen to learn how to cut and shape tiles and felt I could do this with confidence by the end of the day. I also had completed a mini mosaic to learn the whole process and I had started on a project to take home with a goody bag of the materials to complete it with. She was extremely friendly and helpful and created a lovely atmosphere. I would thoroughly recommend this course if you want to start doing mosaic."

Tracey Cartledge Artist responded:

"Hi Meg Thank you for writing such a great review about the Introduction to Mosaic workshop. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the day, as I very much enjoyed it too. It was wonderful to see how quickly you perfected cutting the glass tesserae to the shapes required to create a very satisfying result in your seahorse design. I look forward to seeing the finished mosaic in due course and I'm interested to hear if you go on to make the table top that we discussed. If you need advice at any stage, do get in touch and I'll do my best to help. Best wishes, Tracey"

Margaret Everley reviewed: Introduction to fused glass (1 day) in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

"This was my second fused glass workshop as I was hoping to build on the experiences gained in the first one and it didn't disappoint. A completely absorbing day, Martin is an excellent tutor and always sensitive to each individual's needs. The atmosphere was always relaxed and nonthreatening and everyone was encouraged to develop their ideas and Martin was quick to give further explanations and help when necessary. I would thoroughly recommend this workshop to anyone whether they are familiar with glass work or not. Margaret"

Carolyn and Gordon Raybould reviewed: Green wood stool making weekend

"We did this weekend in October 2019. It was a great experience to share with each other. First day was spent in the woods, cutting and shaping the wood and the second was in a workshop putting the stool together and hand weaving the seat. Two lovely lunches provided, one cooked on an open fire. Nice pub meal in the evening in the local village. George was very friendly and a good teacher, explaining how to do things and helping out when you got stuck. Would recommend this course"

Jane walsh reviewed: Introduction to fused glass (1 day) in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

"This is another of Martin's courses that my husband and myself have attended and yet again it has been amazing. We will be booking on other courses with Martin. We’ve already done two x 12 week courses and a Christmas fused glass course and we just can’t get enough of them. Fabulous hobby to do together."

Ben Wolff reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I received Ian's workshop as a Christmas gift, and had an excellent time. Ian's enthusiasm and passion for green woodworking was evident, and he carefully guided us through a day of learning about and using traditional hand tools with locally sourced wood; resulting in some beautiful Oak and Ash stools and very (!) sturdy mauls. The workshop was perfectly suited to all ability levels, as Ian was thorough and helpful in his guidance at each thoughtfully planned stage. He was patient and encouraging, and made it easy to gain a respect and appreciation for a style of woodworking that has been a fundamental part of local communities for centuries. A thoroughly enjoyable experience with a fantastic end product that will be cherished and will probably outlive me!"

Pauline Turner reviewed: Stained Glass Beginners Workshop

"The day was a Christmas gift from my partner as I expressed interest in learning more about glass cutting and it was for beginners as a taster course. I had no previous experience in cutting glass, and it took a while to get the hang of it. David was quite short with me, in front of the rest of the class, on more than one occasion. Although I realize he is passionate about his craft, and very talented,I found his attitude really rude and quite embarrassing."

David J Lilly responded:

"Hi Pauline, I am sorry that you did not enjoy your day learning to make your stained glass panel. Yes, you struggled in the beginning as do many others, but by keeping it light-hearted and me showing you different methods of using different cutting tools you overcame the problems you were experiencing and you acheived your goal, which you told me was to make a stained glass panel - and it was lovely. Also you were the first to finish. I was not aware that I was treating you differently from anyone else, so I am sorry you did not enjoy the day."

Nicky McDowell reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"Really great experience. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing about all the different kinds of wax and fragrances, as well as choosing my own and making a candle. We also mixed our own fragrance to take away. We were well looked after, with coffee and crumble and it was nice to meet all the other people too. Kerry has got this workshop just right for a really enjoyable a Saturday morning."

Alison Small reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"I attended a workshop yesterday with a friend and loved it. I learned a lot about candles and we left with a bag full of goodies. Kerry was lovely and very knowledgeable about her craft. The workshop was great and very relaxed. It was like spending time at a friend's! I would highly recommend it."