Latest reviews

1 Oct 17'

Ros sanders reviewed: Felt art and hand stitch with Marieke Tomlin a 'Quirky Workshop' at Greystoke Craft Garden & Barns near Penrith and Ullswater

"I thought that making a pair of felt slippers would be so easy - just sew up some felt and hey presto ! But no we had to make the felt ourselves ... Lovely Marieke helped us to gradually build up layers of merino wool and patiently explained how to create patterns and colours. We worked so hard rolling and soaping and throwing and massaging and chatting -but what a result. An amazing pair of very cosy slippers which I designed and made myself ! A lovely day - helped by delicious soups and 2 puddings for lunch and scones with jam and cream for tea. Highly recommended!"

1 Oct 17'

Jill Balmont reviewed: Willow Garden Structures (1 day) in the Peak District

"I had a great time, and I love the things we made. I will definitely try to have a go myself, and to book further courses with Zantium Studios."

1 Oct 17'

Pam reviewed: 1-to-1 Mount cutting and effective presentation for painters and photographers

"What a great course this is. I spent a fantastic day with Lynne (who is a great host as well as tutor). A lovely lady who is so helpful and encouraging. I learnt so much about mount cutting and displaying art work/textiles. A mine of information and happy to share this with her students. Lynne has great patience too. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone interested in displaying art work. I hope to do more courses with Lynne in the future."

1 Oct 17'

Caroline Warlow reviewed: Felt art and hand stitch with Marieke Tomlin a 'Quirky Workshop' at Greystoke Craft Garden & Barns near Penrith and Ullswater

"What a fun day. We went home exhausted, each with a very different pair of wearable slippers. Annie joined in and happily supplied bundles of towels to mop her floor as we added more and more lovely organic soap and water to our creations as we rolled and rolled trying to remember which way up it was and how many layers we'd done. (Future sessions could do with some sort of chart to mark off as one goes along - all the chatting takes one's mind of the job at hand.) Annie's helpers provided a choice of three delicious soups (I tasted all three!) and two puddings for lunch at a table set out in the sunshine in the garden - time to gather our energies for the afternoon. Thanks especially to Marieke who managed to get her instructions across against all the chatter, while making her own perfect pair."

1 Oct 17'

Bobbie Dewsbery reviewed: Textile design one day workshop for adults with Penny Mason, Birmingham (NO CLASSES UNTIL MARCH 2021)

"Penny's great course is inspiration and really educational. You get to learn how to hand design and print a cushion cover, and also have lovely little mini works, which as testers make little pictures. Learning hand printing techniques, colours and playing colour. Things you can take home and carry on with. It was really well worth the money. We had a ball."

30 Sep 17'

CAROLE reviewed: Needle felted puffin

"Fabulous day, great company and a very satisfying course making the felt hare. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you so much Rachel."

30 Sep 17'

S Clarke reviewed: Green Man stone carving in Yorkshire

"Helen and John are excellent tutors. Thanks so much for helping to develop my skills and for being so friendly! The West Riding Stonecarving Association is a brilliant place. You've worked really hard to produce such a good workshop."

30 Sep 17'

Sue Hughes reviewed: 1 day introduction to silver jewellery making - Ely

"I had fab day with Jonathan on the one day silver jewellery course. Jonathan is an amazing jeweller and brilliant teacher, very generous with his knowledge and time and obviously very passionate about his trade - you can't help but get hooked. I was thrilled with my makes having never made any jewellery before and already looking to book on another course to learn more. We were so well looked after all day and refreshments, biccies and the lovely lunch just topped the brilliant experience. Thank you very much."

30 Sep 17'

sue reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"Had a wonderful day with Jo @ The White Candle Company. Very informative and fun day !Jo made a gorgeous lunch for us we had a lovely time. Had loads of handmade candles to take home and use. Would highly recommend."

30 Sep 17'

Janet Hood reviewed: Felt making for beginners - learn how to make a beautiful piece of wet felted fabric

"An enjoyable afternoon. Kat gave clear and precise instructions with lots of beautiful merino wool to choose from. Kat makes crafting lots of fun too."

30 Sep 17'

Belinda Oakley reviewed: Willow Garden Structures (1 day) in the Peak District

"I had a wonderful day creating some striking structures with willow. Our tutor explained everything clearly and was very helpful at every stage. The weather was kind and the setting beautiful and relaxing. Our hostess was welcoming and attentive, providing drinks and delicious food and treats. I've been inspired to have a go at home with the willow from my garden."

30 Sep 17'

Sue Pesterfield reviewed: Introduction to green woodwork course at Sallerton Wood

"Lacking confidence and experience, I soon felt at home. I was able to ask questions and enjoyed the location, facilities, cups of tea and food. I gained confidence, enjoyed learning from Andy who is a patient and positive teacher. It is brilliant to be able to make things from scratch. Three techniques, and three useful tools made. Certainly a great introduction to working with green wood."

30 Sep 17'

Jackie Anthony reviewed: Fused Glass (2 days) in the Peak District

"As I was new to glass fusing, I struggled with glass cutting on first day, but soon picked it up on second. At the end of the 2 day course, I had learnt, how to cut glass, different types of glass, and what they are used for, and how they are likely to come out when fired. I really enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised with my end result. Great hosts, in a lovely countryside setting, offering tea, coffee and biscuits with lunch included in the fee. Look forward to improving on my next course."

30 Sep 17'

Lorna Watts reviewed: Screen Printing for All - Beginners & Refreshers

"A truly wonderful course run with a warm friendly atmosphere. Caroline took me through the process of preparing the screen and exposing the acetate image to create a stencil before we practiced mixing ink and printing. Caroline had many useful tips and expert advice on how to set up in your own home with cost saving ideas on equipment. The experience has refreshed passed knowledge and given me new skills. All in all a worth while experience and really enjoyable day."

29 Sep 17'

Teresa Davies reviewed: Potter's wheel pottery - half day course Siramik

"Have always wanted to have a go at pottery,so my daughter and I attended and what a great time we had. Yoka is an excellent teacher, her love of her craft shines through and she explains everything clearly and we are soon at the wheel shaping and throwing an actual pot. The sense of achievement we felt when we actually produced a decent bowl was the spur to make a better one, and another. In total I produced 3 bowls and a mug, not bad for a complete beginner. Throughout the afternoon Yoka was a wonderful host, the studio is set in beautiful countryside and the workshop is inspiring, with examples of her amazing creations all around. I would highly recommend this taster course, and hope to return soon to throw another pot."

29 Sep 17'

Angela Carey reviewed: Willow Animal Sculpture (2 days) in the Peak District

"An excellent course in wonderful, welcoming surroundings. Very organised, the artist enabled each of us to complete our desired creation, calmly and confidently, when we thought we would run out of time! Excellent lunches provided, with 'on tap' teas and coffee. Highly recommended!"

29 Sep 17'

Helen reviewed: Evening Watercolour 10-week art course for beginners and amateur artists

"Did not know what to expect but Raya soon made everyone feel at home and we were quickly to work on our creations. Raya is an excellent teacher, engaging and encouraging and provides an excellent choice of wool and frames for use on the course. It was fascinating to see how the pictures evolved throughout the day and lovely to take something beautiful home as a memento. Highly recommended by someone who was a complete beginner! Helen"

29 Sep 17'

Richard Williams reviewed: Blacksmithing for beginners - one day taster

"What an absolutely incredible day! Aaron is a superb blacksmith and equally good instructor. Blacksmithing is something I've always wanted to try and the day didn't disappoint. I look forward to booking again in the near future, I've been well and truly bitten by the forge bug!"

29 Sep 17'

audrey halliday reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"I had a lovely morning a few weeks ago at Kerry's candle making course, so informative very friendly and relaxed, we even had lovely coffee and cake!! Would highly recommend this course. Audrey Halliday"

29 Sep 17'

Angela reviewed: Residential Gyotaku Japanese NATURE printing in Pembrokeshire Wales

"This course is great fun and the results are stunning. Deb is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We experimented with different fish, printing on fabric, wet and dry paper and introducing textures. I came away with so many ideas. Brilliant course. Thank you so much Deb."

29 Sep 17'

Angela Self reviewed: Natural dyeing at the National Wool Museum

"A really enjoyable introduction to natural dyeing. In the course we dyed wool, fleece, silk and cotton with a number of plants including material collected from the National Wool Museum's excellent dyer's garden. Susan, the tutor, also provided comprehensive notes on the methods for us. An informative and enjoyable day."

29 Sep 17'

Polly Cook reviewed: Christmas Pudding - needle felting workshop with The Lady Moth

"I had never needle felted before but was really hooked by the end of the afternoon. Zenia is very kind and patient; she helps and guides in a way that is easy to understand. I would recommend this course."

29 Sep 17'

Les & Tonia Sysum reviewed: Woodturning courses in Hampshire - Beginners and improvers wood turning courses - Turn British, all British lathes!!

"Tuesday 19th Sept 2017 my wife and I drove from Herefordshire to Hampshire to attend a days woodturning course with Andy and what a fantastic day it was. As complete beginners and (I mean complete beginners) we were soon put at ease in a relaxed well equipt environment. Andy has a very friendly and down to earth approach to teaching, we not only enjoyed the course but enjoyed his company. Teas and coffees flowed all day, and we had a lovely lunch in Andy's garden followed by homemade walnut cake courtesy of his wife Martine. The woodturning course itself was fun, informative and If I'm honest was a little more difficult than we both first thought - but with Andy's help and patience at the end of the day we both came away with what I would call "works of art" or 2 well made wooden bowls which we are both incredibly proud of. We would thoroughly recommend Andy's course to anyone who wishes to learn the art of woodturning and we can't thank Andy enough for such a great experience, we did not only come away with our 2 lovely bowls but also felt we came away with 2 new friends"

29 Sep 17'

Robyn and Nesta Gilliland reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"Had a truly wonderful time at Kerry's candle making workshop. I bought this gift as a present for Mum and both thoroughly enjoyed it! Such a lovely welcoming space, there was a great mix of other guests there - some in groups, some alone. Learned so much about candles and the dos and don'ts - and have certainly picked up the bug for making homemade gifts. Will be back to bring new friends to share the experience :)"

29 Sep 17'

Karen Moyle reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"I had a fabulous morning earlier this week with Kerry at Can to Candle learning all about making soy candles and I met some other lovely ladies there too. I can thoroughly recommend Kerry's candle workshop (and the homemade hot chocolate and cake too!). I'm itching to get started on some Christmas gifts."