Latest reviews

zahra wahab reviewed: One day stained glass workshop London for beginners and enthusiasts

"Fantastic stained class workshop, clear instruction form Tejal who was very helpful and friendly. Definately want to do another course at some stage."

Jo Fiddes reviewed: Create a ceramic animal sculpture with Twisted Earth Ceramics at Ilkley Manor Studio

"I was so proud of my hare! As a complete beginner I really was astounded that I was able to produce such a high quality piece. That was down to Richard’s expert tuition. An incredible day - I’m already booked on to the next one. Thank you Richard."

christina may reviewed: Powertex /mixed media journal workshop

"Great fun in a lovely atmosphere with lots of different courses to choose from. You will leave with something beautiful every time."

Jessica Welch reviewed: Lampwork Beadmaking Full Day Introduction For One

"Had a great day with Andy and Ruth. Having not done any glass work for many years and being not very confident I would remember what I was doing, Ruth was able to get be straight back into it! I had a great day learning new techniques and falling back in love with this craft. Thanks again!"

Jane reviewed: Introduction to Block Lino Printing in Cambridgeshire

"Was a nice day. We had a good group with a diverse range of prints which I found interesting and inspiring. Thanks Judith for arranging the gf snacks too. I'd say come with sketches ready to go so you can spend more time experimenting with colours and paper."

Maggie H reviewed: Create a ceramic animal sculpture with Twisted Earth Ceramics at Ilkley Manor Studio

"Loved it! Loved everything about a great day spent creatively under Richard's expert guidance. He is a very patient and talented teacher who took us step by step through the techniques needed to transform a lump of clay into our own unique hares each with their own character. We did slab work for the body, coil work for the neck and thumb pinch pots for the head and various other techniques to create our hares. Richard is obviously a talented sculptor who knows his stuff and made it all seem so easy. There was a lovely atmosphere with everyone happy to be there, chatting across the table and delighted with their sculptures. The beautiful gentle Tilly dog in her eye catching red onesy added to the fun especially for dog lovers like my daughter Laura & me! So pleased she suggested coming. It was well worth the journey from Northumberland. SCRAP was a great venue and we popped out to the café on the corner for a quick delish lunch. Highly recommend any workshop run by Richard."

Charlie Roberts reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"I loved the course so much I went a second time. I can’t recommend Lucy highly enough. She is wonderful teacher, she has a calming presence making carving stone with her feel like the best relaxation therapy ever, and her snacks and lunches and coffees are the best!"

Sam Downer reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Lucy is a wonderful teacher, a highly skilled and creative stone carver and an all round inspiring person. She taught me to stone carve from scratch on a three day course. I now enjoy stone carving at home and I look forward to booking onto another course soon."

Jonathan reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Though reasonably experienced in stone carving I felt that I needed a boost and the excellent weekend course I had with Lucy in Cambridge did just that. I learnt some new techniques and polished up on what I knew, and, at the end I felt more confident in what I do. As a result I have started exhibiting in local art shows and have become more adventurous in subject and stone that I use. I would recommend Lucy's courses to anyone and I am intending to take advantage of her York courses next year. It will be a long drive for me to York but it will be definitely worth it!"

Michael Hargreave Mawson reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Lucy is not only a highly talented artist and a skilled carver in her own right, she is also a gifted teacher. Because of the small class sizes, this is the perfect course for anyone, whatever their artistic background and experience - or, as in my case, lack of either. The hours fly by, but the skills learnt last forever. I cannot recommend this course, and its tutor, too highly. (The food is rather wonderful, too!)"

Liz reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Spend wonderful day making prototype with Ed !!!! Thank you for your great expertise and guidance!!!! I will be back ... and highly recommend to anyone who works with plaster !!!!!"

Keith Davie reviewed: Blacksmithing Introduction courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"What a great day! Andy and Adrian were great at sharing knowledge, providing useful tips and helping out us novices in a supportive and helpful way. There's so much to learn and this course was an excellent introduction. Debbie provided great snacks, refreshing tea and a wholesome delicious lunch. I'd thoroughly recommend the day for anyone wanting to learn a bit about blacksmithing or wanting to take it further. Be careful - it could become addictive."

Alan Scully reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I managed to get onto Ade's two day bowl turning course at the second attempt at Woodland Pioneers so knew to expect a high level of preparedness in terms of tools and equipment. Ade is a skilled and experienced teacher, differentiates extremely well between experienced and less skilled attendees and at no point made any one feel that their questions or concerns had no value. He is extremely knowledgable and skilled yet manages to make one feel as though such skills are attainable by all. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring course and I look forward making more bowls with and without Ade in the future"

Diarmuid Synnott reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Ade's teaching was top notch. Very personable and constantly moving roind the grouo. Spending time with those who needed it most and knwing when to come to our aid and guide us. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and the whole experience has helped find a better understanding of bowl turning. Thanks Ade."

Mark plets reviewed: Rustic thumb walking stick

"Really enjoyed this course. Relaxed atmosphere and supportive staff made this a very enjoyable day."

wendy hayes reviewed: Needle felting workshop - Create your own woodland creature

"a very pleasant day spent learning needle felting. Denise is a very patient tutor. very pleased with my Hare which i have named Hartley. it was a fun day and a lovely experience. i would definitely recommend this course."

Crafty Gal responded:

"Thank you Wendy! I'm so pleased you enjoyed your day and delighted that you're spreading the word to all those potential needle felters you work with! Much appreciated, Dx"

Andy Clarke reviewed: Green woodworking and nature connection in the Malvern Hills

"A wonderful weekend in the woods, characterized by the generosity of spirit of Tom and his crew. Technical know-how and equipment provision second-to-none, in a beautiful location, delivered in a way that enables you to access the spirit of the woodland crafts..."

Jane reviewed: Box making weekend in Cumbria

"I came on the course hoping to get some experience with woodworking machinery. I left with lots of ideas and a beautiful box I made myself. The atmosphere was relaxing from the cameraderie of my fellow students to the patience of the instructor; a thoroughly fulfilling way to pass a weekend."

Baz Allin reviewed: Two day stained glass workshop - lead panels or garden sculpture

"My first course with Gigha, and won't be my last. Excellent (and patient) tuition, with a friendly group of people The workshop was well provided with the tools and materials needed. Tasty lunch both days. Many thanks :-)"

Ella Boyce reviewed: Needle felted Valentines workshop with 2 Inspire You

"What a fabulous workshop! Rachel and Rhiannon were knowledgable, highly skilled and able to clearly teach, guide, help and support with this craft throughout the day. I felt as if I had learned so much and at the end of the day went home with a very nearly completed piece of art work which I keenly went on to finish the next day. The range of resources provided was excellent and it was especially inspiring to see examples of their own work. Feel as if I have found a craft that I want to keep on doing. Loved it and would definitely recommend!! Hoping to come again soon. Thank you so much"

2 Inspire You responded:

"Hi Ella, Thank you so much for the kind words. Please send me a photo of your finished piece if you get the chance I would love to see it. I did say it was dangerously addictive but so rewarding. We hope to see you back with us soon and see what we create next time. Happy felting Rach"

Paul May reviewed: Rustic thumb walking stick

"Relaxed style of learning promoted by Dave. Excellent. The joints we made are not traditional but pegged with steel pin. I was happy with this as my skills, I am sure, wouldn't have run to making pegs/dowels etc. I messed up with stick straightening but Dave rescued me by giving me a spare. Instruction and examples were very clear. Dave did some of this himself eg drilling holes for the pins. It is good that we left with a finished stick and a choice of what t o do if we want to do more work on it. Lovely location and workspace - plus emergency room if we needed to shelter. Tea/coffee and biscuits available all day - excellent. I enjoyed the day and didn't find it too challenging ( which I was happy about as really I am a bit of a bodger! )"

Martin Smith reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"I recently took a one day,1 to 1, introduction to wood turning given by Mark. To say that I was a novice in wood turning is an understatement as I have no experience of working wood since I was at school a long while ago. Mark showed me around the workshop explaining what the various tools and machines were used for. He took time to advise on the minimal tools and type of lathe to get should I wish to pursue wood turning as well as websites where these can be purchased for a reasonable outlay. For the rest of the day he showed me the various steps required in turning a bowl. After demonstrating each step and watching me my attempt, he left me alone to complete the task whilst he worked elsewhere. This approach, rather than standing over and watching me, took the pressure off me although he often could hear when I did something wrong and return to put me right. They say you learn by your mistakes and I possibly made most you could. Mark however appears to have the patience of a saint and merely showed me what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. All in all a very interesting and enjoyable day. Mark is incredibly talented and knowledgeable, and indeed a nice guy, and I would recommend him for tuition at all abilities."

carly lee reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"Wonderful day! Mark was a fantastic teacher... funny, patient and clearly had a wealth of expertise. I thoroughly enjoyed the 1 day course I took and left feeling very enthused and so proud of myself for the wooden stool I had produced. I was very impressed by the way that Mark gave help when needed but also allowed me to 'have a go' for myself- it made me feel like I really was capable of woodturning and not just being spoon fed the instructions. Highly recommend to anyone!"

Nick Stanley reviewed: Knife Making and Bladesmith Classes: Hand-Forged Viking Knife

"We spent a day as a family & complete novices at Anvil Forge. My wife & teenage daughters were nervous when they arrived but Spencer was patient & encouraging. Two to one tuition with Steve as the second instructor - now there is a man who is passionate about his knives. Girls can't wait to go again & make a dragon. Thoroughly worth the drive down from Macclesfield."

Karen reviewed: Introduction to silk painting - workshop at The Mulberry Shed

"Our second course with sheila and immense fun. I have zero artistic skills but it doesn’t matter you can still create a fabulous piece. Mum and I choose to do scarves each time and with sheila’s clear instructions and infinite patience we had beautiful objects at the end of the day. The course is fabulous value for money and both Mum and I would 100% recommend giving it a go even if ,like me, you are not an artist at all."