Latest reviews

Marion Colwell reviewed: Hare Sculpture workshop with Jo Garden Art in beautiful Norfolk/Suffolk

"Thank you Jo for an interesting and enjoyable day. A nice relaxing course, in idyllic surroundings. Thank you for looking after us all so well. Would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in producing their very own hare work of art."

Jo Garden Art responded:

"Thank you Marion - very enjoyable workshop with lovely people attending. So glad you found it relaxing and went away with a lovely hare sculpture. Jo x"

Julian Neary reviewed: Hazel hurdle making at Greenwood Days

"Alister was a brilliant knowledgeable instructor and both Peter and Alister were friendly and made the day a perfect experience. I would highly recommend this course. I will definitely be booking another course. "

Cathy Clarke reviewed: Hare Sculpture workshop with Jo Garden Art in beautiful Norfolk/Suffolk

"What a fabulous experience! Thankyou Jo for your help, patience and expertise in making our hare sculptures! Thoroughly enjoyed the day and love what he created!! 100% recommend this course. "

Jo Garden Art responded:

"Thanks Cathy! Really pleased you both enjoyed the day. Hope your lovely hares are now happily residing in their new home. Jo x"

Liz Dollan reviewed: Woodturning for beginners

"Thank you so much Stuart, for showing me the joy of wood turning and plenty of coffee. Stuart has a huge range of knowledge and skills, he put you at ease and gives you information about not only wood but machinery I’ve never used before. "

The Scottish Woodturner responded:

"Thanks Liz, We had a fairly busy two days. Glad you got a lot out of it. Hope the new wooden coffee mug is getting some use. Stuart."

Mark Maharaj reviewed: Woodturning tuition in Wiltshire

"Andy is a fantastic teacher and and his Mary an excellent host. Had a fantastic day and will certainly be back. Thanks Andy for your time. "

Andys woodworking responded:

"Thanks mark i enjoyed your company Looking forward to seeing you again Andy mary angus "

Kathy reviewed: Premium linocut & print kit with Artist Quality Ink

"A fantastic set - everything you need all in one place, good quality and beautifully presented. First set of Xmas cards already completed!! "

Elizabeth Jayne Leinhardt reviewed: Blacksmithing Introduction courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"Fabulous day at Andy and Ade's blacksmiths on Saturday 1st April. It was a fantastic experience. We made a key ring and a Dragon coat hanger. The instruction and support throughout is exceptional. So don't be worried about attending if you haven't done anything like this before. Debbie provided a hearty lunch and afternoon cakes which were delicious and not expected. It also made it a social event getting to know the other attendees. There were also some delicious atrisan cheeses. I am coeliac and Debbie was very sympathetic and made everything gluten free. Thank you for a great day "

Anna reviewed: Silver jewellery making workshop for 2 people

"My Mum and I did a Saturday course with Julie and had a wonderful time. We both had a design idea in mind and Julie helped us to bring them to life. It was a fun, hands-on session where Julie guided us to everything ourselves. We came away delighted with our pieces and inspired to do more! We have already recommended the course to others :)"

Jewellery By Julie responded:

"Thank you for the lovely review. I enjoyed the session too and am delighted to hear you want to continue jewellery making. Good luck. Julie"

Jo reviewed: Egg frame basket (1 day) workshop with Hopewood Baskets

"Sarah was great at sharing technique for making this lovely basket. Everything needed was provided. Basket weaving is quite hard on the hands. But very worth it. Whilst I would love to do this course on a willow farm, the railway arch works well. Decent places to get food if you forget your pack lunch! "

Hopewood Baskets responded:

"Hi Jo, thank you so much for your lovely review. So glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully the hands have recovered a little since. Lovely meeting you. Best wishes, Sarah "

Nick from Cambridgeshire reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Hello. I have recently completed the 1 day lathe wood turning course with Simon at Blended Money. The day was excellent, with lots of practical advice, hands on activity and in the end I left with a fabulous bowl which I'm very proud of. Everything was provided, including all raw materials, use of excellent equipment, plentiful drinks and lunch. Simon could not have been more welcoming and knowledgeable. As a result, I have since purchased my own lathe and feel confident to start practicing my skills. Also, I plan to go back this year for an outdoor green wood wood turning course as well, as it looked so much fun and nice to learn a heritage craft. If you are like me and never turned a piece of wood before, I strongly recommend this course with Simon at Blended Monkey. The prices are fair, you will have a great day, and in the end you can safely continue turning."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Nick, Thank you for such a glowing review! :) I'm so glad you have taken the next step on your turning journey and would welcome you back to have a go at the green woodturning too. Any questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon"

Ness reviewed: Stained glass sun-catcher workshop: Hampshire

"Absolutely brilliant course. Rachel is very knowledgeable and patient. It was a brilliant day. For anyone thinking about doing it, book it now. You won’t regret it! Just don’t play baseball the day before!"

Swanwick Studio responded:

"Thanks Ness for your lovely review. You all made fabulous & unique sun-catchers ;-)"

Aimee reviewed: Introductory pottery wheel throwing taster sessions

"Excellent session, fantastic tuition. Well prepared, top tips, perfect mix of support and independence. Made 4 pots in the time. Would book again. Thank you! "

Adella Charlton reviewed: Introduction to woodworking

"I had a really useful and inspiring time at the Woodwork for Beginners course yesterday. Phil Hodge is a truly knowledgeable man who quietly inspires you to 'have a go'. He made everything look so easy and then was at hand in the afternoon to coach you through some important but basic skills. I made several school girl errors, but Phil was very gracious and not at all patronising in his advice. I can't wait to book the next course!"

Dawn reviewed: Needle felt workshop

"Wonderful afternoon with Yvonne making Foxes and a Badger. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and came away proud of our little animals. What a talented lady Yvonne is. She gave us clear instructions and helped us out when we needed it. Tea, coffee and cake included. A great way to spend an afternoon with friends. Will definitely be booking again. "

Needle Felt Art responded:

"Thank you Dawn for such a glowing review, so pleased you enjoyed felting your animals, it was such a fun afternoon. I look forward to seeing you again, best wishes Yvonne."

Rachel reviewed: Fused glass art workshops in Buckinghamshire

"Such a lovely course to do with my brother and Mum and brilliant introduction to glass works! Left feeling very upbeat and excited to see how the pieces turn out. Marie an expert, very accommodating and great to chat with. Helped kindly throughout and never added pressure. Would recommend to anyone considering it!"

Graham Winyard reviewed: Candlemaking for Beginners

"Rob's course, a birthday present from my daughter, was a completely delightful experience. It was very satisfying making different sorts of candle, while learning the foundations of what may become a fascinating hobby. Thank you so much."

The Wax Studio responded:

"Thank you Graham for your encouraging review - much appreciated and best wishes with any candle endeavours of your own. Rob"

Sandra and Andy reviewed: Wedding Civil Partnership Ring making workshop - 9ct Yellow Gold

"we would like to say a huge thank you Sarah. my partner and i had one of the best days ever. You and your family are lovely and made us feel so welcome. With your help and guidance we produced some amazing designs, that we will treasure forever. thank you so much."

Martin Rollinson reviewed: The First Cut - lino cutting for beginners & rusty printmakers in Derbyshire

"Well who knew I could be crafty? Not me, enjoyed the first cut Lino course learnt a new skill & actually produced a passable print or twelve, very enjoyable day in a lovely setting, so if you’re reading this go on give it a go you won’t be disappointed "

Liz Wellby - Artist, Teacher & Maker responded:

"Hi Martin, Good to hear from you and thank you for letting me know about your day at The Slipper Studio. It was lovely working with you and your daughter and great to see your skills and understanding develop throughout the day. You say passable and I say an excellent first print. Your choice of image was brave, but you clearly pulled it off and took the opportunity to explore a range of colours and tones. Here’s to a fleet of vehicular inspired lino cuts! Best wishes Liz Wellby "

George Altham reviewed: Beginners Epoxy Resin Workshop

"Very enjoyable morning yesterday at The River Shop. Wanting to learn more about the process before handling expensive materials on my own. Learnt all sorts of tips and tricks to get the best results! "

Edna reviewed: Make a silver ring or bangle

"In this session I learned about wire wrapping. I have done this before but had lost confidence in my ability to wrap the wire evenly without kinks in it. Lucy encouraged me to practice using copper before going onto silver. She mirrored what I was doing which enabled me to get my tools in the right place for successful wraps. Another technique smashed with Lucy’s expert guidance "

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

"What a perfect way to spend a rainy day! My sister and I really enjoyed learning new skills and techniques in such a comfortable and welcoming environment. The course was a well balanced combination of tuition & guidance and opportunities to practise & be creative. It was lovely to go away with a finished piece and I’m really looking forward to trying these techniques out at home over the coming weeks. Thank you Julie for a very enjoyable day - and for your delicious cake! "

Tigley Textiles responded:

"Hi Catherine, Thank you for such a lovely review. I'm so pleased you and Elaine had a good day and were pleased with your work. You're obviously both talented stitchers! Please come again soon, Julie x"

Cathi reviewed: Glass painting taster day

"Hi Derek, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my day with you last weekend on the painted glass workshop. There was a good group of people and the atmosphere was nicely relaxed. The coffee was good too! I had done a short course previously, but never followed up on it. I think I might have found it all a bit daunting. You made it all seem a lot simpler and straightforward and the notes that you have sent are nice and clear too. I have bought some dipping pens, clove and lavender oil. Yes, I want to try working with them. I didn’t get the opportunity with you so could you clarify how to mix up the paint. You say about the oils and powder in a jar, what sort of proportion of oils to powder? Do you grind them? Do you add water? Thanks for giving me a bit of confidence to do this, and for a lovely day."

Derek Hunt Artist responded:

"Hi Cathi, Thanks so much for your kind remarks about the course, and so glad you enjoyed it. Regarding dipping pens, the first thing to do is to watch my YouTube Dipping Pen tutorial all about how to mix the medium, the correct proportions etc. Link here https://youtu.be/m7dtCi-KAPg If you have any questions after that, don't hesitate to ask, Let me know how you get on, Best wishes as always, Derek"

Annie reviewed: Gelli Plate Printing Workshop by Clare Cosens

"I did the Gelli print class today with Clare and loved it! Clare is excellent at explaining the process and gave just the right amount of information and confidence for us to enjoy experimenting with our first attempts at the process. I’m delighted with the results and can’t wait to do more! "

Clare Cosens Designs responded:

"Thank you for your kind words Annie. I’m really pleased that you enjoyed the workshop. Your prints looked fantastic - well done!"

Susanne reviewed: Sterling Silver Sea Glass Ring Workshop

"Dear Sarah, You’re a lovely, crazy and (very, very!) patient teacher. My friend Christa and I had a wonderful day and the both of us created a beautiful seaglass ring. Thank you very much for all the fun, tea and ‘beschuitjes met kaas’! I would love to do another workshop, together with my two daughters, when we’re in England again next summer. "

Linda reviewed: Gelli Plate Printing Workshop by Clare Cosens

"I attended the Gelli Printing workshop with Clare today and loved it! It is obvious Clare has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has a warm approach to her teaching, which instantly makes you feel relaxed. Clare shared the techniques, as well as her tips and tricks...We each produced 4 beautiful unique prints to use for whatever we choose ...such a lovely informative creative time...will definitely be doing more courses with Clare...already looking forward to the May workshop...thanks Clare xxx"

Clare Cosens Designs responded:

"Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review Linda. Your prints looked amazing! I’m glad you enjoyed the workshop."