Latest reviews

Paul Stephens reviewed: Guitar Strumstick Dulcimer 3 strings instrument

"Got to say this was one of the most enjoyable days I have had, I saw the course online and dropped hints to my wife who got me the course as a present. Ted proved to be not only a great teacher but wonderful company and easy to get on with chatting about our mutual love of music and he doesn't make a bad cuppa either. I learnt so much during the day and ended up with a Strumstick from wood I could not believe would turn into a stringed instrument, not only was I impressed so was my wife and friends who have seen it. Ted is also a very talented musician so at least I got to hear how the Strumstick could sound before I got my hands on it. Due to the amount of fun I had more hints were dropped to my wife and I have since been down to Ted's for a day on the Bandsaw course."

Teds Woodworking/ instrument making Courses responded:

"Cheers Paul your hand skills are excellent my friend and I'm sure you could build a full size guitar with a little help. I'm hoping to start a Jewelry box course in January let me know if you want to come because you're welcome any time. Happy struming in 2020 thanks again Ted"

Ruth reviewed: Candlemaking for Beginners

"I had a such a lovely day learning how to make all sorts of different candles. Rob is a great guy who certainly knows so much and is really skilled. He is very generous with his knowledge, as well as many tips to successfully make candles, and save money too. Highly recommend his course: I have the skills now to make a variety of my own candles."

The Wax Studio responded:

"Hi Ruth - it was great to have you on the course today - so glad you enjoyed it and learnt a lot. Best of luck as you get started at home. Rob"

Ameeta reviewed: Candle making workshops for beginners - St Albans, Hertfordshire

"Had a really enjoyable session, Ann is a very patient and informative teacher. Thrilled to bring home a variety of candles. Will definitely be booking another class with Ann."

Jenny Fitzgerald reviewed: Linocut printing workshop in Warwickshire at Bonds Lifestyle

"Alix hits the perfect balance in her delivery, she is patient & always on hand to answer any question & to steer in the right direction. I was slightly nervous about what to expect but Alix‘s relaxed & fun personality soon caused the nerves to disappear. A fantastic day with yummy cake to help with afternoon fatigue! A five star experience! Thanks Alix"

Alix Almond Art responded:

"Hi Jenny, thank you so much for your kind words. I am really pleased that you enjoyed the workshop, and the cake is great too isn't it, a well needed sugar boost! You should be really proud of your print - I hope the recipients are equally as impressed as I am with your cards! Thanks again, Alix."

Norman Banks reviewed: Make your own shavehorse with Gedwood

"A very enjoyable course. All the basic green woodworking techniques were covered. Well demonstrated with very calm and clear explanations/descriptions. Used a wide range of tools. Came away with a fine shave horse. Even better, we had sun all weekend. Ged makes a good cup of tea too."

Gedwood responded:

"Thanks Norman. Hope you make good use of your shavehorse when your drawknife arrives!?"

steve barron reviewed: Oil Painting Portraiture Skills with artist Cat MacDiarmid at Cowshed Creative, Lake District

"Another great art course at Cowshed! The venue is terrific, with a great welcome, tasty food and excellent facilities. The Portrait class has given me some really great tools to improve my portraiture, with good help and encouragement from Catherine, the tutor. It's interesting to chat with other students to see different styles of working and ways to create portraits. Of course, social distancing is seriously maintained, providing a very safe feel throughout the day. Highly recommended."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for the great feedback Steve. Great to see you again."

Sue Lawson reviewed: Hand Bound Leather Journal Workshop

"This leather bound journal was the second course I attended with Clive & Wendy. The first before Covid and the second during this pandemic. If you are thinking of attending one of their courses rest assured your health and safety are in excellent hands. All precautions were there in spades and you will feel safe but they still managed to make the whole learning process relaxed, friendly and most importantly, informative. The course was more than just making a journal - Clive & Wendy are very knowledgable people who are passionate about using leather to make beautiful objects. Again, thank you for a wonderful, safe day out - of which I have had precious few in these trying 6 months. Good luck for the future workshops you have scheduled."

Evancliffe Leathercraft responded:

"Thank you for this excellent review Sue. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your second workshop with us! Also great to hear that the Covid-19 measures we've had to put in place didn't distract from the experience and also made you feel safe."

Nicola Dunn reviewed: Woodcarving for beginners - two day course in Suffolk

"Gerry has a great set up for his wood carving courses. Covid principles and health and safety adherence was up front. Great hospitality was on offer. Gerry is a good teacher enabling people new to wood carving, to experience a range of tools and techniques in a relaxed way. Gerry was supportive and encouraging. I left the day immensely pleased with my scallop shell carving. I will definitely be back for more. Thank you"

Pauline Holmes reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"Excellent day! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 crafts in one day. Simon and Louise are such an endearing couple, it is obvious they have a great passion for the individual crafts they teach. Their knowledge and enthusiasm is inspiring, along with their warm personalities and a great sense of humour, they both made us feel very welcome. We were soon absorbed into both sessions with informative clear instruction. Thank you Simon and Louise for your hospitality, we had a fabulous day which was over and above our expectations!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Pauline, hi Malcolm, Thank you for the really lovely review! We're so pleased you enjoyed your "2 Crafts in 1 Day" experience. It was certainly a pleasure to teach you both the basics in woodturning and ceramics - you guys took to both crafts really well. It's always lovely to watch students absorbed in the process :-). We hope we've inspired you to continue with your creative path! Take care."

Maureen Pekenc reviewed: Unique handmade journals with Butterfly Effect Studio

"Not having done anything like making a journal, I was a little apprehensive but Helen made the course so interesting . She is enthusiastic in her craft and made the day for me most enjoyable. She is a professional, patient and thoughtful teacher. I returned home, the proud owner of a journal for my husband’s 70th birthday to be filled with photos of memorable moments, not to mention the lovely ladies I met. Thank you Helen"

Butterfly Effect Studio responded:

"Dear Maureen, thank you for your kind words. I was thrilled that you enjoyed the day and thought your black and gold journal looked very stylish. You were a most attentive student and I hope you’ll enjoy selecting and displaying your family photographs in your beautiful handmade journal- a very special gift that I’m sure your husband will cherish. Thanks for taking the time to review the workshop."

Florianne reviewed: Kiln formed glass day workshop

"Had a great day. Helen is really knowledgeable and it was a fun day making some lovely glass pieces. Am already booked on another course to make some Christmas decorations."

Helen Rose Glass responded:

"Gorgeous bowl design Florianne and I'll look forward to seeing what you make in November."

Debbie reviewed: Pottery wheel throwing & glass fusing 1-day course

"A really positive day with Sarah and Chris doing the pottery and glass fusing day last week. It was just myself and my daughter due to Covid restrictions and the whole day was relaxed but productive. Neither of us have ever done wheel pottery or glass fusion but we both felt we learnt so much in just a day under the calm supervision and teaching of Sarah and Chris and made several pieces of pottery and glass that we were really pleased with. Lunch was lovely and we would really recommend this craft day."

Sarah Greening Glass responded:

"Hello Debbie, So kind of you to leave such a positive review of your day - it was lovely to meet you both a help you make some fabulous pieces! Will let you know when they're ready for you. Many thanks, Sarah & Chris"

penny Shakespeare reviewed: Fused glass workshop with Helen from The Butterfly Effect Studio in Halford.

"Had a really lovely day with Helen making fused glass creations. Helen is amazing, giving explanations about different types of glass etc and is always on hand to guide or advise you. She is so calm and caring and wants her to explore your creativity. Was a really fantastic day, would do again and would definitely recommend it to anyone. Thanks Helen!"

Butterfly Effect Studio responded:

"Hello Penny, it was great to meet you and I really appreciate you taking the time to review the fused glass workshop. You seemed to enjoy the activity and created some beautiful pieces. I particularly loved your lovely, happy sun catchers and your Christmas robin, so full of character! You sound to have such a busy life, doing so much for others, I was delighted you were able to spend time on yourself as you clearly deserve it. I hope to see you at one of my other workshops one day. Kind regards, Helen."

Claire reviewed: ‘Winter dream ' wool painting face-to-face textile art course in Worcestershire

"What a fabulous class today learning the art of felt painting. My only complaint is that time passed too quickly! You are an inspirational teacher and presented the subject in a relaxed and informed way offering lots of encouragement and support so that I was able to proudly complete my picture and frame it to take home. I will definitely be doing more of this! I look forward to taking up another class soon and will definitely recommend them to others. Thank you for your time, warm welcome and endless cups of tea! Very best wishes Claire"

Garden Flowers reviewed: Blacksmithing Beginners day courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"A fantastic day creating garden flowers. This is our fourth visit to The Forge, each time has been thoroughly exhilarating and exhausting but extremely satisfying. The instruction and support from Adrien and Andy is excellent. In addition to the friendly atmosphere is the amazing food provided by Debbie. I would highly recommend this course to anyone."

Bridget Gordon reviewed: Fused glass workshop with Helen from The Butterfly Effect Studio in Halford.

"I spent an amazing day with Helen and some friends. We all made beautiful fused glass jewellery and objects. Helen is a fantastic tutor and so talented. She shared her expert knowledge and advice so supportively. Thank you. I will definitely be taking this course again."

Butterfly Effect Studio responded:

"Hi Bridget, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the day. You were on a mission and created some stunning pieces, I particularly liked your idea for an animal mobile sun catcher, once you have all of the pieces suspended it’ll look magical. You were such a lovely group, I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s company, gold stars to all my students! Thank you for taking the time to review the workshop and I was touched by your kind words."

Angela reviewed: Fused glass workshop with Helen from The Butterfly Effect Studio in Halford.

"Spent a wonderful day with Helen who is a truly inspirational teacher! Alongside a number of friends, we explored the different effects made with glass and had lots of fun sharing ideas. Helen‘s calming approach guided us all to explore our creativeness to the full!!! A fantastic day was experienced by all!!!! I highly recommend this course as a gift for someone special or as a way to spend a day with friends and/or family."

Butterfly Effect Studio responded:

"Hi Angela, thank you so much for organising your friends to attend my workshop. I was delighted you all enjoyed the day as much as I did, what a creative group you are! The pieces you made will look amazing in your den, I could see your confidence growing throughout the day. We were lucky to have such glorious weather too. I really appreciate you taking the time to review my workshop, I’m thrilled with your response. Kind regards, Helen."

Jan reviewed: Intermediate glass fusing at the Cheshire School of Glass

"Another fantastic course. Jen at Cheshire School of Glass is the most amazing teacher. She is technically brilliant, highly creative and excellent at teaching us students. No question ever goes unanswered, and you are encouraged to ask as many questions as you like. I have enjoyed all the classes I have done with Jen, and will be going back for more. The classes are small, so she has time to help each of us when we need it. One of the greatest parts of her courses is that we are allowed to choose what style we want to use for each piece and are encouraged to experiment. This means that you get to take home some great pieces, that you want to put them on show. I have several pieces now, including pictures, bowls, and some I have made for friends and family. I can't recommend Jen's courses more highly."

Stephen & Jane Bevan reviewed: Marvellous Mosaic one day workshop

"Thank you Lindsey for a great day. A safe environment for the four of us on the workshop, with Lindsey providing excellent and appropriate demonstrations and support throughout the day. We've come away with a couple of stunning pieces which will take place of pride in our 'art gallery'. Great fun and great value for money. We'll be looking to get materials ourselves and add to our crafting at home. Thanks again - 5 Star!"

Lindsey Kennedy Portfolio responded:

"Thank you for the great review. I’m just so pleased that, despite the wait to finally experience the workshop, you both had such a positive experience. I will wait for updates and photos of your next mosaic artwork. Thanks for being such lovely company today!"

Nichola reviewed: Blacksmithing Experience in Grassington (3 hours)

"I booked this experience day for my son and his grandad to stay and watch. They havent stopped talking about it since and has said it was the best present he has ever had. Well worth every penny. Richard had gone out of his way to contact me prior to his arrival taking the time & effort to prepare their day ahead. Ensuring my son got the best from his day at the forge & made things of interest to him. On the day Richard gave my son a choice of what he would like to make. He learned so much from the day spent there and Richard's skills were all shared with him he made various items to bring home with him and achieved so much. My son has set up his own little forge at home now using all the techniques he learned just from this day at Richard's forge. Well worth every penny to see my son & my Dad's face when they got home. They had good banter all day with Richard making the whole experience fun exciting and so valuable to them. I would not hesitate to highly recommend Richard after all the positive things I've heard about their day so I would definitely book this experience you won't be disappointed. Also thankyou Richard for making my son's day with you so special, something he has always wanted to and continues to do now with all he has learned from you. ????"

Frances reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"Had the best 1/2 day pottery session. Despite my mother being a bit of a natural on her first attempt at hand throwing (very frustrating), we both made some great pieces that I’m looking forward to using once fully finished. Louise was great, taking the booking very last minute and making us feel very welcome. I can’t recommend this course enough and it’s in such a lovely setting. Thanks Louise"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Frances, thank you so much for your fab review :-). It was a pleasure meeting you and your mum, and lovely to see how quickly your mum took to the wheel :-) - some people are just naturals ;-). You both made some beautiful pieces and I'll be in touch shortly as soon as they have been glazed (they've already been biscuit fired)."

Nicola reviewed: Fused Glass workshops at Bere Alston, near Tavistock, Devon

"Really enjoyed the day. I had read some basics before attending but had not tried fusing before. Wendy was very informative and helpful; she provided lots of hints and tips and wasn't worried about sharing her experiences or useful ideas. Thoroughly recommend."

Dilwen reviewed: Candle Making Course with Belisama Candles (A Peta approved brand )

"Spent lovely couple of hours with Sharon making candles. Perfect beginners course. Thank you so much. XxxDilwen"

Belisama Candles responded:

"Hey Dilwen, was my pleasure, so glad you enjoyed Now enjoy burning the candles you made ?"

Gill Birch reviewed: Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

"Really wonderful experience and such a sense of achievement when the chair finally comes together. Great location and fantastic facilities. Andy was incredibly knowledgeable and very calm and patient. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to do something creative outside. It is suitable for people of all levels experience and we had none."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Gill, for your kind review. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course, and the environment and facilities at Sallerton Wood. We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood one day."

Nisha Postlethwaite reviewed: Silver Clay Jewellery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District

"Jo Dix is a an excellent teacher and very knowledgeable jeweller and stepped us through the whole process of Silver Clay, and the creative possibilities with the medium - well organised. Very happy with the day. The venue was lovely, a very warm welcome and lovely lunch from George. In light of the challenging health and safety around Covid 19, every care and precaution was taken by both the venue owner and teacher. Highly recommend the course and venue"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Nisha - lovely to meet you and good luck with your jewellery business, Nishahalo - it looks great"