Bespoke Leather reviews

6 Mar 17'

kerry simmons reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Bill is a great teacher, encouraging, patient, knowledgable and willing to share. I came away wanting to learn more and really enjoyed having free reign make something that pleased my eye. Even my mistakes were turned into lovely features... I gave my belt and bag as a gift and it went down extremely well. I picked this course based on the reviews here and the drive from London was worth it. Thanks Bill. Kerry"

27 Feb 17'

Sean Malyon reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Bill is a terrific teacher. Very knowledgeable and easy-going. I picked up lots of new skills and made a belt for myself and a handbag for my partner, which she could not have been more chuffed with. A very enjoyable two-day course. Thanks Bill"

5 Dec 16'

Danielle Spinks reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Such a fantastic course! Bill is a brilliant teacher and his knowledge and advice is absolutely priceless. The course is very thorough, teaching you all the skills you need to begin making beautiful leather goods and builds on these as the two days progress. Bill is so friendly and shares his skills and experiences willingly, making the course a lot of fun. I would highly recommend this course and Bill! Thank you so much for introducing me to such an amazing craft!"

1 Dec 16'

Juliet Luff reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Bill is a GREAT teacher, he taught us loads in the short amount of time we were there. He was happy to answer all the random questions we shot at him, and it was really fun! And we came away with a gorgeous belt, bag and the skills we need to make many more goods in the future :) Thank you so much. I highly recommend this course and Bill!"

12 Sep 16'

Eamonn Townsend reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"I attended this course as a complete beginner to leather work, I had been interested in constructing items previously but didn't have the confidence or knowledge on where to start. This course gave me the basic knowledge and ability to progress. Having made two items on the course weekend, I've now completed two other smaller projects on my own and am planning others. Bill is a very experienced, pragmatic tutor - we discussed a list of tools that were essential for leather work along with a list that were beneficial but not essential to start with. If there was a simple cost-effective alternative that you could use to begin with, Bill pointed us in the right direction. The course took us through how to produce the basic design patterns, cutting out, assembly and finishing. With a small number of attendees, Bill is able to give one on one advice and guidance. I would unreservedly recommend attending this course to anyone wishing to learn the basics of leatherworking."

21 Jul 16'

Sara Dutton reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Really enjoyed my two days on the course.The course was informative and I learnt a lot from Bill,he has a wealth of knowledge that he is happy to share. Bill has a very patient disposition and he brought a bar of chocolate to the class,always a good plan of action with me. I would like to go back and do another weekend."

22 Jun 16'

Introduction to Leather Craft reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Excellent! Bill is a master craftsman and a great teacher but what marks this course apart from similar ones is the breadth of experience and knowledge of a lifetime spent in the leather production and fashion industry which Bill shares throughout the course. You will create an item or two of your own to take away after the course but what you will really learn are the skills to go on and design and make great leather products in the future."

15 May 16'

Lisa Cooper reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Relaxed and informal class, Bill is an excellent teacher and willing to impart his wealth of knowledge. I have learnt the basics of leather craft which I can now build on with practice and experience. Thank you Bill I really enjoyed the course."

20 Mar 16'

John Dagnall reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"I have just finished my leatherwork course with Bill (4 days in total) which was a very enjoyable time. I had no experience at all in working with leather and now feel that I can effectively start my hobby in the right direction. Bill has a great deal of knowledge on the subject from his training and years of working with leather, the products he makes are amazing. Bill also has a very effective teaching method and ensures the course runs at a speed that suits your level of skill / knowledge. After completing a belt Bill then allows you to complete a more complex item of your own design limited only by size and time to complete. If you are thinking of attending a leatherwork course I fully recommend this one."

16 Feb 16'

Zoe reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"I never knew I could learn so much in one weekend! Bill has wealth of knowledge and clearly loves sharing it with others. The course was fast-moving and highly satisfying - I took pages of useful notes and have come away with the knowledge and confidence to continue. Everything was very well thought-out. We were given a list of suppliers, coupled with Bill's inside knowledge, to make it easy to source materials and tools to work and practice with in future. I can't recommend Bill enough."

27 Jan 16'

Suzanne and Kate reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"The weekend leather workshop is brilliant. My daughter and I went together and we both really enjoyed it. Bill is such a good teacher and is so willing to share the knowledge he has acquired over the years. The small class size meant Bill could discuss with us individually what we each wanted to achieve from the course and then give us guidance when working on our different pieces. Although described as a beginners' course, the amount we learned in just two days has really given us the skills to produce some good small items. We will certainly be going back again for an advanced class to increase our skills even further."

16 Nov 15'

Ginny Kirsch reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Bill is not only deeply knowledgeable (there must only be a handful of leather craftsmen in the UK with his depth of knowledge) but also a brilliant teacher. He can literally make anything from leather to the highest standard and is great at communicating / demonstrating processes. I don't think that you could find a better instructor if this is your field of interest. The course was interesting and fun, no going through notes. Bill teaches on an ad hoc basis in order to keep relevant to individual interest. I will be back to try to try and absorb more of his skill - sadly I acknowledge it would take years to learn his level of craftmanship, this coming from a fellow ex-Cordwainer! How I would love to learn everything he knows!!"

14 Nov 15'

Anne Hills reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"What a great teacher Bill is! I really enjoyed making a belt and a handbag, both of which have been greatly admired. I will certainly be returning for more instruction from Bill - possibly moccasins next time."

1 Oct 15'

Ed P reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"I highly recommend this course. For anyone wanting to learn about the basics of leatherworking, including knowledge of the industry, Bill is the guy to see. I joined a weekend course and his vast knowledge and experience of the craft combined with high quality of teaching would be hard to match. Very enthusiastic and helpful with everything, with great explanations of each process. I would advise anyone interested in leather to sign up - so worth it!"

9 Sep 15'

Connor reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"This course was such a great eye opener in to the leather working world. Bill went above and beyond to make us fill welcome and comfortable in his workshop. He had an abundance of knowledge and expertise and was so willing to share it. He also stayed back on the 2nd day to ensure myself and another student got our projects finished, which i appreciate a lot. Since the course he has also given me advice on a few things and i'm know starting to create my own leather pieces! All in all Bill is a legend and you won't regret booking a course with him."

24 Aug 15'

Kim reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"The weekend leather workshop for beginners was excellent. So much information was packed into two days and really gave me a feel for how to go forward working with leather. Bill was patient and informative and was happy and willing to go over any questions you had or discuss his experience in the industry. The two days flew by and were really enjoyable. I would highly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in leather craft for business or fun!"

20 Jul 15'

Juliet Sargant reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"The description of this course doesn't convey what an excellent tutor Bill is and how rewarding it is to walk away with a number of finished projects. I have had a wonderful weekend and feel confident to now work on my own. Bill is so committed to his craft its infectious - thank you so much, I will be going back to further my skills."

20 Jul 15'

Simon Giles reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"What a fantastic course! It was everything that I'd hoped for in as much as I learned a wealth of new skills under the expert tutorage of Bill. Everything was thorough and there were plenty of opportunities to practise new skills and techniques. Very pleased with the finished projects that I walked away with and now raring to go and put what I have learned into action. Great and knowledgeable company, a wonderful weekend. Thank you very much."

11 May 15'

Caroline Levine reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"This course encompases practical hands on work with gaining an understanding of leather / tools / techniques. I would thouroughly recommend it to anyone. Bill is enthusiastic and patient and it was an honour to learn so much in such a short space of time from a true Master Craftsman. Thank-you so much Bill!"

28 Apr 15'

Paul reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Spent a great two days with Bill. Amazed how much I learnt in such a small amount of time, testament to what a good instructor Bill is. He is keen to share the knowledge he has gained over the years and is patient, easy going and very good at what he does. I would recommend this course to any one looking to gain or develope skills in working with leather. Thanks."

22 Mar 15'

Colin Penn reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"Excellent comprehensive course with a very knowledgeable instructor. Recommended."

24 Dec 14'

Rose Hastie reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"A very big thank you to Bill for sharing his skill, knowledge and experience with me. I love the way that Bill showed me the steps and techniques I needed in the crafting of leather. His excellent teaching style allowed me to learn the techniques without losing focus. I have gained new skills, knowledge and leather-craft vocabulary. Bill is very patient and has a wealth of knowledge, which he generously shared with me. As a result I came away with a few leather goods that I had hand crafted which, he taught me from design to production all within two days. Words cannot express how grateful i am to Bill. I highly recommend this workshop to anybody who wants to learn leather craft with a very passionate, fun and enthusiastic tutor."

30 Nov 14'

Jan Gerring reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"If you are considering doing a course with Bill Blaikie, book it now! He is a fabulous craftsman with the added benefit of also being a superb teacher and a really nice person. I have been inspired by the 2 days I spent learning leather craft and am eager to get busy putting all of my new "skills" into practise."

26 Nov 14'

Nick Solanki reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"I recently spent two days on a course with Bill. I (some time ago), served an apprenticeship as a joiner so I knew I had some skill working with my hands. What Bill did was to renew my appreciation for the skill required to produce a quality product using traditional skills. His knowledge is supreme, his manner so affable, and at the end of the course I felt privileged to have learnt new skills, and a few trade secrets from someone who obviously loves his trade and is a master of it. highly recommended."

6 Nov 14'

Laura Martin reviewed: Introduction to Leather Craft

"The two days that i spent with Bill were great. he is extreamly helful and encouraging to all abilities in the class and was happy to answer any questions regarding leatherwork and about working in the industry. i would recomend this coures to boyh people looking at leather as a hobby or to thoses hoping to start a buisness."