Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing reviews

Michael reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I am a self taught amateur wood turner with a fair bit of practical experience but some serious holes in my technique. I spent a day with Simon mainly about sharpening tools but we covered a great deal of ground all of it fascinating and very useful. Lots to think about and I clearly need to go back for another session - or two….. "

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

"Hi Michael, Glad you enjoyed it and got a lot out of the day. I look forward to seeing you again soon. — Simon"

Gary Riches reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Had a great day and the lesson was really well run. The morning started with the basics and I made a honey dibber. In the the afternoon I had the opportunity to make a lovely bowl. Help and advice was available throughout and a lovely lunch was provided. "

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

"Hi Gary, Glad you enjoyed the day. Do get in touch if you need any further advice, etc.. —Simon"

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

"Absolutely brilliant day trying my hand at Wood Turning and then Ceramics. Simon and Louise (and the pets!) were very welcoming and are really lovely people too! There was full explanation of the equipment being used for the wood turning and excellent tuition. The test piece was fun and good to (try to!) do different techniques to achieve different results. The final piece then came together quite quickly. Simon was very patient and helped where needed but also allowed me to do what I wanted to/could manage. I was really chuffed with the final result. Lunch was lovely and more than enough to eat and drink. The afternoon was with Louise. The pinch pots and slab builds were surprisingly relaxing to do and then the wheel, great fun to give it a go and a 50% success rate, I don't think I'll be entering the pottery throwdown. Overall this was a great day, I absolutely loved it and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who is pondering."

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

"I have always wanted to have a go at the potters wheel, so I was so happy to spend the day with Louise, I had a great day, got to try out some different techniques and I loved the potters wheel. Would recommend this course for anyone from beginners like me to the more advanced potter. Lovely lady running this. I also got to keep some of my pots to remind me of the experience. "

Tom reviewed: Stone Carving Experience - Working with Geometry & Pattern - Stone Masonry - Blended Monkey

"It was a brilliant day. I feel like I've got a newfound appreciation for the art and history all around us. Mark was a great teacher, he got us all started, had projects ready for us to work on and we all got help and encouragement from him when we needed it. Simon and Louise were fantastic hosts, the space they have made is fantastic, they put on a great lunch and we're really enthusiastic and welcoming. I've had a woodturning session with Simon before and I can confirm their quality as hosts is consistently high. Absolutely fantastic experience."

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

"Tom, thank you for your lovely review! You made a beautiful piece & we're so pleased you enjoyed the stone carving experience. Mark is a great tutor and we're pleased to have him on board. Thank you also for your kind words about our Blended Monkey setting and how we do as hosts :-). Hopefully we'll welcome you back to our studios sometime in the future. "

Katherine reviewed: Stone Carving Experience - Working with Geometry & Pattern - Stone Masonry - Blended Monkey

"Fabulous course with an exceptional tutor. I really enjoyed every aspect of it from the lovely hosting to the beautiful garden setting. Thank you for such a super day, I'm absolutely delighted with the piece I carved. "

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

"It was lovely to meet you Katherine and I'm still wowed by how much was achieved - such beautiful work all round. Thank you for your positive review. Maybe we'll see you again in the future."

Mike Wilkinson reviewed: Stone Carving Experience - Working with Geometry & Pattern - Stone Masonry - Blended Monkey

"This was a great day really enjoyed the workshop on stone curving,was made very welcome and a lovely lunch. "

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

"Mike, thank you for your kind words. We're really pleased you enjoyed the stone carving workshop - you all created amazing pieces! Maybe we'll see you again in the future."

Noel Mc Laughlin reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I recently attended a 1-2-1 full day wood turning course, with Simon and Louise. I was welcomed by both, and immediately felt relaxed. Simon walked me through all the health and safety issues, before explaining about the lathes and tools that we would be using Simon was very patient and helpful throughout the day and is clearly an extremely competent, talented and professional turner. We completed 2 x tasks on the day and the time flew by as I enjoyed the challenges in a very relaxed atmosphere. Simon let me work alone but was onhand with advise and positive feedback throughout the day. The course was a present for me and I'm so glad to have had the experience. Thanks Simon and Louise for an extremely professional experience in a very relaxed atmosphere Noel "

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

"Hi Noel, So glad that the experience exceeded your expectations and that your day was relaxed and satisfying. If you have any questions, now or in the future, don't hesitate to get in touch. --Simon"

Rachel H reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a super day with Simon doing the woodturning. I'd never used anything like the tools and machinery before and was a little apprehensive, but it was all very gentle and well-paced. Simon was great at explaining the tools, the nature of the wood, and the reasons behind the techniques. I made a lovely little toggle and a beautiful bowl, and had a fantastic day."

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

"Hi Rachel, Thank you for a lovely review and so glad you enjoyed the day. Do get in touch if you need more guidance. --Simon"

Caroline Brown reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"We loved our woodworking day. As complete novices, we were astonished to turn our rounds of cherry into such beautiful bowls! Our family couldn't believe we'd made them :-) Simon taught us how to use the various tools and make a range of cuts in the morning and then took us step by step through the process to craft the bowls in the afternoon. The woodturning studio is very well set up and Simon took great care over our safety. As an accident-prone person I thought the lathe might be a bit scary, but it's actually a surprisingly gentle craft. Lots of tea, biccies and a farmhouse lunch too! Highly recommended."

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

"Hi Caroline, So glad you enjoyed the experience - told you it was a gentle craft! Do get in touch if you need any further information or guidance. --Simon"

Karl Cerski reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a brilliant time on this 1-2-1 woodturning course! I learnt so much, and particularly appreciated the depth of knowledge that Simon has - and his patience with an absolute beginner! I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a comprehensive introduction to woodturning."

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

"Hi Karl, Thank you for a lovely review. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need further help. —Simon"

Bill Jenkins reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"What a great day, the course was excellent, run by Simon, an extremely patient and very knowledgeable tutor. All aspects of the course itinerary were explained in full detail with plenty of time for additional questions as necessary. The day was full but relaxed, the lunch was excellent and Simon couldn’t have been more accommodating. The 1-2-1 format was very useful allowing full focus on the participant skill levels. Can’t recommend this course high enough and will definitely look to return for a follow up course."

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

"Hi Bill, Thanks for a lovely, heartfelt review. Great to meet you and looking forward to seeing you again. —Simon"

Paul Allen reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"My daughter booked this experience as a surprise birthday present, following excellent reviews. The day did not disappoint, from the moment I walked in, I was welcomed by Simon, an amazing teacher, whose passion for woodturning was evident from the start. He was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also patient and encouraging. A fantastic day, would highly recommend Blended Monkey. "

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

"Hi Paul, So glad you enjoyed the day - hope the notes were useful. Do get in touch if you fancy another go at turning... -- Simon"

David Harrison reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon clearly is an expert woodturner, but also he is an excellent teacher - by explaining things carefully and patiently, and by giving praise even to complete novices like me! The workshop is located in Simon and Louise's beautiful naturalistic garden, where we also sat for lunch. The time flew by, which is the sign of a very enjoyable experience. "

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

"Hi David, Thanks for a lovely review - so glad that you enjoyed the experience. Do get in touch if you need any further help or guidance. -- Simon"

Sally and Fran reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed learning to wood turn and our slab building ceramics session. Both were brilliantly run with Simon and Louise enthusiastically sharing their knowledge and passion for their crafts. Staying in the Crafters Retreat cabin was the icing on the cake of our lovely weekend! We will definitely be back and highly recommend Blended Monkey for something different to do - whether couples or mother/daughter, father/son or just friends. Fantastic five stars!!!"

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

"It was an utter delight having you guys spend the day with us in the woodturning & ceramics studios. You both created beautiful pieces and we're so pleased that you also enjoyed your stay in our Crafter's Retreat :-). Thank you for the 5-star rating - most appreciated!"

Julian Cooper reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery throwing workshop

"My goodness what a wonderful day and experience! Thank you Simon. This was a 60th birthday present to me from family and was so worthwhile. A lovely place to be and Simon looked after me and taught so well as I took my first steps on the lathe. Excellent instruction and then notes to follow up as well. The garden to be in (it was a nice day) was also lovely in the gaps between sessions."

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

"Hi Julian, So glad you found the day useful and memorable. Any questions or help required please get in touch. -- Simon"

Jo Phillips reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery throwing workshop

"Just come back from the most amazing morning doing a pairs throwing workshop. Louise was so friendly and made us so comfortable. In fact, I enjoyed the chat as much as the throwing! I definitely need more practice but my daughter- in- law nailed it. Can't wait to see the finished pots, however they look and would love to do more sessions. Cant recommend it enough. "

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

"It was a real delight and lots of fun having you and Dawn in the ceramics studio. So nice to have chilled out, relaxed students who want to just enjoy the process. You should both be proud of the pieces you made. Some parts of throwing are difficult to get and it takes a lot of practice, but you both got to grips with it really quickly. Well done ladies! Oh, and thank you for the lovely review :-)."

Harry Kempton reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I've learnt so much from listening to Simon and how thorough and knowingly knowing all of the ways things could go wrong and letting you find that so you become braver with the machine. Outstanding course 100% recommend "

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

"Hi Harry, Thanks for your recommendation - means a lot coming from a professional woodworker! Do get in touch if you need more assistance. -- Simon"

Dee Jackson reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Thank you for a fantastic course Simon, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The pace of the course was just right and your excellent tuition skills were spot on. I came away with a massive amount of knowledge that you graciously shared and some lovely pieces of work. I would highly recommend this course. Thank you."

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

"Hi Dee, You're welcome! So glad you had a great day and I hope the notes are useful. Do get in touch if you need further help with anything. --Simon "

Mike Carveth reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Great day with Simon, helped with a lot of my questions. Helped me get ready to set up an effective woodworking workshop. Will probably be back to learn other types of woodturning techniques. Well done Simon. Kindest thanks and regards Michael"

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

"Michael, So glad you enjoyed the day and got a lot out of it. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more assistance with setting up. - Simon"

Natasha Werdmuller reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Thank you Simon for a wonderful day. I really enjoyed everything, I felt that Simon was really good at explaining and demonstrating wood turning. The lunch was lovely. I really enjoyed using the lathe and was pleased with my bowl. I hope to take wood turning further and can totally recommend this course to anyone who would like to try this. "

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

"Hi Tasha, Thank you for a lovely review and so glad you enjoyed the day. Do get in touch if you need more help. — Simon"

Neil Brew reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Lovely location, well set out workshop with good safety provision. Extremely good instructor with extensive knowledge of woodturning, willing to adapt the course and advise on a project I had in mind. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Would heartily recommend to beginners like me!!"

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

"Hi Neil, Thanks for a lovely review. I do hope you take up the craft and look forward to seeing you again in the future. — Simon"

Simon reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Great fun- learned so much and even got to make something genuinely useful! "

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

"Hi Simon, So glad you enjoyed the day. Do get in touch if you need any further assistance. — Simon"

Richard Scoggins reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I attended this course last yesterday. On arrival I was greeted with a smile by Simon who proceeded to take me to and show me his work shop. The workshop is well equipped. Simon skilfully explained the lathe and its tools. The day proceeded with me getting some experience with different cuts. We stopped for lunch which was a very appetising farm house lunch. The afternoon was devoted to making a wood bowl. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn wood turning. Great tutor. "

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

"Hi Richard, Thank you for a lovely review. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need any further help. — Simon"

Michelle Warren reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 pottery throwing workshop for 1 person

"Had the best half day. Louise is so welcoming and friendly. The tuition is homely and not too structured that you feel under pressure… do your own thing, your own way… The studio is fantastic and so cosy. I think I’ve found my thing.. thank you! "

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

"It was an absolute pleasure having you in the studio Michelle :-). Well done with your first session of throwing! Can't believe you centered so quickly - usually one of the main issues when throwing. Glad I've helped you find your thing :-). "