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

Gisela & Charlise reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"My daughter and I attended a beginner's pottery workshop and loved every moment of it! The atmosphere was very relaxed and Louise was very patient and brilliant at explaining everything step-by-step while learning a new skill. Louise is very encouraging, creative and supportive and we would recommend this experience to all! Many thanks again Louise :-) "

Alan reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Had a fantastic half day - pinch pots, slab work and some time throwing on the wheel - It was great fun, Louise was a fantastic host/tutor and we can't wait to see the results of our endeavours!"

Mark Swanson reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"I’ve always wanted to do woodturning and finally got round to it. Couldn’t have asked for a better tutor than Simon. So much more to it than I imagined but Simon instilled confidence through his knowledge and guidance. If you’ve never done it before don’t worry, you will be in good hands. Do it!"

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

"Hi Mark, Nice to have you (and Gary, of course!) in the workshop. Please do get in touch if you need any help in the future. —Simon"

Monika reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"I did a beginners all day workshop and then because it was so much fun I also did a half day throwing workshop. I loved both of them, Louise is a great teacher, and there is a lovely relaxed atmosphere (and lots of biscuits and tea), and she’s very flexible in what you can make. The pots and vases turned out very well and love the glazes that she put on as per our wishes. Super fun, would definitely recommend!"

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

"Thank you for your lovely review Monika. It was a pleasure having you and your daughters here to learn handbuilding and throwing techniques. You all created some beautiful pieces and I'm really pleased you like the glazed results. Nice to hear you've already used one of your bowls for your breakfast this morning too :-). "

Mike Bucknor reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 pottery throwing workshop for 1 person

"It was a good introduction to the techniques of throwing pottery which I enjoyed immensely. I had a good teacher in Louise who was very positive. I came away relaxed and looking forward to seeing my glazed results. If, like myself, you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at throwing clay, this is a really good starter. I would recommend the course. "

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

"It was lovely having you in the ceramics studio Michael. For someone who had never thrown before you did really well! I always try to put people at ease as I want students to have a chilled, creative time here - and I'm glad you came away relaxed :-). Thanks for the lovely review. "

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

"Thank you so much, Louise, for the 1-2-1 pottery workshop. It was so relaxing - learning a new craft from you, with your great playlist playing. I am really looking forward to seeing my finished pots. Hopefully next time I will be more successful on the wheel!"

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

"Ann, you made some beautiful pieces. I think you found the handbuilding to be a creative medium that you connected with, and your slab vases really show that :-). Shame you didn't get as much time on the wheel; but maybe we'll see you again in the future. Thank you for your lovely 5-star review."

James Donaldson reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A great experience. Simon very clearly explains the key wood turning techniques. Instilling confidence. The summary booklet is an added bonus."

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

"Hi James, Thank you for the positive review. —Simon"

Alison Gascoigne reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery throwing workshop

"This was such a fun afternoon. Louise explained everything very clearly over coffee and biscuits, and then let us loose on the wheels to have a go ourselves. I think it's fair to say that my cylinders were not very cylindrical, but my bowls got better and by the end of the afternoon I was feeling quite pleased with myself. And even if my bowls had been completely rubbish, it would still have been great fun :-)"

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

"Thanks for your fab review Alison. It was great having you and Pam in the ceramics studio learning all about throwing on the wheel. You should both feel very pleased with your results - most people don't end up with cylinders, so don't worry :-). Thanks again! "

V D reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Did the course with Louise, with a friend. We both thoroughly enjoyed it, and were delighted with what we made! She's a great and gentle teacher and I think anyone would enjoy this, if you want to explore your creative side. "

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

"Was great fun having you guys in the pottery studio and thank you for your 5-star review. You both made some really nice pieces and I'm sure you'll like the glazed results. Glad you enjoyed your time here in the Blended Monkey pottery studio :-)."

Kevin Ouughton reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Simon made the day very enjoyable. He was very easy to learn from and packed a lot of content into the day. I will be booking again in the future. "

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

"Hi Kevin, Glad you found the day useful and enjoyable. Look forward to seeing you again. -- Simon"

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

"Fantastic afternoon. 1-1 my first introduction to using clay and Louise was very patient and clear. She is an experienced gentle teacher who guided my learning brilliantly. I am looking forward to seeing the pots we made fired and glazed. "

Martin Sims reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Thank you to Simon at Blended Monkey for a fantastic day being introduced to the delights of wood turning. If you have been wondering what wood turning might be like, then I urge you to reach out to Blended Monkey - Simon's patience, direction and encouragement was the best way to experience wood turning for the first time. I ended the day with a fantastic sycamore bowl - something to remember the day and inspire further wood turning efforts. Thanks again Simon - likely to be in touch soon to learn more about the craft. Ride the bevel and keep those tools sharp :)"

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

"Hi Martin, Thank you for your (very prompt!) review. So glad you enjoyed your day. Your notes will be with you shortly and, if you have any questions or suggestions, please get in touch. -- Simon"

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

"Well! I had such a lovely day. Very relaxed and just lots of scope to develop and stretch ideas. Super teaching with really positive feedback making you feel like you can achieve anything! I still have lots of scope for achieving though …may have to come back a few times for throwing practice. Would thoroughly recommend the 1-2-1 day … and have been boring anyone who’ll listen to me about what a thoroughly brilliant experience it is. "

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

"Wendy, it was lovely to have you in the studio and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your ceramics experience. I'm glad you felt you had the room to expand your own ideas (that's exactly what I like to encourage :-)). Would be happy to have you back for a throwing-only session. Take care and thanks for the lovely review! "

Sue Casey reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Had a fantastic morning on the pairs woodworking course. Simon was really helpful and struck the right balance between demonstrating and letting us have a try. So pleased to actually come away with a finished item. We would love to come back for another go. "

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

"Hi Sue, You're welcome back any time - so glad you enjoyed the session. -- Simon"

Jonas Rohnke reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I've had a great time doing the half-day woodturning workshop with Simon, thank you very much for this experience! I have never done any woodturning before and Simon managed to give me a great overview of the tools, techniques and philosophy behind it and I even managed to take a piece home with me at the end of the day. I highly recommend this course to anyone, it's very easy to get started and I couldn't imagine anyone better suited than Simon to get you excited about it! "

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

"Hi Jonas, You're most welcome! So glad you enjoyed your day - it makes doing what I do worthwhile. :) -- Simon"

Greg Scott reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Thank you Blended Monkey for a brilliant day's woodturning. If you're interested in having a go at woodturning and getting a crash course in the basics, you will not do better than this. Simon's tuition was excellent, allowing me plenty of hands-on time at the lathe, whilst also intervening when necessary to ensure I didn't ruin my projects! I came away with 2 lovely creations (honey dipper and bowl), a set of photos which Simon took during the day, and a great set of pdf notes (provided by Simon) covering pretty much all we'd done during the day. Simon and Louise are very friendly hosts, so I enjoyed chatting throughout the day, and over lunch / refreshments, which were also great. Thank you!"

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

"Thanks for the lovely review, Greg. So pleased you had a great day. Do get in touch if you need any further help with setting up, etc.. -- Simon"

Rhoda reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs woodturning workshop

"We spent a very enjoyable morning attending a beginners' wood-turning workshop. Simon is a great teacher and was very encouraging. Many thanks!"

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

"Thanks, Rhoda. It was great to have you both. Any questions or queries, so get in touch. -- Simon"

Kim & Tony reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"We did the 2 in 1 craft day, pottery and wood turning. Never touched a lathe or a potters wheel before and we came out with some high quality stuff. It was a fantastic day. The attention and instruction we got from Louise and Simon was awesome, they really are passionate about what they do. Also, if you like a chat you won't be disappointed, you can't shut them up (which is a good thing). They were always guiding and positive but left you to your own creative talents. The workshops are a lovely environment to learn and be in. The knowledge they leak out to you is so absorbing you can't help but be amazed. I'm sat at home writing this and still recalling some wonderful information that you get from this very friendly couple. You will get some lovely lunch in their kitchen and the encouragement about life skills and well being are always on their mind. Everybody who meets Louise & Simon will think I have the best friends in the world. I encourage you all to book a craft class or two and defo stay at the Crafters Retreat Lodge. The Lodge is a dream. Go and give it a go. All the best Louise & Simon Tony & Kim x "

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

"I really loved my one-to-one pottery lesson with Louise. She and Simon were very welcoming and their home felt a very secluded and calming environment to spend the day. As a complete beginner, I was able to go at my own pace and I found Louise very patient and encouraging. I was really pleased with what I was able to achieve in one day. I’d love to go back again and stay at their crafters retreat, which looked beautiful. Highly recommended."

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

"Liz, I'm delighted that you enjoyed your day with us here at Blended Monkey :-). I know you were a little cautious about throwing on the wheel at first, but WOW - look at what you achieved!!!! You've made some really lovely pieces and I'm just as excited as you to see how they look after they've been glazed. Thank you for your review - very kind. "

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

"I had an amazing time during the pottery workshop! Louise created a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere, and was very supportive as we moved through three different techniques. She explained everything clearly, while leaving me fully in charge of my own creations. We had a nice chat throughout and some lovely teas. I left the session energised and inspired. I would highly recommend this workshop. Thank you, Louise (and Simon)!"

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

"So pleased you enjoyed your ceramics session :-). It's amazing what you can achieve in half a day! You embraced all the different techniques with creativity - I especially like your tall "bobbly" vase. It was a pleasure having you in the studio and thank you very much for your lovely review!"

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

"What a delight of a day, it will be one for the memory bank for sure. Thank you to my Mum and Dad for such a fabulous birthday gift. Louise is talented, patient and very encouraging especially as this was my first time in a potter's studio - my only other time working with clay was at uni but that will change now as today Louise has definitely shared the bug for it! Is it too early to start researching second-hand potter's wheels online...? : ) The day was so smooth, giving me opportunities to try so many different things and it was relaxed and ran beautifully, just sorry it had to end. I can only imagine how much prep and clear-up it created too! Thank you Louise for a wonderful experience."

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

"It was fab spending the day with you in the ceramics studio and I'm really happy that you enjoyed your immersive, creative clay workshop :-). You created some beautiful pieces and took to all the different techniques so well. It was lovely chatting with you too. Thank you for the great review :-)."

Brian Matthews reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Great course, Simon is very knowledgeable & patient and takes time to explain everything. This was my second course & both were brilliant, will definitely be doing another. Thank you Simon & Louise "

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

"Hi Brian, It was great to see you again and it’s so rewarding to know that the course is of benefit - especially when you return for more! Have fun in your workshop. — Simon"

Jayne & Gary reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery throwing workshop

"I booked this as a birthday present for my boyfriend & he was thrilled. We’d talked about trying something “crafty” as we’re not naturally like that! We had a fantastic time with Louise who is very patient & motivating. She explains and show you first off and then is there to support you and point out how to get better results through the workshop. We found it fun and totally absorbing, even sad when we’d ran out of clay which wasn’t what we expected. Definitely give it a go, we never thought we’d get 3 each to fire & glaze but we did. Some are a bit wonky but it’s lovely to think we will have made them. Can’t wait to pick them up !"

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

"It was lovely to meet you guys and I'm so pleased you enjoyed your birthday throwing workshop :-). You picked up the throwing processes really quickly and should feel very proud of the pieces you made! I prefer a "wonky" pot any day :-). Thanks for the lovely review! "

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

"I have never done pottery before. I bought the 1-2-1 wood turning for my husband, so thought I’d try the 1-2-1 pottery. I always find personal courses better so you can move at your own pace. Louise made me feel at ease, and had a great teaching style as she never touched my work. Just coached. I loved that. There were lots of choices for me and my creativity. I can’t believe I came out with so many useful things. The wheel was a real challenge but such fun. And we stayed at their crafters retreat which is like a little oasis. The whole day with my husband woodturning with Simon, staying at the lodge and the pottery, made it such a special anniversary. And my husband's bowl and honey drizzled were perfect. Everything was perfect."

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

"Thank you for the fab review Jacqueline. It was a pleasure to have you in the ceramics studio ... you're very creative and you made some lovely pieces! Also pleased that Mark enjoyed his woodturning workshop with Simon. Again, some beautiful pieces made - bet you needed that hot tub in our Crafter's Retreat in the evening though! So glad you had a fabulous anniversary too! "

Candy Quarry reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"I came with my sister for the half day pottery workshop. Having never done pottery before we were complete beginners. Louise was an absolutely wonderful teacher. Explaining things so clearly and also supporting if we needed a bit of assistance with anything. Additionally, she is very warm and friendly and made us feel welcome and at home! The workshop is in a beautiful established garden which was the icing on the cake. This course is excellent value for money, we will definitely be returning. Can’t wait to see our fired and glazed finished products which will hold lovely memories for us. Thanks again!!"

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

"It was a delight meeting you guys and well done for creating such beautiful pieces. I'm really pleased you enjoyed your ceramics session ... it means a lot to me. I'll let you know as soon as your creations have been glazed and fired. I'm sure they'll look amazing! Thanks again for the lovely review :-)."