Blended Monkey reviews

Sheila Levy reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Really enjoyed our afternoon beginners course. Simon was very attentive and had the right balance of demonstrating and letting us get on with carving. Delighted with the result of the project he gave us to do."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Sheila, So glad you enjoyed your session - do get in touch if you need any further guidance. -- Simon"

Peter Morris reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"I attended an introductory wood turning class with Simon and I'm really pleased that I did. The venue is great, very clean, comfortable and well equipped but also welcoming which was important for someone trying to learn a new skill. (Especially when the skill is to effectively stick a razor sharp tool into a solid piece of wood rotating at considerable speed!) I have over 12 years of teaching experience and so I feel qualified to say that Simon's delivery style is first rate and backed up by excellent subject knowledge. By the end of the day (with Simon's help and guidance) I produced 2 pieces that I can be really proud of. For me the acid test is always, would I be proud to give this experience to someone as a gift and the answer is yes, without reservation."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Pete, Thanks for a glowing review, especially from an experienced teacher! Any questions or queries, please do get in touch. -- Simon"

Sharon McIntyre reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I certainly learned a lot today and with such lovely people. It's a course I would highly recommend for information and instructions, both written, verbal and practical. The constructive comments assisted me to produce a number of items in the day, identify and address bad habits and gain confidence to continue on the path to becoming a proficient wood turner. I will be repeating the course to learn other aspects of wood turning. Great course. Good food. Friendly people. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Sharon, Thank you for such a descriptive and thorough review! Great having you in the workshop and we look forward to seeing you again. -- Simon & Louise"

Nigel Smith reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"My Brother-in-law and I were gifted this course for our birthdays. We were greeted on our arrival by Louise and Simon, and were shown to the workshop where we had a good introduction chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit. We went straight into the turning. Simons tuition was brilliant. Unhurried, clear, concise and very friendly. There's a lot to take in as a beginner in just the one day, and when we inevitably got it wrong, or forgot, Simon was instinctively there to help, correct and get us back to where we should be. As the weather was nice, lunch was outside in their garden and this was tasty and plentiful. We both came home with our turning creations and I think we were both amazed what a couple of beginners had achieved in just a day. The day flew by. I really enjoyed my course and I thoroughly recommend it. A very big thank you to both Louise, Simon and Harry the Dog for making it such a memorable day."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Nigel, Thank you for a glowing review! So glad that you enjoyed the day - do get in touch if you need any further help or information. -- Simon"

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

"I had an excellent day with Simon and learnt alot about wood turning, coming in as a complete beginner. He should and explained things well and with patience and got me doing some turning myself pretty quickly. At the end of the day I left with two complete projects to be proud of and a much better understanding of this skill."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Ben, So glad you enjoyed your experience. Do get in touch if you decide to take up the craft and feel free to ask any questions. -- Simon"

William Catchpole reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"What a cracking day with Simon - the time just flew and it was so well structured from arrival through to lunch and then the afternoon project. I had come quite a long way and was hugely excited by this highly original birthday present from my wife. To say I loved it would be an understatement - the workshop is immaculate and has so many clever subtle features. Simon is so so patient in explaining the various chisels and their cuts and the problems that wood orientation presents. Its hard to imagine somebody having anything other than a great experience. I certainly would give the course 5 stars - Simon 5 stars - lunch 5 stars ! and oooh the elm bowl is my pride and joy. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi William, Thank you so much for a lovely review! 15 stars! Who'da thought it? :D It was great to meet you - do stay in touch and if you need any advice, don't hesitate to shout. P.S. I've already made a small goblet with some of the elm you left me. -- Simon"

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

"Fantastic day. Thoroughly enjoyable and learnt a great deal. The course had a good structure to it but flowed so naturally that you didn't really notice. Simon was a great tutor and very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Thanks, Ross. So glad you enjoyed the day and learned so much. Do get in touch if you need further help or advice. —Simon"

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

"My 12 year old attended the wood turning beginner course this week. He made a sample spindle, a keyring and a bowl. Simon was kind, patient and knowledgeable. he explained in a way which was informative and clear, without 'dumbing down' the class for my son. The lunch was delicious too :) My son was learning from the min we arrived to the end of the day, and left, exhuasted and happy. He learned a huge amount and plans to do more 'turning' in the future. Would recommend this course to anyone seeking an informative and full introduction. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Lisa, Soooo glad that he enjoyed the day - it makes my day when young people get into the craft and your son did exactly that. I do hope he goes on to make a hobby (career?) out of it and I wish him all the best. -- Simon"

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

"My sister and I did the half day ceramics workshop and loved it! We were shown 3 different methods of making but were also allowed to be creative and tailor the methods to what we wanted to make which was brilliant. Can't wait to see the things we made once they're glazed and fired! Thanks again :)"

Blended Monkey responded:

"It was a delight having you guys in the studio :-). So pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind review and I'll let you know as soon as your beautiful creations are ready for collection/postage."

Peter McDaniel reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a fantastic day with Simon, the course was ideal for me as I am a complete novice. The tuition was spot on with Simon being at hand to demonstrate and fully explain the cutting techniques we were using. I would have no hesitation in recommending this course and I look forward to my next visit. Louise also put on a very nice lunch."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Peter, Thanks for a wonderful review; I've just sent you the notes as promised. I look forward to your next visit (possibly with Mrs McDaniel in tow!). Happy turning! -- Simon"

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

"Me and my partner did a half-day beginners pottery course and had an amazing time. Louise was so friendly and really good at showing and explaining the different techniques. We both had an excellent time and would definitely recommend this course for others to try, it was a lovely and fun day."

Blended Monkey responded:

"It was fab having you guys in the studio! So pleased you both enjoyed your experience, and thank you for the lovely review! "

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

"Amazing, relaxing, informative, fun :) We loved it. Thank you :)"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Was a pleasure having you and Charlotte in the studio. Thank you for your kind review :-)."

Claire King reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I booked this course for my 13 year old son to try something different during the summer holiday. Simon made us both welcome. His workshop is well equipped and clean. My son has ASD but Simon’s approach was clear with lots of visual instruction so my son had no difficulty in following. He learnt a lot during the 3 hours and throughly enjoyed the workshop. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"So glad he enjoyed the experience, Claire. Look forward to seeing you again soon. -- Simon"

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

"Louise was a very encouraging tutor. I really enjoyed a day playing with clay and the one on one help made a huge difference as I tackled the wheel for the first time. What a treat! "

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

"I had a really great day with Simon. He's an excellent tutor and despite this being my first experience working with a lathe I ended up with a very beautiful bowl. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Jane, Thank you for your praise and so glad you enjoyed your experience. Any future help required, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon"

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

"That was a great day! I've not done anything like that since school. Great teacher, clearly very experienced in both woodworking and teaching, I would love to look at some other courses there. I've already started looking at lathes on Ebay. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Paul, Really glad you got so much from the day and excellent that you’re considering it as a hobby; please get in touch if you need any help in the future. —Simon"

Phil D reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"For my very first experience of wood turning by hand, my wife surprised me to this fantastic course for my birthday last year. We had a fantastic day; Simon and Louise made us feel very welcome and everything from the beautiful location and lunch was an absolute treat! Simon is a fantastic teacher, he explains the concepts really well and demonstrates them before letting you loose! I got a bit too keen at one point and accidentally broke my project, but Simon immediately grabbed our practice piece from the morning and set about showing me how to resurrect it into a lovely honey dipper! This moment really showed off the versatility and speed of wood turning, as well as Simon's obvious passion for the craft and his great hosting and teaching skills as it meant I didn't go home without something to be proud of! I have already recommended the course to some keen friends and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to get started or expand their skills in wood turning. Louise's pottery class looks fantastic as well so we hope to return for that in the future as well!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Phil, Thank you for your kind words - really glad you enjoyed your day despite the hiccup! We would love to see you both again and thank you for spreading the word. -- Simon & Louise"

Jo & Lucy reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"My daughter and I recently returned for the pairs half-day pottery workshop, and what a wonderful time we had! The studio is set in a beautiful cottage garden, making you feel immediately relaxed and creative. Once again we were made to feel very welcome by Louise. As we'd been before, Louise adapted the morning so that we could focus on what we wanted to make. Louise is a very patient and friendly tutor. We both had a really relaxing and fun time and returned home buzzing! Thank you Louise!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi guys, Thank you for your review! It was again a pleasure having you both in the studio and you made some really beautiful pieces :-). It's so nice that you chose to return to my pottery workshop to have some lovely mother/daughter time and I'm sure your pieces will look fabulous when they emerge glazed from the kiln :-). Thanks again for the lovely, encouraging review and see you soon. "

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

"Thank you so much Simon and Louise for a really great day. Both the woodturning and the pottery were taught expertly and patiently, and my teenager and I learnt a lot and enjoyed ourselves in the process. Lunch was delicious and in a beautiful setting in the garden too, and we enjoyed chatting to you both as well. My teenager has had a really tough time in the last few years, and it made me so happy to see them relaxed and chatty and enjoying being creative. They came away from the day buzzing, as was I, and I hope we will be back before long to do some more pottery throwing. So a huge thank you for a really enjoyable experience."

Blended Monkey responded:

"We're so pleased that you guys enjoyed your 2 Crafts in 1 Day experience with us here at Blended Monkey. It was lovely having you in the woodturning workshop and ceramics studio. You're both very creative people and a joy to teach. We're also pleased that you both felt relaxed and comfortable in the space too. We always want our students to feel calm and at home - makes for a much more creative and fun experience. See you soon when your lovely pieces have been fired!"

Robin Turner reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A really interesting and informative day with Simon who patiently guided me through the various stages of wood turning. I am amazed at the level of skill, touch and finesse that a wood turner needs. For a few hours I was introduced to some of these attributes which I can aspire to develop independently. Under Simon's tutelage I came home with artefacts which stunned my wife and left her speechless..... A rare occurrence. Many thanks to Louise and Simon for a great day. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Robin, Thank you for a lovely review and we're so pleased you enjoyed your day. As promised, please get in touch if you require any further assistance. Happy turning!"

HTG reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"I've been learning turning for a just few months, and I took my novice 11 y/o daughter with me for a two-person experience. We both learned a huge amount, and my daughter gained enough confidence to be able to turn a bowl pretty independently. We both absolutely loved the experience. Simon has a solid way of explaining key concepts, and real depth of knowledge and skill. Honestly, I can't imagine what Simon could have done to have made it any better. I highly recommend the experience. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi HTG, Thank you so much for your heartfelt review; it means a lot to us. It's nice to know that we have helped you both on your woodturning journey and, if you need further assistance, please do get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

Chris Chambers reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"The whole day at Blended Monkey, for me was fantastic. The meet and greet is very friendly and even the German Shepherd loves to say hi, along with the Carp, but they just want feeding. I have never done woodturning before, and the personalised tuition is second to none. The lunch time cheese board was very yummy, and then it was back to the delicate art of turning a lump of wood into a gorgeous bowl, all under the watchful eye of Simon. At the end of the day, with many shavings on the floor and over myself and the rough end of a sandpit up the nose, a spalted piece of wood is turned and a bowl is born. Would I recommend the Blended Monkey experience? Hell yeah. Worth every minute of the day. Along with the goods you have produced, you get certification and a good sense of achievement. It was like being a kid again, "look mum, I made this" Thanks guys loved it. "

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Chris, Thanks for an excellent review. We're so glad you had such a wonderful experience - exactly what we intend to do, so we're really chuffed that you enjoyed your day. (Simon: however, my workshop will ALWAYS be better than yours! :D ) -- Simon & Louise"

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

"My son George loved his woodturning workshop with Simon. It was lovely to see him get so much out of the process of making something and come away with a piece that he was truly proud of. Simon is very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging, I highly recommend his workshops, George is hoping to do another one soon!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Tracey, So great to hear that George had such a good day and that he's proud of what he made. He was an excellent pupil and picked it up really well; I hope he considers it for a hobby (alongside the Xbox, of course!) -- Simon"

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

"Had a great day with Simon. A knowledgeable and patient teacher. Lovely lunch and location. A really enjoyable day!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi David, Thank you for taking the time to provide a review and so glad you enjoyed the experience. -- Simon & Louise"

Jane Robinson reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Both boys really enjoyed the day and would definately book it again. Also they are really proud of what they made."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Thank you for a lovely review and so glad they enjoyed their workshop. -- Simon & Louise"