Blended Monkey reviews

7 Jul 22'

Warren Woodward reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"The woodturning course is fantastic and highly recommended. I had a wonderful day of woodturning under Simon's expert tuition. The day passed too quickly, and I could have happily stayed longer making more pieces and honing my beginner's skills. A great lunch and refreshments are also provided. I want to do it again."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Warren, Thanks for a great review - you're welcome to visit again and it would be great to see you. Happy turning! -- Simon"

6 Jul 22'

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

"A very warm welcome by both Louise and Simon when I attended their wood turning beginners course. The day was well planned, clearly presented and structured to your own speed of learning and your ability to execute the various techniques. All equipment was of a high quality and safe standard. A most rewarding day backed by clear and precise supporting notes. Wonderful hosts. I would definitely be happy to recommend this course.."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Michael, Thank you for such an honest and heartfelt review! We're so glad you enjoyed the day and that it met your expectations. Do get in touch if you need more guidance; we hope the notes are useful. -- Simon & Louise"

3 Jul 22'

Gary and Lucy Goodfellow reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Greeted by Louise and was treated with whatever drinks and biscuits we needed. Louise explained all about the clay and what methods we was going to use throughout our 3 hour session. Both my hubby and i came away with 3 items each and very happy with the results. Came away buzzing as we had such a great morning Highly recommend it"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Guys, it was a real pleasure having you in the studios :-). You should both feel very proud with the outcome of your few hours of pottery (I think Gary's was a fluke though ;-)). Nice to have such pleasant, chatty students and you'd be welcome back any time. I'll let you know when your creations are ready :-)."

2 Jul 22'

Glenys Self reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"From the moment I arrived at Blended Monkey, Louise and Simon both put me at ease with their kind, warm manner and genuine interest in my venture to learn a new craft. I was well out of my comfort zone, but I found Simon's instruction crystal clear, knowledgeable and reassuring. His expertise and experience as a craftsman and teacher was inspiring and I had a most encouraging and delightful day. I think they are both doing a wonderful job in helping others expand their creative horizons."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Glenys, Thanks for a lovely and heartfelt review. We both look forward to seeing you again and helping you on your creative journey. -- Simon & Louise"

2 Jul 22'

Matt & Riley Dingle reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Another very enjoyable day. Having been turning for a short while, Simon helped with improving our tool sharpening and ironed out problems we were having with spindle and bowl turning. Then it was onto making a great box. More new techniques to learn. Many thanks, and who knows, may see you again for the next installment!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Matt & Riley, It was nice to see you guys again and I’m really glad you had a great day. Riley, you’re coming on really well - keep it up! Happy turning :) — Simon"

29 Jun 22'

Andy Mitchell reviewed: Half-day 1-2-1 sharpening (woodturning gouges) workshop for 1 person

"I have attended two courses which are run by Blended monkey, a 1 day turning instruction in lathe and tool use and 1 half day training on the sharpening of lathe tools. I found both courses of great benefit, well delivered by someone ( Simon )who knows what he's talking about. Both were one to one so felt more personal and beneficial. The venue was easy to find and well equipped with everything required, dinner on the day course was included with drinks coffee biscuits also available. Simon was a very down to earth guy very approachable and easy to talk to and thankfully had all the answers to my questions. If your a beginner like me and just finding your way around a lathe, then I cannot recommend these courses enough."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Andy, So glad you found the courses useful and I hope that you’re more confident in sharpening your tools now. I look forward to seeing some of your creations! :) Do get in touch if you have any questions. — Simon"

28 Jun 22'

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

"I had a fantastic morning on my 1-2-1 ceramics session with Louise and I would very much recommend the course! Such a relaxing atmosphere, with plenty of time to learn about techniques and make a variety of pieces, from which you choose your favourite three to be fired. Louise's tuition is clear and she's on hand all morning to both chat and give advice, but also allows space for you to immerse yourself in what you're doing. I loved my first experience of the wheel (even my wonky finished pieces made me smile) and now I just want to do more! ?"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Sarah, it was a delight having you in the studio :-). You made some beautiful pieces - especially your two slab vases; very elegant - and you got to grips with the throwing processes very quickly. Well done! I'll let you know when your lovely pieces have been glazed and fired and ready for collection :-)."

26 Jun 22'

Ken and Kate reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"We treated ourselves to this as a special anniversary gift to each other. We’d always fancied a go at wood turning. Simon was so good at teaching us when we’d never done anything like this before. He is a great tutor and gave us a real desire to take this up as a hobby. The refreshments and lunch were plentiful and the day was way above our expectations! We came away with 2 projects each which we’re proud of! If you fancy a go then this is the place to learn!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Ken & Kate, Thank you for a lovely review and we're so glad that you enjoyed your day :) Do get in touch if you need more help. -- Simon & Louise"

22 Jun 22'

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

"Although I'm not strictly a raw beginner, I found Simon's guidance and patience hugely helpful in my 'new' journey to 'unlearn' some poor practices and start to grow in this hobby. It is always a joy to work with an expert and the 1-to-1 setting was the best possible way allow a free flow of conversation and for me to get the most out of the day. Thanks to Louise and Simon for making me feel so welcome at their lovely home and workshops and for the excellent lunch we enjoyed in the impressive garden. There were also a lot of incidental tips that arose - such as the way Simon has arranged his workspace to accommodate machinery and people and to provide a safe and clean environment with powerful dust extraction and to the way his various tools are stored and easily located. It's made me want to rethink my own space radically. Overall, a great day that I cannot recommend highly enough."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi James, Thanks for your praise - much appreciated and we're so happy you got so much out of the day. As promised, I added the extra equipment items to the standard documentation, so you should be able to source something fairly easily. If you have any questions or need any help in the future, please don't hesitate to get in touch and happy turning! -- Simon & Louise"

21 Jun 22'

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

"This was a really superb gift for Father's Day. I've not done wood turning before and only fairly basic carpentry skills, though happy to have a go! Simon is a really good teacher, very good at explaining and demonstrating the process. As a first timer I felt in good hands. We talked through the lathe and the tools we would be using before having a go. The space is clean and tidy very pleasant to work in. I enjoyed the hospitable environment which helps my learning. I learn well by doing and so it was good to be able to have a go quickly. I'd definitely recommend this training whether as an experience or for someone starting or rekindling them self of a skill. Thanks Simon and Louise."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Oliver, Thank you for your lovely review and so glad you enjoyed session. Any questions or queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

14 Jun 22'

Mrs Wendy Nelson reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Malcolm had a wonderful day using his birthday gift. The course was very friendly, a well organised and knowledgeable day. Had lovely lunch and enjoyed the experience and knowledge he had from a very welcoming Simon and learnt lots to look forward to on his retirement days ahead to make some more goods. The bowl and honey stick were great."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Wendy, So glad Malcolm enjoyed the day and we wish him all the best in his retirement hobby. Any questions or advice, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

8 Jun 22'

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

"My wife bought me this as a present and I attended this course yesterday and had to write a review for it straight away. It was amazing, a really relaxing day making things. Half a day of wood turning and half a day of pottery. The wood turning course was informative and really fun, and I ended up with a finished piece by the end of the morning to take home. Pottery is something new to me (I hadn't touched clay since my distant school days) but by the end of the day I had managed to create 3 different pots that were worth keeping all thanks to the great and patient tuition. Looking forward to my next birthday so I can get my wife to buy me another course."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Rob, Thanks so much for a lovely review; we're so glad you enjoyed your day. You should have the tuition notes link now and Louise is working on getting your pots finished for collection. Any questions or queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

7 Jun 22'

Jonathan Peryer reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Thank you Simon. Very clear, calm, and professional instruction and demonstrations. My first time woodturning since I did woodwork at school some 45 years ago - and I loved it. The voucher was a great present, and I am proud to show off what I made. I will take you up on your offer of further advice as this becomes a hobby in my retirement."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Jonathan, So glad you enjoyed your experience and delighted that it has kindled an interest as a hobby in retirement. As promised, please reach out if you need any assistance. -- Simon"

1 Jun 22'

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

"A fantastic day, Simon and Louise were excellent. We both felt instantly at home and relaxed and it was a great hands on experience. Lunch was much more than we expected and delicious. Overall we would thoroughly recommend the day."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Thanks for the lovely review! We're so pleased you enjoyed your "2 Crafts in 1 Day" experience guys! It was a pleasure having you in the woodturning workshop and pottery studio and we're really happy that you found the day relaxing and that you'd recommend us :-). We'll see you again when your fab pots have been glazed and fired. "

1 Jun 22'

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

"What a wonderful way to spend ans afternoon! I was so lucky to have been given a voucher for blended monkey fory birthday. I didnt know what to expect at all. Louise is such a kind and calm person, and her pottery studio set in her beautiful garden is just sublime! I can honestly say ive not had such a relaxing and peaceful 3 hours in many many years. Excellent value for money considering all the prep work Louise does, the 1:1 expert tuition, the fact Louise then finishes, fires and glazes 3 pieces for you, and of course the free biscuits! Therapy when i wasnt expecting have therapy, and I made some nice pots at the same time :) Highly recommended."

Blended Monkey responded:

"It was a real pleasure having you in the pottery studio Eleanor :-). You made some fabulous pieces and I'm so pleased you found the experience to be relaxing too - that's exactly what we try to achieve. Was nice talking to you on the market yesterday too. See you soon when your pots have been fired :-)."

26 May 22'

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

"What a fabulous afternoon. Wood turning is great fun and very satisfying. So why choose Blended Monkey? Quite simple. Simon the tutor is superb. You are made to feel welcome from the start. He is very generous with his time, expertise and offer of post session support. He is very patient and understands the difficulty of the novice. You never feel under pressure. I really enjoyed the afternoon. I am planning to take this up as a hobby and would have no reservations about booking further teaching from Simon. Couldn't recommend more highly"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Nick, Thank you for such a glowing and honest review! I really enjoyed the session and hope to see you again soon. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more help or information. — Simon"

24 May 22'

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

"Very happy with the day I spent on my first try at woodturning. Simon ran the day at a pace that was just right for me and we talked about all sorts of things that will be helpful when I take the next plunge which will be a lathe of my own. Oh, and tidying my workshop after being put to shame by Simon's immaculate space. Looking forward to my second day of turning with Simon when I hope I'll be able to try some more new things."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Jon, Thanks for a great review and I look forward to our second day together. "

20 May 22'

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

"I've always wanted to give pottery a try - especially the wheel - and this day course was perfect. Louise was a great teacher and very good company. The morning was spent trying out different techniques - I made a couple of pinch pots, a coil pot plus a slab work vase and wall hanging. It was great to try out pattern rollers as well as pressing different materials into the clay. After a lovely lunch which we were able to eat outside in the beautiful garden, the afternoon was spent trying out the pottery wheel. Personally I wasn't fussed if I made anything or not, as I was enjoying simply trying to make something and as expected it's a lot harder than it looks! I was pleased with how it went although I kept making the same mistake but was improving each time. I ended up with a couple of things that were half decent for a beginner so that was a bonus. It's hard work using the wheel and the backs of my arms were quite stiff the next day!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"So pleased you enjoyed your creative ceramics day Sharon :-). It was a pleasure to have you in the studio and you grasped all the techniques really well. Your pieces are drying nicely and will be biscuit fired soon. It is quite full on doing an afternoon of throwing as we're not used to putting our hands and wrists in all those weird positions. You did really well and ended up with some lovely creations across all the disciplines of pinching, coiling, slab work and throwing. Well done!"

18 May 22'

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

"This was a Christmas gift from my partner which we actually booked for my birthday weekend - double whammy!!! As we chose the 2 crafts in one day package, that was another double whammy!!! Both Simon and Louise are friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable about their respective crafts and they made us feel comfortable and put us at our ease from the word go. Any concerns or preconceived ideas were quickly dispelled and soon enough we were creating amazing items in both wood and clay. I am so proud of my honey dibber and I cannot wait to see our pots after glazing and firing. We both had a thoroughly enjoyable day, learned so much, with the tea and biscuits and delicious lunch in the sunny garden being icing on the cake. We also spent the weekend in the absolutely stunning 'Crafters Retreat' which they run on site as well. A very cosy, peaceful, immaculately presented and fully equipped lodge, with a hot tub under the covered veranda (so weather is not important) and a firepit/Kadai in the garden (a bit more weather dependant). The gardens and the Woodlet also offer secluded spots to relax in or to just breathe in a little calm/zen. We could not have asked for more nor can we recommend Simon and Louise at Blended Monkey enough. You guys have a brilliant business and your passion and love for your crafts shine brightly. Keep sharing. Thank you for everything."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Thank you for the delightful review! We're so pleased that you guys enjoyed your Christmas/birthday "2 Crafts in 1 Day" experience! It was a delight having you in the woodturning workshop and pottery studio and you should be very proud of the lovely pieces you created :-). It's also fab to hear how our Crafter's Retreat cabin is achieving what we set out for it to do and provide a peaceful, tranquil setting where you can just "be". We're delighted that you enjoyed your time with Blended Monkey and at the Crafter's Retreat and we'd love to welcome you again in the future."

12 May 22'

Teresa Brown reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"We can’t praise Louise and Simon enough for what they do! We had a couples pottery experience and it was fabulous. Not only did we learn and make lots, we had fun, got messy and had the freedom to explore our own creativity. Louise is so patient and kind, we had such fun with her and felt like we’d known her years. We will definitely be back and I would highly recommend Blended Monkey to people of all crafting abilities. Another bonus was that the premises is easily accessible and there is a toilet within stepping distance making it disabled friendly too! Thank you Louise - we loved our day!!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Guys, thank you for your lovely review! It's a pleasure having lovely students like you in the studio :-). I'm so pleased you were happy with the accessibility and that you felt comfortable during your session. You're both very creative people and it was a joy to teach you some clay forming techniques and see what you produced. It's always lovely to see students relax into the studio environment and just enjoy the feel and fun you can have with clay. I'm just as excited as you are to see the finished creations fresh from the kiln - it's always a daunting moment opening the kiln once it's cooled down as you're never quite sure what you'll find :-). But I'm sure you'll be pleased with the outcome. Thanks again for the lovely review!! "

11 May 22'

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

"Had a wonderful experience with Simon learning to turn wood. Although I've sdone plenty of woodworking before, it was my first time on a lathe and he made it simple, clear and accessible and really spent a good amount of time on the tools. Workshop is perfectly set up for teaching and in a lovely setting, really would recommend to anyone thinking about having a go to jump right in. Now looking to find my local turning club and have a few more experiences before purchasing my own machine."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Nirgon, So glad you enjoyed the workshop. You should have my notes by now which give you a link to a map of your local woodturning clubs, so hopefully you can join up and start your woodturning journey :) -- Simon"

5 May 22'

Mike reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs woodturning workshop

"I spent a wonderful afternoon in the workshop with my young son, who has special needs. We were able to attend the workshop in advance of our actual day to make sure he was going to be comfortable with the surroundings, the noise of the lathes, extractors and band saw and what we would be doing - which he was and every day from then on he was so excited about going and how long it would be until we went. On the day Simon was very attentive to his needs and we both had a great time and my son went away with a newly lathed Harry Potter wand which he very proudly took to school on the Monday to show everyone. Very much enjoyed by us both and would definitely recommend."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi Mike, Thanks for such a lovely review and soooo glad that your son enjoyed the day - he was really fun to teach and so inquisitive and interested in it all! Also really glad that you enjoyed yourself too :) -- Simon"

5 May 22'

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

"Had a very enjoyable experience, found lots of things very useful. Would recommend it to anyone who is interested in woodcraft."

Blended Monkey responded:

"Hi David, Thank you for your review - most kind! It was great to have you visit - do pop by if you fancy another go sometime. given how close you are to us (but do book first ;) ) -- Simon"

4 May 22'

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

"We had a wonderful time at Louise's pottery studio. She was very welcoming and friendly and we felt very at ease. We were shown three different pottery techniques and enjoyed them all. It felt really relaxed and creative freedom with you pieces was encouraged. Spinning was particularly fun and we had a good laugh. I would highly recommend! Can't wait to see the finished result."

Blended Monkey responded:

"I'm so pleased you had a good time in the pottery studio guys! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you both and you made some really lovely pieces :-). You should feel really proud of your creations and I'm also looking forward to seeing them when they emerge from the kiln. Thank you for the lovely review!"

28 Apr 22'

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

"My husband Martin and I had a great full day of pottery with Louise. Right from the beginning we felt at ease. The setting is perfect and the activities were pitched just right. Martin particularly liked that Louise joined in the activity, making what we were making. Everything was relaxed, from the pottery, to the lovely lunch and the free flowing tea! Would thoroughly recommend the pairs experience. Even if you are not good at crafts, you will have a a lot if fun and may surprise yourself!"

Blended Monkey responded:

"Colette, It was a pleasure having you and Martin in the studio :-). So pleased you enjoyed the workshop - you both did really well at all aspects (pinching, coiling, slab and throwing). The day always goes so quickly, but you achieved a huge amount in that time! Thank you for your lovely positive review!"