Elka reviews

Alex S reviewed: Introduction to Botanical Inks and Paints

"In recent years I've become increasingly aware of the chemicals in my conventional paints, and have been curious about learning how to make my own natural inks and paints. This workshop covered everything I wanted to learn and much more, from the equipment needed and sourcing the plants and minerals, through to the various different processes for creating inks, water colour and oil paints. I have to say that making oil paints from pigments was my favourite process, deeply satisfying! I'm amazed at the vibrancy and range of colours we produced in one day and would highly recommend this workshop to anyone with an interest in painting, colour or natural art materials. It is clear that Claudia has a background in teaching, the day was meticulously planned yet relaxed and friendly and we had a very useful handout of information to take home with us, along with all our colour experiments. I can't wait to start foraging for colour and can feel my artwork heading in a new direction. Thank you Claudia for a wonderful day!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely, detailed review Alex, it is hugely appreciated. I'm delighted that you got so much out of the workshop, it was a pleasure to meet you, and to see you paining with the natural colours. I'm looking forward to seeing your new work! Very best wishes, Claudia."

Nicola reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"A really informative introduction to natural dyeing, I learnt a lot and really enjoyed my day! The venue was lovely and we had endless cups of tea. A bonus was having a mini booklet to take home, a mini shibori dyed bag (that we dyed ourselves) and dye samples."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review Nicola. We're delighted that you enjoyed the day and feel that you've learnt a lot! "

Swati Khanna reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"I recently attended the 2 day table loom workshop and needless to say it was an amazing experience. I wanted to learn the basics of weaving for my work and it was just what I needed. Ellie is a wonderful teacher and so knowledgeable. I specifically wanted to work with Lambswool & she was happy to oblige. The whole experience was very therapeutic. Ellie made the environment so comfortable for everyone. I particularly liked the small group (it was only 4 of us) as she was able to give more attention to each one of us. I would highly recommend this course and Ellie is a very good teacher. "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Swati. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and spend two days immersed in textiles. Your colourful weaving was just beautiful, you're a natural!"

Helen T reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"The workshop was wonderful, Claudia was a great teacher and we were gently immersed into the world of natural dyeing. I learnt so much and feel I have now gained confidence to experiment at home with Natural dyeing . Totally recommend this workshop 😊"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Helen. We’re really glad you enjoyed the workshop, and that you feel confident to start experimenting at home 😊"

Liz Hanvey reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"This 2 day course exceeded my expectations! A lovely venue, small (just 4) class size, and most importantly an excellent tutor. Ellie’s enthusiasm, along with clear instructions kept each of us going at our individual pace. The time flew by, and we all learned so much- from choosing from a wide range of coloured thread, to warping the loom, to learning lots of different kinds of patterns on our sampler. My daughter and I attended the course together and had a thoroughly enjoyable and creative experience. For me, returning to weaving, having learnt 56 years ago (!), was an absolute joy. The whole process I would describe as therapeutic in that it can ignite parts of the brain as well as the body that may have been underused. Certainly that’s my experience. I highly recommend this course, and Ellie is a passionate and very encouraging teacher!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Liz. I'm so glad you enjoyed the workshop and I'm really looking forward to seeing where you take your weaving!"

Karen Clark reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"What a wonderful day I had learning to Inkle Weave with Ellie. She worked so incredibly hard to help those who were just learning and was full of encouragement to all who attended. I would love to attend another of Ellie’s courses - she is full of passion for weaving and that passion really shines through."

Kate H Bryant reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Another fabulous course delivered by the wonderful Ellie. Her passion for her skills shines through her teaching and is delivered with knowledge, empathy and humour. What a great day and run in a superb venue… Thank you"

Chris Roberts reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Ellie is an excellent teacher. Willing to help true beginners with the inevitable happy accidents! Loved my band that I made. Thoroughly recommend this course and artisan."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Chris. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you all and your weaving is just brilliant!"

Carol Glen reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"Well - if you want a day filled with fun and creativity, then this is the course for you. Ellie is a fantastic teacher- she is clear in her instructions, patient when you are struggling, encouraging to try new ideas. The venue was also lovely and talking to the others on the course was enjoyable. I thoroughly recommend and would love to go back again. Thank you Ellie."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Carol! It was great to meet you and such a treat to spend the day weaving with you all, I'm delighted that you enjoyed it :) X"

Maya Katz reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"I had a lush day at the frame loom weaving workshop, Ellie is a patient and clear teacher - she made an effort to spend time with everyone on whatever it was they wanted to focus on. Ellie has a vast knowledge on all things weaving and was really happy to share and answer any questions that came up. I came away with a completed piece that I was pleased with, some new techniques to play with at home, and happy to have met some lovely people too! I'd definitely recommend the workshop and hope to return one day to continue learning! "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed review Maya, it is greatly appreciated. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the workshop, your weaving is really fantastic and it was lovely to spend the day with you :)"

Wendy reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"Really wonderful day. It was extremely informative and also extremely practical and made simple to understand so that by the time I left I felt I could confidently embark on using natural dyes at home. The tutor was so warm, kind and friendly and the Workshop was held in a beautiful location. There was also only a small group which meant the tuition felt personal. Thank you so much..I recommend 100% ( and 5 stars ) "

Elka responded:

"Hi Wendy, thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the day and you feel confident to get started at home. Very best wishes, Claudia."

JO reviewed: Introduction to Off-Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"As a true newbie to the world of weaving this was the perfect introduction. Ellie was so supportive, generous, and knowledgeable. The day was filled with learning, fun, creativity, and laughter. A great way to spend a Saturday and I went home chuffed with my projects and look forward to discovering more about this ancient craft from such a wonderful teacher, Ellie."

Niamh Macleod reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"This course has given me a great understanding of the possibilities of natural dyeing. We covered a lot of ground with the time we had and I left feeling inspired. Not only does Claudia give you materials/ notes to bring back with you but she also gives you resources to guide you if you want to learn more. She answered all of our many questions and provided a relaxed environment for us to learn in. I would 100% recommend this course to anyone who feels curious about the topic. "

jeannett stevenson reviewed: Introduction to Off-Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Thank you Ellie for your amazing course, me and my friend absolutely loved it ✨ Everything was super organized, you were lovely and full of patience and information. I had never done any weaving before, but I still feel I came home with a little piece of woven treasure. Thank you x"

Anne reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"A huge thank you to Ellie for a fantastic day's weaving with wonderful women. I'm now completely hooked on inkle weaving and cannot wait to get my hands on my very own inklet loom. This type of weaving was very accessible, I was thrilled to have a beautiful completed work by the end of the day. Ellie explained everything clearly and was on hand for whenever we got stuck. We received a great handbook to take home and refer to at a later stage. Fisherton Mill was a lovely venue and we enjoyed a fabulous healthy lunch and an indulgent piece of cake! I would thoroughly recommend this course to all my friends."

Milli reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"I love working from home & in my studio, outdoors a favourite. This was such a treat to go to Fisherton Mill & experience an inkle-weave workshop with other fabulous people. We got instructions pre- course for those who want to be prepared. I like being spontaneous and seeing where the colours and course takes me. I love the result of my skinny weave. Goes with my running hat/ top hat & my dog’s collar. I just need to weave more for shoelaces. I can’t wait to do some freehand embroidery with the off-cuts & even some bracelets. Lots of possibilities. Ellie is a dream to work with. She makes you feel relaxed, no matter what stage you are at as a beginner or intermediate knitter - she will support you. The conversion flowed well and we were all in fits of laughter Amazing groups of women Colour Pop 🌈⚡️💙🌿"

Toni Sullivan reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"This is the best course I've been on. Ellie was incredibly hospitable, organised and inspiring. Ellie used a rich, visual language to explain what we were doing, with bespoke literature which she had created precisely for the workshop. She's incredibly calm, and helpful and has this wonderful energy. Even when I felt unsure and needed help I didn't have any anxiety in asking for support. I'm so surprised I actually came away with a finished piece of weave - Ellie really knows what she is doing and I came away feeling as though I really understood weaving on a whole new level. Not only was the workshop amazing but the location, the food and hospitality of the venue was fantastic. I travelled from Winchester to Salisbury for the workshop. It was absolutely worth it and I can't wait to do another workshop soon"

Felicity M reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"My daughter and I took Ellie’s 2 day table loom weaving course in December 2023. We enjoyed it very much - Ellie was extremely welcoming, and she had prepared everything perfectly. The range of yarns and patterns she had available for us to try were very inspiring and fun. Ellie is a great teacher - she demonstrated and explained all the steps we needed to do clearly, and was very patient and kind when we took a bit longer to understand! She was flexible too and allowed us each to go at our own pace, allowing us time to absorb and put what we were learning into practice. A very enjoyable course which we would definitely recommend. Thank you Ellie!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you Felicity for taking the time to leave such a lovely and detailed review! I'm so glad you both enjoyed the workshop, it was a pleasure to spend two days weaving with you. Very best wishes, Ellie "

Shruti Mehta reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"This day brought so much joy to the otherwise a little tired me. Learning how to weave with other women sharing bits of their stories and who they are is so heart warming. Ellie is such a wonderful teacher! She made me feel completely at ease with how I was doing, very encouraging and very much willing to help as I went along. She was able to be there for each one of us, total of 6 women, everytime we asked for some guidance. It is rightful to say it felt a bit daunting at the beginning but by the end of it I felt confident with weaving as a craft, that I could do it. Also, The Fisherton Mill Gallery & Cafe in itself is so inspiring, not to forget the delicious lunch we were served. All in all a day well spent. I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone and everyone. Thank you so much Ellie xx"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for you lovely review Shruti, it was such a pleasure to meet you and I'm delighted that you enjoyed the workshop. Thank you for coming and contributing to a wonderful day Xx"

Samalie Kigondu reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"6 Hour Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire. What an amazing creative day. As a complete beginner, I really enjoyed the day I spent with Ellie learning how to set up the loom, learning to weave using different techniques. The course material was helpful. The yarns we had available to weave with were beautiful, varied and I enjoyed practising with the different varieties of yarns e.g., sustainable yarns. Ellie is very kind and patient; she answered all questions and gave individual attention when needed. I really enjoyed the day, I would 100% recommend Ellie’s courses and attend another one soon."

Elka responded:

"Hi Samalie! I'm sorry for my very slow response to your lovely review. Thank you so much for coming to the workshop and taking the time to leave a review, I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) Best wishes, Ellie "

Cherry Goddard reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"A lovely day and well organised. I learnt so much about the process of dyeing with hands on experience and information handouts to take home. Claudia is a wonderful teacher with vast knowledge and I would recommend the course to anyone wishing to start natural dyeing."

Vicki reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"A lovely day in a beautiful environment which was informative and fun , taking away any uncertainty I had about natural dying. Claudia is a natural teacher with vast knowledge and I would totally recommend "

Shelley Powell reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. It was very well organised with lots of hands on experience. I learnt so much and took home lots of samples for reference. We also had handouts with all the information in them which is great for looking back on as I know I would forget some of it. Claudia is a wonderful teacher with a vast knowledge of natural dyeing and really helps you to understand the process. I recommend this course for anyone, you will love it."

Pennie Dunn reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"This was an incredibly inspiring course and extremely well run by Claudia. Everything was available to try and we even came home with samples of our work, which I had not expected! I would definitely recommend this course for anyone interested in natural dyeing methods and very accessible for complete novices. We also came away with handouts to refer to later. Wonderful, thank you so much!"

Melody reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"This was great. Thank you. I have continued weaving at home"

Elka responded:

"Thank you for the review Melody! I’m so glad you’ve continued at home 😊"