Native Hands reviews

6 Oct 17'

P.D. Laughton Retreat reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Thank you Ruby for giving such calm, unhurried and reflective sessions for us at the Retreat. The feedback was so positive about you, your energy, your tone and the work you inspired and guided. We are so delighted you were with us and would absolutely love to work with you again."

30 Jul 17'

Rebecca reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"Just fabulous. Fun, creative, incredibly informative (thanks to you Ruby for your hugely inspiring teaching) and in a place of such simple beauty. Way beyond all hopes, this is a treat of an experience that I shall never forget - shared with lovely lovely people"

17 Jul 17'

T. C. reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Thank you so much for yesterday, it was such a beautiful day. Love what you teach and the peaceful creativity of the way you teach it. Both the basket and the fire have made me so happy!"

27 Jun 17'

H.W. reviewed: Being Nature: mindfulness & re-wilding days in the woods

"It was a wonderful day. I am thrilled with with what I have learnt. Awesome! Magic! Wonderful! I felt so pleased with myself all kinda empowered and strong. Very content. Well you know I'll be back for more, I have my sights on grass baskets, needles, pottery and bark containers. Thank you sooo much."

18 Jun 17'

Isabel and Mark reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"A big thank you for a truly memorable weekend. We enjoyed every element of it and really appreciated your calm, present and measured delivery, that allowed us to get the most from our wild pottery experience."

7 Jun 17'

Matthew & Julie Bruton-Seal reviewed: Being Nature: mindfulness & re-wilding days in the woods

"Loved the Wild Cordage day. Ruby makes ancient techniques simple and achievable, and imparted a vast amount of knowledge in bite-sized chunks. Totally inspired and can’t wait to make more!"

7 Jun 17'

Steve reviewed: Being Nature: mindfulness & re-wilding days in the woods

"Thank you for such a wonderful weekend of fire-making. We all had such a blast, and learned LOADS. Arthur practised his spark making all the way home in the car, and has continued this morning at the breakfast table… He’s going to have worn out his flint by the end of the week. We will be back again for more adventures."

7 Jun 17'

C.B. reviewed: Being Nature: mindfulness & re-wilding days in the woods

"Thank you Ruby for a lovely day making bone needles. I surprised myself by managing to make not one but two. The site is perfect and sitting by a fire in those woods a joy in itself. I am also glad that you kept us aware of the source of our materials and that the deer which provided them was not forgotten in the process. Engaging with nature needs honesty. Thanks also to my course mates for their good and interesting company."

6 Jun 17'

Carleen reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"Thanks for delivering such an enjoyable Course, sharing your knowledge and skill in such a beautiful setting. Feel so inspired!!"

6 Jun 17'

Jo L. reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"I thought it was an excellent weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Hopefully I'll be able to learn something else from you in the future. Thank you Ruby."

17 Apr 17'

emma reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"Thanks Ruby for a lovely weekend in the woods- we haven't felt that mellow on a Sunday evening for ages, we both feel like we've been on holiday!"

23 Jan 17'

Cara Jane reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"The whole family had a fantastic weekend in the woods! I love the way you structured it. We all loved playing the games, making the faces as well as of course creating with the clay and the fires! You clearly have a lot of knowledge and experience and I am so glad that we had the chance to learn some of that."

23 Jan 17'

Simon reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"Really, really enjoyed those two days – we all felt very refreshed and inspired. I have my little pot on my desk to remind me of the wonderful experience."

23 Jan 17'

Yasmin S. reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"We learned so much… yet the pace was never rushed or stressful. Each part of the process was completely engrossing and I was able to be more fully present than I usually am in my daily life in the city. It’s hard for your thoughts to wander when you’re waving a smoking nest of grass in your hand, watching it burst into flames! It all felt so sane, human and natural."

23 Jan 17'

Steve reviewed: Wild pottery workshop - dig your own clay in the woods, bonfire/clamp kiln firings

"Thank you for such a wonderful weekend of digging, potting and fire-making. We all had such a blast, and learned LOADS. Arthur practised his spark making all the way home in the car, and has continued this morning at the breakfast table… He’s going to have worn out his flint by the end of the week. We will be back again for more adventures."

14 Dec 16'

julia reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"This is the second workshop I have done with Ruby - what a wonderfully gifted teacher! So much care is taken over the whole weekend - from making fires, to foraging the plants, and imparting valuable knowledge in such a clear and kind way. And weaving is glorious! It's so satisfying... what a wonderful way to learn to make a basket. I can't wait to try to make one myself now!"

9 Dec 16'

natalie reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Thank you Ruby for such a lovely weekend. I really felt the benefit returning to work on Monday, it's been far too long since I've sat round a fire in the woods! You're a very natural teacher, and I'm so grateful to you for passing on your crafts and knowledge."

11 Oct 16'

Martin reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Totally fantastic. I made my first ever basket and feel confident about my ability to make another . I'm really inspired and feel enabled get my next basket project together! Ruby is so full of grace and knowledge and she imparts it in a such a super fun way. It really was a joy to attend this Wild Rose and Bramble Basketmaking course. The camping at the venue was great too. Happy days. Thanks Ruby."

28 Jul 16'

Phil C. reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Just got back from the most sublime weekend workshop. If you ever get a chance to go to one of Native Hands events then do so. Fabulous weather, great friends and lovely group. Brilliant venue and the most perfect guide. Earth and water, fire and air. From clay to pot. Greatest gratitude to have been able to have take part in this and come home with gifts from the imagination. Highly recommended"

14 Jul 16'

Galen reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"We had such a good time on the reed mace workshop, and we've been recommending it to everybody. Ruby is a skilled and generous teacher - we learned so much, in a wonderfully calm atmosphere. Spending the day in the woods was magical, and Ruby has the most graceful way to light a fire with flint and steel, tinder and grass. I want to go on ALL the workshops!"

1 Jun 16'

Steve reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

14 Dec 15'

meike reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Picking the bramble prior to making the basket made me feel really connected to the finished product. I also felt the achievement of mastering the skill of turning an unwanted plant into something of beauty and use. Feeling the rain on your face makes you feel alive; hearing birdsong, you share the bird’s vitality and zest for life."

20 May 15'

julie bruton seale reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"Loved both the bark containers day and the native cordage one. Ruby makes ancient techniques simple and achievable, and imparted a vast amount of knowledge in bite-sized chunks. Am totally inspired and can't wait to make more!"

17 May 15'

alan poole reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"It was an inspiring day (Wild Cordage), Ruby is a charming and dedicated instructor, it was a pleasure to meet some like-minded people."

14 Dec 14'

Anne reviewed: Wild basketry- workshop in the woods, forage your materials

"I’d recommend these courses to anyone…because if I can do it anyone can! I’d been on several basket making courses over the years , with different teachers, and hadn’t managed to come away with anything other than a tangled mess and a belief that I couldn’t do it. I loved the day with Ruby because we were out in nature, sitting around a fire and it all seemed very relaxed. I was very skilfully tutored and encouraged, met some lovely people, ate delicious food and generally had a great time! Not only did I leave the woods relaxed and happy at the end of the day, but I also came away with a very useful basket and a restored faith in my own abilities!"