Rustic Carpentry reviews

16 Mar 19'

Margaret reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"Just back from making a oak stool, what a great day enjoyed every minute of it. And very pleased with the stool, Ian was very helpful and didn't rush us, fed us coffee and biscuits to keep energy levels up Thank you for a great day Margaret"

16 Mar 19'

Kim Liggins reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I have just spent the most fabulous day making my oak stool. Ian is the perfect tutor who shows you what to do then lets you do it. He is very gentle in his approach and not rushed, letting you take the time you need to complete each part of the process. He is very encouraging and helpful when you get stuck or as in my case need more muscle. I would highly recommend this course for its therapeutic effects as much as for the finished product. I had no woodworking skills before the course but I have learnt so much. Very rewarding, thank you Ian."

3 Mar 19'

Stuart reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable few hours with Ian and a couple of fellow gift voucher recipients. It was a great day, with a very knowledgeable Ian passing on some of his years of expertise. After making a mallet out of a log to returning home with a very robust stool...much to my family's pleasant surprise. I would recommend the course and enjoyed meeting my fellow stool-makers too."

17 Feb 19'

Rachel Rowlands reviewed: Rustic oak garden bench - one day course

"My husband and I had the most amazing day making a beautiful garden bench. Going from chunks of wood and branches to a bench to be proud of was frankly astounding. Ian was really helpful and full of knowledge. The day was so relaxing and it was great to learn new skills. Next time we’ll come back with the kids! Thank you Ian!!"

2 Feb 19'

Lawrence standen reviewed: Rustic oak garden bench - one day course

"Fantastic way to spent a cold winter day. A warm fire to walk to before starting then offerings all day of hot drinks. Then comes the course. A delight for any ecoerince of woodwork or enthusiast. Starting with making a rustic wooden mallet from locally sourced ash from bradgate making it with hand tools. Then making a stool with it and the tools from wood also sourced from bradgate. Help all the way and the experience of his carpentry skills and knowledge is incredible. Reccomend for all!!!"

30 Jan 19'

Karen Hall reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"My other half bought me this as a Christmas gift. I didn't know what to expect really, but Ian's passion was a joy to see, he was very informative and helpful, and the course was great fun, I really enjoyed the whole experience. The stool I made now takes pride of place in our living room. Thanks Ian. PS would totally recommend this workshop."

20 Jan 19'

Natalie Cunningham reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"We’ve just got back from spending the most amazing day with Ian in his beautiful barn crafting our 2 Oak/Elm stools. As soon as we drove up to the farm, Ian was there welcoming us with a big smile and a wave and put us at ease straight away. We were complete novices and we still can’t quite believe we’ve managed to make real pieces of furniture, and that they actually look really really good! Huge thank you to Ian. It was brilliant to spent the day with you and Becky - we’ve caught the carpentry bug!"

5 Jan 19'

Annie reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I have just spent the day with Ian in his beautiful old barn (wearing many layers) and made the most lovely bespoke stool, a thing of real beauty. Ian is very laid back, but his knowledge and enthusiasm shine through, his positive encouragement makes you want to deliver the very best stool, his technique to get you to make an extra item (secret) to practice the skills required is really very beneficial and a total add on to the day. I can't recommend highly enough as a novice I have amazed my self at what I have produced, I will be going back to make a garden bench. Ian thank you."

21 Dec 18'

Chris reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I had a great day with Ian teaching me to create a truly unique stool. He is a genuine and enthusiastic exponent of his trade and it was a privilege to have his mentorship. Would thoroughly recommend the experience and my little boy loves his new stool too."

4 Dec 18'

Robert Kemp reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"My wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed the day' course with Ian. He is a really friendly guy with bags of experience, enthusiasm and encouragement. It was very satisfying to make the stools and mallets from raw wood with basic hand tools. Both stools look great at home and are useful furniture to have a round. I would recommend this course."

14 Nov 18'

Lesley W reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"Just enjoyed a 'mother and daughter' day making lovely oak/ash stools' at Ian's workshop. It was a truly brilliant day learning this craft, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Even though I was a complete beginner working with wood Ian was very patient and supportive throughout the process and we came away with a treasured piece of furniture and the memory of a fabulous day. Thank you Ian!!"

31 Oct 18'

Johnathan reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I have just spent the day making a carved wooden stool and mallet - which I am incredibly proud of. This course was excellent. Ian is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher, he is very patient. Thank you for a great experience."

25 Oct 18'

Stella Blay reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"This was a great session! Ian's enthusiasm for his craft shone through and his patient and gentle teaching provided great encouragement. He made sure that I achieved a fantastic result that I could be (and am!) proud of! It was fabulous to work with traditional tools, well loved and maintained; to be shown how to use them properly and then see the results. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone wanting to liberate their inner crafts(wo)man! You will be amazed at how well you do, and you will take home a completed piece of furniture that will last a lifetime. Thank you Ian for a great time!"

19 Oct 18'

Debbie Bennett reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"A great experience, a real break from the stresses of my day to day work. Ian’s workshop and approach to his craft is a real pleasure to be part of, his knowledge and passion make the day fly by, so much so that it’s not until the stool is made that you realise just how much your muscles ache! This would be a great team building experience, with the opportunity for developing both team work and a little healthy competition too!! Like many before , my stool has pride of place in our home, next stop garden bench !! Thank you Ian for a great day ?"

18 Oct 18'

Sara hill reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"My husband and I have just spent a fantastic day making a stool each with Ian. It was a birthday present which I didn't realise I even wanted to try. Can't thank ian enough, I really enjoyed the experience and found it very enjoyable and a complete break from everyday life. What an absolute treat. Thank you"

14 Oct 18'

Pete reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"This was bought for me as a gift and it could not have been better - an excellent and inspirational experience . Ian’s enthusiasm, knowledge, skills, friendly attitude and patience were exceptional throughout. He teaches you the skills and guides you through the whole process of creating a piece of furniture you can be confident you’ll be proud of. A thoroughly rewarding day and highly recommended experience!"

11 Oct 18'

John reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"Ian's course was a fantastic way to switch off from the everyday pressures of normal life and lose yourself in the simple pleasure of green woodworking. The location was superb and working in the early autumn sunshine was such a tonic compared to my usual desk-bound work. All in all a very good day and I walked away with what is now used as a small side-table to boot. Thanks Ian."

25 Sep 18'

Richard David Way reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"This experience was given to me as a birthday present. It was an excellent present. The course was fully hands on and extremely rewarding to attend. Ian is very knowledgeable and very friendly. The course was relaxed and there was plenty of time to complete each stage of the project without feeling rushed. The stool I made now has pride of place in my home and I sincerely look forward to visiting again for another one of his courses. I would recommend his courses to everyone."

24 Sep 18'

Clare Mellor reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"What a brilliant experience! Ian is so passionate about his work and is a wonderful teacher. He took us through some of this history of wood working before showing us the traditional way to make two beautiful stools. It was hard work but we absolutely love the end product and they are now looking great in our home. We have learnt new skills and have a new found respect for this craft. We would like to thank Ian for a wonderful experience (and for all the cups of coffee) and would highly recommend this course to everyone-thank you!"

17 Aug 18'

Esin Esat reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"An absolutely amazing experience. Really enjoyed the workshop. Ian has done an excellent job of introducing the variety of traditional woodworking tools and techniques, and guiding us through various stages. Brought home with me a high quality stool, and a mallet that I made during the workshop."

17 Aug 18'

Wahid Khan reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"Wasn't sure what I was letting myself in to - but I shouldn't have had any reservations. It was exactly what I wanted. Ian was both welcoming and understanding and his obvious passion for the craft is infectious. Given the time limitations I felt we achieved a great deal, with Ian's help and guidance. To come away with a mallet and an oak seat stool was very satisfying. If you want to learn basic geenwood skills, then this is an excellent introduction to the craft. With people like Ian around, the skill, knowledge and appreciation will hopefully never fade."

14 Aug 18'

Erika Lax reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"This was an amazing thing to do. I bought it as a gift for my younger son who is an artist and loves working with natural materials. I tagged along, more to spend some time doing something with him without the mayhem of the wider family. Ian was so friendly, knowledgeable and helpful that the hours went by really quickly. My stool has pride of place in our conservatory, where we spend most of our time now that we are retired! An added bonus is that I now have lots of Christmas present ideas for that son because he wants to do more woodcraft."

14 Aug 18'

Dean reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"I was bought this experience for Christmas from my wife and took my dad on the day. It was great! Ian is very knowledgeable and very friendly and the class is very informal. Plenty of time to ask questions and try techniques out. We both had a great day and were VERY pleased with the stools we took home. We would highly recommend this course and I have mentioned it to some colleagues already."

9 Aug 18'

Krishan Vara reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"The day was like being at your mates workshop, having a good chat and creating some amazing work. Ian is incredibly competent, passionate and has a deep understanding in the history of the craft. Amazing practitioner too as I was able to have a nosey around his workshop at some of his projects. The day unfolds at a good pace and Ian is never more than a wood shaving away for some advice or keeping you moving in the right direction. A great day with a great guy (tutor)."

23 Jul 18'

Katherine and Luke reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"We had the BEST day making a mallet and stool each with Ian. The barn is perfectly in keeping with the traditional tools and feel of the day. Ian was great and taught us a lot. We are so pleased with the beautiful stools we have taken home and can’t wait to try another course with Ian! Thank you again for a lovely day :)"