Latest reviews

Rachel reviewed: Silver clay taster session at Gallery in Heswall, Wirral

"I booked to go on this course with my dad. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and felt we learnt a lot about silver clay. We were both very happy with our creations and would definitely book again in the future!"

Miriam Farr reviewed: Raku, Saggar, Barrel & Horsehair Firing Weekend Workshop - 2025 DATES

"Wonderful setting for a course, I enjoyed meeting both Abi and Alison and learning some new techniques in raku. I had not tried naked raku before and having prepared my own pots prior to the course I was interested to see how they came out. It is certainly a technique I will try in the future. It was a shame that the weather was disappointing (it rained all day on saturday) as we had to spend a lot of time outside. The lunches and homemade cakes were a triumph!"

Alison and Abi Firing Workshops responded:

"Many thanks Miriam, it was a pleasure to meet you and hope you are enjoying out some new techniques. All the best Alison and Abi"

Jackie Wynia reviewed: Craft Retreat at Wild Rose Escapes, Highlands, Scotland

"It is difficult to describe a perfect vacation which is exaxtly the experience at the Wild Rose Escape Craft Retreat... Perfect! Rosie and her family share their lifestyle selflessly. The fabulous food, crafts, new friendships, and Highland scenery, more than met my expectations. I left the retreat feeling accomplished in my creations and inspired to do more and hoping to return! I highly recommend Wild Rose Escapes!"

Wild Rose Escapes responded:

"Thank-you Jackie! It was a pleasure to have met you and I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with us. We'd love to have you back again, Many thanks! Yours Rosie"

Roz reviewed: Introduction to Kintsugi

"We joined Pippa's Kintsugi class for a hen party activity last weekend and the whole group had a fantastic time. We were treated to hot drinks and homemade sweet treats on arrival before Pippa taught us the principles of Kintsugi, so that we could apply these to our own creations. She was a clear, patient teacher and was very supportive of the things we produced. To make the hen party even more special, Pippa's friend added some sparkle by beautifully painting our faces with intricate glittery patterns. Best of all, the bride-to-be was thrilled with the whole experience. Thank you so much Pippa!"

Christine Bulcock reviewed: Introduction to Glass Fusing with Enamels - Full Day Workshop

"A brilliant course! I had very little idea what to expect, but was thrilled by the pieces I took home at the end of the course and the process of making them. Steve is an excellent teacher. His skill, energy and enthusiasm were matched by his patience! He was there to answer all our questions, encourage, share his knowledge and where necessary ‘rescue’ things that possibly weren’t going quite to plan! All in all it was great fun and I would definitely recommend the course. Am looking forward to the next one!"

Marion Brown reviewed: Raku pottery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park near Kendal and Windermere

"The Raku course was such an enjoyable event. Two excellent days. Organisation was perfect as was the beautiful location. A lovely warm welcome from George on arrival. Chris was a fabulous, patient teacher and I made far more work than I expected even though I was a complete novice. The firing process was exciting and I loved the element of surprise as to how the glaze would turn out. Lunch and cakes by George both awesome. The barn was toasty warm and comfortable to work in. I wouldn't change a thing and would highly recommend taking this and any other course with Cowshed Creative."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for such great feedback Marion. I will pass on your comments to Chris. Look forward to seeing you again."

Sarah Wood reviewed: Stained Glass Beginners Workshop

"A great day. I had never had a go at Stained Glass before. David was an excellent instructor, and took us through each stage steadily and slowly. Would love to have another go!"

David J Lilly responded:

"Thanks for the great review"

Mary Barton reviewed: Craft Retreat at Wild Rose Escapes, Highlands, Scotland

"I have just had the most wonderful week, spent in the company of lovely people! Everything about the course was so well organised, even the weather was great! From first thing in the morning with Joanie doing yoga to a lovely leisurely breakfast and then the smashing walks and craft days to a lovely evening meal cooked by Rosie and assisted by Joanie! We really had a very memorable week! We even were visited by Rosie’s lovely children on Halloween who sang to us and told us jokes! Rosie and Joanie are the most delightful hosts, nothing is too much trouble for them, we were even provided with hot water bottles in case we were cold at night! The accommodation was lovely spacious, warm ( we had a lovely log fire each evening) and was set in beautiful grounds. I enjoyed myself so much I’ve already signed up for another course next year! Looking forward to it already!"

Wild Rose Escapes responded:

"Thank-you so much Mary! it will be so lovely to have you back again next year. Yours Rosie"

Paul Belfield reviewed: Woodworking - Beginner/Basics - two days

"Everything about this course is excellent, the workshop has a perfect ambience of a bygone era and Steve has provided tools that keep with this theme. By that I mean they are from an era where tools were made to last a lifetime rather than be used for one job and disposed of. The benches are excellent and are height adjustable which I found to be a real benefit. The course pace is perfect for a beginner life me and blends theory with practical exercises resulting in a beautiful cook book stand that takes pride of place in our kitchen. I highly recommend both Steve and this course."

Dovetail Woodworking responded:

"Hi Paul, I try to get a balance of both technical and practical into all the courses. I'm glad you are please with the end result. Steve"

David B reviewed: The bone beneath the skin at Studio 27B

"I enjoyed the course and very much appreciated Brook’s generosity of information, energy and artistic spirit. I valued being in a working studio rather than a class room and experiencing the presence of an inquiring artist."

Denise Martin reviewed: 'Art of Stained Glass' - Oldbury, Birmingham

"My (adult) daughter and i did this course together...it was such a treat and an enriching experience for us both. Jamal made us coffee and began with a summary of his personal journey as a glass artist, giving a fascinating history of the classical stained glass and glass painting profession. I hadn't anticipated a history lesson, but on reflection, it gave us interesting historical information and a meaningful context for the process we were about to learn. Jamal is a really good teacher. He explains all the tools and techniques with plenty of help in handling the tools and materials when needed. You really get to grips with the process, it is very physical and takes some strength to score the glass. Jamal was with us every step of the way and it was great to have him all to ourselves! Our finished pieces were small and (almost) perfectly formed! This course is excellent value and a solid introduction to the technique of traditional stained glass construction. I recommend it as a beautiful way to spend time with someone special. It changes the way you see stained glass thats for sure! Thankyou Jamal."

Stained Glassic responded:

"Dear Denise, Thank you very much for leaving me a positive review! Thank you again for booking your course with me. I am really glad that you have enjoyed your course!!!"

Sarah Sage reviewed: Beginner's leather accessory class

"This was a fantastic intro into leather crafting! Sonja was fantastic at guiding us through our different projects. It is amazing seeing what can be created in a couple of hours. I am looking forward developing my skills with the next class ?"

E.S. Mutasa-Gottgens reviewed: Basketry courses at SalixArts in Cambridgeshire

"I love baskets and always wanted to make one so was very pleased to secure the the remaining place on this course during the last weekend in October 2019. As a complete beginner, I went full of hope and although encouraged by Debbie's basketry skill and reputation as a great teacher, I doubted my ability to take it all in. I need not have worried and I was absolutely amazed by what I was able to achieve in just two days with expert tuition. I am now the proud owner of a very beautiful basket that is widely admired whenever I take it shopping. Not only that, the whole weekend was a complete joy. Debbie and the other students on the course were wonderful people and great company; the food and hospitality provided by Debbie during the course were fantastic. The setting at Blacksmith's cottage is indeed beautiful and tranquil. Definitely worth every penny and I cannot wait to go again with a group of friends as I now know this is also possible to arrange. So glad I went. Such a treat..."

SalixArts - Debbie Hall responded:

"Effie - you were a pleasure to teach and should be extremely proud of the lovely basket you made. I am so glad you enjoyed the course, and hope to see you here again soon."

Pauline reviewed: Machine embroidery Christmas Cards

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course and Gemma was a great teacher! I couldn’t believe how creative you could be with a sewing machine. We made some great cards and were encouraged to do our own styles. It was great working with a small group too! I recommend this course and other courses run by Gemma. Thanks Gemma for inspiring me!"

Sewing at the Button Box responded:

"Thanks for your lovely review and I love the fact that you have been inspired to do more. Well done x"

Carrie Duncalf reviewed: Printing workshops with Sally

"As a newbie to the world of lino printing, I have found the two courses that I have attended with Sally to be extremely helpful and informative. Thank you Sally for inspiring me and giving me the confidence to take up such an enjoyable hobby. I shall be looking out for further courses that Sally runs in the future, to improve my skills."

Lesley Jordan reviewed: Introduction to creative acrylics with Jan Vallance

"A thoroughly enjoyable day with a superb teacher. I have hardly ever picked up a paintbrush except for home decorating since I left school nearly 50 years ago. This day with Jan taught me so much about how acrylic paint behaves, using all manner of things for mark making and generally having fun. To top it all I went home with paintings I was proud of. I absolutely recommend taking this course, excellent value."

Iliana Hristova reviewed: Introducing winter millinery - evenings - Newcastle NE1

"I have done 3 courses with Margaret. She is a great mentor and I am very very pleased with what I achieved within an year. During the last course we created a lovely button felt hat with dahlia flower. It was completely new adventure for me. Lots of new skills and funny moments. Thank you Margaret for your help and support."

Margaret Woodliff Wright Millinery responded:

"Thank you Iliana, you are a dedicated student, with great determination and tenaciousness, and are producing lovely pieces. See you very soon at our Millinery class meet up! Margaret."

Sally-Anne reviewed: Beginner’s Soapmaking Workshop in Salisbury

"We attended Catherines soap making workshop last week and had the most informative day, learning all about soap and the process of making it, followed by Catherine making a batch - and then it was our turn! We made two batches which will be ready for Christmas pressies. Which is very exciting. I would highly recommend this day, Catherine was ready to help and answer questions and has been fantastic at answering my email questions. Thank you."

Christine reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"I have just had a day's one to one tuition with Mark - and loved every minute of it :) I have never touched anything to do with wood turning before, but had always fancied having a go at it, but it always got put to one side. However, I needed a creative art project for something else I am doing in life and thought it might be nice to combine the two and go and have a go at wood turning. Mark is an excellent teacher; show / do, show / do, show / do. Get stuck, helps and then stands back whilst you try again. At no point does he take over from what you are trying to achieve, at no point does he make you feel inadequate, in fact, quite the opposite, encouragement all the way. I shall be going back for some further tuition when I have managed to set myself up with some gear. And that is the other thing Mark does, shows you simple ways of doing things and how to enjoy it rather than running on ego and making it all complicated. He also spent some considerable time with me explaining all the tools and what they do - and sorting out a potential 'shopping list' of things needed to get me going without wasting money on stuff I don't need. I'm female - any females out there fancying a go - go and do it. I really regret not having done it sooner. Its relaxing, engrossing, fun, and you leave with a great sense of having achieved something. And going home like a child with the 'look what I made' grin on your face."

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

"What a great experience! The course exceeded my expectations and was a great blend of learning a new skill, which fused physical activity and mindfulness. Ian is a fantastic teacher and a great and very interesting bloke to spend the day with. I can't recommend this course highly enough and I'm very proud of my stool!!!"

Tracey Akehurst reviewed: The First Cut - lino cutting for beginners & rusty printmakers

"From start to finish this was just a brilliant day. Liz made us feel so welcome we felt instantly at home and relaxed. Liz is a excellent teacher, with oodles of patience and a great sense of humour. She also provided us with a steady supply of hot/cold drinks, chocolate biscuits and fruit! Her studio is a beautifully calm space with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Working in a small group (five of us) we learnt the different aspects of linocutting, practising with different surfaces and cutting tools, before going on to create our own linocut, after which we experimented with different coloured inks and papers to produce our own unique images. Liz continually guided us through the process with plenty of encouragment and suggestions. We returned home with slightly inky fingers, many prints and a huge sense of achievement. What a result! I would highly recommend coming along to this workshop. I can't wait to do some more. Many thanks for such a lovely day. I highly recommend Liz’s workshops, and I look forward to learning something new on another one."

Liz Wellby - Artist, Teacher & Maker responded:

"Hi Tracey, Thank you so much for your review; feeling slightly overwhelmed with your lovely comments! You both produced some lovely images and have nailed your Christmas cards; I hope Alain is planning a trip to the framers with his lino cut. It was lovely working with you both and would love to see you back at The Slipper Studio. Best wishes Liz Wellby."

Daniel Willimott reviewed: Introduction to Furniture Restoration at Craven Conservation

"I did a 2 day course on wood-turning. I found Bills easy teaching style pleasant and very easy to follow. One thing is clear is that Bill is passionate about all aspects of woodworking and this comes through in his teaching and methodology. I would highly recommend the wood-turning course and any other for that matter."

Sara Coutts reviewed: Introduction to copper wire and bead jewellery 1 day course

"A truly lovely day spent aboard a warm and cosy narrowboat with a fabulous welcome by Sarah & Martin. The course was great fun and Sarah is a very patient and excellent teacher, who took us through the basics for creating necklaces, earrings and pendants, and as we progressed introduced us to more complex techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed my day, which was both productive and relaxing, and a truly lovely way to spend time with friends. I was amazed at how quickly the time went and what we managed to achieve in the time. I am looking forward to the next course making Christmas Decorations."

Crafty Boaters responded:

"Thank you, glad you enjoyed the day. Looking forward to seeing you on the next course."

Andrew Glennie reviewed: Raise your own silver whisky tumbler, three day course

"This is a brilliant course that has a perfect combination of professionalism and friendliness that made it a joy to be on. I learned so much in just 3 days and the end result has had a huge amount of admiration at home! The location is perfect for travelling and accommodation. I couldn’t fault any aspect of the course and strongly recommend it."

Chrissy reviewed: Architectural homage freehand machine embroidery or drawing with thread workshop

"I attended an 'Architectural Homage Workshop' with Stacey in September of his year at The Sands Hotel, Margate. This was with my sister as a birthday present to her. It was our first freehand machine embroidery workshop (beginners!) and definitely not our last. We are booked to go again in January of next year. It was an inspiring experience, as Stacey coached us through the day and gave us the confidence to explore what we could achieve and create much more than we thought possible. There were some amazing and unique results and very happy participants. Before the day we were asked to choose and send through a photo/picture of either a very personal, special building that resonated personally with us or a public building that we have always loved. This made each piece of work even more personal and meaningful … and also meant that Stacey had much preparation beforehand to have the right range of materials available for each person in the class. The amount of pre-event preparation that Stacey did for us was outstanding and made the day even more special as we were able to be very creative with the help of her pre-prepared instructions and with the amazing array of materials/ribbons/threads that were freely available for us to use. … and because everyone had chosen a different subject, then every single one of us was working on a unique piece, copying, transferring images, using the freehand embroidery machines, selecting fabrics and threads and needing individual support and instruction on the machines. Stacey was tireless in her enthusiasm and encouragement as well as passing on her great knowledge and expertise. What a very generous person .... and we loved it. Such a fun day ….. all helped by a great venue at The Sands and a fabulous view of the sea as we worked! I would definitely recommend anyone, beginners and experts, to join one of Stacey’s workshops."