Latest reviews

Sam Downer reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Lucy is a wonderful teacher, a highly skilled and creative stone carver and an all round inspiring person. She taught me to stone carve from scratch on a three day course. I now enjoy stone carving at home and I look forward to booking onto another course soon."

Jonathan reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Though reasonably experienced in stone carving I felt that I needed a boost and the excellent weekend course I had with Lucy in Cambridge did just that. I learnt some new techniques and polished up on what I knew, and, at the end I felt more confident in what I do. As a result I have started exhibiting in local art shows and have become more adventurous in subject and stone that I use. I would recommend Lucy's courses to anyone and I am intending to take advantage of her York courses next year. It will be a long drive for me to York but it will be definitely worth it!"

Michael Hargreave Mawson reviewed: Lucy Churchill's Stone Carving Workshops

"Lucy is not only a highly talented artist and a skilled carver in her own right, she is also a gifted teacher. Because of the small class sizes, this is the perfect course for anyone, whatever their artistic background and experience - or, as in my case, lack of either. The hours fly by, but the skills learnt last forever. I cannot recommend this course, and its tutor, too highly. (The food is rather wonderful, too!)"

Liz reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"Spend wonderful day making prototype with Ed !!!! Thank you for your great expertise and guidance!!!! I will be back ... and highly recommend to anyone who works with plaster !!!!!"

Keith Davie reviewed: Blacksmithing Beginners day courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"What a great day! Andy and Adrian were great at sharing knowledge, providing useful tips and helping out us novices in a supportive and helpful way. There's so much to learn and this course was an excellent introduction. Debbie provided great snacks, refreshing tea and a wholesome delicious lunch. I'd thoroughly recommend the day for anyone wanting to learn a bit about blacksmithing or wanting to take it further. Be careful - it could become addictive."

Alan Scully reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I managed to get onto Ade's two day bowl turning course at the second attempt at Woodland Pioneers so knew to expect a high level of preparedness in terms of tools and equipment. Ade is a skilled and experienced teacher, differentiates extremely well between experienced and less skilled attendees and at no point made any one feel that their questions or concerns had no value. He is extremely knowledgable and skilled yet manages to make one feel as though such skills are attainable by all. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring course and I look forward making more bowls with and without Ade in the future"

Diarmuid Synnott reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Ade's teaching was top notch. Very personable and constantly moving roind the grouo. Spending time with those who needed it most and knwing when to come to our aid and guide us. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and the whole experience has helped find a better understanding of bowl turning. Thanks Ade."

Mark plets reviewed: Rustic thumb walking stick

"Really enjoyed this course. Relaxed atmosphere and supportive staff made this a very enjoyable day."

wendy hayes reviewed: Needle felting workshop - Create your own woodland creature

"a very pleasant day spent learning needle felting. Denise is a very patient tutor. very pleased with my Hare which i have named Hartley. it was a fun day and a lovely experience. i would definitely recommend this course."

Crafty Gal responded:

"Thank you Wendy! I'm so pleased you enjoyed your day and delighted that you're spreading the word to all those potential needle felters you work with! Much appreciated, Dx"

Andy Clarke reviewed: Green woodworking and nature connection in the Malvern Hills

"A wonderful weekend in the woods, characterized by the generosity of spirit of Tom and his crew. Technical know-how and equipment provision second-to-none, in a beautiful location, delivered in a way that enables you to access the spirit of the woodland crafts..."

Jane reviewed: Box making weekend in Cumbria

"I came on the course hoping to get some experience with woodworking machinery. I left with lots of ideas and a beautiful box I made myself. The atmosphere was relaxing from the cameraderie of my fellow students to the patience of the instructor; a thoroughly fulfilling way to pass a weekend."

Baz Allin reviewed: Two day stained glass workshop - lead panels or garden sculpture

"My first course with Gigha, and won't be my last. Excellent (and patient) tuition, with a friendly group of people The workshop was well provided with the tools and materials needed. Tasty lunch both days. Many thanks :-)"

Ella Boyce reviewed: Needle felted Valentines workshop with 2 Inspire You

"What a fabulous workshop! Rachel and Rhiannon were knowledgable, highly skilled and able to clearly teach, guide, help and support with this craft throughout the day. I felt as if I had learned so much and at the end of the day went home with a very nearly completed piece of art work which I keenly went on to finish the next day. The range of resources provided was excellent and it was especially inspiring to see examples of their own work. Feel as if I have found a craft that I want to keep on doing. Loved it and would definitely recommend!! Hoping to come again soon. Thank you so much"

2 Inspire You responded:

"Hi Ella, Thank you so much for the kind words. Please send me a photo of your finished piece if you get the chance I would love to see it. I did say it was dangerously addictive but so rewarding. We hope to see you back with us soon and see what we create next time. Happy felting Rach"

Paul May reviewed: Rustic thumb walking stick

"Relaxed style of learning promoted by Dave. Excellent. The joints we made are not traditional but pegged with steel pin. I was happy with this as my skills, I am sure, wouldn't have run to making pegs/dowels etc. I messed up with stick straightening but Dave rescued me by giving me a spare. Instruction and examples were very clear. Dave did some of this himself eg drilling holes for the pins. It is good that we left with a finished stick and a choice of what t o do if we want to do more work on it. Lovely location and workspace - plus emergency room if we needed to shelter. Tea/coffee and biscuits available all day - excellent. I enjoyed the day and didn't find it too challenging ( which I was happy about as really I am a bit of a bodger! )"

Martin Smith reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"I recently took a one day,1 to 1, introduction to wood turning given by Mark. To say that I was a novice in wood turning is an understatement as I have no experience of working wood since I was at school a long while ago. Mark showed me around the workshop explaining what the various tools and machines were used for. He took time to advise on the minimal tools and type of lathe to get should I wish to pursue wood turning as well as websites where these can be purchased for a reasonable outlay. For the rest of the day he showed me the various steps required in turning a bowl. After demonstrating each step and watching me my attempt, he left me alone to complete the task whilst he worked elsewhere. This approach, rather than standing over and watching me, took the pressure off me although he often could hear when I did something wrong and return to put me right. They say you learn by your mistakes and I possibly made most you could. Mark however appears to have the patience of a saint and merely showed me what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. All in all a very interesting and enjoyable day. Mark is incredibly talented and knowledgeable, and indeed a nice guy, and I would recommend him for tuition at all abilities."

carly lee reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"Wonderful day! Mark was a fantastic teacher... funny, patient and clearly had a wealth of expertise. I thoroughly enjoyed the 1 day course I took and left feeling very enthused and so proud of myself for the wooden stool I had produced. I was very impressed by the way that Mark gave help when needed but also allowed me to 'have a go' for myself- it made me feel like I really was capable of woodturning and not just being spoon fed the instructions. Highly recommend to anyone!"

Nick Stanley reviewed: Knife Making and Bladesmith Classes: Hand-Forged Viking Knife

"We spent a day as a family & complete novices at Anvil Forge. My wife & teenage daughters were nervous when they arrived but Spencer was patient & encouraging. Two to one tuition with Steve as the second instructor - now there is a man who is passionate about his knives. Girls can't wait to go again & make a dragon. Thoroughly worth the drive down from Macclesfield."

Karen reviewed: Introduction to silk painting - workshop at The Mulberry Shed

"Our second course with sheila and immense fun. I have zero artistic skills but it doesn’t matter you can still create a fabulous piece. Mum and I choose to do scarves each time and with sheila’s clear instructions and infinite patience we had beautiful objects at the end of the day. The course is fabulous value for money and both Mum and I would 100% recommend giving it a go even if ,like me, you are not an artist at all."

Carol Doyle reviewed: Needle felting workshop - Create your own woodland creature

"Wow what a day in lovely surroundings, Denise was a great instructor and the results we had were fantastic. Will definitely be taking up this craft and will be looking to book further courses with Denise in the future."

Crafty Gal responded:

"Thank you Carol for such a lovely review, so pleased you want to go more! Have fun and hopefully see you soon. x"

Yvonne Kerry reviewed: Weekend upholstery courses - Oxfordshire & Berkshire Borders

"This was an absolutely brilliant course! I had a wonderful 2 days. I had chosen to upholster a little round-seated bedroom chair which apparently is quite ambitious for a first go! Philip's relaxed and easy style makes you feel that you can achieve, even as a beginner and I got a good way into my project. Philip will nurture, encourage and suggest, so you never feel that you have got anything wrong. I enjoyed the weekend so much I am booking again to finish the chair and to start on another project. Even though not every moment of the 2 days was spent on my own project, watching and learning from the other students' projects and Philip's own experience and explanations was incredibly useful and will stand me in good stead for projects I may tackle on my own. Philip was very good at managing his time evenly between the class (9 people) so that we could all progress. My group was all ladies so don't be intimidated if you are thinking it's a male-dominated thing! The venue was very good. Everyone has plenty of room to work, even on larger pieces and all the tools you need are provided. My project involved some sewing so I took along my own machine. I certainly learnt a lot and I'm really looking forward to the next course!"

Ian Hydes reviewed: Willow Ethical Trophy Stag Head sculpture course with Joe Gregory at Creative with Nature Todmorden, West Yorkshire

"Did a willow weaving course with Joe, it was excellent and I walked home with a 3 foot tall Heron who now guards over the stream at the bottom of our garden :D It was a great experience and she was a smashing teacher"

Creative with Nature Ltd responded:

"Thanks Ian!! Glad you had a good day: ) JOe. xx"

Murie Ronald reviewed: Foraged Basket 2 day Course

"A fabulous course . Joe has great knowledge which she delights in sharing. Great to finish the day with a basket of ones own."

Creative with Nature Ltd responded:

"thank you Murie: ) xxx"

Fiona Thomas reviewed: Needle felted Valentines workshop with 2 Inspire You

"A lovely day! I learned lots in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, took home a piece of art that can be hung on the wall and am inspired to continue this learning journey at home and on future courses. I would definitely recommend Rachel and the needle felt course. Three of us went together and we all thoroughly enjoyed it!"

2 Inspire You responded:

"Hi Fiona, Thank you so much for such a lovely review! I look forward to seeing more of your work and to having you join me again. It was a lovely relaxed day and all the pieces looked amazing. I hope your other friends may come and join in with you as well. Rach"

Pam Vickers reviewed: Mosaic and Glass Art 2 day Course

"Billiant weekend with Maggie and three other lovely ladies. Good company and a great inspirational teacher. Feeling very pleased with myself after producing my first of what I am sure will be many 'rubbish' mosaics. Added bonus - my family are impressed with the result too! Thanks for the opportunity to find a very relaxing and satisfying new craft."

ANNA WARREN reviewed: Upholstery and upcycling furniture and interiors

"I had the most enjoyable day with like-minded people. Lucy Renshaw is the most lovely person you could meet! So sociable, friendly and talented. It was a wonderful environment to be in. Working in such a small group, Lucy was able to give us her undivided attention at all times. Hoping to do another project soon."