Latest reviews

Wendy Winter reviewed: Fairy house workshop - fabric sculpting by Curiously Contrary

"Fantastic workshop with highly talented artist and tutor Abigail Lagden. Great quality materials and help at all times where needed. I bought one of the starter kits and may now be addicted to powertex! Lots of fun and you get to be creative, switch off and have a timeout from everyday stresses x"

Tracey Parsons reviewed: One day silver jewellery making in Worcestershire.

"I went with 2 friends on Saturday and to say we had a good time is an understatement , we had an amazing time. Jonathan started us working with copper wire , making chains and jump rings , which ended up for me being turned into a bracelet and key ring. Whilst having tea and cake we chose what we wanted to make , all of us choosing different things. This wasn't a problem for Jonathan and he helped us all, guiding us to our beautiful finished jewellery . A wonderful way to spend the day learning a new skill thank you Jonathan Tracey"

Salt Way Silver responded:

"Dear Tracey, Claude and Karen - it was a great day, I relished the challenge too! Hoping you are enjoying your jewellery and I wish you good luck in your future jewellery making. Many thanks for your very kind words Jonathan"

Andy Malkin reviewed: Make a rustic four-legged jointed table - a two day course

"On the course you have a chance to try all the skills necessary to make a table from greenwood. Help is always on hand, and the instructor and helpers were very knowledgeable. A very enjoyable course."

Lynn Stephens reviewed: Leather long stitch journal / artist's book (beginners)

"A very enjoyable day, well structured - Lynne explained each stage clearly and was patient if any process required further instruction. I look forward to attending further workshops run by Lynne and based on this day would recommend to anyone."

Jayne Gilligan reviewed: Weave a scarf in a day - handloom weaving

"A wonderful day. Anne was a patient tutor who's advice was delivered clearly, calmly and instilled confidence in all the class. A nice size class enabled us all to receive one to one guidance as and when necessary. I was worried that I would never weave a scarf in a day but I did and never felt under any pressure. So proud of the scarf I produced. Would definitely recommend to others."

Edd reviewed: Make a rustic four-legged jointed table - a two day course

"Really enjoyed this course and am very happy with my table. The teacher and assistants were excellent and very knowledgeable."

Sue reviewed: Organic bread for beginners with Cate Wetherall

"The class is held in a stunning location in Oxfordshire, in Cate's fantastic modern kitchen, I attended this class to learn the art of making beautiful organic bread, the good old fashioned way, without the need for mixers or bread maker. We made our own pizza bases with toppings and enjoyed eating these for our lunch. We could choose which type of bread we wanted to make and how we wanted to shape into rolls or loaves, everything was supplied for us, we just had to take ourselves on the day! A small group so was easy to ask questions and get advice I recommend this workshop if you want to learn how to make bread in a relaxed informal atmosphere... Great fun!"

Ian Harris reviewed: Conscious Interior Decor; For holistic living

"I really enjoyed this course. We researched the work of a few designers and really liked Lucy's work and the number of participants on the day meant that we had a good interaction with Lucy. The setting was delightful and Lucy was happy to show us her home which meant we saw some very inspiring ideas. I am used to doing the design and building work and then abdicating all responsibility for the interiors to my wife. I now feel more informed and have started a journey of learning about colour and pattern along with the use and layout of spaces. My wife and I will work together to develop our home and I will be happier to be more involved in what I have always seen as difficult decisions. Having attended this course we will almost certainly be considering more adventurous interior schemes than we might have been scared of before. I also occasionally draw up plans for people and believe that I can add value to my work with some of the work that Lucy showed us in this introductory workshop. Ian"

Liz Harris reviewed: Conscious Interior Decor; For holistic living

"This was a brilliant day which I know my husband and I will continue to use and reflect upon. I researched several similar courses and opted for Lucy's as she has small groups (ours was great fun) and I liked what she wrote about the day. We were not disappointed and were really pleased to have attended together: we learned about colour theory and used paints to test out our understanding; we considered colour and texture, height and layering; and we had plenty of groupwork and practical activities to ensure we understood what Lucy had taught us. The result of just this one day is that we look at colour with a greater understanding of its role, and we feel able to plan our colours with more confidence as we decorate our extension and renovations. We were able to discuss some of our ideas and questions with Lucy and were helped with fantastic suggestions and ideas that we want to use as soon as the building work is done! Lovely food, engaging and warm teaching, a beautiful location and a great group all contributed to a memorable day."

Melanie Taylor reviewed: Upholstery and soft furnishings 2 day course

"I regularly travel for 1.5 hours each way to attend Angie's courses, which is testament to how much I enjoy her classes! I found Peak Upholstery one of the few places to offer a course where students are able to bring along any project. I've always attended alongside lovely people, and learned so much from Angie and from the other students' work. Thoroughly enjoyable, I cannot recommend this course highly enough!"

Melanie Taylor reviewed: Three day course in upholstery and soft furnishings

"I attended a long weekend course with Angie a few years ago and have been hooked on upholstery ever since! I upholstered a child's wing-back chair over the four days, learning a multitude of skills and techniques, covering both traditional and modern upholstery. I was thrilled with the finished item. I took away a lot of knowledge as the basis for taking on lots more projects. As well as feeling welcomed into Angie's home (which is beautiful) and being provided with amazing home-cooked biscuits, cakes and meals, I also enjoyed seeing and learning from the projects that the other students worked on. I'm now a regular on Angie's weekly courses!"

Karen Foulkes reviewed: Leather long stitch journal / artist's book (beginners)

"A very rewarding day. lynne is an excellent teacher. Putting you at ease with her gentle, clear and concise manner. Giving encouragement and help along the way. At the end of the day you have two beautiful books you can be proud of, and enough skills to go home and try again."

Chris Lydon reviewed: Feltmaking OOH the choices!

"Thank you so much Barbara for such an excellent course. It was extremely good of you to run the course just for me when the others dropped out - I really appreciated that. I thoroughly enjoyed the day - I started as a complete novice, feel I learned tons and actually left with a superb scarf that I am very proud of and shall definitely use! Following your excellent introduction to felting I have already ordered myself some supplies and am determined to experiment more with this fascinating craft. You not only explained how to felt but also gave me an insight into why.... Thank you very much again!"

Ahmed AlMusajen reviewed: Furniture making course: Fundamentals of Furniture Making Part 2 (beginner) - Surrey

"I have attended two of Aidan's course and benefited indeed from both. Aidan is an excellent tutor that can adjust to all skill levels from advanced to beginners. He paid close attention to each individual in his class and gave us all the space to explore further items and techniques that interested us while providing us with professional guidance. I flew from Bahrain to attend his courses and will surely do that again if I had the opportunity. I would recommend his selection of courses for both the beginners and the professionals."

Cecilia reviewed: Make your very own Tote bag

"An absolutely fantastic course!! I am so pleased with my bag!! I will come back for more courses. This is my 2nd course with Richard and he is a brilliant teacher. I would highly recommend this tote bag class!"

Liam bartlett reviewed: Beginners Pottery Day Course

"Had a fantastic half day with Matthew, excellent teacher, really friendly, helpful and most of all patient. Neither me nor my mum had been near a potters wheel before yet we managed to throw and shape 8 devent bowls/jugs each !! All thanks to Matthews's amazing guidance. Highly reccommend this to anyone, such a great day, challenging but really fun. I definitely plan on trying the next course. Thanks for a cracking day Matthew."

Debbie Laing reviewed: Tambour beading: a haute couture technique

"Really enjoyable and Audrey was a lovely, well prepared tutor, inspirational and talented. Lovely day and an appreciation of basic techniques to build on. Thank you."

Sharon Bushby reviewed: Fairy house workshop - fabric sculpting by Curiously Contrary

"What a great day, totally enjoyed it. Great teacher made everything easy to understand. Was really impressed with learning how to use powertex its really inspired me. I purchased a pack and have already started on my next project. Brilliant for anyone looking into a new hobby. Thanks again for a fantastic experience."

junia harker reviewed: Fairy house workshop - fabric sculpting by Curiously Contrary

"enjoyed a lovely day very good tutor and venue and came home with a lovely fairy house------just the job"

Nic Crotch reviewed: Glass blowing for beginners

"Very good tutor and pace fast enough to achieve good results. Will be looking at attending other courses."

Kitten Von Mew reviewed: Needle felting workshop - Create your own woodland creature

"I was lucky enough to score a 1-1 tutorial at Bonds near Stratford upon Avon. Immediately I felt at ease and was shown the tools, had an explanation of the different wools and had chosen my animal (a hare). I was amazed at how much work goes into these little characters, but although the body took quite a while to felt down, we chatted, had s cup of tea and the time flew by. I managed to get sooo much character into Walter (my hare) and he suddenly had a personality and style to boot. Lunch was from Bonds' cafe, with s choice of sandwiches and drinks. Later we had cake too! I cannot recommend the Crafty Gal workshop enough. Informative, relaxed, fun and addictive!"

Crafty Gal responded:

"Thank you so much for such a fantastic review Kitten, it was a fun day and your hare is So stylish - I'm looking forward to seeing you later this week to make the brooch. Denise x"

Kathy McGowan reviewed: Kate Morrell willow sculpture courses

"I booked this course as willow weaving is something I've always wanted to try. Unfortunately after booking the course I had a sudden bereavement so had to change the date. Kate was so wonderful and understanding about the whole situation. I attended the course in June 2018 and couldn't have received a better welcome. What a wonderful lady. The 'companions' for the day were fabulous too - Bertie and Fluffy the cats plus Boris the dog and not forgetting the lovely hens too! Kate has a beautiful cottage and the setting in the garden is wonderful. I made a much larger sculpture than anticipated (a hare) and was very pleased with the finished result! Kate was most patient with all of us and added on an extra 2 hours at the end of the day to ensure we all completed our projects at no extra cost! Kate and her husband Dave supplied a lovely light lunch and chocolate cake too! Yum! She also supplied numerous cups of tea as required throughout the day. I highly recommend this course and this wonderful lady. Don't hesitate to book!"

Margaret Price reviewed: Glass Fusing for beginners

"Brilliant day! Pleasant company, excellent tuition and as an absolute beginner I came away with 2 pieces that look really good. We had a lovely lunch and plenty of tea! The choice of items to make suited everyone and the results were fantastic. It was well worth the trip from Kent to Devon. I shall definitely be attending further workshops."

Margaret Lock reviewed: Blacksmithing, bladesmithing and metal craft

"just come back from a 2 day courses with Nigel, found him to be a really good teacher. I enjoyed every bit of it, made some great bulrushes ,and other things. I stopped in one of the shepherds huts, very clean and comfy. I would not hesitate in recommending this courses"

Matt reviewed: Furniture making course: Fundamentals of Furniture Making Part 1 (beginner)

"I can’t rate this course highly enough for anyone, like me, who is looking to get into woodworking but needs to get to grips with the basics first. Aidan is very knowledgable, patient and also exacting - I wouldn’t have thought I’d be working to within 0.1mm after a few hours - and has an obvious passion for his craft. I’ll be back for the next course as soon as I have the time."