Latest reviews

Sue Pryde reviewed: Drum Lampshade making at ShedLight

"Excellent instruction and some lovely fabrics to choose from. Even my hubby was impressed with the end result which is a great accolade :) Thank you Vanessa; I may well be back with a friend :)"

ShedLight responded:

"Thank you Sue, we did have a fun morning and it was lovely to meet you! Hope to see you soon Vanessa :)"

Dan reviewed: Blacksmithing - one to one - Hammer Skills

"My wife and I spent a wonderful afternoon in the tutelage of Bob, where we learned the basics of using the fire hammer and anvil to shape metal in different ways. Bob's experience makes it an absolute pleasure to watch and learn from and his helpful manner made us feel welcome and confident as we made hard work of what he showed effortlessly. It was thoroughly enjoyable and really interesting as an intro in to something we had never tried before."

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

"We had 2 days mould making course with Ed. We are currently studying ceramic design degree course in London. We transferred to this course so we don’t have enough knowledge about mould making so we wanted to learn more skills about mould making during the weekend. It was very helpful and the most brilliant time. Ed taught us the process of mould making very clearly from how to make template to how to make model and mould. We were able to turn four models and made moulds in 2 days. He assisted us and support in every steps of mould making and he is a patient,fun and very gentle teacher :)) We would highly recommend him for mould making needs. we will visit Ed again in the future!~"

Janet Kolver reviewed: Candlemaking for Beginners

"What an informative and enjoyable course. I had never made a candle before and was taken step by step through each process of paraffin wax candles, soya, beeswax, dipping, coloured & scented candles. Plenty of time to creative your own candles. Thank you Rob, for sharing your knowledge."

Sarah Lynch reviewed: Gelli Plate Printing Workshop by Clare Cosens

"Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent course. Clare made us feel very welcome and relaxed from the start, as neither of us had ever tried this exciting printing technique. She is a very capable teacher, didn't feel intimidated once. We created quite a few prints, and left feeling really inspired, and keen to do more. Definitely worth the money, with refreshments and all materials included."

Calum Fenegan reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Mort is a great teacher, very patient and very knowledgeable. I had several ideas for my piece at the beginning of the day and Mort encouraged me to challenge myself. First off I made a small practice piece and after that I was put onto a harder steel to create the final object. All in all a great day, I would highly recommend Mort and his forge to anyone thinking of trying blacksmithing."

Karen Anderson reviewed: 1 Stone setting ring beginner course

"I had a fantastic day creating my ring, Sarah is very welcoming and I felt at ease straight away. Very good tuition, easy to pick up the skills needed. I will definitely be back for more at some point! Thank you Sarah x"

Nicci Smith reviewed: Mosaic one day workshop for adults with Caroline Jariwala, Birmingham

"Lovely day full of inspiration! Caroline’s passion and talent shines through in her teaching. Great workshop whatever level you’re at :-)"

chris storey reviewed: Blacksmithing Beginners day courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"I would like to thank Adrian and Debbie for a fantastic day at the forge,the day was bought for me by my daughters for my birthday,the content and delivery of the tuition in my opinion was faultless the lunch and refreshments was first class and I came away feeling like a blacksmith even though that is some way off can't wait to go back."

Jeremy Rosie reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What a great experience. It is genuinely fascinating to see a craftsman at work and Mort was a great teacher. He is patient and helpful. I had come with a very basic design in mind and he encouraged me to consider other ideas. In the end I came away with something I'm really pleased with, a candle holder with several spirals in its design. I was a little apprehensive to start but Mort creates a really relaxed and fun atmosphere. He is also well versed in history so we had some good conversations. I will have to make a return visit to Hampton Court to look at the Jean Tijou ironwork. The day whizzed by but was very rewarding. Note: the forge is in a lovely but not easy to find location. If you use GPS, follow Mort's instructions. Simply set it for Withyham Church and keep straight on past the church until you turn right at the cattle grid. Don't use the post code."

Adriana reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving

"We had great fun with Alice and are really proud of our little woven designs!"

Sue reviewed: Fused Glass Workshops in Tavistock Devon

"It was a lovely day learning about glass and the methods which we could use to cut the glass and make our designs. Wendy was incredibly patient taking us feom basics. We were given opportunity to let our creative juices flow by either following designs already laid out in pictures or come up with something entirely unique. The day went so fast but was thoroughly enjoyable. Very relaxing and supportive."

Andy Hutchinson reviewed: Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

"I am in my mid 60’s and I came to this course with reasonable practical skills, but with no experience of any green woodworking or carpentry of any sort. I was using tools I didn’t previously know the names of very quickly and was using those to produce something functional straight away so there was a sense of business, productivity and learning, throughout the two days, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The tuition from Andy was very good and individually focussed. The setting of the course is stunning and the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. The course is excellent value. I produced a shave horse in the two days which may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing piece produced, but I was proud of making it and it may represent the start of a new interest. I would certainly consider another course here and would recommend this particular version to anyone with an interest, whatever their previous experience."

Martin Saint reviewed: Traditional Saddle Stitching with Armitage Leather

"Having completed a day under Nigel’s tutelage, what can I say but Nigel is a rare man. A master craftsmen who is passionate about his craft and has an incredible ability to pass on his years of experience in such a manner that you don’t feel like you are being taught, but the amount of information you absorb and the practical experience you gain is outstanding. An excellent course and I have no doubt I will be booking another."

Emma Wheeler reviewed: Etching with Liam Biswell

"Had a brilliant time on the course, Liam is a great teacher and explained everything really well. We all had a go at drypoint and photopolymer etching. The Phoenix studio is well equipped and a really lovely relaxed environment. It was great fun and I came away with 20 or so decent prints which I really enjoyed producing. Shame it was only 2 days really as I didn't want to go home....I think everyone else really enjoyed it too. Can't wait to come back again!"

Wendy Hayes reviewed: Silver clay 2 day course for beginners - Lori Ridgway

"This was an excellent course, ideal for the novice. Lori is an superb and very patient teacher and the other ladies in the group made the whole experience perfect. I would highly recommend to anyone to take this course. I am over the moon with all my pieces of jewellery I made. Thank you Lori."

Denise Smith reviewed: Gelli Plate Printing Workshop by Clare Cosens

"Had a great time on this workshop today. Had no idea what Gelli Plate Printing would entail, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Clare explained everything very clearly and made every one feel at ease and comfortable in her lovely workshop. All material was provided and Clare was on hand for those needing extra help and ideas. I came away having learnt a new skill and have every intention of booking another as I enjoyed it so much. I would highly recommend this workshop for anyone crafty or creative- Clare has excellent teaching skills and was very encouraging throughout. Mixed media course has to be a follow up for me too. Had a superb time, thank you Clare"

Sheena Dunderdale reviewed: Landscapes in Fleece

"What a lovely afternoon spent with Sally Anne today. With her expert help and knowledge I made a wreath which I was able to decorate afterwards with the wonderful array of beautiful dried grasses. Thank you Sally Anne for your excellent teaching in your welcoming cosy cottage. I will be definitely be back for the basket course. Relaxing, fun and inspiring. Thank you Sheena"

daisy reviewed: Sculptural willow weaving - Animals

"Amazing workshop. Stephen was so friendly and helpful and I think its the best course I have done! Really enjoyed working with a new material and making my designs come to life. I would recommend it to everyone. Thank you"

Wilson Irving reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"This course held as part of coppice association north west weekend in the woods was an excellent introduction to bowl turning on a pole lathe. Adrian clearly explained the bowl making process from lathe construction to timber selection through blank preparation to the turning of my first bowl and then a second. I was amazed at what could be achieved with two relatively simple tools and leg power. I came away a with a sound base to allow me to develop my turning skills further. Adrian is a master at his craft and enthuses his pupils with his clear passion for green wood working."

Andy reviewed: Two day leather work course - bag making

"Sitting in a mill on the side of the Pennines - what a way to miss the hottest Bank Holiday for many years!! But it was definitely worth it :) Jason is an excellent and knowledgeable tutor with great support provided by Louise. Their enthusiasm is infectious. The workshop itself is well thought out with plenty of time to ensure everyone can work at their own pace to create a lovely final product without feeling rushed or pressured. Highly recommended !!!"

Jenny Cowin reviewed: One day silver pendant and earring workshop

"Really enjoyable day. I made a pair of earrings and a pendant and came away really pleased with the results. Jolene was great and very patient. The time flew! Would very much recommend"

Asma Haslam reviewed: Full day mosaic workshop for beginners - Meriden, West Midlands

"This was an all day mosaic course and absolutely fantastic. Anne was very good at guiding, suggesting and helping us with our mosaics. I chose a flowerpot to work on and Anne patiently advised on suitable materials as well as the relevant tools and the techniques throughout the course of the day to create a beautiful mosaic. The day included lunch which was signficantly better than a standard lunch and was well worth the break. Anne also served endless tea. Definitely worth it"

Liz Atter reviewed: Needlefelt Foxes at Chapter Arts, Cardiff

"Another amazing 6 hour course with positive and encouraging tuition from Emma. My husband actually gasped and let out a 'wow' when he saw my beautiful fox. This is my third course with Emma and I can see progress and improvement after each one."

Shelley reviewed: Belfast beginners crochet courses

"Leah attended a Kids workshop with Emma and Phoebe. She absolutely loved it and came home with her very own creation. Will definitely be back!!"