Latest reviews

Louise Rayner reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"A fantastic informative and fun day. Jo was fab, really friendly and helpful. We made a selection of different size candles in 5 different fragrances and were both amazed at the amount we got to take home with us! I would highly recommend."

Mike B reviewed: Glass blowing for beginners with Jon Lewis

"This was a really fantastic course! Jon is a really excellent teacher, inspiring and encouraging us to experience every part of the art of glassblowing, from the initial gather to intricately shaping and decorating our glass. With his help we were able to make some lovely marbles, a paperweight, baubles and a vessel. He even stepped in lightning-speed and saved my vessel when I was about to lose it to the floor! Jon really makes you consider and appreciate the process, and made sure we put a lot of thought and time into every piece we made. Resultantly, everything we made felt incredibly personal, and has given us a great insight into the medium of glass and inspiration to find out and try more! Overall - a really helpful, patient and down to earth teacher with loads of experience to share and guide you through this great course. Couldn't recommend more :)"

Carrie & Mark reviewed: Pottery wheel throwing and hand building full day

"Thank you Richard for a brilliant day. A really thorough course with plenty of excellent tuition and guidance. Learning about the two pottery methods (hand building and throwing) and getting the chance to get 'hands on' and creative finished the day off nicely. Even as beginners we even managed to sculpt a Mediterranean thingy and a salt pig! Thanks pal ;o) !"

Potterydayz responded:

"Lovely to meet you both and to spend time potting with you. Thank you for the review it is very much appreciated. Your work is due to be fired this week so I will be in contact very soon so that we can arrange a time for you to pop in to get creative with the glazing. Look forward to it. Richard"

Rosie Svardal reviewed: Stained Glass Weekend for Beginners

"As a taster, this condensed w/end course was very good. Jude was ever helpful, informing & patient - allowing us as long as it took to complete a generous sized product. I have already spread the word! Suggestion, if I may: The template provided was for the uninitiated to gain experience & learn technique - perhaps an abstract option of similar level could also be considered(?)"

Jude Stark Studio at The London Stained Glass Co. responded:

"Hi Rosie, Thanks for the good review and I'll take your suggestion on board. Best wishes, Jude"

Pauline Galbraith reviewed: Free-machine Embroidery Workshop with Dawn Ireland

"I thoroughly enjoyed Dawn's workshop. It was exactly what I was hoping for. I was a total beginner, although I had done some ordinary sewing. Dawn was very encouraging and I definitely came away inspired to buy the bits I need and try to develop my skills. Dawn had lots of examples of work to give us ideas and a fantastic amount of máterials. She made the day very pleasant, providing us with several hot drinks and some delicious home-made cake! I hope to do a second day in a few months time."

Emma Fitzgerald reviewed: Stone carving in mid Cornwall

"Brilliant! My mum and I had such a lovely day at the stone carving workshop. The excellent tutor Peter is so skilled and has a wonderful way of teaching, he explained everything in such a calm and interesting way. Loved learning about this beautiful craft in the perfect, peaceful setting at the red stores Lerryn. Oh and what a fabulous lunch- yummy spread and delicious homemade soup and chutney! Everything is so well planned and thought about I highly recommend this course great hands on experience!!"

Nicola Taylor reviewed: Bespoke candle making workshop - Edinburgh

"Loved this workshop. Fun, friendly, relaxed environment and Kerry is a great host and teacher. There was a good range of scents to choose from and the finished candles looked very professional and smelt amazing. Also tea/coffee and home baking provided which was lovely. I would highly recommend it."

Chris Douglas reviewed: Learn to carve wooden spoons, beginners and improvers

"A thoroughly enjoyable and educational day. Dave delivered a first class course with excellent and well explained briefings and demonstrations covering knife and axe safety, axe and knife holds and cuts, sharpening plus much more all in a single day, without it ever feeling rushed. We were all able to produce a spreader and kitchen spoon from beautiful green wood despite any previous knowledge. The setting was amazing for such a course and we were kept well fed and watered with tea, coffee and some wonderful flapjack. Thoroughly recommended"

Niamh reviewed: Piano Lessons

"Laura is very enthusiastic and jolly during our lessons. She is very supportive and gives great constructive criticism which is helping me improve more. I would certainly recommend her to anyone I know wishing to learn piano."

Hannah Shafran reviewed: Stained Glass Weekend for Beginners

"I loved this course! I wasn't expecting to come away with such a complex piece of work, and was thrilled at how much time Jude spent with us. She is a patient and thorough teacher, and the two days passed by in a flash."

James Gardener reviewed: Intermediate woodworking course

"This course is a truly excellent experience. Ciaran manages to combine charm, blarney, skill, patience and creativity in ways that draw out the best in every participant. It is very seldom that one meets such a gifted craftsperson who is also an intuitive teacher. Thank you to his long suffering wife for lending him to us!"

Ewan Preston reviewed: Stonecarving Weekend, Gloucestershire Cotswolds

"Well what a great weekend. Think I've found a new hobby. Great people on the course with an excellent instructor. Sebastian gives enough guidance to enable your hidden artist to emerge and release your full potential. I can totally recommend this weekend."

Nicki W reviewed: Photography Days

"What a great course! It's hard to call it a course, more of a day's experience. Richard and Sue spend a day completely tailored to your current understanding and experience of photography, and take you on from there. Their understanding, enthusiasm and joy of photography is obvious. They very adeptly explained what all those buttons and twisty bits on the camera do, and managed to get me using most of them. Practical sessions in the studio and on the shores of Ullswater help to reinforce the capabilities of a DSLR camera. They also give you a simple to read summary of the basics to take home - just in case...."

Natasha Hall reviewed: Furniture Painting Workshop in the Cotswolds

"We booked a group of four on the furniture painting workshop. They all found the course extremely well presented and very helpful. Different learning styles and levels of competence were taken account of. They found that the pace of the course kept them interested and the day went very quickly. I know that they appreciated the patience that was shown them. It was a bonus that they came away with a piece of furniture that they had painted themselves. Overall this course has really motivated them to try their new skills and they are looking forwarding to putting their new skills into practice. They also thought the food provided was delicious."

Needle felted hare and bear reviewed: Needle felted puffin

"The course was well organised and resourced with good tutors. Help was always at hand and kindly given. So great to begin learn a new skill. The venue was a good choice with free parking so close by. I look forward to being part of future courses"

2 Inspire You responded:

"many thanks, we are glad to have got you off to a great start on your journey into felting! We look forward to seeing you again soon."

Natalie reviewed: Beginners introductory pyrography course in Lincolnshire

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. It was excellent for a complete beginner like me. I learnt so much and I am now eager to buy my own pyrography machine and start creating! Susan was very knowledgeable and encouraging. A big thank you! Natalie"

Lesley Evans reviewed: Hedgerow basketmaking holiday

"An excellent course tailored to two levels of ability: beginners and those with previous experience. The tutor ‘s instructions and demonstrations were clear and repeated for each student as required individually. Everyone took home a completed basket, each one individual in materials, details and design."

Anne & Baptiste reviewed: Full day leather craft workshop

"I bought this course as a Xmas gift for my husband. We both attended and we had a really great day. Rosanna is a really good teacher telling us about the different types of leather, basic material required, hand stitching and machine sewing method, where to provide the required items if we wanted to continue... She had prepared examples of objects we could make, suggesting we would be able to do 4/5 during the day. She is full of ideas to help you personalize everything really making it feel special. We ended up making 2 card holders, a wallet, a purse, a pencil case and a tray. For his last item my husband was able to go off the list and make a sleeve for his laptop fully home made! He was very proud of himself, best xmas gift ever! Thank you Rosanna."

Lauren reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"If you're wanting to master a hobby, start your own business or even just attend for fun, I can’t recommend this candle course enough. Jo the tutor is absolutely fantastic. Not only is she talented and an excellent teacher, she is patient, understanding, caring and flexible to your needs, and will ensure you have a brilliant day and leave excited to practice your new skill. If candles are your passion, Honestly book this course, you’ll love it! : )"

Dan reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"I had a great day learning some basic wood turning skills. The pace and complexity of the course was spot on for a beginner like myself, with Graham explaining and demonstrating the basic skills in a very clear manner. Graham strikes the perfect balance of leaving you to learn, experiment and explore the basic techniques and stepping in to advise when things go a bit awry. To come away with a beautiful usable piece at the end of it was extremely satisfying. Graham is a wonderful host who made me feel very welcome."

claire ferrer reviewed: Upholstery and upcycling furniture and interiors

"I really enjoyed the day and despite having a large project (which Lucy had warned me beforehand would not be feasible to finish on the day ) , the day and tuition gave me new skills and confidence to tackle something I'd never have started on my own - and am now well on the way to completing. it was great fun learning from others projects too ; really worthwhile day thank you !"

Nicky Ward reviewed: Kate Morrell willow sculpture courses

"Had a brilliant day making a hare - very impressed even though I do say so myself :) Arrived at 1000 for coffee and had a lovely lunch at 1. Fabulous day and would thoroughly recommend it."

Andy Falconer reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"Spent two days last week with Mark learning about wood turning and what a fantastic time I had! Mark is very skilled and knowledgeable at his trade and he is very good at putting just enough (plus a bit more) information to you to suit your own needs and ability. Whilst not a stranger to working with tools and machinery, I was a novice to wood turning - but no longer - I came away with my head buzzing (with info) but the ability to carry out wood turning confidently and safely on my own lathe (which is being installed and set up imminently). I was enthusiastic about attending the course and came away even more enthusiastic about taking up wood turning as a serious hobby and I would highly recommend training with Mark. So thanks again, ever so, Mark and hope to meet up again in the near future and beyond. Happy New Wood Turner!"

Judy reviewed: Wet felting (abstract or landscape) - Half Day - Feather Felts

"Had a great day yesterday with Jane, arranged by my brother as a birthday present. I have always thought of myself as crafty, but not necessarily creative. I am good at following patterns and instructions, so was a little hesitant about creating a piece from nothing. I needen't have worried. With Jane's careful unobtrusive advice, support and obvious enthusiasm for the project, I was able to create a picture of a field of sunflowers. I loved the technique, and have brought my remnants home to try and create something else. Jane is extremely welcoming, provided a lovely lunch and as much tea as I liked! Sadly my day was slightly cut short by a snow storm, but my project was complete, and I am extremely proud of what I have achieved. My brother was impressed too!"

Liam reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"My first time trying wood turning and Graham was absolutely brilliant. I took my dad who has recently been diagnosed with dementia and Graham was fantastic at demonstrating and teaching him without any confusion. I will certainly by going again and recommend this as a birthday treat or an introduction to the art of turning."