Latest reviews

22 Oct 15'

Tine Hagen Dalgaard reviewed: Advanced throwing masterclass with David Frith

"Two days of inspiration and confidence building. I am a handbuilder and have very little experience on the wheel. I worried that this course would be too difficult for me, but found that David explain everything in a brilliant and easy way. And helped us on the level we where at. These two days gave me the confidence to go home and continue working on the wheel. David is an amazing potter. I could watch him all day long. Came home with plenty of pots in all sizes. AMAZING"

22 Oct 15'

Susan Robinson reviewed: Realistic and Adorable Needle Felt Animals & Pets

"This is such a great way to spend a day that I have been twice! and I took my neighbour this time as a birthday treat. Sophie is just a delight, welcoming, encouraging and very skilled. The surroundings are beautiful, the food delicious and to be with a group of lovely women learning a new skill was heart warming. I am looking forward to doing some wet felting next, having made a bear and a female head so far - the possibilities are endless it seems with felt. Thanks again Sophie."

22 Oct 15'

Chris Caple reviewed: Blacksmithing Beginners day courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"Fantastic day. I was a complete beginner to blacksmithing and I don't have much experience with any type of craft but I came away feeling like I had learnt some new skills and that I had made something half decent! The food was top notch and Adrian, Debbie and Andy were all very welcoming and pleasant company. It was clear that Adrian really knows his craft. I couldn't recommend this course more. Thank you."

22 Oct 15'

Rosey Bennett reviewed: Rag Rug Full Day Workshop - Hertfordshire

"I attended Elspeth's course recently, and had a really enjoyable day with her and a small group of other ladies in a beautiful setting. I learned a lot and was greatly inspired by the examples of finished pieces dotted all round us. Elspeth is lovely, and a very good teacher. We also had fun, and all in all it was a great day. I thoroughly recommend it. I have shown my hotelier in Greece how to do this while on holiday, and she is now hooking away like crazy! Marvellous."

21 Oct 15'

Dan Green reviewed: One day leather work course - small leather goods

"I was a complete beginner going to the course and it was fantastic, I will be recommending it to everyone. Jason's passion and enthusiasm is infectious and he gave extremely honest and helpful advice and tips (including where to source tools / leather). The studio is great and there's a really relaxed atmosphere, Jason was a brilliant teacher and was happy to answer all the questions we had, he was open with how he went about his business and got started which was very encouraging. if you're looking for a course for yourself or a present for someone, book this!"

21 Oct 15'

David Stephenson reviewed: Introduction to Glass Fusing with Enamels - Full Day Workshop

"I had a great experience on this one day course with Steve and five others. I am not artistic, but with Steve's help and support I managed to produce a very good sunset picture looking westward from our caravan at St Justinnian. In addition to the above I produced two smaller pictures and two tea light. Steve is a very good communicator and can translate your thoughts to a piece of glass: his help and incouragemet is infectious. This day with Steve Robinson Glass was a gift, worth every penny."

21 Oct 15'

Chas Blundell reviewed: One to one, One day, blacksmith course

"Alex was an excellent teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed the course and learnt everything I need to get me started, and more. I came away with lots of things that I never thought I would be capable of making. Alex made it not only informative but also very interesting. I would definitely recommend him to complete beginners and look forward to returning for a second course once I have put what he taught me into practise. Thanks Alex, I look forward to my return trip."

21 Oct 15'

Hugh Jones reviewed: One to one, One day, blacksmith course

"My wife treated me to a one-day blacksmithing course with Alex as a birthday treat. An excellent decision! Alex is a patient and encouraging instructor. He keeps you busy for the full day,which all adds to the sense of enjoyment. I went home with a delightful triple candle holder, which now has pride of place on our dining table. A wonderful experience, and highly recommended."

21 Oct 15'

Jim Green reviewed: One to one, One day, blacksmith course

"My one day course at Chalkpit Forge was a Christmas present from my wife, following a visit to a smithy in Devon where I was allowed briefly to try out my skills with a hammer (neglected for 60 years). Alex Smith treated us to a most rewarding day, making a new design of candlestick, with me as striker and my wife as artistic director! Alex's easy teaching manner and superb skills at the hearth and anvil made the day memorable. And I now have a unique candle holder to light us to bed!"

21 Oct 15'

Annette Phillips reviewed: Candle making workshops

"What a wonderful day! I had really looked forward to my candle-making day with Angharad and I was not disappointed in the least. We had fun making candles from several different waxes, Angharad is very knowledgeable and obviously loves her craft and is eager to share her experiences. No question was left unanswered and I came away from the course with an eagerness to carry on at home, knowing that if I needed advice Angharad would be at the end of the phone or an email to help. The workshop is set in an idyllic location with no distractions from traffic. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn or brush up their candle-making skills."

20 Oct 15'

Cathy reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Elaine is patience personified - kind, helpful and fun with the most wonderful way of bringing the story of Rumpelstiltskin alive. As if by magic, beautiful skeins of wool appeared from nowhere. My efforts were somewhat more lumpy and erratic, but as a first timer I was pretty proud of the day's handiwork. And can't wait to try again."

20 Oct 15'

Liz Shields reviewed: Weaving: the journey begins

"I attended Ashleigh's weaving class last Monday and Tuesday. I had just bought a rigid heddle loom and I thought this class would be a good chance to have practical help in how to use it - and I wasn't disappointed! I learnt how to warp up, how to weave plain weave and how to weave some other techniques too such as clasp-weaving and the use of the pick up stick to create patterns and how to read and interpret a weaving pattern. Ashleigh shared lots of other tips and advise too which no doubt came from his many years experience as a professional weaver. Ashleigh was very attentive, but also sensitive to times when I just needed to be left alone to weave at my own pace! Lunch on the first day was included in the price of the class and consisted of a soup and sandwich lunch with tea or coffee at a local cafe. There were plenty of eating places in Blairgowrie to try out on the second day, and I chose one just over the road from Ashleigh's studio. Blairgowrie is a very pleasant little town, and I was able to explore the local shops during the lunch hours and also take a walk along the riverside paths. Altogether this was a very interesting and enjoyable two days, and I learnt a lot about weaving. It was well worth the cost and the journey from my home town of Liverpool to attend."

20 Oct 15'

Pam Smart reviewed: Mosaic with Glass on Acrylic Workshop in the Cotswolds - Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Oxfordshire Borders

"A superb and worthwhile course! Fantastic teachers with a wealth of resources to pick from."

20 Oct 15'

Sarah Murray reviewed: Introduction to Glass Fusing with Enamels - Full Day Workshop

"I attended the course as a last minute thing with a friend and I'm just so glad I did! Steve gives each and every one of the 'artists' his time, help and support although how he manages to keep so calm I'll never know! I came away with so many wonderful pieces but my main piece, I can honestly say, I am absolutely thrilled with. I think quite a few members of family will be having glass this Christmas! Can't wait to go again! Thanks Steve."

20 Oct 15'

Kathryn Silk reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful day getting to grips with the basics of spinning. It was so satisfying taking the piece of fleece through the whole process so that I now have a skein of wool to make up into a small item. Thank you Dunja for being such a patient and inspiring teacher - and a splendid hostess. I loved the lunch, too!"

20 Oct 15'

Judy Gerard Thomson reviewed: 'Art of Stained Glass' - Oldbury, Birmingham

"Dear Jamal, Your courses are above Excellent!!! I have learned so very much from you. And I remain in awe of your gifts and skills; you are easily one of the two finest artists, regardless of medium, I've ever known (and my experience includes a couple of very powerful and well-known artists, whom I won't name, lest they be hurt by my words. Needless to say, working directly with you has been one of the most wonderful (and memorable) experiences of my entire life. Not since working with my dear friend, the designer, the late William B. Fosser, American film Set Designer/Decorator (for Ordinary People and Home Alone), have I shared such a fabulous interchange of creativity and passion for Art! Anyone who takes one of your courses will soon realise they have chosen to work with an Artist whose like has not been on this earth since William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, whose art you so easily translate for modern audiences. It was a true privilege, and I am further honoured to have become your Friend, into the bargain. Words fail me. You have my highest conceivable recommendations, and I shall be so proud to have your work, illustrating not one, but two books. Worth every pence, and then some!!! Loads of love, you fellow artist, Judy Gerard Thomson, who came all the way from Chicago, USA, to spend a week at your side...."

20 Oct 15'

Diane Faulks reviewed: One day leather work course - small leather goods

"The one day course I did was simply fantastic! Highly professionally taught and I was amazed at how much I learnt in such a short time. I walked away with a beautiful notebook cover which has become one of my prized possessions. I can't believe I made it myself - with a little help ; ) Thank you so much Jason."

20 Oct 15'

Loz Ives reviewed: One day leather work course - small leather goods

"The course was absolutely brilliant, it made what was already a growing interest in leather work even greater! I can't wait to apply the skills I learned during the day the stuff I make. Jason was an absolute gentleman, patient, insightful, massively enthusiastic and super talented at what he does. I've already recommended it to tons of friends!"

20 Oct 15'

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

"I’m a glass artist who wanted to extend the techniques available to me and this was an excellent introduction to glass enamelling. Steve covered health and safety and made suggestions which I will be implementing for my other work. Steve’s enthusiasm for both the enamelling and the teaching of us, with all our different levels of ability was incredible. His guidance on choices of colour, (which change when fired) and techniques of getting the enamel powers on to glass was invaluable. The venue is a spacious workshop with plenty of bench space and two large flat bed glass kilns. Steve made available a large range of enamels (well over 100) and explained the results that we could expect from the ones that were used. The large panel which I made now has pride of place over the fire in the living room. I’m now dreaming enamels!"

20 Oct 15'

Pru Johnson reviewed: Introduction to Glass Fusing with Enamels - Full Day Workshop

"This was a really enjoyable day's course with Steve offering amazing levels of help and guidance. I would recommend it to everyone. It is a good idea to have something in mind, especially for the large piece you produce in the afternoon. In the morning you can do many smaller pieces, practicing the various techniques and try out the many and varied coloured enamels. A break for lunch in the local pub gives you an opportunity to better get to know Steve and the other participants and take a well earned rest. The following day's grand kiln opening is not to be missed!"

20 Oct 15'

john goodwin reviewed: One day leather work course - small leather goods

"This is an brilliant course! Jason is enthusiastic and knowledgeable and has an inspiring studio in which the course takes place. The course offers an excellent balance of instruction, demonstration and time to put this into operation which means that the finished product is something to be proud of. The range of suggested artefacts to be made allows for a wide range of skills to be explored and executed and to be applied in further projects. Jason was open to my ideas for a personal project and this fitted in well to another day course and there will be more. Certainly money well spent!!"

19 Oct 15'

Karen Farrar reviewed: Glass fusing decorations/hangings

"This was my 2nd glass fusing course with Linda. (It definitely won't be my last!) The day was informative, relaxed and great fun. Everyone was made to feel welcome."

19 Oct 15'

Mark Pountney reviewed: Wood turning courses in the Midlands

"Arriving at marks workshop for a day of turning he makes you feel relaxed welcome. I found the way he teaches & explains his techniques brilliant .I wouldn't hesitate to go back to him . Plus he makes a lovely cup of tea. Cheers mark"

19 Oct 15'

Debra Winton reviewed: Glass fusing decorations/hangings

"Having attended the Green Man workshop quite some time ago, I can vouch for all the comments here. Not only was it enjoyable, I also have a Green Man on the wall. Made by my on fair hand ! Would definitely do it again and consider getting as a present, for like-minded friends and family :) :) :)"

19 Oct 15'

Kim reviewed: Ceramic moon gazing hares

"This is a fantastic course with step-by-step demonstrations plus tea and cake thrown in for good measure. Linda is very warm, welcoming and reassuring as a teacher - she creates an atmosphere that is relaxed and fun throughout. And whatever your ability, you will leave the day feeling very happy with what you've achieved under her guidance. After one of Linda's courses you'll want to come back again and try something else - but with so many of us planning return visits, you'll need to book early!"