Latest reviews

12 Apr 16'

Maggie Dalton reviewed: Making a stained glass leaded panel

"As a real beginner to stained glass work I found this course most enjoyable. Caryl's style is really relaxed and her guidance is clear and supportive. She helps you every step of the way and you end up with a beautiful glass panel to take home. The choice of glass was plentiful and all equipment top notch. You get a great lunch too!"

12 Apr 16'

Karen Hamilton-Viall reviewed: Realistic and Adorable Needle Felt Animals & Pets

"I attend a lot of different assorted craft courses and it's not very often on a course day that you've really achieved and produced something on your first day but I came away with a piece of work that I was really proud of at the end of the day. Sophie is a very friendly and confident teacher who goes out of her way to help make the day a wonderful experience. I already felt in the first half hour of teaching that I had learnt a lot and received my moneys worth of teaching! It was really interesting to look at the different types of sheep wool and feel how different they were to each other. She made the whole process seem so simple and demystified the hobby for me. There was lots of refreshment throughout the day, teas/coffees, chocolate eclairs, a wonderful lunch which included a smashing pavlova made by her mum. Special diets were also catered for. The garden workshop is lovely and it provided a very peaceful and relaxing setting for the day. As Sophie promised, nobody wanted to put down their creations for lunch as they were all enjoying making it so much. In fact I think we'd all of loved to have spent the whole weekend creating and we didn't want to go home. Sophie's enthusiasm is infectious. I have come away with more knowledge and the confidence to have a go on my own and create some more animals."

12 Apr 16'

Izzy Bee reviewed: Making a stained glass leaded panel

"I really enjoyed Caryl's course. The range of glass and equipment available for us to complete our project was excellent and we were given a good selection of patterns to choose from. Caryl was knowledgeable, patient and she helped us to achieve the aim of the day - a lovely traditional glass panel to take home. Lunch was excellent, too."

12 Apr 16'

Anne reviewed: Making a stained glass leaded panel

"Small group, friendly workshop with excellent tuition to learn this fascinating skill of stained glass"

11 Apr 16'

Anne reviewed: Kiln formed glass day workshop

"Our second visit to Helen - this time a 2 day workshop. Helen is a great teacher - providing gentle guidance and inspiration. She is extraordinarily generous with her glass and other resources. We had a fab 2 days and can really recommend Helen's workshops - you won't be disappointed!"

11 Apr 16'

John Lower reviewed: Blacksmithing Introduction courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"An excellent day. Ever since I went to the local blacksmiths as a small child, I have wanted to have a go. But I have had to wait until in my sixties. My wife bought me the taster course as a surprise Christmas present and it was everything I hoped it would be. Adrian and Andy were excellent teachers. After a few minutes instruction I was forging metal - hard work but very satisfying and most enjoyable. I am planning to go again on the "Design your own project" weekend. I should also mention the food was excellent, especially the sponge cake with afternoon tea!"

11 Apr 16'

Jo H reviewed: Realistic and Adorable Needle Felt Animals & Pets

"I had a lovely day with Sophie and the other ladies on my course. I was inspired by the setting for the day; all the different wools and colours available brought to life by Sophie's explanations were fabulous. I completed a needle-felted penguin under her instruction. He's cute, and I'm so proud of him! The food and warm, lovingly provided hospitality from by Sophie's Mum was appreciated too. It was a great day which could only have been improved by a little more quiet time to concentrate on my felting and space in the conversation to ask questions. Thank you."

11 Apr 16'

Sue Owen reviewed: Realistic and Adorable Needle Felt Animals & Pets

"I had not done any needle felting at all until I went for my day at Sophie's workshop. It was a very enjoyable course, I learnt a great deal and Sophie was a wonderful teacher. The procedures were explained very carefully and Sophie was there to support us in times of need! It was lovely that we all made different items and were therefore able to see different procedures. I would be very happy to attend the course again."

11 Apr 16'

Sam Harris reviewed: Realistic and Adorable Needle Felt Animals & Pets

"This was the best day I have had crafting in a long time. I had no experience of felting at all and Sophie guided me throughout the day with patience and a smile. She is a wonderful teacher and I learnt so much. I made a small model of my dog Brussel and she looks absolutely fabulous (if I say so myself!) I can highly recommend this day you will love it"

11 Apr 16'

Paul reviewed: Blacksmithing Introduction courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"A brilliant day on the 'Taster' Blacksmithing course, which was all I envisaged, and more. Great demonstrations from Adrian, excellent support in the projects from Adrian & Andy, and fabulous tasty food from Debbie. Really enjoyed the day, and great to take your own creations home with you to treasure and remember the day. Hoping I will get the chance to return and do more. I have already recommended this course to several people. Great value and great people!"

11 Apr 16'

Tim reviewed: Introduction to traditional green wood turning course

"I spent a day with Simon turning a bowl on the treadle lathe. He is a great teacher and put up with me asking questions all day long! Some of the techniques are quite tricky but Simon has incredible skill and patience, helping you to progress throughout the day. I really enjoyed it and cannot recommend it highly enough."

11 Apr 16'

Tim reviewed: Green Wood Chair Making - 6 Day Woodworking Course in South Devon

"The course was absolutely brilliant. Peter is super friendly and has an immense knowledge of furniture making and working with green wood. There is a lot to get done, but the atmosphere is relaxed, allowing you to absorb the techniques you are learning as you go. My favourite aspect of the course is that you are able to modify the design of the chair to reflect your own personal style. Highly recommended!"

10 Apr 16'

Darren Foster reviewed: Blacksmithing Introduction courses in Yorkshire and the North East

"well my crimbo pressies was well worth waiting for. what a brilliant day, well organised, fun, very knowledgeable training staff and Debbie food was good aswell lol. must forget the boss well done Debbie for making my crimbo pressie a very good memory (that i want to do again) i have always liked forge work from when i did it at school all of 33 yrs ago, how you can see a bit of rod in front of you and you can make it into a nice object in the end of the day when i found out i had this from my wife i had looked forward to it, i told a mate who said if its any good he wouldn't mind doing it, after letting him no how good it was we both are planing on another visit. the place is a barn with all the equipment that you would need for the day 4 forges a anvil each and all carried out in a safe and relaxed area, the day starts at 9 ish and you leave about 430 ish your shown how and why things are done before you play then regrouped for different stages of the projects you have a break for lunch all home made to a high standard and freshly made, then back to the forge to finish the project off the overall day is very good and i would like to say to Debbie , Adrian and Andy keep up the good work and hope to see you soon Darren"

10 Apr 16'

Judith Pruce reviewed: Creative Vibe - Glassblowing Sessions

"Oh WOW! What a fantastic day! I can't recommend this course highly enough. Ricky is a great teacher - very patient and encouraging. Having never blown glass before, I wasn't expecting to be able to achieve anywhere near what I actually managed and that is all thanks to Ricky. This was one of the best days ever."

10 Apr 16'

Yvonne reviewed: Upholstery/cushion making

"Weekend upholstery workshop with Jo excellent in all respects. Good company and knowledgeable tuition with a light touch. Very enjoyable and informative with a successful outcome - chair completed!"

9 Apr 16'

Louise Robinson-Woledge reviewed: Wood turning tuition, New Forest, Hampshire (1 day) (2 people)

"Attended a 1 day course . Graham is an excellent tutor; very patient and knowledgeable. Extremely pleased with my results. Really hoping to attend again soon"

8 Apr 16'

Eva Leslie reviewed: Pembrokeshire Maddie Janes Mosaic

"A fantastic day!! Maddie is a wonderful teacher, she shares her amazing knowledge so freely. Her love and passion for Mosaic fills the studio. Thank you, I treasured every minute! Can't wait to do another day :)"

8 Apr 16'

Ruth Willmott reviewed: Needle felting with Virginia

"I completed a beginners wet felting course today, it was brilliant, I took my own sunset photograph with me and recreated it in felt, I am thrilled with the result, thank you so much, I was encouraged all the way by Virginia and her help mate Liz, I did not think I could create something sooo good, thank you again."

8 Apr 16'

Marie McDonald reviewed: Crochet for Beginners (Adults) in Putney

"I have been wanting for so long to learn how to make granny squares. I have tried online tutorials for instruction, but found them difficult to follow. I booked a day with Sowmya. She tailored the class to my needs and with her patience and knowledge I was able to understand the basic principals of granny square making within a couple of hours. She also provided clear written instruction for reference. I will be booking another class in order to learn more patterns. I had a very nice day."

8 Apr 16'

Jemma Gold reviewed: Introduction to Parchment Craft

"great course, had lots of instructions, and loads to take home"

8 Apr 16'

Sheila Wood reviewed: Introduction to Parchment Craft

"Loved this workshop and made some beautiful things, very relaxed and very helpful"

8 Apr 16'

Clive Rowland reviewed: Woodturning courses in Norfolk

"Nick provides an excellent introduction to woodturning, he covered everything I wanted to know to allow me to decide whether woodturning is for me and I came away with a lovely bowl. A great day."

7 Apr 16'

Scotty Dodd reviewed: One to one, One day, blacksmith course

"A superb course and an excellent, patient tutor. I came to Alex with a wish list of skills to try as long as my arm - forge welding, upsetting, drawing down, annealing, normalising, hardening, tempering, bending, twisting, tool manufacture etc etc - we pretty much accomplished the lot in a long hot day at the forge. Alex really knows his stuff and is a very capable tutor. Your experience will be very hands on from the word go. 5***** and looking forward to another session in the future. Cheers."

7 Apr 16'

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

"I attended Aiden's two day weekend course in March 2016. I did this because as a hobby I like to restore furniture and I was finding that I struggled when I came to anything structural. Most important, Aiden is an excellent trainer. He clearly is a very skilled craftsman but it doesn't always follow that skilled crafts people can put it across to students. Aiden most definitely can. He was very patient, calm and he had to be with me! I found the two day course quite intense; there was a lot to do in 16 hours but I certainly learnt the importance of ensuring my work was completely square, flat and smooth! It was also useful to learn how to use, dismantle and sharpen a plane. Well done Aiden."

7 Apr 16'

Leia Duffee reviewed: Green woodworking at Coppicewood College

"I came to the green woodworking course through the 6 month Coppicing course. My green woodwork project was tool handles. I had an old handle-less Yorkshire Billhook that I wanted to create a new handle for and an old handle-less drawknife too. These two combined, needed, cleaving work, Axe work, working with a Spokeshave, using a Pole Lathe and creating my own rivets to rivet the Yorkie handle on. All very useful skills and all a lot of fun to do. The instructors are wonderful people who have great passion for everything they teach and their enthusiasm spread to each and every one of us. They make you feel well looked after, well taught and I would recommend this course to anyone who enjoys being in woods and working with wood, and to anyone who thinks they might like it, you will!"