Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing reviews

William Catchpole reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"What a cracking day with Simon - the time just flew and it was so well structured from arrival through to lunch and then the afternoon project. I had come quite a long way and was hugely excited by this highly original birthday present from my wife. To say I loved it would be an understatement - the workshop is immaculate and has so many clever subtle features. Simon is so so patient in explaining the various chisels and their cuts and the problems that wood orientation presents. Its hard to imagine somebody having anything other than a great experience. I certainly would give the course 5 stars - Simon 5 stars - lunch 5 stars ! and oooh the elm bowl is my pride and joy. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi William, Thank you so much for a lovely review! 15 stars! Who'da thought it? :D It was great to meet you - do stay in touch and if you need any advice, don't hesitate to shout. P.S. I've already made a small goblet with some of the elm you left me. -- Simon"

Ross reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Fantastic day. Thoroughly enjoyable and learnt a great deal. The course had a good structure to it but flowed so naturally that you didn't really notice. Simon was a great tutor and very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Thanks, Ross. So glad you enjoyed the day and learned so much. Do get in touch if you need further help or advice. —Simon"

Lisa reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"My 12 year old attended the wood turning beginner course this week. He made a sample spindle, a keyring and a bowl. Simon was kind, patient and knowledgeable. he explained in a way which was informative and clear, without 'dumbing down' the class for my son. The lunch was delicious too :) My son was learning from the min we arrived to the end of the day, and left, exhuasted and happy. He learned a huge amount and plans to do more 'turning' in the future. Would recommend this course to anyone seeking an informative and full introduction. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Lisa, Soooo glad that he enjoyed the day - it makes my day when young people get into the craft and your son did exactly that. I do hope he goes on to make a hobby (career?) out of it and I wish him all the best. -- Simon"

Charlotte reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"My sister and I did the half day ceramics workshop and loved it! We were shown 3 different methods of making but were also allowed to be creative and tailor the methods to what we wanted to make which was brilliant. Can't wait to see the things we made once they're glazed and fired! Thanks again :)"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"It was a delight having you guys in the studio :-). So pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind review and I'll let you know as soon as your beautiful creations are ready for collection/postage."

Peter McDaniel reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a fantastic day with Simon, the course was ideal for me as I am a complete novice. The tuition was spot on with Simon being at hand to demonstrate and fully explain the cutting techniques we were using. I would have no hesitation in recommending this course and I look forward to my next visit. Louise also put on a very nice lunch."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Peter, Thanks for a wonderful review; I've just sent you the notes as promised. I look forward to your next visit (possibly with Mrs McDaniel in tow!). Happy turning! -- Simon"

Alex reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Me and my partner did a half-day beginners pottery course and had an amazing time. Louise was so friendly and really good at showing and explaining the different techniques. We both had an excellent time and would definitely recommend this course for others to try, it was a lovely and fun day."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"It was fab having you guys in the studio! So pleased you both enjoyed your experience, and thank you for the lovely review! "

Emily reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Amazing, relaxing, informative, fun :) We loved it. Thank you :)"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Was a pleasure having you and Charlotte in the studio. Thank you for your kind review :-)."

Claire King reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I booked this course for my 13 year old son to try something different during the summer holiday. Simon made us both welcome. His workshop is well equipped and clean. My son has ASD but Simon’s approach was clear with lots of visual instruction so my son had no difficulty in following. He learnt a lot during the 3 hours and throughly enjoyed the workshop. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"So glad he enjoyed the experience, Claire. Look forward to seeing you again soon. -- Simon"

Jane reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"Louise was a very encouraging tutor. I really enjoyed a day playing with clay and the one on one help made a huge difference as I tackled the wheel for the first time. What a treat! "

Jane reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I had a really great day with Simon. He's an excellent tutor and despite this being my first experience working with a lathe I ended up with a very beautiful bowl. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Jane, Thank you for your praise and so glad you enjoyed your experience. Any future help required, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon"

Paul Roscoe reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"That was a great day! I've not done anything like that since school. Great teacher, clearly very experienced in both woodworking and teaching, I would love to look at some other courses there. I've already started looking at lathes on Ebay. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Paul, Really glad you got so much from the day and excellent that you’re considering it as a hobby; please get in touch if you need any help in the future. —Simon"

Phil D reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"For my very first experience of wood turning by hand, my wife surprised me to this fantastic course for my birthday last year. We had a fantastic day; Simon and Louise made us feel very welcome and everything from the beautiful location and lunch was an absolute treat! Simon is a fantastic teacher, he explains the concepts really well and demonstrates them before letting you loose! I got a bit too keen at one point and accidentally broke my project, but Simon immediately grabbed our practice piece from the morning and set about showing me how to resurrect it into a lovely honey dipper! This moment really showed off the versatility and speed of wood turning, as well as Simon's obvious passion for the craft and his great hosting and teaching skills as it meant I didn't go home without something to be proud of! I have already recommended the course to some keen friends and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to get started or expand their skills in wood turning. Louise's pottery class looks fantastic as well so we hope to return for that in the future as well!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Phil, Thank you for your kind words - really glad you enjoyed your day despite the hiccup! We would love to see you both again and thank you for spreading the word. -- Simon & Louise"

Jo & Lucy reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"My daughter and I recently returned for the pairs half-day pottery workshop, and what a wonderful time we had! The studio is set in a beautiful cottage garden, making you feel immediately relaxed and creative. Once again we were made to feel very welcome by Louise. As we'd been before, Louise adapted the morning so that we could focus on what we wanted to make. Louise is a very patient and friendly tutor. We both had a really relaxing and fun time and returned home buzzing! Thank you Louise!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi guys, Thank you for your review! It was again a pleasure having you both in the studio and you made some really beautiful pieces :-). It's so nice that you chose to return to my pottery workshop to have some lovely mother/daughter time and I'm sure your pieces will look fabulous when they emerge glazed from the kiln :-). Thanks again for the lovely, encouraging review and see you soon. "

Amanda reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"Thank you so much Simon and Louise for a really great day. Both the woodturning and the pottery were taught expertly and patiently, and my teenager and I learnt a lot and enjoyed ourselves in the process. Lunch was delicious and in a beautiful setting in the garden too, and we enjoyed chatting to you both as well. My teenager has had a really tough time in the last few years, and it made me so happy to see them relaxed and chatty and enjoying being creative. They came away from the day buzzing, as was I, and I hope we will be back before long to do some more pottery throwing. So a huge thank you for a really enjoyable experience."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"We're so pleased that you guys enjoyed your 2 Crafts in 1 Day experience with us here at Blended Monkey. It was lovely having you in the woodturning workshop and ceramics studio. You're both very creative people and a joy to teach. We're also pleased that you both felt relaxed and comfortable in the space too. We always want our students to feel calm and at home - makes for a much more creative and fun experience. See you soon when your lovely pieces have been fired!"

Robin Turner reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A really interesting and informative day with Simon who patiently guided me through the various stages of wood turning. I am amazed at the level of skill, touch and finesse that a wood turner needs. For a few hours I was introduced to some of these attributes which I can aspire to develop independently. Under Simon's tutelage I came home with artefacts which stunned my wife and left her speechless..... A rare occurrence. Many thanks to Louise and Simon for a great day. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Robin, Thank you for a lovely review and we're so pleased you enjoyed your day. As promised, please get in touch if you require any further assistance. Happy turning!"

HTG reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"I've been learning turning for a just few months, and I took my novice 11 y/o daughter with me for a two-person experience. We both learned a huge amount, and my daughter gained enough confidence to be able to turn a bowl pretty independently. We both absolutely loved the experience. Simon has a solid way of explaining key concepts, and real depth of knowledge and skill. Honestly, I can't imagine what Simon could have done to have made it any better. I highly recommend the experience. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi HTG, Thank you so much for your heartfelt review; it means a lot to us. It's nice to know that we have helped you both on your woodturning journey and, if you need further assistance, please do get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

Chris Chambers reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"The whole day at Blended Monkey, for me was fantastic. The meet and greet is very friendly and even the German Shepherd loves to say hi, along with the Carp, but they just want feeding. I have never done woodturning before, and the personalised tuition is second to none. The lunch time cheese board was very yummy, and then it was back to the delicate art of turning a lump of wood into a gorgeous bowl, all under the watchful eye of Simon. At the end of the day, with many shavings on the floor and over myself and the rough end of a sandpit up the nose, a spalted piece of wood is turned and a bowl is born. Would I recommend the Blended Monkey experience? Hell yeah. Worth every minute of the day. Along with the goods you have produced, you get certification and a good sense of achievement. It was like being a kid again, "look mum, I made this" Thanks guys loved it. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Chris, Thanks for an excellent review. We're so glad you had such a wonderful experience - exactly what we intend to do, so we're really chuffed that you enjoyed your day. (Simon: however, my workshop will ALWAYS be better than yours! :D ) -- Simon & Louise"

Tracey reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"My son George loved his woodturning workshop with Simon. It was lovely to see him get so much out of the process of making something and come away with a piece that he was truly proud of. Simon is very knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging, I highly recommend his workshops, George is hoping to do another one soon!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Tracey, So great to hear that George had such a good day and that he's proud of what he made. He was an excellent pupil and picked it up really well; I hope he considers it for a hobby (alongside the Xbox, of course!) -- Simon"

David McDonald reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Had a great day with Simon. A knowledgeable and patient teacher. Lovely lunch and location. A really enjoyable day!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi David, Thank you for taking the time to provide a review and so glad you enjoyed the experience. -- Simon & Louise"

Jane Robinson reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Both boys really enjoyed the day and would definately book it again. Also they are really proud of what they made."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Thank you for a lovely review and so glad they enjoyed their workshop. -- Simon & Louise"

Warren Woodward reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"The woodturning course is fantastic and highly recommended. I had a wonderful day of woodturning under Simon's expert tuition. The day passed too quickly, and I could have happily stayed longer making more pieces and honing my beginner's skills. A great lunch and refreshments are also provided. I want to do it again."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Warren, Thanks for a great review - you're welcome to visit again and it would be great to see you. Happy turning! -- Simon"

Michael reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A very warm welcome by both Louise and Simon when I attended their wood turning beginners course. The day was well planned, clearly presented and structured to your own speed of learning and your ability to execute the various techniques. All equipment was of a high quality and safe standard. A most rewarding day backed by clear and precise supporting notes. Wonderful hosts. I would definitely be happy to recommend this course.."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Michael, Thank you for such an honest and heartfelt review! We're so glad you enjoyed the day and that it met your expectations. Do get in touch if you need more guidance; we hope the notes are useful. -- Simon & Louise"

Gary and Lucy Goodfellow reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Greeted by Louise and was treated with whatever drinks and biscuits we needed. Louise explained all about the clay and what methods we was going to use throughout our 3 hour session. Both my hubby and i came away with 3 items each and very happy with the results. Came away buzzing as we had such a great morning Highly recommend it"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Guys, it was a real pleasure having you in the studios :-). You should both feel very proud with the outcome of your few hours of pottery (I think Gary's was a fluke though ;-)). Nice to have such pleasant, chatty students and you'd be welcome back any time. I'll let you know when your creations are ready :-)."

Glenys Self reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"From the moment I arrived at Blended Monkey, Louise and Simon both put me at ease with their kind, warm manner and genuine interest in my venture to learn a new craft. I was well out of my comfort zone, but I found Simon's instruction crystal clear, knowledgeable and reassuring. His expertise and experience as a craftsman and teacher was inspiring and I had a most encouraging and delightful day. I think they are both doing a wonderful job in helping others expand their creative horizons."

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Glenys, Thanks for a lovely and heartfelt review. We both look forward to seeing you again and helping you on your creative journey. -- Simon & Louise"

Matt & Riley Dingle reviewed: Intermediate 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Another very enjoyable day. Having been turning for a short while, Simon helped with improving our tool sharpening and ironed out problems we were having with spindle and bowl turning. Then it was onto making a great box. More new techniques to learn. Many thanks, and who knows, may see you again for the next installment!"

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"Hi Matt & Riley, It was nice to see you guys again and I’m really glad you had a great day. Riley, you’re coming on really well - keep it up! Happy turning :) — Simon"