Cowshed Creative reviews

Ella Trickett reviewed: Silver Clay Jewellery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District near Windermere and Kendal

"A great course I really enjoyed it. I am a total beginner just wanting to give it a go and see if I was capable and I was! I made a lovely pair of heart earrings and a dragonfly pendant. George our tutor was fab, so welcoming and friendly and I felt as ease even though I was a total beginner. I would highly recommend this course. Thank you for a fab day."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"It was so lovely to meet you Ella. Thank you for such a lovely review and do get in touch if you need any help or advice. George"

Richard Comrie reviewed: Oil Painting Portraiture Skills with artist Cat MacDiarmid at Cowshed Creative, Lake District

"Very good course held in a beautiful venue. Liked the way the tutor was able to engage with students of different abilities and experiences."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Richard. Always lovely to hear such positive feedback. I'll pass your comments on to Catherine."

Peter and Margaret reviewed: Willow garden structures at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District near Windermere

"Hannah is an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher with a huge knowledge of her subject. The whole day was a very enjoyable experience and we are delighted with our willow tipi structures."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Lovely to meet you both and thanks Peter and Margaret for such a nice review. I will pass on your comments to Hannah."

Charlotte reviewed: Wildlife & Hedgerow Lino printing at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District, near Windermere and Kendal

"The course tutor, Sue, gave really clear instructions and was brilliant at helping participants at each stage of the process. The venue was lovely, lunch was delicious and George was really welcoming. I came away very happy and pleased with all the prints I'd made. Thanks so much."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for such a lovely review Charlotte. Lovely to meet you and hope to see you again. George "

Dawn reviewed: Texturing Silver & Setting Stones: Silver jewellery course at Cowshed Creative, Lake District

"The workshop was very informative and the tutor made us all feel at ease. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend to friends and family."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for the feedback Dawn. Lovely to meet you and hope to see you again."

Hollie Cooper reviewed: Raku pottery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park near Kendal and Windermere

"I had such a wonderful experience with Cowshed Creative and their Raku session. They accommodated me so well as I didn't require the handbuilding tuition in the first week, and just wanted to join onto the raku session for the second week. They helped advise how I should prepare my work and what clay to use, and was told the technical info about raku firing as it's something I'd love to bring to my practice in future! The location was beautiful, and if I was to go back I'd absolutely stay over for a couple of nights too. I absolutely loved the results of everyone's work, and the glazes and techniques were explained well. Great tuition and fab vibes for the whole day with lovely people. Lovely facilities, and we were even provided with a *delicious* homemade lunch! Thank you so much to George and Chris, hope to see you both again!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much Holly. It would be lovely to see you again and good luck with your own work. Looking forward to seeing some more Raku work on your Instagram!"

Donna Ford reviewed: Raku pottery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park near Kendal and Windermere

"What an enjoyable two Saturdays we had on the raku pottery workshop . The location is beautiful and the workshop barn is comfortable and warm ( the wood stove was on and gave the barn a very cosy feel ) On the first workshop Saturday Chris ,our tutor gave us a brief history on raku plus demonstrations on various hand builds . We then made items of our own ready for the following Saturday . Our host George is a very welcoming lady who looked after everyone very well and the lunches she provided were simply delicious and consisted of a choice of two homemade soups , three different types of homemade bread and if that’s not enough you also get a choice of two things to have after . On that particular day it was blackberry crumble and ice cream or carrot cake . Tea , coffee , fruit teas , water are for everyone throughout the day when ever they wish . Chris is a very easy going tutor , he brings examples of his work so you can see the end result . Chris would encourage you to have a go at trying out things and experiment making your own vessel / pot etc but also guide you through stages as a group so that you all have at least 4 items ready to fire . The second Saturday had the added bonus of the outdoor kiln and watching the pots being taken out and placed in the firing bin was good especially if you are hands on and get involved in the process . Of course the best bit is where you get to see how your chosen glazes that you’ve spent time on during 2nd Saturday , actually look like once they are taken out of the smoking straw filled bin and plunged into a bath of water . A word of warning though on day two , don’t go dressed in your brand new costly clothing as it is a raku pottery workshop after all and the fire pit gives off billowing smoke and you will smell like you’ve just climbed out of it yourself ! I would recommend this two day workshop to any one whether they’ve done any form of pottery before or whether they’ve never touched clay in their lives or even gone to a workshop of any description. I loved every minute of it ."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much Donna for such lovely detailed feedback. Really appreciated and hope to see you again."

Stephen Frankish reviewed: Bountiful baskets at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District

"What an amazing experience! I can’t recommend this enough, George and Hanna were perfect hostesses and the location was very welcoming with lovely homemade lunches provided."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Steve for such lovely feedback. Great to meet you at last and thanks for your patience with lockdown delays on the course."

S A Hirst reviewed: Bountiful baskets at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District

"Really gentle presentation, good pace and lots of choice and excellent guidance. Hannah gave me the confidence to have another go with a different shaped basket. Great food too. Thanks"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Many thanks Sheila for such good feedback. Hope to see you again"

Jess D reviewed: Drapes to Dungarees at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District near Windermere

"I honestly can not speak highly enough about this course! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! Meg was fantastic and helped me every step of the way. I hadn’t used a sewing machine since I was at school but Meg gave me the confidence to just have a go - and it paid off! Meg was so welcoming, calm and enthusiastic and left me wanting to go home and make dungarees for everyone in my family! George was a fantastic host. She made everyone feel welcome, kept us warm, topped us up with water, coffee and tea, and made the most amazing lunch - I asked for the recipe it was so delicious! I really would recommend this course to anybody! Still buzzing about it a week later! ?"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Jess for such amazing feedback. Lovely to meet you and hope to see you again."

Richard reviewed: Bountiful baskets at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District

"Delighted with baskets and course."

steve barron reviewed: Oil Painting Portraiture Skills with artist Cat MacDiarmid at Cowshed Creative, Lake District

"Another great art course at Cowshed! The venue is terrific, with a great welcome, tasty food and excellent facilities. The Portrait class has given me some really great tools to improve my portraiture, with good help and encouragement from Catherine, the tutor. It's interesting to chat with other students to see different styles of working and ways to create portraits. Of course, social distancing is seriously maintained, providing a very safe feel throughout the day. Highly recommended."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for the great feedback Steve. Great to see you again."

Nisha Postlethwaite reviewed: Silver Clay Jewellery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District near Windermere and Kendal

"Jo Dix is a an excellent teacher and very knowledgeable jeweller and stepped us through the whole process of Silver Clay, and the creative possibilities with the medium - well organised. Very happy with the day. The venue was lovely, a very warm welcome and lovely lunch from George. In light of the challenging health and safety around Covid 19, every care and precaution was taken by both the venue owner and teacher. Highly recommend the course and venue"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Nisha - lovely to meet you and good luck with your jewellery business, Nishahalo - it looks great"

Mandy Graham reviewed: Silver Clay Jewellery at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District near Windermere and Kendal

"Fantastic day, couldn’t have been better. Food was delicious x"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Lovely to meet you and Emily. Thanks for such positive comments and hope to see you again."

Jane Shaw reviewed: Bead and Wire jewellery: a Cowshed Creative workshop, in the Lake District National Park near Kendal and Windermere

"As an experienced silver smith just taking up making again after a long break I found this course a useful aid to help me re engage with the stages of making. I really enjoyed making the spinner ring and found the tutor Amanda to be very patient and helpful, showing how easy the whole process of making a spinning ring can be, and the endless design possibilities that there are. The Cowshed was was a really nice venue for the course and so tranquil and George was so accommodating with coffee and the food was superb! And the barn was so warm as the day was rather cool. I had a wonderful day and would definitely come on another course."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks for such lovely comments Jane. Great to meet you and hope to see you again."

Gail Wallace reviewed: Lakeland Landscape - gouache & mixed media at Cowshed Creative in the Lake District National Park

"Georgie was a wonderful hostess. She made us feel safe, warm and welcome. The food she provided was home made and delicious and the portion sizes were very generous. Karen was a capable tutor and gave plenty words of encouragement."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Gail! Great to meet you and Susan and hope to see you again."

Michelle Kent reviewed: Introduction to oil painting at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District near Windermere

"Loved every minute of this course! The place was amazing - a beautifully converted barn in stunning surroundings, providing plenty of space, light, warmth/ventilation for workshops. This was my first proper venture with oils so I wasn't sure what to expect, but Catherine was superb - guiding us through the tools and techniques simply without overwhelming us. Her experience, style and approach created a relaxed, creative atmosphere where you felt able to experiment. Whilst there was a range of styles and experience amongst our workshop attendees, everyone was really supportive and the variety added to the experience and discussions. I learned so much during the day and left genuinely inspired to develop my painting further. Thank you! On a more practical note, the booking process (and re-booking thanks to Covid) was seamless, with everything set up to enable social distancing and the operation of safe procedures. Drinks are available throughout the day, and food is delicious and plentiful - you definitely won't go hungry! The day was a great treat for me and my Dad and I would love to return for another (or more....) Hugely recommended!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much Michelle. Great to meet you both and hope to see you again."

Steve Tonkin reviewed: Dry stone walling at Cowshed Creative on our traditional Lakeland Farm, Lake District near Windermere

"Thank you Cowshed for a great Dry Stone Building course. The location is fantastic in the Kentmere Valley. Loads of walls to look at and discuss. The course itself was fantastically hands on. I learned so much and I have to thank Richard for his ability to allow you to learn whilst not stepping in too often. We worked on a real section of wall and all the tools and necessary safety gear was provided or made clear what we needed to bring and do. I've been inspired that I have already repaired one wall and now lining up a new long section to build. The food and drinks were delicious and right on time when we needed it. Thank you again. I thoroughly recommend this course for any one thinking of doing a course in dry stone walling!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Steve for such a great review. Hope to see you again."

Hilary Rowley reviewed: Oil Painting Portraiture Skills with artist Cat MacDiarmid at Cowshed Creative, Lake District

"We were blessed with a lovely sunny day for the course and the venue looked spectacular in its remote setting. The measures taken for COVID avoidance were very good and I felt that it was a safe setting for the course. Catherine is a very accomplished and knowledgable local artist. She provided some excellent stimulus materials and taught some good sketching techniques in the morning. George provides a great lunch of soup and a variety of breads followed by delicious deserts. Tea and coffee are available throughout the day. In the afternoon Catherine discussed techniques for producing portraits and then we all worked on our own portrait. There were 5 on the course and every one chose a different method and medium to produce their work. A most enjoyable day."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much Hilary for such a lovely review. Good luck with your portrait project and hope to see you again."

Sharon Falshaw reviewed: Sea Glass Jewellery at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District

"The seaglass jewellery course was everything I hoped it would be and more!! The venue was beautiful and very stylish in a lovely setting...the course was organised and informative and Amanda was really lovely! The food was fresh and amazing and George was an excellent host! It was nice to meet a group of ladies who were as obsessed about seaglass as I am!! I can't wait to book more classes! ?"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Sharon for such a lovely review. Great to meet you and hope to see you again."

steve barron reviewed: Introduction to oil painting at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District near Windermere

"This was my first time at Cowshed Creative. It is a lovely, welcoming venue accessed down a long narrow lane through some lovely countryside. The facilities are very good and provide an excellent space for creative activity. Catherine is a great tutor, talented and able to explain and demonstrate ideas and methods. I always learn a lot from her classes that I can take home to practice and develop with my own style. I've already booked on Catherine's other sessions and am keeping a lookout for more diverse classes at Cowshed during the next year."

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Steve. Great to meet you and look forward to seeing you again."

Kat Power reviewed: Sea Glass Jewellery at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District

"A fantastic day from start to finish. The location of Cowshed Creative is a beautiful valley and George provided us with detailed directions to get there. The venue is light and airy with lots of room. Lunch came with a view of the valley from the outside tables. Throughout the day we had lovely homemade food, the Thai soup was a massive hit, as were the scones! The course was excellent and allowed us to be creative with the seaglass we had brought with us. My Mum and I finished the day with two beautiful pieces of jewellery each. The course tutor Amanda, had adapted her approach to take into account Covid measures and all people attending had one to one direction about what they wished to make. Thanks to Amanda's information we have already purchased the material to make more pendants. I highly recommend the courses here and am already researching my next course to book!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Wow! Thanks so much for an amazing review. Really enjoyed meeting you both and hope to see you again."

Alison Quigley reviewed: Shibori & indigo dye at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District National Park, near Windermere

"?????Wonderful Shibori course - I definitely recommend Cowshed Creative if you would like to be inspired! Our lovely group experimented with indigo and cotton fabrics, the course arrangements and resources were great, the studio space is idyllic and all arranged with social distancing in place. Fabulous teaching from Kate and excellent lunch and cakes from George - Thank you, I will be back!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks so much Alison for your lovely comments. Your scarf was beautiful and we look forward to seeing you again."

julie charlton reviewed: Sea Glass Jewellery at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District

"The barn was great - a huge woodburner and plenty of light, a great space to hold the course. The other course members were good company. George was very welcoming and the lunch was first class - particularly loved the herby scones and the raspberry brownies, then cake came out in the afternoon! Amanda was very patient in teaching me the skills needed and I learnt most of the techniques I expected. She is clearly very skilled herself and it inspired us to make some lovely pieces. It was good fun all day and a great chance to be creative. Thank you so much!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"Thanks Julie for such lovely comments. Great to meet you and hope to see you again."

Bridget Halstead reviewed: Shibori & indigo dye at Cowshed Creative, the Lake District National Park, near Windermere

"I arrived at Cowshed Creatives feeling a little apprehensive as I haven't done anything very creative for a very long time! I needn't have worried as Kate was an wonderful teacher with a very relaxed approach and the group was small which I felt worked well. It's in a beautiful setting which for me was very much a part of it and having been in 'lockdown' for so long it was all very well organised with socially distanced work spaces. The log burner added to the cosy atmosphere as for the end of August it was a chilly day. George's delicious food really hit the spot with a choice of 2 homemade soups for lunch followed by wonderful cakes! What more could you want? Overall, it was a lovely and very welcome day out and certainly fired up my creative juices after all these years. I'd highly recommend and am sure I'll be back!"

Cowshed Creative responded:

"So good to meet you Bridget. Thank for your lovely recommendations and hope to see you again."