Elka reviews

Madeleine reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Loved this course! A new technique for me and Ellie was a great teacher and able to give us lots of individual help along with working in a group. Great materials, recommendations for resources and a lovely setting at Fisherton Mill. Lovely to come away with a finished item and inspiration for future projects. Highly recommend!"

Gwen reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"Spent an interesting, informative and exciting six hours with Claudia and the other participants on Saturday, learning about natural dyeing. Came away totally inspired and eager to try. "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Gwen. It was a pleasure to meet you and I'm so glad you enjoyed the day!"

Steve Brookes reviewed: Introduction to Botanical Inks and Paints

"The recent workshop I attended—making inks & pigments—was amazing! I signed up as I thought it sounded interesting. Wow! It was FAR more than that! Claudia is a fantastic teacher and the day was nothing short of magical. My background is in horticulture and science. The course tapped into all my interests and then some! Either just a small number of participants, you get a chance to ask as many questions as you want and Claudia’s knowledge is brilliant. We made inks in the morning and pigments for oil & watercolour paints in the afternoon. We left enthused and enlightened and with little pots of handmade paints! We have just moved into our new house in Wales and now have plans to start foraging for and growing plants to make pigments. We can't wait! I can’t recommend the course enough. It will show you the wonder of plants & minerals and just what incredible uses they can have. "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely and detailed review Steve, it is hugely appreciated! We're so gad that you enjoyed the workshop and will really look forward to following your journey with natural dyes in Wales :) X"

Nicola reviewed: Introduction to Botanical Inks and Paints

"I attended this day course in September and it was an absolute joy. The host was so friendly, professional and what she doesn't know about making inks and dyes from botanicals isn't worth knowing. It was actually really relaxing too, nothing was rushed, which was great and the class size is small and intimate so you can ask as many questions as you like without feeling you're holding things up. The colours were magnificent, making oil and watercolour paint, although the process from start to finish would have taken over 24hrs, there was lots of stuff already prepared, yet we were still shown each step and talked it over. We were supplied wit booklet full of all the step by step notes was perfect so I feel comfortable doing it at home. Although I was reassured I could email questions at any time. Equipment was very professional quality and clean too It was fun, we had some laughs, it was just magical. I can not recommend highly enough. Well worth the long drive!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you for leaving such a wonderful review Nicola! We're so glad you loved the workshop and it's great to hear that you feel confident to start making natural paints at home. Thank you for travelling such a long way to join us :) X"

Stephanie Lester reviewed: Introduction to Botanical Inks and Paints

"I loved the introduction to natural inks and paints course. Firstly the setting was perfect and Claudia is a very welcoming and knowlegable host and teacher. The course numbers are limited so you get very personal tuition. We made ink, oil paint and watercolour and we took samples away with us. I feel so inspired to equally grow plants and forage in our new home. I want to have jars of pigment on my shelf which represent my local area. I was the only one on the course that currently paints, so this course is not just for artists, it really is for anyone who is interested in their surroundings and how to naturally create inks, paints and pigments. Congratulations on such a wonderful course."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely and detailed review Stephanie (and to Steve for his posts on social media), it is hugely appreciated and so valuable to us, especially in these early days of introducing a new workshop. It was a pleasure to meet you, we’re delighted that you enjoyed the day and will really look forward to following progress with your new adventure! We’ve been busy saving seeds from our dye garden this year so do let us know if you’d like any and we can pop them in the post. Best wishes, Ellie & Claudia "

Hannah Boot reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"I had an absolutely fabulous time on this workshop. I've been weaving on a rigid heddle for a few years and wanted to try my hand at weaving on a shaft loom. It was as great as I expected and Ellie was a fantastic tutor. Had a great time. Thanks Ellie. 🙂"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Hannah. It was a real pleasure to meet you. Your weaving was beautiful, you're a natural! Thank you for coming 😊"

Jillian reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"Thanks to Ellie I had a fabulous 2 days of table loom weaving, learning how to set it up took one day and the next we progressed on to weaving and introducing patterns into our eork.She was so patient when I messed things up a bit! Not only a btillisnt course but Fisherton Mill is a pretty special venue. Would highly recommend. "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for coming Jillian, and for the lovely review. It was great to spend two days with you and your weaving was beautiful. Without the odd hiccup we'd never learn anything, and I was so impressed that you worked out how to get back on track so quickly! 😊"

Alex S reviewed: Introduction to Botanical Inks and Paints

"In recent years I've become increasingly aware of the chemicals in my conventional paints, and have been curious about learning how to make my own natural inks and paints. This workshop covered everything I wanted to learn and much more, from the equipment needed and sourcing the plants and minerals, through to the various different processes for creating inks, water colour and oil paints. I have to say that making oil paints from pigments was my favourite process, deeply satisfying! I'm amazed at the vibrancy and range of colours we produced in one day and would highly recommend this workshop to anyone with an interest in painting, colour or natural art materials. It is clear that Claudia has a background in teaching, the day was meticulously planned yet relaxed and friendly and we had a very useful handout of information to take home with us, along with all our colour experiments. I can't wait to start foraging for colour and can feel my artwork heading in a new direction. Thank you Claudia for a wonderful day!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely, detailed review Alex, it is hugely appreciated. I'm delighted that you got so much out of the workshop, it was a pleasure to meet you, and to see you paining with the natural colours. I'm looking forward to seeing your new work! Very best wishes, Claudia."

Nicola reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"A really informative introduction to natural dyeing, I learnt a lot and really enjoyed my day! The venue was lovely and we had endless cups of tea. A bonus was having a mini booklet to take home, a mini shibori dyed bag (that we dyed ourselves) and dye samples."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review Nicola. We're delighted that you enjoyed the day and feel that you've learnt a lot! "

Swati Khanna reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"I recently attended the 2 day table loom workshop and needless to say it was an amazing experience. I wanted to learn the basics of weaving for my work and it was just what I needed. Ellie is a wonderful teacher and so knowledgeable. I specifically wanted to work with Lambswool & she was happy to oblige. The whole experience was very therapeutic. Ellie made the environment so comfortable for everyone. I particularly liked the small group (it was only 4 of us) as she was able to give more attention to each one of us. I would highly recommend this course and Ellie is a very good teacher. "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Swati. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and spend two days immersed in textiles. Your colourful weaving was just beautiful, you're a natural!"

Helen T reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"The workshop was wonderful, Claudia was a great teacher and we were gently immersed into the world of natural dyeing. I learnt so much and feel I have now gained confidence to experiment at home with Natural dyeing . Totally recommend this workshop 😊"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Helen. We’re really glad you enjoyed the workshop, and that you feel confident to start experimenting at home 😊"

Liz Hanvey reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"This 2 day course exceeded my expectations! A lovely venue, small (just 4) class size, and most importantly an excellent tutor. Ellie’s enthusiasm, along with clear instructions kept each of us going at our individual pace. The time flew by, and we all learned so much- from choosing from a wide range of coloured thread, to warping the loom, to learning lots of different kinds of patterns on our sampler. My daughter and I attended the course together and had a thoroughly enjoyable and creative experience. For me, returning to weaving, having learnt 56 years ago (!), was an absolute joy. The whole process I would describe as therapeutic in that it can ignite parts of the brain as well as the body that may have been underused. Certainly that’s my experience. I highly recommend this course, and Ellie is a passionate and very encouraging teacher!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Liz. I'm so glad you enjoyed the workshop and I'm really looking forward to seeing where you take your weaving!"

Karen Clark reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"What a wonderful day I had learning to Inkle Weave with Ellie. She worked so incredibly hard to help those who were just learning and was full of encouragement to all who attended. I would love to attend another of Ellie’s courses - she is full of passion for weaving and that passion really shines through."

Kate H Bryant reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Another fabulous course delivered by the wonderful Ellie. Her passion for her skills shines through her teaching and is delivered with knowledge, empathy and humour. What a great day and run in a superb venue… Thank you"

Chris Roberts reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Ellie is an excellent teacher. Willing to help true beginners with the inevitable happy accidents! Loved my band that I made. Thoroughly recommend this course and artisan."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Chris. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you all and your weaving is just brilliant!"

Carol Glen reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"Well - if you want a day filled with fun and creativity, then this is the course for you. Ellie is a fantastic teacher- she is clear in her instructions, patient when you are struggling, encouraging to try new ideas. The venue was also lovely and talking to the others on the course was enjoyable. I thoroughly recommend and would love to go back again. Thank you Ellie."

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for the lovely review Carol! It was great to meet you and such a treat to spend the day weaving with you all, I'm delighted that you enjoyed it :) X"

Maya Katz reviewed: Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire

"I had a lush day at the frame loom weaving workshop, Ellie is a patient and clear teacher - she made an effort to spend time with everyone on whatever it was they wanted to focus on. Ellie has a vast knowledge on all things weaving and was really happy to share and answer any questions that came up. I came away with a completed piece that I was pleased with, some new techniques to play with at home, and happy to have met some lovely people too! I'd definitely recommend the workshop and hope to return one day to continue learning! "

Elka responded:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed review Maya, it is greatly appreciated. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the workshop, your weaving is really fantastic and it was lovely to spend the day with you :)"

Wendy reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"Really wonderful day. It was extremely informative and also extremely practical and made simple to understand so that by the time I left I felt I could confidently embark on using natural dyes at home. The tutor was so warm, kind and friendly and the Workshop was held in a beautiful location. There was also only a small group which meant the tuition felt personal. Thank you so much..I recommend 100% ( and 5 stars ) "

Elka responded:

"Hi Wendy, thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the day and you feel confident to get started at home. Very best wishes, Claudia."

JO reviewed: Introduction to Off-Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"As a true newbie to the world of weaving this was the perfect introduction. Ellie was so supportive, generous, and knowledgeable. The day was filled with learning, fun, creativity, and laughter. A great way to spend a Saturday and I went home chuffed with my projects and look forward to discovering more about this ancient craft from such a wonderful teacher, Ellie."

Niamh Macleod reviewed: Introduction to Natural Dyeing, Mere, Wiltshire

"This course has given me a great understanding of the possibilities of natural dyeing. We covered a lot of ground with the time we had and I left feeling inspired. Not only does Claudia give you materials/ notes to bring back with you but she also gives you resources to guide you if you want to learn more. She answered all of our many questions and provided a relaxed environment for us to learn in. I would 100% recommend this course to anyone who feels curious about the topic. "

jeannett stevenson reviewed: Introduction to Off-Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"Thank you Ellie for your amazing course, me and my friend absolutely loved it ✨ Everything was super organized, you were lovely and full of patience and information. I had never done any weaving before, but I still feel I came home with a little piece of woven treasure. Thank you x"

Anne reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"A huge thank you to Ellie for a fantastic day's weaving with wonderful women. I'm now completely hooked on inkle weaving and cannot wait to get my hands on my very own inklet loom. This type of weaving was very accessible, I was thrilled to have a beautiful completed work by the end of the day. Ellie explained everything clearly and was on hand for whenever we got stuck. We received a great handbook to take home and refer to at a later stage. Fisherton Mill was a lovely venue and we enjoyed a fabulous healthy lunch and an indulgent piece of cake! I would thoroughly recommend this course to all my friends."

Milli reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"I love working from home & in my studio, outdoors a favourite. This was such a treat to go to Fisherton Mill & experience an inkle-weave workshop with other fabulous people. We got instructions pre- course for those who want to be prepared. I like being spontaneous and seeing where the colours and course takes me. I love the result of my skinny weave. Goes with my running hat/ top hat & my dog’s collar. I just need to weave more for shoelaces. I can’t wait to do some freehand embroidery with the off-cuts & even some bracelets. Lots of possibilities. Ellie is a dream to work with. She makes you feel relaxed, no matter what stage you are at as a beginner or intermediate knitter - she will support you. The conversion flowed well and we were all in fits of laughter Amazing groups of women Colour Pop 🌈⚡️💙🌿"

Toni Sullivan reviewed: Introduction to Inkle Loom Weaving Workshop, Salisbury

"This is the best course I've been on. Ellie was incredibly hospitable, organised and inspiring. Ellie used a rich, visual language to explain what we were doing, with bespoke literature which she had created precisely for the workshop. She's incredibly calm, and helpful and has this wonderful energy. Even when I felt unsure and needed help I didn't have any anxiety in asking for support. I'm so surprised I actually came away with a finished piece of weave - Ellie really knows what she is doing and I came away feeling as though I really understood weaving on a whole new level. Not only was the workshop amazing but the location, the food and hospitality of the venue was fantastic. I travelled from Winchester to Salisbury for the workshop. It was absolutely worth it and I can't wait to do another workshop soon"

Felicity M reviewed: Introduction to table loom weaving, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury - Two day workshop

"My daughter and I took Ellie’s 2 day table loom weaving course in December 2023. We enjoyed it very much - Ellie was extremely welcoming, and she had prepared everything perfectly. The range of yarns and patterns she had available for us to try were very inspiring and fun. Ellie is a great teacher - she demonstrated and explained all the steps we needed to do clearly, and was very patient and kind when we took a bit longer to understand! She was flexible too and allowed us each to go at our own pace, allowing us time to absorb and put what we were learning into practice. A very enjoyable course which we would definitely recommend. Thank you Ellie!"

Elka responded:

"Thank you Felicity for taking the time to leave such a lovely and detailed review! I'm so glad you both enjoyed the workshop, it was a pleasure to spend two days weaving with you. Very best wishes, Ellie "