Northern Wood Monkey reviews

Peter Horrabin reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"Visited Steve on 20/3/24 to try my hand at turning a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe. What a great experience it was working with Steve as he is extremely knowledgeable about this subject and has the patience of a saint. I would recommend this to anyone who fancies trying their hand at something different. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Pete Thanks for your kind review. It was a pleasure turning with you and I am glad you enjoyed the day, and made such a great bowl too. All the best Steve"

Nick R reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"Steve's spoon carving course was really excellent and highly enjoyable. All the chopping, cutting & carving techniques were clearly explained and demonstrated so that we were able to use the tools effectively and, most importantly, safely. It was also fascinating to gain an insight into how the wood was sourced from Steve's woodland and prepared for use. I came away with a new appreciation of the craft involved in working with green wood - and a desire to continue in the future. Many thanks to Steve for a brilliant day - highly recommended!"

Neville Harrison reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"A brilliant experience. I was a total beginner and learnt so much across the day. It was so fulfilling to produce a spoon. "

Rachel reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"Had a great afternoon at spoon carving course. Excellent tutor who was knowledgeable, helpful and patient with all who were present. Would highly recommend. Thanks."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Rachel. It was great to carve with you, and what a fabulous spoon you made too! I hope it is the beginning of lots more creativity for you"

Nigel jackson reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

" The spoon carving course was fantastic and very informative on all aspects of the subject. Steve was very patient and explained his art very eloquently, often digressing onto other subjects to emphasise a point (blade sharpening, grit sizes, stropping, makes of tools etc) he even sent us links to all the items mentioned in our conversations. Price is also very reasonable. Steve is a true Gentleman and a fantastic teacher. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Nigel. It was great to meet you both and to carve together. I hope it is the beginning of lots more creativity for you."

Tonia reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"Amazing time at Clara Vale with Steve today. Excellent and knowledgeable teacher and we both are hooked!! Very pleased with all we have learnt and our amazing spoons. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks so much Tonia, it was great to meet you both and get you onto the carving buzz"

Neil reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"A fabulous day turning a bowl. Steve is an excellent tutor (with the patience of a saint!) and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Neil It was great to turn a bowl with you and to hear that you are looking to carry it on at home too. It is such a rewarding way to work. All the best. Steve"

ALBERT reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"Very knowledgeable, welcoming , friendly atmosphere. A good introduction to the hobby of wood carving. He teaches you a couple of techniques of cutting to get you started and make a spoon in a couple of hours."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Albert. Good to meet you today and to see you find your carving groove. So glad you enjoyed the day"

Teresa Hewitt reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"Absolutely loved this course. Steve was very informative and professional. There is a coffee shop next door if you are using the Clara Vale community centre."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Teresa, I am so glad you enjoyed the workshop on Saturday. It was a pleasure carving with you all and creating such lovely spoons"

Adam Bolton reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"A great day of one to one guidance on how to make a bowl on a traditional pole lathe. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible to come away with a usable bowl, but with Steve’s teaching and guidance I managed. A really enjoyable day, which has inspired me to build my own pole lathe and crack on with some more bowls!"

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Adam, It was great to turn with you last week, and what a fabulous bowl you made! I hope it is just the beginning of a journey into wood working and hope to catch up again sometime"

John reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"This was a wonderful introduction to carving and the tools used, taught in a lovely location. Steve was a great teacher who clearly enjoyed sharing his craft and everyone had a super time with a useful item to take away at day end. Thank you! PS - Carving is so relaxing and engaging. Give it a try!"

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi John. So glad to hear that you enjoyed the day, and made a great spoon to take home too. Many more carving days to come I hope"

Thomas Douglas reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"A brilliant way to spend a day! Our instructor Steve was really insightful and the whole experience was just fantastic. Not only did I leave with a lovely spoon but also a bunch of great tips and tricks for any future carvings. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Thomas. So glad that you enjoyed the day and you should be proud of your spoon too, some great creative carving went on. "

Seasn Costello reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"Would not hesitate to recommend. A lovely relaxed but interesting and informative day. Steve is an excellent teacher and his skill and enthusiasm shines through. Nice coffee as well. 👍"

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Sean, so glad that you enjoyed the day, and headed home with a great spoon too. No day is complete without coffee!"

Alan reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"I attended this course two days ago after having been given it by my children for Christmas. I have to say that it far exceeded my expectations and I had a wonderful day. Steve was a most welcoming host and a very good teacher. Lots of tuition on how to complete each step of the spoon making process with plenty of appropriate guidance on how to handle the axes and knives safely. We were there for 7 hours, but it felt like 2 or 3 which shows how absorbing the day was. I am a complete novice as I think were the other 5 attendees, but we all came away with a rustic spoon having started from a chunk of wood. Extremely satisfying."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Alan It was a pleasure carving with you and I am so glad you enjoyed the day. It's always satisfying to see people create their own spoon from a simple billet of wood through the day."

Harry Stephenson reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"I couldn't recommend this course enough! Having no experience with a lathe, electric or foot powered, it can feel a little intimidating at first but this feeling quickly dissipates after some instruction and guidance from the tutor Steve. He's a fantastic, patient tutor and an absolute font of knowledge when it comes to the craft of pole turning as well as other traditional crafts. I really learnt so much and I came away with a beautiful Sycamore bowl which I'm very excited to get some walnut oil on and some breakfast in, once it's dried out. All in all its a lovely day out at Steve's allotment (even in the brisk of winter) with good crack, good soup, plenty of sweat and a beautiful bowl you can call your own."

Charlie reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"Very enjoyable course. Steve is a patient, knowledgeable teacher who clearly has a lot of passion for his craft. Highly recommended."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Charlie. I was great to see you getting to grips with the lathe and making a really nice bowl at the end of the day. Hope to see you on another course one day"

Alex reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"My husband and I attended this course, learning how to turn a Sycamore bowl on a pole lathe from scratch at Steve's workshop and we loved every minute. We're so pleased with our bowls and the process was such a joy to learn. Steve is clearly an extremely skilled craftsman and a very personable, patient teacher. We'll definitely be doing more wood turning!"

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Alex, so glad you and Dave had a good day turning. It was a joy to watch you get to grips with the tools and the lathe, and so quickly, and both bowls are excellent. I look forward to catching up again at a greenwood event somewhere."

Joe reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"Steve is a great bloke, so knowledgeable and passionate and also so good at sharing that knowledge and passion making it very accessible for all. I had a great learning to turn for the first time, and left with a bowl I will cherish (and use) for many years to come! Thanks Steve 👍 "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Joe, it was great turning with you, and I am so glad you enjoyed the day. The craft has a way of drawing people into its spell as they connect with the material and the tools over the day."

Philip Robinson reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"I absolutely loved my bowl turning day. My wife bought it for me as a gift and it is one of the happiest days I’ve spent in a long time. Steve is a brilliant teacher, but as well as that it feels like a step back in time to a simpler age where communities and craftspeople lived slower and kinder lives. And at the end of the day I have a most wonderful bowl that I made myself. I am inordinately proud of it. Thank you so much Steve. I loved it so much I bought the same craft course for my brother’s birthday. He’s there today making his own bowl!"

Angela Harrington reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"I attended the workshop as a complete novice and Steve was superb! Friendly and welcoming, clear demonstration and instructions at every stage, supportive throughout and he very easily shared his knowledge with each of the participants and answered questions according to their ability and skills (some had previously attended courses or worked with wood in some way, for example). Venue and space was perfect. I came away not only with my own rustic spoon but with respect and admiration for Steve and others working with wood, to create beautiful objects and tools to treasure. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Angela. I was a pleasure to carve with you and I am so glad you enjoyed the day."

Maria reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"Bought this course for hubbie’s birthday and it was brilliant! Such a lovely day with Steve who was so patient, calm and encouraging. As an observer, I had a lovely day too - what a tonic to be in a peaceful setting, close to nature, appreciating a magical heritage craft. Thoroughly recommend this experience. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Hi Maria and Phil. So glad you both enjoyed the day, from different perspectives, as the maker and the observer. In many ways the craft does all the work for me, drawing a person in, with both mental and physical focus and attention on the tools and materials in hand. "

Sam S reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"Really nice session going through the process of Whittling and learning all the different techniques, Steve was a great teacher and had a wealth of knowledge on various other woodland crafts. The atmosphere and space were also really pleasant and relaxed."

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Sam. It was a pleasure to meet and carve with you. It sounds like you want to continue your creative crafting journey and I wish you the best for it."

Ella Wear reviewed: Beginners spoon carving taster session

"We had a great afternoon learning a whole range of techniques, and coming away with our own spoons- such good fun and a lovely afternoon spent chatting and learning a new skill"

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Ella. It was a pleasure carving with you and your family, and what fabulous spoons you all made."

Hazel reviewed: Turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe

"This was the most interesting and enjoyable day and the setting was perfectly situated. Steve was very inspiring, patient and knowledgeable and encouraged me throughout the day. This was the first time I had approached a lathe and I was somewhat apprehensive but with plenty of support I was able to produce what I considered to be a beautiful beech bowl which was an object of surprise and pride. It was lovely to step away from everyday life and immerse myself in something quite different and challenging. I would definitely encourage anyone to give it a go . "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"It was a pleasure to turn a bowl with you Hazel. I am so glad you enjoyed the day, and indeed you have a fabulous bowl of your own. "

Dave reviewed: Beginners spoon carving course

"Excellent day's experience, and despite the axes and sharp knives, we still have all our fingers thanks to Steve's great tuition and patience. A great day of wood carving and a new skill learned in a lovely relaxing atmosphere. We will be definitely booking another course, in the near future. "

Northern Wood Monkey responded:

"Thanks Dave. It was great to meet you both on Sunday. So glad you enjoyed the day and have new skills to take forward"