Latest reviews

Workshop organiser reviewed: Figurative sculpture 2 day course: sculpt a plaster cast

"I have to say you were amazing Lydia, the students loved it! You certainly know your craft, very professional and encouraging."

Workshop student reviewed: Figurative sculpture 2 day course: sculpt a plaster cast

"Four evenings of highly enjoyable and intensive sculpting with Lydia surpassed all of my expectations. Previous pottery classes gave me the basics, but her teaching and considerate approach took my work to a much higher level. If I had the opportunity to work with Lydia again I would do so in the knowledge that I would continue to develop my potential!"

Anon reviewed: Figurative sculpture 2 day course: sculpt a plaster cast

"I completed work experience with Lydia, she was an amazing teacher and not only taught me moulding and sculpting skills but showed me what it was like in the art industry by taking me to studios such as Pinewood and Leavesden. She has also helped me with my university portfolio by suggesting what order my pieces should be in, what to add/remove and also tips for the actual interview."

Annie reviewed: Sculpture kit: the original stay home kit for sculptors

"This is such a comprehensive and well planned out course for complete beginners and more advanced sculptors like myself just wanting a ‘personal sculptor trainer’ to keep me creatively motivated at home at times of my own choosing. Lydias teaching style is really clear and I love her ‘can do’ attitude and comprehensive instruction manual. This course would make a brilliant present for someone special!"

Jackie Percivall reviewed: Online Class - Beginner Rag Rug Techniques - Including Tools worth £26

"I really enjoyed this workshop - it was a present from my daughter. Tools/material arrived prior to the day, emails and phone calls to check all ok. Zoom worked really well and Elspeth was brilliant explaining everything clearly. I finished my sunflower and feel very proud - planning my next project now. Thank you"

Ragged Life Ltd responded:

"Thank you Jackie, I'm so pleased you enjoyed the workshop, we can't wait to see what you create, keep in touch. Happy Rag Rugging, Elspeth"

Janice Brinley Codd reviewed: Online Class - Beginner Rag Rug Techniques - Including Tools worth £26

"Elspeth, very patiently, took us through the basic steps and enabled us all to feel confident that we could finish the sunflower project very easily on our own. I finished mine today and was very pleased with the outcome."

Ragged Life Ltd responded:

"Thank you Janet, I'm so pleased you found the workshop useful and that you're pleased with your finished sunflower. Make sure you send us pictures of any future creations. Happy Rag Rugging, Elspeth x"

Sarah reviewed: Easy peasy grow your own food - Thursdays

"Kim is definitely one of the new breed of gardeners so needed at the moment. I came away feeling totally inspired and motivated by her knowledge and positive attitude. Having done a course with Kim before I found myself referring to her book and as a result found my confidence in the garden growing ( excuse the pun ) Nothing like having this expert advice online though."

Alex reviewed: Virtual Candle Making Masterclass and Kit - London Refinery Studio

"This was a wonderful experience - the course was conducted with live online tuition using a craft kit previously posted to us (which was gorgeous). Lucy was a fantastic teacher - warm, engaging, encouraging and knowledgable. She gave us loads of really helpful tips. This 'stay at home' course certainly ignited my passion for essential oils and candle making, not to mention the fact that I felt socially connected again. Thanks Lucy :-)"

The London Refinery responded:

"Thank you so much Alex."

John Williams reviewed: Easy peasy grow your own food - Thursdays

"This was my first online course. I found it engaging and insightful and will definitely be signing up to future courses with Kim. I definitely recommend giving it a go"

Di Featherstone reviewed: Upholstery for beginners

"I joined this upholstery course in September 2019 and have thoroughly enjoyed every session. I was surprised at how much I learned in such a short time, all due to Julian’s patience and great knowledge of the subject. I also enjoyed meeting other enthusiasts and watching their progress week by week. To date I have upholstered the seat of a stool and am currently working on quite a complicated button back Victorian chair. Julian has supported me through webbing and re-springing this chair from scratch and I am looking forward to the next stages in the process. I am so pleased to have discovered Julian and his upholstery sessions and can’t wait to resume work on my chair as soon as this Coronavirus crisis is over. I would recommend these classes to anyone who is looking to learn new skills (or update previous ones) and who are perhaps interested in meeting new people with similar interests. Three hours to look forward to each week!!! Thank you Julian. Hope to see you and the others very soon!"

Caroline Anderson reviewed: Beginner's DIY Hand Sanitiser Natural Soap Course

"A friend recomended I take Roxana's online course because I wanted to learn to make soap and didn't know which course had all the correct information I need. I was not dissapointed! I have learned so much and I love the olive oil soap formula she included in the course."

Stephen Roebuck reviewed: Beginner's DIY Hand Sanitiser Natural Soap Course

"I always had the desire to learn about natural soaps but was always too busy and didn’t find the time. With lockdown I had no excuse, so took the online course and was surprised how enjoyable, informative and easy it was. I love my lemon soap and will never go back to shop soap again. Thanks Roxi for educating me and helping me realise that I am not too old to learn. Get involved for those sitting on the fence."

Caroline Tyzack reviewed: Candle Making Course with Belisama Candles (A Peta approved brand )

"Had a lovely afternoon my daughter bought it for me as a Mother’s Day presents. Sharon was great very knowledgable and explained everything in great detail, have enjoyed carrying on making Candles"

Belisama Candles responded:

"Hey caroline, thanks for taling time to review my course, so pleased you enjoyed and carried on making, keep enjoying sharon ?"

Lianne jones reviewed: Candle Making Course with Belisama Candles (A Peta approved brand )

"I had a fantastic time on the candle making course, I attended with my mum and we thoroughly enjoyed. sharon was so knowledgeable and helpful during the course. Highly recommended"

Belisama Candles responded:

"Lianne was my pleasure, and glad you and your lovely mum enjoyed, thanks gor the lovely review, sharon ?"

Rhian reviewed: Candle Making Course with Belisama Candles (A Peta approved brand )

"Sharon's courses are great. Very relaxed and friendly. Sharon is very easy going and also and expert in her field. I highly recommend the course it fun informal and highly satisfying when you take your finished products home. Best Candles around."

Belisama Candles responded:

"Hey Rhian Lovely review, many thanks, so glad you enjoyed, great student ?"

Sarah-Jayne reviewed: Blacksmith experience day in Bristol with Joanna Williams, Fire Iron Art

"I recieved the blacksmith day as a birthday gift and I somewhat apprehensive on arrival. Turns out my worries were totaly unfounded. Not only did I find Joanna to be a phenomenally skilled blacksmith but she is also a talented and gifted teacher. Her methodical, patient approach led to me leaving with items I made that I can be truly proud of (rather than hidding in a drawer!). I learnt so much in just one day. I would highly recomend the course, not only did I get to try out a number of techniques but I also came away really understanding and appriciating the skills of someone gifted in their craft. Thanks Joanna."

Gaye Easton reviewed: Rag Rug Workshops - Trowbridge, Wiltshire

"Really comprehensive workshop with clear instructions throughout. I received a beginners pack in the post with all the tools and a selection of fabrics included ahead of the booked date, an email with the instructions for how to download the app and join in the workshop and all the help necessary to make the technical side as easy as possible. I had no idea old clothes/fabrics could be so useful or so exciting, totally inspired to get cracking. Thank you Elspeth. ?"

Ragged Life Ltd responded:

"Thanks Gaye, we can't wait to see what you create, keep in touch. Happy Rag Rugging, Elspeth"

Sue Seear reviewed: Online Class - Beginner Rag Rug Techniques - Including Tools worth £26

"I really enjoyed this course. Zoom went perfectly and I had received everything I needed to start in the post beforehand. Elspeth was confident, friendly and easy to follow. These are not courses provided just for the lock-down! It's easy to see that Elspeth has been holding in person workshops for a while. I now have the confidence to have a go on my own, and Ragged Life has online tutorials newsletters and advice if we need it. Also they sell the tools and fabrics. Give it a go!"

Ragged Life Ltd responded:

"Thanks Sue, it was a pleasure to teach you, I'm so glad you found the class enjoyable. Keep in touch and show us your Rag Rug creations. Happy Rag Rugging, Elspeth"

Diane reviewed: Paint a Springtime scene in Acrylics

"Absolutely fantastic. I have watched all the lessons and took notes to self. Will watch again and start painting soon."

Gillian Paterson reviewed: Online Class - How to Design a Rag Rug

"Elspeth is a very enthusiastic teacher, she obviously loves her subject. She has a lot of knowledge of the subject which she inparts in a very clear and informative way. She had lots if hints and tips to pass on based on her experiences of rag rugging. I found the whole session hugely enjoyable and finished full of enthusiasm wanting to get started on my own project as soon as possible. I felt I gained a lot of useful information which I can put to use in my own projects. Highly recommended."

Ragged Life Ltd responded:

"Hi Gillian, It was such a pleasure teaching you. I'm so so glad that you found the session useful and I can't wait to see your creations. Keep up the good work! Happy rag rugging, Elspeth x"

Lynn reviewed: Branch Weaving

"We loved doing this! My kids are 10, 8 and 4 and it’s great how you can adapt the difficulty according to their abilities. My disabled daughter loved choosing colours and weaving in grasses and yarn too. We displayed the finished branches together as a « weaving tree » on the wall and were really delighted with how it worked out. Highly recommend !"

Elka responded:

"Hi Lynn, thank you so much for the lovely review, i'm so glad you've enjoyed it! I'm just about to put a few more up on here. Very best wishes, Ellie"

Suzy K reviewed: Everlasting, never fading beautiful acrylic resin flowers to make at home.

"I bought an acrylic flower-making kit as a gift. Abigail and team went the extra mile with special wrapping and personalised contents. It was a wonderful gift. Highly recommended."

Inion responded:

"Thank you for such a lovely review Suzy, and I am glad that the flower making kit was so well received. We are making new kits all the time so it was so good to know that they are liked."

Suki Baynton reviewed: Leather earring making kit, jewellery making

"I was so excited to receive my earring kit and I wasn't disappointed. It comes neatly packaged, with clear and simple instructions, templates and a gorgeous selection of coloured leather. I have already made one pair and I will be ordering some more jump hoops as I have plenty of leather left to make more. I thoroughly recommend this kit, it is excellent value and was great fun to complete! Thanks Rosanna! Suki"

Rosanna Clare responded:

"Hi Suki, Thanks for the glowing review! So glad you enjoyed using the kit! Would love to see some pictures of what you have made if possible? Thanks Rosanna"

Layla reviewed: Spoon carving course - from log to spoon with Jeffrey Hart

"I'll never look at a spoon in the same way again. Jeffrey's workshop was my first attempt at making anything out of wood other than a fire. We started with a spoon-blank and were coached through the different types of cut, Jeffrey's steady instruction and individual attention kept us safe, and improved my clumsy technique. In the afternoon we learned how to axe our own blank from the log itself and then had a whole new spoon to create. The instructions were clear, the banter fun and both coffee and biscuits were plentiful. More than that I came away with brand new skill - I love carving spoons! Warning: this activity is addictive."

Deborah Watson reviewed: Silver Fidget Ring Workshop

"Helen made sure we had all the information we needed before getting to the studio so that everything ran super smoothly right from the start. Such a relaxed feel to the class, everyone was able to choose their own style and variations to their rings with expert guidance from Helen with any questions. Helen clearly knows her stuff but teaches in a very natural and calm way. A very enjoyable day and can't wait to come back to make more beautiful jewellery."