Latest reviews

Liz reviewed: Small needle felted animals or pictures

"Had a splendid day and created what i consider to be a very good hare. Very relaxed and supportive atmosphere with all you need provided and as much or as little guidance as you need. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Barbara as a teacher."

Feltworld - Creative Arts responded:

"Thank you Liz :-). Loved your cute hare. If you want any advice on refining the detail, please let me know. Barbara"

Kirsty Sneddon reviewed: Festive soap and cream making with The Scottish Soapworks

"A fantastic day in beautiful surroundings, and the warmest welcome from both Lynn and Jenny. I loved the relaxed atmosphere and everyone was very friendly and we all worked well together. Refreshments throughout the day and a wonderful lunch. So glad I booked my place and highly recommend to anyone looking to start making homemade soap. I'm not the most creative, but the craft table had so much choice, I loved the packaging I made for my soap Thanks again ladies for a wonderful day. Kirsty"

The Arienas Collective responded:

"Hello Kirsty. Thank you so much for your lovely review, and glad to hear you enjoyed your day with us so much. We believe there's a creative inside everyone just waiting to get out - so it's great to know that you surprised yourself with your gift wrapping skills! We thought you did amazingly well. Hope to welcome you back another time. Lynn :-)"

Sarah South reviewed: Introducing Macrame Knots and Intricate Designs

"Myself and my two teenage daughters completed this workshop with Mary yesterday. Mary was a good teacher, and generously provided us with tea and biscuits. She gave us 1:1 support and all three of us were very pleased with the little wall hangings we made and brought home. My daughters have instructed me to buy macramé materials so they can make more, which will hopefully get them off their phones and ipads. Thank you Mary."

Craig nisbet reviewed: Making a mosaic with slate

"Rachel was fantastic and very welcoming. Everything we needed was provided and were spoiled for choice with so many options of different slate and glass available. Rachel’s instruction was excellent, and she was happy to give as much or as little input as you wanted. Would definitely recommend, thanks again!"

Bee reviewed: Customised Resin Crafting with Cricut Workshop

"Absolutely fantastic day. Really informative and fun. Good ground knowledge now to carry on independently and explore this amazing craft further. Clare was so lovely and very patient with us all, highly recommend this course. Another big plus was having a shop on site, so can purchase all you need to carry on at home. Thanks Clare ? Waiting on the info for the jewellery day, need to come back!"

Resin8 responded:

"Yay - thank you so much!!"

Jess Hughes reviewed: Blacksmith experience day in Bristol with Joanna Williams, Fire Iron Art

"What a great day - Jo and her workshop are truly inspiring. I learnt loads. Excellent tuition, safety, encouragement and expertise. I highly recommend this fabulous course. Do it!"

Fire Iron Art Blacksmithing responded:

"It was a pleasure to teach you Jess! You picked everything up really well and created some great pieces including your stunning Dragonfly sculpture. Best wishes Joanna"

Jo Martin reviewed: Two day needle felting a wired armature animal

"I really enjoyed this course at Clearspace studios, the other participants were really friendly and it was all very professional with great facilities and lovely refreshments and a lovely local cafe for supplying lunches. Karin is an excellent inspiring teacher and gave me the confidence to make a needle felt otter. She was very generous with her knowledge and equipment and this was reflected in the amazing felted animals that were made over the two days. I am really looking forward to trying my new skills out at home now."

Graham Aymes reviewed: Bladesmithing Experience Day

"Very interesting everything was explained well from the forging of the blade to final grinding and finishing by polishing. I have used knives for the past 60 years but I have never had one as sharp as the one I made. It still cuts a sheet of paper cleanly by holding the paper on edge and slicing it through. I can recommend the course. Many thanks. Graham Aymes."

Graham Aymes reviewed: ** SPECIAL OFFER ** 10% off - Bladesmithing Experience Day - Wiltshire

"Very interesting everything was explained well from the forging of the blade to final grinding and finishing by polishing. I have used knives for the past 60 years but I have never had one as sharp as the one I made. It still cuts a sheet of paper cleanly by holding the paper on edge and slicing it through. I can recommend the course. Many thanks. Graham Aymes."

Lesley Nisbet reviewed: Making a mosaic with slate

"Thoroughly enjoyed this course. Rachel was great and gave as much or as little direction as each individual wanted. She is very knowledgeable and has a lovely encouraging manner. Though this was my first time working with slate I was delighted with the tile I produced."

David Purnell reviewed: Creating a Viking knife an introduction to forging and knife making at Bearded Pig Forge

"A really enjoyable and rewarding day with Spike, he was welcoming, informative and great fun. Something i’d been looking forward to and it didn’t disappoint. Looking forward to the next course already."

Terence sullivan reviewed: Wooden Pendant Carving with Giles Newman

"Just come back from a course with Giles and I must say it was absolutely fantastic. Giles and his lovely wife make you welcome and at ease from the start. The way Giles engages with you and how he explains the methods he uses are easy to follow. Never having done any wood carving before it was great having someone to encourage you and also taking the time to show you how to solve small mistakes was refreshing. Thank you so much."

Lawrence standen reviewed: Rustic oak garden bench - one day course

"Fantastic way to spent a cold winter day. A warm fire to walk to before starting then offerings all day of hot drinks. Then comes the course. A delight for any ecoerince of woodwork or enthusiast. Starting with making a rustic wooden mallet from locally sourced ash from bradgate making it with hand tools. Then making a stool with it and the tools from wood also sourced from bradgate. Help all the way and the experience of his carpentry skills and knowledge is incredible. Reccomend for all!!!"

Robin Chisnall reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"Absolutely wonderful class in a charming setting!! This course can’t be faulted and I’ll certainly be doing it again along with several friends. Thank you for a fantastic day!!"

David Gavini reviewed: Creative Vibe - Glassblowing Sessions

"A fantastic course. Ricky was very attentive and patient with us. Would highly recommend to anyone who is tempted to get a taste of glass blowing. The class is very small max 3 so you get plenty of 1 to 1 time and benefit from learning more techniques as you get through the day."

Ken Charman reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"Arrived at Firebird Forge through sleet & snow on 1st February 2019. A one to one lesson with Mort as a 70th birthday present. I had not done any blacksmithing since making a toasting fork at school in 1962. By the time I left I had produced a viking knife, a marine Ka-Bar style knife & my own blacksmith's tongs. I also left with a lot of new practical knowledge which scratched the surface of the blacksmith's skills. During the day Mort had taken me through the art of drawing out, upsetting, riveting, tapering, hole punching, hardening, tempering and the magic skill of forge welding. All this & the proper use of the anvil & its accessories, hand tools, especially hammers & power hammers, along with explaining the different types of welding, arc, mig & tig. He also explained the difference in types of iron & steel, based on their carbon content & how the molecules react to heat & hammering. I also managed to burn a piece of high carbon steel (ie it burnt in two, due to too much heat. Mort soon rectified my error and saved the piece. (more knowledge learnt from errors). We also discussed the various steels of the old sword makers. Toledo, Damascus (Wootz steel) & Tamahagane. Mort is a very knowledgable & highly skilled blacksmith who is passionate about his art. I went home with a lot more skill & knowledge than when I arrived. The following morning I knew I had had my monies worth. I was cream-crackered. Thanks Mort."

Bev reviewed: Introduction to candle-making as a business

"Loved this course. Jo is extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. She makes the course lots of fun, giving help and advice when needed. You come away with lots of beautiful candles/melts, all smelling absolutely devine as you get to choose the fragrance you want from Jo's vast collection. I would highly recommend Jo and this course to anyone, beginner or otherwise."

Jane Craven reviewed: Needle felted Dogs & Cats in (Halifax)

"Fantastic tuition, great atmosphere, thoroughly enjoyable course. Venue was easy to find with plenty of parking, beautiful building, hot drinks, fruit and biscuits provided by our lovely instructor Jo, will definitely attend more of Jo's courses, I was a total beginner but now have confidence to felt animals at home, brilliant!"

Isabel reviewed: Beginner's DIY Hand Sanitiser Natural Soap Course

"Had a very enjoyable experience, made better by the fact Roxana is very knowledgeable and experienced on the subject of soap making and is a lovely person too! A mixture of learning and practical engagement during the class, there was constant guidance throughout with the opportunity to ask lots of questions. As stated, good quality ingredients were used and choices to personalise the soap made. Very affordable and a great chance to learn the basics and an excellent foundation to do it yourself and start a new hobby. Would HIGHLY recommend."

Nigel Rees reviewed: Introduction to woodturning: one to one

"I had not done any woodturning before, until I spent the day with Bill in his very comfortable workshop, which I understand Bill built himself. It’s lovely and well equipped with woodturning lathes and Saws etc. I really like the kettle which appears to have no off switch. Bill found my level and would give me tuition then it was up to me to copy the demonstration he had just shown me. Time was never an issue and Bill has patience and extremely good depth of knowledge which he is more than willing to share. I had a great day and took my bowl home, which I was very proud off. I intend to go again, it was very rewarding, Thanks Bill."

Siobhan Robbins reviewed: Fused Glass workshops at Bere Alston, near Tavistock, Devon

"I enjoyed a great day with Wendy on this full day glass fusing workshop. The studio is lovely and bright, and there are so many different materials and beautiful glasses to use. Wendy is a brilliant teacher, we started from scratch as I was a complete beginner, but I quickly gained confidence and am so pleased with the final piece I produced. Would definitely recommend and look forward to returning soon. Thank you Wendy!"

Siobhan Robbins reviewed: Fused Glass workshops at Bere Alston, near Tavistock, Devon

"I enjoyed a great day with Wendy on this full day glass fusing workshop. The studio is lovely and bright, and there are so many different materials and beautiful glasses to use. Wendy is a brilliant teacher, we started from scratch as I was a complete beginner, but I quickly gained confidence and am so pleased with the final piece I produced. Would definitely recommend and look forward to returning soon. Thank you Wendy!"

Mark Lerman reviewed: Jewellery Workshop ~ 3 Hrs ~ (Beginners & Refreshers)

"Booked a wire bending class as a gift for my mum. Nicky could not have been any better with her comunication and was also more than accommodating with the offer of several dates to suit us. Her gift certificate came via registered post quickly and was much better than all other vouchers I've recived in bith quality and presentation. E-mails with full course information were also sent in a timely manner.. As for the course its self. My mum had a brilliant time beong given excellent 1 to 1 tuition with nicky who is a highly attentive and patient instructor especially as my mum was a newcomer to this sort of thing.. All in all a brilliant experience with booking this class and a super teacher to boot..would definitely recommend booking classes with nicky."

JEWELLERY KITS & SILVER BITS responded:

"How wonderful that you are are so pleased with the booking system and voucher and that you are happy to confirm how much your Mum enjoyed the Jewellery Workshop too! The comments you have added are so complimentary, thank you for taking the time to add these. I really appreciate these, but it also gives others, that are considering booking a Jewellery Workshop with me, an idea of the standard of workshop to expect when they book on too. So, thanks again! Nicky Gee AET"

Joanna V reviewed: Leather Crossbody/Messenger or Tote bag

"I would highly recommend the Crossbody Bag course. Richard is a skilled, knowledgeable and patient teacher who gives invaluable guidance in order for one to make their own bag. This is the second course I have undertaken at his studio as I enjoyed the first one so much and gained so many skills. I now have a stunning bag which I was able to customise and tailor to my own preference. I look forward to using my newfound skills again now I have greater understanding of the craft. Thank you Richard!"