Latest reviews

24 Jul 18'

Carol Bladon reviewed: Blacksmithing for Beginners - Full Day Forging for One

"Enjoyed a wonderful day learning some of the basics of forging and came away having learnt a larger variety of skills than I might have expected. Chris explained each step of the process before demonstrating and then advising my attempts, as necessary. With such expert tuition it was then very satisfying to know that I had completed all the work myself. Thank you very much, Chris for your time and patience and a very enjoyable day."

24 Jul 18'

Sandra reviewed: Silver clay beginners course - Lori Ridgway

"Such a lovely morning! Lori is so friendly and generous with her time, expertise and tea and biscuits! I loved every minute, so inspiring."

24 Jul 18'

Graham Urquhart reviewed: Learn to carve wooden spoons, beginners and improvers

"Great guidance managed to produce a reasonable spoon and no injuries! Amazed at the fine detail possible with an axe and hard to stop trying to improve the effect even when we were really finished. A fantastic introduction to spoon carving, or to hand carving in general. Great guidance on tools and their maintenance too."

24 Jul 18'

Harry Gwatkin reviewed: Three day blacksmithing course

"In September this year I will be going to study Blacksmithing and metal work in Holme Lacy College. A tutor from the course reccomended Pete Smith to me, Ive done 3 three day courses with Pete. Throughtout the days I was with him I learnt so much more from what I knew from the beginning. He is an amazing person, very understandable, but also an excellent teacher, I am really grateful of how he's helped me on my journey to become a blacksmith a little easier, and that I recognize the differences of metal, or certain temperatures for certain bends etc."

24 Jul 18'

hazel mackenzie reviewed: Hand-Spinning & Natural Dyeing Retreat, Highlands, Scotland

"What a fantastic week we had on the dye to spin course with the amazing Rosie. Great company, great surroundings as well as learning new skills The week was made by Rosie. She is really an exceptionally gifted facilitator who worked so well with the group and made it fun...even the hard bits It is the fourth course I have done with her ....fortunately I am not a gifted crafter and so no doubt will come back again to sample the special magic that Rosie weaves!!"

24 Jul 18'

Denise Nordenhall reviewed: Fused Glass workshops at Bere Alston, near Tavistock, Devon

"A thoroughly enjoyable day, in a beautiful environment. Learnt a great deal. Really pleased with my finished piece. Wendy was a joy to spend the day with."

24 Jul 18'

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

"I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Wendy's studio is light and airy, a very pleasant space to work in. Wendy is well organised and attentive. The day was well planned and carefully tailored to give an individual learning experience. You will just love the glorious colours of this beautiful medium."

24 Jul 18'

Jack Underdown reviewed: Fused glass workshops in Cornwall

"Great introduction to working with glass! Was thoroughly enjoyable and well organised. Loved the freedom to do what we wanted! All in all a really wonderful day! Thank you!!!"

24 Jul 18'

Susan Tutton reviewed: Fused glass workshops in Cornwall

"Very enjoyable!! Good price for the day, and happy with all that I achieved. Did not think that I would finish a dish ready to send back when I get home after a lovely holiday. Very friendly and helpful."

24 Jul 18'

Jasmine Tutton reviewed: Fused glass workshops in Cornwall

"A really great introduction to quite a tricky, but really fun craft. The teaching was really helpful and everyone created something unique and personal at the end. Well worth the money and I would definitely do it again! Thank you, Jaz x"

24 Jul 18'

J Tutton reviewed: Fused glass workshops in Cornwall

"Really enjoyed the day. Tutor was a great amount of help and went through the different processes in detail. The ability to do whatever we wanted meant the end result was perfect. Jarrod"

24 Jul 18'

Rebekah reviewed: Fabulous felt picture 2 day masterclass near York

"I learnt new ways to wet felt and learnt how to add details to my work with needle felting too. I particularly wanted to learn how to produce more detailed pictures. I learnt a lot in the two days and feel like I can take my felting to the next level now. I am looking forward to completing my piece and producing something I can really be pleased with. Bridgette is very talented, knowledgeable and friendly."

24 Jul 18'

Elaine reviewed: Blacksmith for a day with Adrian Woods: a 'Quirky Workshop' at Greystoke Craft Garden & Barns near Penrith and Ullswater

"An excellent day in the blacksmith artis workshop with Adrian & Andy, with friendly people, being taught traditional skills to produce something worth while to taking home to be proud of... a well set out Sculptured course building up techniques and confidence through out the day, and to top it off we where we’ll looked after and fed with delicious food home cooked by Debbie couldn’t of asked for more. Would I recommend this course YES Would I buy this course as a gift YES Would I come back YES YES YES"

24 Jul 18'

Sr. Zoe reviewed: Making a Handmade Belt with Nigel Armitage

"Yesterday I had my third lesson with Nigel and came away with new skills and growing enthusiasm for the craft. Nigel is an excellent teacher and a great communicator, taking time to explain the theoretical and mechanical underpinnings of the work so that the understanding needed to tackle a new project is in place... this is not rote learning, but laying foundations for creativity and adventure! We worked on 'upping' my stitching by exploring some different irons and weight and type of threads. We made a brief sally into stitching with and awl...(I think I'll stick to stitching irons where ever possible!) We then went on to make a belt from pattern to finish! A great day!"

23 Jul 18'

Julie Edwards reviewed: Introduction to glass fusing at the Cheshire School of Glass

"I have never worked with glass before. I loved it! Jen taught us to cut glass and how to create stencils. We learnt about compatibility and what to use and what not to use! Jen gave us loads of notes on firing the kiln too; I don't have a kiln yet, but I think I will get a small one after doing a few more courses with Cheshire School of Glass. We were given a discount voucher for another course which I intend on booking now. Thank you for a great day."

23 Jul 18'

Julie Pain reviewed: Paint a Zentangle leaf man plaque

"I am Julie whose Zen man is pictured here. I have no experience in this type of art and basically it is doodling on a plaque. Thought I may have bitten off more than I could chew, but once I got into it the time flew by! I couldn’t wait to see my final efforts and was amazed how it turned out - took it to work to show off and they all wanted one! Gave them Saz’s number! Time to fit in a lunch from the superb cafe next door, but hydration kept up with tea and coffee with homemade biscuits on day I went - thanks Saz. Takes a good 4-5 hours but well worth it - and relaxing. I slept well that night from concentrating on doodles - who’d have thought it? Having my Zen man featured shows you don’t have to be an artist to have a go with what I think is a good result - he looks fab on my pergola post at home."

23 Jul 18'

Natalia Cade reviewed: Surface decoration with the Cheshire School of Glass

"We had a brilliant time on this course. I'm booking on another with Jenny and with Steph. They know so much and I enjoyed the instant results you got with sandblasting. The equipment all worked really well and I went back to collect my beautifully boxed parcel of goodies today and we delighted with the results."

23 Jul 18'

Jenny Turner reviewed: Surface decoration with the Cheshire School of Glass

"Jenny knows so much about working with glass. I did a glass course about 6 months prior to this one using different techniques. Jenny is very generous with her knowledge and very approachable. Nothing was too much bother. great location and great facilities. Good value for money."

23 Jul 18'

Julie Pain reviewed: Snail painting workshop

"This is my fourth project with Saz - I started small with a Peter Rabbit, then did a Santa - time to move to bigger things and I did a snail - called her Doris as all the others were men! Excellent tuition and really relaxing to do with a friend or on your own. Saz provides the tea and biscuits, a gossip and reminds you to breathe when you get too focussed! If you do the smaller snail, remember to consider how you paint it - I sat there with a hand in the shell as I painted it wrong way round and had to wait until it dried before I could put it down! Told a young visitor it was eating my hand and he believed me! I’ ll Be back for my next project soon.......and I am not the arty type. Thoroughly enjoyable experience would recommend to anyone."

23 Jul 18'

Wendy Ligget reviewed: 'Glass for the garden' with the Cheshire School of Glass

"I have been on the glass for the garden course recently with Cheshire School of Glass. It was wonderful. The farm based business was in a beautiful beamed barn with lots of materials and two very talented teachers who have worked in glass for a long time. They were all great, approachable, lovely ladies."

23 Jul 18'

Katie Evans reviewed: 'Glass for the garden' with the Cheshire School of Glass

"I made 4 different sculptural pieces to go in to a metal frame for the garden- one for each season. I loved this course. I met some great people and Jenny was generous and patient with my inability .to cut glass. Great fun"

23 Jul 18'

Mel Keeling reviewed: 1-to-1 tailored course with one of the UK's leading glass artists Jennifer Barker, at the Cheshire School of Glass

"I specifically wanted to learn how to make large thick float panels for architecture, with particular reference to how to create texture. Jenny taught me above and beyond what I envisaged I could learn in two days. It was intensive and I have come away wth an exercise book full of notes. Jenny is a very knowledgeable and I would highly recommend her courses to both glass artists and novices."

23 Jul 18'

Martin Frewer reviewed: Beginners Weaving with the Rigid Heddle Loom - at All in a Spin

"My extended family are spread over three countries and we meet up most summers. We wanted to go on some sort of craft/art course. I found Dunja's beginners day weaving course online. Three generations attended the course. None of us had weaved before and as astonishing as it may seem we all made a scarf. We were all carefully guided through the whole process right from choosing wool colours & design, setting up the loom, weaving and finishing up. Everyone went home very pleased. I think a few rigid heddle looms will be purchased soon! Dunja is very interesting and knowledgable as well as running a very organized course."

23 Jul 18'

Hayley Williams reviewed: Luxury Christmas decorations (full day) with the Cheshire School of Glass

"The course was so much fun! Jenny and her helpers had us cutting and shaping santas and snowflakes, penguins and xmas trees in all kinds of colours and decorating them with dichroics and millefoire . I went with my Mum and sister in=law. We loved every minute. Jenny made us feel really festive with mince pies and xmas music. We made so many decorations and plan to give them as stocking fillers and gifts to friends and family. I thoroughly recommend this course for anyone who wants to get in the christmas spirit and loves upmarket crafting!"

23 Jul 18'

Katherine and Luke reviewed: Oak stool making experience - rustic carpentry & green wood work

"We had the BEST day making a mallet and stool each with Ian. The barn is perfectly in keeping with the traditional tools and feel of the day. Ian was great and taught us a lot. We are so pleased with the beautiful stools we have taken home and can’t wait to try another course with Ian! Thank you again for a lovely day :)"