Latest reviews

Rhoda reviewed: Perfume Making in Norfolk

"I attended this course with my daughter in law and we had a fabulous day. Diane was so informative and we felt that she gave us as much time as we needed . We came away with our signature scent highly recommend this course"

Aroma Natural responded:

"Thank you Rhoda for taking the time to write this review and for the lovely words. It was a great day for me to meeting you both and watching both perfumes build into two amazing but different aromas. I hope you both enjoy wearing them. "

Elaine Chapman reviewed: Willow Owl In Flight.

"A relaxed and engaging workshop with Alison on hand to offer help whenever it's needed. Good company, a delicious lunch and a fabulous owl (some more fabulous than others but all worthy of a special spot in the garden) to take home at the end of the day made this a memorable experience. "

sam lloyd-smith reviewed: Woodcraft Weekend

"I had a brilliant weekend with Neil, immersed in all things woody. It was really well planned and delivered and he held the space well. I would recommend him and any of his courses. I'm going to go spend lots of money on tools and books now!"

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre responded:

"Many thanks Sam, it was good to meet you and we're delighted that you enjoyed the course. We hope that you are feeling better and sorry you had to miss the final day. Hope to see you again soon. Best wishes. Mara"

Julie Hobson reviewed: Woodcarving with Jason Thomson sculptural woodcarving with hand tools, eccentric whittling courses, Sheffield.

"I’ve always wanted to try hy hand at wood carving and I was very pleased my first experience was at one of Jason’s courses. Jason was very knowledgeable, patient and helpful; it was also nice to discover he is responsible for some great sculptures I’ve seen around Sheffield. It was a most enjoyable day and I was pleased with my relief carving for a first attempt. Due to my arthritic knees, I also got to make use of Jasons little work bench - a brilliant idea! Definitely recommend this course if you want to have a go at carving. "

Jason Thomson - Sculptor responded:

"Thanks for your review Julie, I was glad to get you set up at a comfortable work station. Great to see your creation emerge!"

Martha reviewed: Floristry Taster Session

"Fantastic experience! Learnt so much about how to make affordable and beautiful flower arrangements at home. Katrina was absolutely lovely"

Devon Flower School responded:

"Hi Martha Thank you for your wonderful kind words and I am so pleased that you enjoyed the class! I loved everything that you made and you looked as though you were enjoying yourself. I hope to see you again at a class in the future. Katrina"

RLKF reviewed: Woodcraft Weekend

"I had a great time on the shrink pot making course. Neil & Jayne are such lovely people, great teachers, calm and relaxed. There was no pressure for everyone to be at the same stage, everything was explained clearly and repeated when needed. The venue is lovely, Mara is very welcoming and carving around a campfire in such a peaceful space is heavenly. I would highly recommend going on any of their courses and I am very happy with my shrink pot and the knowledge to make more :)"

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre responded:

"Thank you for joining us on this course Ryan, so happy that you enjoyed everything. Hope to see you very soon. Best wishes. Mara"

Catherine Wright reviewed: Improvers' pastel painting workshop at fabulous Glasfryn Hall, North Wales

"The improvers course at Glasfryn Hall was very enjoyable . Lovely surroundings and gardens and friendly people. Dave gave us all lots of useful information about materials and showed us lots of techniques , some of which we tried out during the day . It was very inspiring and gave me more confidence . Lunch was simple and tasty . A wonderful day which flew by so quickly. Thank you to everyone involved."

Oriel Glasfryn Gallery Limited responded:

"Thank you, Catherine! I'm so glad you enjoyed the day and that it helped you gain both inspiration and confidence with pastels. You should be very proud of your painting and I hope you plan to continue."

Tracey Guymer reviewed: Tool sharpening

"On Sunday I was lucky enough to do a tool-sharpening workshop in Ecclesall Woods with tutor Dave. & being an outdoor class it was an extra bonus that it was actually a rare warm and sunny day! I enjoyed every minute of the workshop as Dave taught me how to sharpen my big choppy tools. It was like being on an episode of 'the repair shop' only better!! As Dave, the expert, was actually teaching and showing me how to restore my dad's beautiful old axe and mum's beautiful old billhook ... myself!! Dave was a really great tutor and immensely knowledgeable so I learned lots of interesting related facts along the way. He was also very kind and we didn't just sharpen my tools, we fixed them properly, restored them to their former glory and gave them a brand new lease of life! And now I can't wait to spend time fixing up, restoring and sharpening all my other old tools!!"

Alan reviewed: 2 Day beginner stone carving course with Ben Russell

"Had a brilliant weekend up in Dorset with Ben. His workshop may be a concrete sileage pit but he has turned it into a little Eden! An amazing place to learn this craft. Ben was a great teacher, patient, willing to let us get on and generous with sharing his hard earned knowledge and skills. I felt truly inspired after the weekend and have been chipping away at my piece of limestone since. Would recommend to anyone who wants to give it a go! "

Guy McWilliams reviewed: Premium experience package dry stone walling for beginners

"Had a lovely weekend Met great people Beautiful countryside A sense of achievement and appreciation of work that been done before Carl was excellent at both explanation of what we were to do, but also getting each of us involved Sharon fed us fantastic fresh local ingredients I went home n Sunday very content "

Mark Newbold reviewed: Mig Welding For Beginners Introductory Day Course.

"This was a great course. Tony is a good teacher and provides loads of advice and opportunities to practice. He also helps with advice on equipment to buy. I was a complete beginner and came away feeling more than able to set up on my own at home. Inspiring and instructive - I highly recommend this course!"

Newport Wrought Ironwork responded:

"Thank you Mark for the great review, I am very pleased you left feeling confident and will continue developing your skills once you are set up at home. keep me updated on your progress and if I can be of any assistance feel free to contact me. Regards Tony "

Lizzie reviewed: Stained glass weekly classes in Sheffield (South Yorkshire)

"I recently completed the 10 week stained glass making course with Martin and it was fantastic. Martin was really clear with the instructions, making is so easy to follow and leave with some wonderful stained glass pieces. He was very supportive throughout making sure everyone was happy with their work and provided the assistance they needed. Martin has stock of glass, solder, lead and more if you wanted to buy materials off him and he has some great recommendations on where to get them from externally. He gives you the creative freedom at end of the course to design your own stained glass and gives practical advice on how to make it happen. I really enjoyed my time on the course and I highly recommend it! I hope to book on again over the winter :) "

Martin McAssey Glass responded:

"Thank you for the lovely review, I hope to see you again for another course or one day workshop."

Jane Turner reviewed: Lino printing landscapes

"I went on a one day lino printing course with Lee as a total beginner and loved the whole day. Lee was well organised and the venue and materials were perfect for the activity. He gave us clear instruction in a relaxed and friendly way. I was surprised at how much could be achieved in the time available and I would definitely like to do another of Lee's courses in the future 😀"

Steevan Glover reviewed: Relief Wood Carving Art

"I attended this course in mid June 2024 and was fortunate that the sun shone as that allowed me to fully enjoy the wonderful woodland setting. Ruth is a relaxed and engaging teacher, with a brief overview of the art and then a few mins choosing some oak to carve on we moved to ideas for a pattern. (I took a couple of ideas with me) and then I was taken through techniques and chisels and mallet choices. The good thing, for me, was that it was immediately hands on. Doing was very much learning and Ruth allowed me to move forward at my pace then would check in and advise, help and encourage. Which i needed as I decided that doing Hokusai's the Great Wave was a good idea! The sun shone, the coffee and carrot cake flowed, and I relaxed. It's fair to say I loved every second. Ruth is a wonderfully engaging teacher and very interesting person to chew the fat with. Highly recommend. "

Sculpt IT - Ruth Wheeler Art responded:

"What an amazing recommendation to receive . THANK YOU Steven "

Cheryl & Mark reviewed: One day welding course for two people

"What a fabulous one day course! Julian is a great teacher and sets a nice relaxed but steady pace. There's so much to learn and he covers everything in detail, answering questions along the way. We both came away being able to weld, with lots of advice given for a particular motorbike repair Mark is going to make. Julian is a great guy, and we'd 100% recommend this course to anyone looking to learn / improve upon their welding technique. Thanks Julian, I'm sure we'll see you again!"

Julian Wadsworth - Artist Blacksmith responded:

"Hi Cheryl and Mark, Thank you for your review. It was a pleasure to meet you both, and you both did really well with the welding. Any problems or questions you know where I am , and just give me a bell . See you again,for more welding or even a blacksmithing course, as I think you were hatching out some ideas of things to make. Best ,Julian"

Jon reviewed: Introduction to spooncarving at Hill End

"I had a great time on this course, spending a lovely sunny day carving a spoon at Hill End. It was quite hard work but David and Caroline were very helpful and supportive teaching us different techniques for design and carving."

David Knight Woodland Crafts responded:

"Hi Jon, thanks so much for your review. It's always such a pleasure to introduce people to green woodworking if they've never experienced it before and be reminded what it's like to hold a carving axe and knife for the first time. I applaud your commitment to give it a go and hope you may be tempted to carry on making spoons!"

Darren Robinson reviewed: Premium experience package dry stone walling for beginners

"The best, most relaxing weekend we have had in years. Very informative course and we all laughed a lot, would highly recommend to anyone."

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!"

Johann Van Rooyen reviewed: Premium experience package dry stone walling for beginners

"Whole experience was excellent. From the teacher to the people on the course as well as the refreshments. Every detail taken care of by Carl and Sharon. Thank you guys. Highly recommend this course. "

Helen Tucker reviewed: Pyrography (wood burning ) Course with Kez Halliday

"I had a fabulous day with Kez. The course was exactly as described and I enjoyed every part of it. Kez was knowledgeable and encouraging. Enthusiastic and passionate about what she is doing. Everything a tutor should be. I left feeling confident that I knew what I needed to develop my skills on my own. Would certainly recommend this course to anyone at any level of artistic development. "

Spirit and Bear responded:

"Thank you for the review Helen "

Tracey reviewed: Fused Glass Candle Curve

"What a wonderful morning. This was my first attempt at glass fusing and i thoroughly enjoyed it. Wendy was very knowledgable and encouraging. She was also exceptionally patient, which was much appreciated. I would recommend this to everyone. Thank you Wendy"

Sam Bear reviewed: Green Wood Chair Making - 6 Day Woodworking Course in South Devon

"A brilliant course. I learned loads and had a really nice time. A wonderful way to spend a week. "

Jackie Nash reviewed: Crafty Basketry's Willow Basket Making for Beginners/Improvers - Day Course at Cowshed Workshop, Tenterden, Kent

"I asked Marianne to do a basket making course at a friends house. 4 of us spent the most enjoyable day each of us making a beautiful basket. Marianne was so patient and made the day informative and fun. The 2 husbands had been sceptical but they thoroughly enjoyed it and were very proud of their baskets. I would love to do another course with her. Thank you ! "

Crafty Basketry responded:

"Thanks so much for your review, Jackie! On what felt like the first sunny day in months, we were in your friends' garden, underneath the fruit trees, weaving baskets. I couldn't have wished for a better atmosphere to teach you all about basketry and give you the best, most relaxing experience. Please thank your friends again for their hospitality, which knew no boundaries. I'd love to come and teach again. Perhaps something more playful like a lampshade or a few plant supports, or teach the grandchildren how to weave a humongous flower or enormous dragonfly. Wishing you a wonderful summer. "

Dawn reviewed: 'Bag in a Day' Practical Leather Course - Mini Bucket bag

"This is my fourth Bag in a Day Course so you can guess I love doing them! This one was just as fun. Georgie is the best tutor and the atmosphere is relaxed and happy. I will definitely be booking another one for the future!"

Cai reviewed: Marvellous Mosaic one day workshop

"Excellent course. Lindsey was inspiring. Talking about composition as well as the materials and how they might work together, she led us through the various steps whilst giving us free rein to choose what we did. It was a wonderful day to indulge in creativity."

Lindsey Kennedy Portfolio responded:

"Thank you for the very lovely review, Cai. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the day and, hopefully, inspired you to continue working with mosaic in your new studio! "