Latest reviews

Claire reviewed: Confidence with tools for DIY beginners

"Had a lovely day in such a beautiful setting. Matt is a great teacher, very knowledgeable and patient! He also kindly tailored some tasks to suit our specific problems. I am a complete beginner but came away feeling confident I could carry out basic tasks. From identifying tools to having a go practically it was a great learning experience in such a lovely place with lovely people."

matt boysons responded:

"Hey Claire. Thanks for the kind words and the great energy that you brought to the day. Hope you have a great bank holiday. Matt"

Ross McKenzie reviewed: Introduction to Bowl Carving

"Very interesting day with Mike, a great teacher and very knowledgeable. 10/10 would highly recommend "

Cathy Perez reviewed: 1 Day Needle Felted Mice Workshop (Beginner)

"Review for Jonathan, Our Felting Teacher Jonathan's felting classes are nothing short of magical. What begins as a simple pile of wool is transformed under his expert guidance into charming mice, llamas, and even rhinos. His dedication and passion for the craft shine through in every piece he creates and in the way he teaches his students. Jonathan's approach is both patient and inspiring, making the learning process enjoyable and accessible for all skill levels. The fun and creativity that fill each session are complemented by his light-hearted humor, often laced with playful innuendos, which makes the experience even more memorable. Each class with Jonathan is a journey into the whimsical world of felting, where every student leaves with not just a felted creation but also a sense of accomplishment and a heart full of joy. His talent for passing on his skills ensures that the magic of felting continues to thrive in the hands of his enthusiastic pupils. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore their creative side and have a delightful time doing so!"

Trunks and Tails responded:

"Thank you for the lovely review Cathy! It was a joy to teach you! 😊💚"

Viv Porter reviewed: Introduction to Soap Making Workshop in Barton Upon Humber, Lincolnshire.

"This was a fun experience and very friendly. Sharon is a lovely host, generous and welcoming. The course was well structured and well paced, gave plenty of time to learn and experiment and know that you were in safe hands. Definitely recommend and will be seeking out other Sharon-led workshops! "

Erin reviewed: Fantasy Floral Textiles (includes material pack UK only)

"Loved this course! Delighted with the pack of embellishments. Well-paced and well-delivered. I learned some great techniques that I'm looking forward to applying. "

Jessica Grady embroidery artist responded:

"Thanks so much Erin! Glad you enjoyed the course and hope to see you at another in the future."

Juliet Bews reviewed: Introductory course covering wet felting and Nuno techniques in the beautiful Forest of Dean

"Our day with Chris was such a lovely relaxing and peaceful experience. She is a fabulous teacher, calm and encouraging, helping us to explore our creativity. We both came away feeling empowered with new skills and a yearning to return for another day with her. Thank you Chris!"

Adam reviewed: Introduction to Green Woodworking

"Went on this course with my dad. I have a lot of experience in woodworking and while the course is geared towards people with less experience in woodworking, we both enjoyed the course. A great day spent in a lovely location with a friendly teacher. Recommended."

Manor Wood responded:

"Hi Adam, thanks for the review. Glad you both enjoyed the day, would be great to have you back at Manor Wood! Matt"

Ann Bradford reviewed: Create with a Gel Printing Plate - Mono Printing Without a Press

"A great day. Very well organised and in beautiful surroundings. It was great fun and I was really happy with the techniques and the teaching. I would happily attend more courses here and can recommend it."

Blooming Designs - Art in the Barn responded:

"Dear Ann, Thank you for the feedback. It’s great that you enjoyed the day. You produced some great work, some lovely finished prints as well as several pieces that you can continue to develop at home, so lots to keep you busy! I hope to see you again soon. Best wishes Alison"

Glennis Ellis reviewed: Private or private group silver jewellery making / silversmithing workshop half-day at Silver Designed Personally

"Lovely tutor, explained things really well and has inspired me to start making jewellery for myself using the techniques I was shown. Will definitely book another course."

Silver Designed Personally responded:

"Hi Glennis - thanks so much for taking time to write me a lovely review. I am so glad you want to keep going and will look forward to working with you again. Sara"

Liz reviewed: Pottery taster course for two in the South Downs

"Rowena was wonderful! So helpful, so patient and so much fun! We learned how to use the pottery wheel and created two pieces each. Can’t wait to go back!"

Paddock Studio Pottery responded:

"Hello Liz, thank you very much for taking the time to write a lovely review. Really appreciate it. Hope to see you again in the future. Rowena"

Jean reviewed: Learn to Sew Like a Pro with 'Sew Simply' in our one day course

"It was an excellent course. I now know how to make a blouse properly. Caroline was most encouraging about my efforts and her instructions were always clear and easy to follow. I can certainly recommend this course to others."

Sew Simply responded:

"Thank you Jean for your kind words. It was a pleasure having you, and I'm glad to hear that you found the course useful and now feel confident in making a blouse. Good luck with all your projects in the future. "

Sharon Williams reviewed: Learn to fit and sew a garment (beginners) - 3 day course

"I have done years of sewing clothing on and off but I felt that there were gaps in my knowledge, particularly around working with a pattern. And I was planning an ambitious project for August. So I decided to make the best use of the one to one attention that Jennie offers. I am very happy that I did as Jenni has a wealth of knowledge, experience and patience. She is easy to be around and to learn from. Class is small enough for her to give you individual attention and there is no such thing as a silly question. Well worth the investment in your sewing ambitions."

Mike reviewed: One day tester of wood carving

"Had a brilliant time on my course, Seb is a great tutor and I learnt a lot in a short space of time and I feel like I’ve been bitten by the carving bug! So much so that I’ve just bought my own set of gouges so I can continue carving at home."

SBCW responded:

"Thank you so much Mike. I'm glad I did inspire you, Keep carving."

Bekki reviewed: Upholstery for Beginners Workshop - in Preston, Lancashire

"Another 5⭐️ experience with Jo! After thoroughly enjoying a furniture painting workshop, I booked on to the upholstery workshop and what a fantastic day it was. Lovely group of people to share the experience with and under the instruction of the fabulous Jo, we managed to make a pile of raw materials into gorgeous footstools. Jo made what I thought was going to be a really complex art of upholstery into a clear and understandable process. With handy tips at each stage, and a set of notes to take home, the workshop was delivered at a good pace. Really enjoyed the day, so much so that I've told everyone I know they will be getting a footstool for Christmas now!! Thanks to Jo for leading us in a great workshop and Jo's Mum for some scrumptious cakes. The lemon cupcakes were particularly lush. Thanks, Jo and Mum xx"

The Boho Shed responded:

"Ah Bekki, you lovely woman you! It was great to welcome you back and what another great day we had. Thank you for your wonderful review. I’m so pleased you enjoyed both days so much and I’m excited about seeing what you create at home. Many thanks again, Jo x"

Carole Lowther reviewed: Weave a Scarf in a Day - Harrogate

"Fabulous day with a great teacher. Relaxing and productive, who knew a beginner could weave a scarf from loom set up to finishing in a day. Highly recommended and the yarn was amazing too. "

Caroline reviewed: Traditional Japanese Bookbinding

"A fun workshop with lots of materials available to complete your projects. Nina is a patient and thoughtful tutor who obviously loves her craft. I really enjoyed and look forward to learning more. The venue is easy to access and parking was easy and close by. Lovely light airy room with comfy seating. "

Jonathan and Carolyn reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"We really enjoyed and learnt a lot from our pottery experience. We tried various techniques with the instructions and guidance helping greatly with the development of our ideas and pots. Louise and Simon are great hosts and provided a lovely relaxed lunch in their garden. We were made to feel very welcome and have recommended this experience to our friends. "

Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing responded:

"I'm really pleased you both enjoyed your day of pottery and I'm glad the weather held so we could all enjoy lunch outside in the garden :-). You both made some lovely pieces!"

Alison Morris reviewed: Willow Plant Supports (1 day) in the Peak District

"I loved doing the willow structure course at Zantium Studios. Eddie was a brilliant teacher, endlessly patient with us novices. I produced something I was proud of and will take pride of place in my garden. The studio is amazing. Alison was lovely and the food was delicious. Despite the weather I had a great time and met some lovely people. Highly recommend. "

Colin reviewed: A Wood Finishing 1-Day Course with Jamie Reed

"What an excellent course. I joined the course knowing that it wouldn’t really apply to what I produce (which is very small) but wanted to learn about finishing techniques in general. I won’t be applying a French polish to my jewellery but I learned about the different stains and finishes, cautions about the solvents and how they can react together and much more. Well worth it and I’m very glad I came along."

Yandle & Sons Ltd responded:

"Thank you very much for your review. We are glad that you found the course useful and will be able to apply the knowledge to your products."

Ferg Watts reviewed: Willow Deer Sculpture Day with Sarah Le Breton Willow

"Great day, good instruction, learnt a lot, time flew by. Highly recommended."

Sarah Le Breton Willow responded:

"Thank you Ferg for your lovely recommendation. It was great teaching you, enjoy your willow deer! Best wishes, Sarah "

Krystyna Gromadzki reviewed: Marvellous Mosaic one day workshop

"Perfectly named, Marvellous Mosaic was a fabulous, inspiring course. With her enthusiasm, artistic talent, instruction, advice and humour, Thank you, Lindesy, you made the day both fun and creative. I enjoyed this course so much and am really please with my finished mosaic. "

Lindsey Kennedy Portfolio responded:

"Thank you so much Krystyna. Your kind comments are so supportive and much appreciated. It was lovely to meet your family and the whole group were a delight to teach and guide. I’m just pleased that you enjoyed your birthday treat! "

Mattie Silman reviewed: Create with a Gel Printing Plate - Mono Printing Without a Press

"Alison was very accommodating as I joined the course at the very last minute. It was a fun day and it gave me what I wanted to know about using the gel plate for printing. Now I have some ideas and enough to go and have a play on my own and see where it takes me. Thank you Alison."

Blooming Designs - Art in the Barn responded:

"Dear Mattie, It was lovely to meet you yesterday and I am glad you enjoyed the day. Gel plate is a really fun experimental process, one that you can lose yourself in for hours so I hope that you get a chance to explore it and I look forward to seeing where it takes you! Good luck . Alison"

Elaine & Chris reviewed: Pottery throwing sessions on the potter's wheel in Norfolk

"Had the most wonderful afternoon with Pat. What an excellent teacher. I never thought I would manage to make any pots so was so pleased with the help of Pat that I got to achieve a good couple of pots. Thank you"

Pat Southwood responded:

"Hi, Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so pleased you had a good time! Pat. "

Kathy reviewed: Knitting - Beginner - 1 Day - One to One

"Fantastic day, really enjoyed it. Rachel tailored the content to what I wanted to learn and I’m only sad that I live too far away to do lots more classes!"

Gifted Crafts Company responded:

"Thank you so much Kathy. It was such a lovely day and I was extremely impressed with your skills when you arrived never mind how much you achieved with the complex stitches! Huge well done. Lovely to meet you. Thanks again. Rach "

Ms Spencer reviewed: Wire Seed Head Stems

"Thoroughly enjoyed the day, good company, good food and a very good instructor. Very informative with enough knowledge passed on to continue making the wire flowers designs at home. Thanks"

Judith Brown Jewellery responded:

"I hope you enjoy making your own wire seed heads at home! Thanks for the lovely review. Judith"