Latest reviews

Ruby Westnedge reviewed: Pottery throwing in Huddersfield

"Fantastic introduction to pottery. Geoff is a great instructor and explained each step clearly. I would highly recommend a hour class with Geoff for anyone interested in pottery."

Earth Pig Pottery responded:

"Thanks for your review, Ruby. I'm glad you enjoyed the session. Hope to see you again soon."

Sian reviewed: Glass bead making / lampwork

"My husband and I recently did this workshop and loved it. Karen was very knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome throughout. We've previously done glass blowing so were excited to work with glass again and learn how it was different with lampwork - Karen was very patient answering our questions and we quickly begin making beads. We made several beads each over the five hours, using different glasses and learning techniques to add spots, stripes, etc. Karen was a great teacher, guiding us while encouraging us to experiment with different designs/colours and glass. Karen also kindly provided us with lunch, taking our preferences into consideration. We really enjoyed it and will definitely be going to another of Karen's classes in the future."

Georgina Sayers reviewed: Plaster mould making for slip cast ceramics with Ed Bentley

"So pleased I booked the plaster mould making course with Ed. I had a fantastic day. Ed was brilliant - I left at the end of the day confident re the mould making process and with a lovely professionally made mould; my project has been catapulted forwards massively thanks to Ed. Ed actively invites you to take a record of the mould making process which is invaluable to refer back to. Ed is a high end mould maker; to be able to learn from him was a real privilege. Thank you Ed."

Nigel Clews reviewed: Blacksmithing for Beginners - Full Day Forging for Two

"A really enjoyable day learning the art of forging and shaping and long overdue having been a present pre pandemic that we could only redeem with certainty at the beginning of this year. Chris is an engaging and enthusiastic tutor, showing you the ropes and then giving you the opportunity to emulate what he has demonstrated, whilst making sure you do not stray to far from the brief and do end up with a finished product. (who would have thought steel could be so temperamental & our skills so rudimentary!) We (2 of us) undertook the course and made the leaf shaped key ring. This is an object of alarming simplicity in its finished state, but which involves 14 separate steps to get to the end project. The workshop is on a garden centre site which has an excellent cafe for coffees and lunch. Would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone who wants to give 'smithing' a go."

Lily reviewed: Making It with Rocking-Horses by Anthony Dew (book)

"A compelling read, telling the story of balancing growing a craft business and pursuing a passion for making, with having a family. Fascinating insight into the craft of rocking horse making too… a must for any wooden horse lovers!"

Jo O reviewed: Glass fusing private class - fun taster class for beginners

"We spent a lovely morning glass fusing in Sarah's workshop. Sarah was very welcoming and explained everything we were going to do during the session, with enough health and safety to put us at our ease and make us feel safe! We were able to design and make several pieces with Sarah giving advice and suggestions without taking over! with a busy job, it was so nice to concentrate on making something. The time flew by and we both agreed how much we enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Sarah for a lovely morning (enamelling next I think!)"

Sarah Greening Glass responded:

"It was lovely to help you both make your fabulous pieces! Thanks so much for taking the time to review!"

Karen reviewed: Spoon carving workshop with Fazey Woodcraft

"I loved my spoon carving day. I’d dabbled at home but wanted some hands on tuition and the day fitted what I wanted perfectly. I came away wishing I’d booked the follow up day as well."

Denise O’Brien reviewed: Create a willow obelisk/plant support, birdfeeder and dragonfly/butterfly for your garden (Chandlers Ford, Nr Winchester- Hampshire)

"Really lovely day. Very full and hands on. Jacquie offered help when needed.very pleased with the items that I made."

Willow and Crafts responded:

"Thankyou Denise it was a pleasure all the best Jacquie"

Thibault reviewed: Guitar Strumstick Dulcimer 3 strings instrument

"I have had an amazing day with Ted! I am so chuffed that I came back from the day with new skills, and a new instrument! Creating the Dulcimer was such fun and I learned so many new skills. Ted is full of knowledge, and really good company. Ted also had a day full of learning with practicing his French on me! ;) I can only strongly recommend the day course with Ted! Hopefully see you again soon! Thibault"

Teds Woodworking/ instrument making Courses responded:

"Merci Mon ami you did have some great skills and I wasn't surprised that your instrument looked fantastic at the end of the day. Thank you for those macaroons Mon ami you are a top pastry Chef for sure. Kind regards Ted"

Debbie reviewed: Contemporary Calligraphy Introduction - Hampshire

"Very enjoyable course with just the right amount of tuition and practice. Thank you."

Linda Pennington reviewed: Joyous Dots: this will be your new relaxing hobby!

"A very enjoyable experience. Great way to spend an afternoon with friends learning a new skill."

Colourbuzz responded:

"Thanks Linda, I enjoyed it too! It was great seeing your minimalist interpretation of Joyous Dots."

Andrew BB reviewed: Beginners 1 Day Traditional Stained Glass Course

"My husband and I had an AMAZING day with Gill Rogers, completely 5 star all the way. From the moment we arrived on a very wet and windy day, we were made to feel welcome and could not have asked for more. It was so exciting learning how to cut, shape and fit the glass together, ending with a lovely stained glass panel to take home. Not only was the day delightful, the lunch at the café on-site was simply delicious, all included in the cost of the course. We will certainly try this again at some point I'm sure. I can't recommend the course enough!"

Gill Rogers responded:

"Many thanks Andrew for your fabulous review, it was so great to meet you and Pete and I had such a fun day with you both! Hope to see you and Pete sometime in the near future! All my very best wishes to you both, Gill xx"

Lexie reviewed: Joyous Dots: this will be your new relaxing hobby!

"Spent a lovely afternoon with Helga in this workshop. Left with decorated cards and the tools to make more at home. Helga was a delight to work with and provided guidance, hints, tips and encouragement."

Colourbuzz responded:

"Thanks Lexie, it was great having you all in my studio, making Joyous Dots your own with individual interpretations."

Jo S reviewed: Making It with Rocking-Horses by Anthony Dew (book)

"A sheer joy to read and so inspirational. I read it in two sessions as putting it down was the difficult thing for me to do."

Joe Schofield, Skywings editor reviewed: Making It with Rocking-Horses by Anthony Dew (book)

"What we have here is a very readable autobiography, tracing Tony’s art school beginnings, his life at sea, his struggle to get his small business gong, the importance of his family, the growth of his rocking horse business - ‘You don’t want to be the best of the best, you just want to be the only one to do what you do.’ Along the way he encounters setbacks, heartbreak, adversity, tragedy, chicanery, and more, but the way he outs these things behind him speaks of an unwavering determination to do things right. Rocking horses can be things of exquisite beauty, craftsmanship and not a little historical interest. His very well written, large format book is poignant, honest, unsparing, and full of insight."

Kate D reviewed: Making It with Rocking-Horses by Anthony Dew (book)

"I found this an interesting and honest account from someone who has faced the challenge of running a traditional craft business whilst raising a family. There are some heartbreaking moments but underlying all a humour that carries the story along. If you are interested in rocking horses, craftsmanship, family businesses, seamanship or paragliding... this will be the book for you!"

Harm reviewed: The Complete Rocking-Horse Maker 2 by Anthony Dew (book)

"As a keen woodworker, I find Tony's plans both comprehensive and easy to follow. The instructions are clear and there is a lot of good advice offered. A satisfying project - would recommend this book to any keen woodworkers out there."

Anthony Dew responded:

"Many thanks for your kind comments - keep on rocking! AD"

Jo C reviewed: A day of felt making: 2D and 3D Wet Felting with Purr & Wag It, Tabletop Workshops

"Wonderful day! Heather is a very welcoming and warm host and bakes cakes that are delicious. All the teas are offered all day long and she gives so much help and information whilst still letting you do your own thing. Definitely came away with the knowledge and excitement to felt more on my own. Which is exactly what you want when you learn a new skill!"

Millie Barlow reviewed: Upholstery/cushion making

"We went to Jo's class to learn as much as we could about upholstery and it was brilliant! We have a wood working business and are occasionally asked to look at upholstered pieces, Jo gave us excellent professional advice and guidance on how to approach a range of project. We worked on dining chairs with both modern and traditional upholstery methods which were very rewarding. Jo is a fantastic teacher and we learnt so many skills!"

What Jo did next responded:

"Thanks Millie! Good luck with your business! x"

Adam & Stacey Hollingworth reviewed: Firebird Forge Blacksmithing School

"What a great day! My wife and I bought each other a day course with Mort. Right from the start, we knew we were in safe hands. After an initial safety briefing, we fine-tuned our designs over a cup of coffee and made a start. Mort was immensely knowledgeable both within his field as well as concerning local area history and archaeology and kept us informed and entertained throughout the day. He talked us through techniques, machinery and the chemistry of fire, metals and gases while helping us bring our projects to life. My wife made an incredible candle holder for the garden wall, learning spirals and twists while somehow I managed to create an over-ambitious piece of tree art, making lots of leaves and swirly branches. It was a great day learning something new with a great (and very patient) teacher. We now look at iron and steelwork in a completely new way, appreciating its complexities and the talent that goes into making everything from stately home gates to bottle openers. A truly memorable day and well worth the money. Thank you Mort for the fascinating day, facts, history, laughs and for keeping the art of blacksmithing going. I'm sure we'll see you again. Highly recommended!"

Firebird Forge responded:

"Many thanks for the lovely review. It was a pleasure having you both in the forge. Until next time, all the best, Mort."

Simon reviewed: Woodturning tuition in Wiltshire

"Andy is a great tutor, very welcoming from the start. His workshop is well equipped and his knowledge of the tools is fantastic. We started with talking through the lathe machinery, components and operating instructions, then moved onto hand tools. He showed me various chisels, how to use them and importantly how to sharpen them. We used a number of sharpening tools depending on the chisel. Once we'd been through the basics with tools, Andy loaded a softwood blank onto the lathe and showed me some techniques, turing beads, scotias and v cuts. I practiced this for a while then we moved onto something more decorative. I was given a book and picked out a nice profile for a bowl. We used a piece of seasoned Oak for the bowl. Andy was on hand to assist me with tricky cuts as I am a complete beginner. We carved out the bowl over a period of roughly an hour then finished it with staged sanding and polish. I was really pleased with the piece I came away with and would definitely recommend this to any beginner who is interested in trying wood turning. A great experience all round."

Andys woodworking responded:

"Thanks Simon , I’m glad you enjoyed your day Andy mary angus"

Cathy Purves reviewed: Felt Pictures-Painting with fibres - intro to 2D wet felting/felt making

"What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning. The ambience was lovely and support / teaching inspiring. Would like to go again!"

Lena Thomas reviewed: Rag Rug Full Day Workshop - Bristol

"Attended the day course on 26th Feb 2022. Whilst i had been looking forward to the day i found that it actually exceeded my expectations.Elspeths teaching was both informative and accessible to i think.like myself new to crafting and those with good experience. The class was non threatening and the day proved both relaxing and interesting with both practical and creative base and a very concrete base in recycling and even a.nod to history and the ccreation of both practical and visually interesting pieces and being able as in the tradition of quilt making use materials that no longer serve the original purpose but also extending life memories THANKS Elspeth"

Ragged Life responded:

"Thank you so much Lena for taking the time to leave such a lovely review. We're so pleased you enjoyed the class. Make sure you send us a picture of any creations :-) Elspeth x"

Hilary McMaster reviewed: One day stained glass classes by Le Breton Traditional

"Had a great day with Matt, who is a wonderful teacher. He gave us a brief history of the techniques and then encouraged us to have a go for ourselves. He has an intuitive feel for just how much support someone needs, and when to sort out problems which you have created for yourself! All 6 of us in the class left with a piece of work which we were pleased with. The class was conducted with plenty of space to maintain social distancing, and felt very safe and well organised. I would certainly encourage anyone to give it a try; you never know what you might achieve, and with Matt's support and encouragement you might surprise yourself"

Tom E reviewed: Kitchen Knife Course

"I did the course with my partner recently and it was absolutely fantastic. Dave is a great teacher, very knowledgeable (and patient) and a really nice guy. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into the entire day so it has a perfect balance of coming away with a really high quality knife, but also feeling like you've done the entire process yourself. It is really hands-on, which is great, and you get a lot of choice as to how your knife comes out. I should also mention that Dave was very keen to ensure the resulting knives were of a really high-quality. I couldn't recommend this course enough - great fun and the knives are fantastic quality. Would also recommend checking out Dave's instagram if you're in the market for some super cool knives."

Hand forged Yorkshire responded:

"Thank you very much indeed for the awesome review and recommendation Tom, massively appreciated. It was fantastic to meet you both and have you in the forge, you both did a great job with your knives. Kindest regards Dave"