Blended Monkey - pottery - woodturning - green woodworking - pole lathe - throwing reviews

3 Feb 22'

Sebastian reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"There are already so many nice words for this course and Simon and I can only agree and confirm. It was a very nice 3 hours course I had with Simon and because we had a nice chat about the world. We had to make it even a bit longer so I can take my own Honey spoon home with me (that I am now showing proud to any visitor coming for brunch). Simon is a great teacher, with passion for what he is doing that makes sure to give each person the best learning exciting fitting their individual needs. I can recommend this course to anyone that want to get to the next level with his Woodturning skills or if you just want to find out if woodturning is something for you."

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

"Hi Sebastian, Thank you for such a lovely review and I'm glad you had a fun day. You're the type of student that makes teaching the craft worthwhile :) Vielen dank!"

1 Feb 22'

Bruce reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Many thanks to Simon for an excellent day's wood turning. It was an extremely friendly, professional and comfortable atmosphere in his workshop. I would recommend this course to anybody looking for an introduction to wood turning. Also many thanks to Louise for a delicious lunch."

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

"Hi Bruce (& Pete), Thanks for the review and glad you had a good day. Great to have you both in the workshop ?"

1 Feb 22'

Hannah L reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"I had a really enjoyable day learning and making lots of pottery pieces. Louise is a great teacher and a lovely lady. Lunch was so good! :-) All in all a brilliant day had, thank you x"

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

"It was a delight having you in the studio Hannah :-) So pleased you enjoyed your experience. I particularly like your coil pot, and well done with the throwing :-)."

31 Jan 22'

Hollie reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"My husband and I had a wonderful day at Blended Monkey. Learning new skills from Simon and Louise who are so knowledge and very patient. Thank you both."

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

"It was a pleasure having you guys in the woodturning workshop and the pottery studio. You both made some really lovely pieces! We're glad you enjoyed your experience :-)."

30 Jan 22'

Gregory Z reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Great experience! We've learned a lot. Simon's a good teacher"

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

"Hi Greg & Monika, Thanks for your review and great to meet you both! — Simon"

24 Jan 22'

Inga and Luke reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"We had a great day with the super knowledgeable Simon! From absolutely zero knowledge regarding the craft of woodworking we left feeling inspired and looking for our nearest club as we clutched our newly carved bowls and honey twizzles! A lovely day nattering, learning and getting thoroughly covered in wood shavings. Thoroughly recommended as Simon puts you right at ease."

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

"Hi Inga and Luke, I’m glad you enjoyed the day - it was great fun! If you do take up the craft, let me know how you get on and shout if you need any help."

23 Jan 22'

Lachlan and Quentin reviewed: Beginners 1-day pairs woodturning workshop

"Bought a pairs woodturning course for my Dad and I for Christmas, it was well worth it! Simon is an enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgeable teacher and we both enjoyed the experience immensely. Thanks also to Louise for preparing a lovely lunch and catering to my dietary requirements. Highly recommended!"

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

"Hi Lachlan, Thank you for such a lovely review; we’re so glad you enjoyed the day. — Simon & Louise"

20 Jan 22'

Amy and Martin reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"We booked the 2 crafts in 1 day for a couple and had a brilliant day! We carried out woodturning in the morning and pottery in the afternoon… Louise and Simon showed a huge passion for their craft which was contagious. They guided us through the basics giving us lots of interesting information to help but then stood back and allowed us to get into our own groove and enjoy experimenting with the woodturning and pottery. Well run and thorough... a lovely relaxing day was had!"

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

"I was nice to have you guys in the studios and we're so pleased you enjoyed your super-creative crafty day here at Blended Monkey :-). We enjoyed it too - always great when we can have a bit of a laugh with our students; makes the day really good fun all round!"

19 Jan 22'

Maureen reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"I had a full day Pottery Workshop Experience as a gift from my children. I have had a few goes of some pottery many years ago but had always wanted to have a go on a potter's wheel. Louise introduced a pinch pot, a coil pot and a slab pot in the morning and there were pictures and other people's work to give me ideas. However, Louise encouraged me to be as creative as I wished and really helped me explore my ideas. I made a hanging wall decoration in the afternoon and then made a few pots on the wheel. Louise's instructions were so clear and she gave good advice as I progressed through the stages. The day was brilliant and the time seemed to go so fast. I joined a couple doing the woodturning workshop for lunch which was a lovely spread, and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. The day is very good value. Apart from the six hours of one to one tuition and a lovely lunch, Louise had obviously spent a good deal of time preparing all the clay to be used in advance and once the day was over would be sanding the pieces when dry, then glazing and firing them. I loved it so much that I hope to return and do some more pottery. A really great day."

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

"What a lovely informative review Maureen! Thank you very much :-). Really pleased that you enjoyed your ceramics experience. You really let your creativity flow and made some fabulous pieces. It's also kind of you to acknowledge all the background processes that go on before and after the workshop - it's fairly involved :-). Would be great to have you back in the studio again later in the year!"

18 Jan 22'

Colin Izzard reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"This was purchased as a Christmas gift for me from my Wife! Simon and Louise greeted me and made me feel very welcome! Thoroughly enjoyable day! Simon is very professional and patient, I made some fabulous pieces and had a lovely lunch. I will be retuning for further courses with Simon! I would highly recommend"

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

"Hi Colin, Thanks for such a glowing review! It was lovely to meet you and we look forward to seeing you again. -- Simon & Louise"

16 Jan 22'

Rob reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I really enjoyed learning the basics of woodturning with Simon! Great instruction and friendly chat with it. I was very proud of the pieces I made on the day with Simon's help. Woodturning is very satisfying, with a real zen quality about it once you get in the zone. It is definitely something that would be hard to learn from a book or videos as it was all about feel, and small changes to angles. However, with an expert helping guide me by showing me the exact movements the tools needed it felt like I made really good progress in just one day. (I'm sure I'm no woodturning prodigy; Simon is just nice) Lunch was great - way better than expected. I'd imagined something basic so I was delighted by a delicious spread. One note: I went in January and it was very cold. I was very glad of a full set of thermals I had chucked in the car at the last minute which I popped on half way through, so if you are going in the bleak midwinter then do dress warm! Overall a great day, highly recommended."

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

"Hi Rob, Thanks for your kind review - much appreciated. Had I known you were cold I would have turned up the heater thermostat! :) You are the first to mention it, so I'll keep it in mind for future students at this time of year. I keep the workshop at around 15 degrees C to ensure that the tools and machinery are kept at an optimum temperature. Glad you had a backup plan though and that it didn't spoil your day. -- Simon"

27 Dec 21'

Christine reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"This course is so much fun! I loved learning all the different techniques in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Louise is kind, helpful, and fun to chat to. This experience was very relaxing, and I hope to come back again!"

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

"It was great fun having you guys in the studio! Nice to have a good chat while we're creating :-). I'm so glad you enjoyed your ceramics experience. It would be a pleasure to have you back again."

24 Dec 21'

Barry Holden reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"This was my first woodturning experience since my school days 50 years ago and I really enjoyed my day with Simon. His enthusiasm, experience and knowledge was invaluable and I am now looking to purchase my own lathe and tools. As well as detailed instruction on various techniques, Simon also spent time explaining how to select and sharpen the tools, dust extraction and safety equipment. I was delighted with the bowl and decoration that I made, and my family and friends also seemed impressed. My wife attended the pottery course with Louise on the same day and they both made us feel very welcome, including an enjoyable lunch."

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

"Hi Barry, Thanks for a lovely review; you were a pleasure to teach and we're glad you went away feeling that you got the most from the day. Any help required, please don't hesitate to get in touch. -- Simon & Louise"

23 Dec 21'

Lynne reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

"An excellent introduction to working with clay and the potter's wheel. Louise is relaxing company whilst offering instruction and advice throughout the day. The lunch was tasty and accommodated dietary needs, and tea was plentiful throughout the day ! Thank you Louise."

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

"It was lovely having you in the studio Lynne and I'm so pleased you enjoyed your ceramics experience :-). I'll let you know as soon as your fabulous pieces have been glazed and are ready for collection. Merry Christmas!"

21 Dec 21'

Michele reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" pairs - woodturning & pottery experience

"Both Simon and Louise are so patient and incredibly talented. They are clearly very passionate about their crafts and made the day informative, safe, inspiring and fun. They are both such lovely people and very easy to talk to and they genuinely could not have done any more to make our day special. Me and my son had the most wonderful day learning new skills and we are hoping to return for another session next year."

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

"It was a real delight having you guys in our studios :-). We're really pleased that you both enjoyed your woodturning & pottery experience! What a lovely mother and son treat :-). We'll let you know as soon as your fab pots have been fired. We hope you have a great Christmas and we'll see you in the New Year."

20 Dec 21'

David reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I would unreservedly recommend this course. Simon is both friendly and informative and no question is too stupid to ask. His workshop is well equipped and the programme was just right for me as a beginner (well, actually I had already turned one bowl, but that was 45 years ago at school!). There is ample opportunity to both practise and ask questions and I was delighted with the things that Simon helped me to produce. It was a day where I barely noticed the passage of time as I was fully engrossed for the whole workshop. I discovered there is much more to wood turning than I realised, but was also convinced that all of it is possible."

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

"David, Thank you for such a glowing review! We're glad you had a useful experience and delighted that you have got the woodturning 'bug'. Happy turning! -- Simon & Louise"

7 Dec 21'

Paul Jeffery reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"A day to be enjoyed by novices and those with experience alike. Simon is an excellent tutor. He obviously has lots of experience and knowledge and a very good way of imparting it. The workshop, machinery, tools and hospitality first class."

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

"Hi Paul, Thank you so much for your review and so glad you found the day worthwhile. — Simon & Louise"

3 Dec 21'

Geoff Powell reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I’ve always loved working with wood but never got around to woodturning. My wife bought me this course as a Birthday present and It has to be one of the best presents she has ever bought me. Simon and Louise are friendly and welcoming hosts. Simon is extremely knowledgeable but also has the knack of passing that knowledge on to beginners like me. His facilities are enviable with a large selection of tools and also health and safety facilities like dust extractions. On top of that, he is just good company. I’m sure I will be back in future for an intermediates’ course if he runs one."

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

"Geoff, thank you for a glowing review! Really enjoyed the day with you too; watch this space, an intermediate course should be available soon… — Simon & Louise"

1 Dec 21'

Tony Young reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"It was a wonderful day at Blended Monkey. I was made to feel very welcome and the tutor, Simon, was excellent and put me at ease immediately. I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone who may be interested."

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

"Hi Tony, So glad you had a good time. Please get in touch if you need any help with the craft in the future. -- Simon & Louise"

22 Nov 21'

Stephen Seidler reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"Highly enjoyable day with excellent tuition. I managed to turn a finial to use as a Christmas decoration never having used a lathe before and did a range of pottery activities which were great fun."

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

"We're really pleased you enjoyed your experience and it was lovely to see you hadn't forgotten how to throw on the wheel! Thank you for the lovely review :-)."

16 Nov 21'

David Newland reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"Although I had over a few years been 'playing around' with a wood lathe I’d never felt confident in what I was doing. Having looked at many YouTube videos on the subject I decided I needed some one to one tuition and the Blended Monkey site seemed to offer exactly what I was looking for. In fact the day turned out to be that and more. From start to finish it was an experience I won’t forget. Simon explained and demonstrated each step, then used a guiding hand to allow you to experience the correct way of using the gouges. He then allowed you to continue on your own but was always there when you needed any help. I now feel much more confident, knowing the correct way to hold and use the gouges. Having the notes Simon supplied will be very useful and something I’m sure I will use quite frequently. I would say to anyone thinking that wood turning might be for you Simon’s course is an absolute must. Thank you Simon for a really great day."

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

"Hi David, You are most welcome! You were a pleasure to teach and we're glad you had such a great day. -- Simon & Louise"

8 Nov 21'

Alison Hoffman reviewed: Beginners half-day pairs pottery / ceramics workshop

"Booked a ‘pairs’ workshop as a gift for my husband (which I could enjoy as well). Whole experience exceeded my expectations from start to finish - gift voucher came with a lovely ceramic heart which added to the present giving experience and the afternoon we spent with Louise was just amazing! Workshop was at just the right pace and we covered much more than we thought possible, making lots of items and having informative tuition in a relaxed environment. Our Sunday afternoons are usually fairly low-key but this weekend we ended it on a total high all thanks to our Blended Monkey experience. We can’t wait to try wood-turning now with Simon (and to pick up our masterpiece creations of course). Totally recommend booking this course - you won’t be disappointed!!"

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

"It was lovely to have you guys in the studio! You both created some fantastic pieces and we're really pleased you enjoyed your ceramics experience - amazing what you can achieve in an afternoon isn't it? :-). You're more than welcome to return to try your hand at woodturning or more pottery."

8 Nov 21'

Alison Hoffman reviewed: Beginners half-day 1-2-1 pottery / ceramics workshop for 1 person

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

8 Nov 21'

David Ryan reviewed: "2 Crafts in 1 Day!" 1-2-1 woodturning & pottery experience for 1 person

"I had a great day. The place was easy to find and Louise and Simon are very welcoming. They are also very good instructors. Lunch was excellent too! Would definitely recommend for beginners and more advanced potters/wood-turners."

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

"Hi David, Thanks for giving us a review - most welcome! We're glad you enjoyed the day and hope that you may go on to develop your craft skills. -- Simon & Louise"

8 Nov 21'

Jason C reviewed: Beginners 1-day 1-2-1 woodturning workshop for 1 person

"I'm thinking of getting into wood-turning but had no background or experience beyond some basic woodworking, so booked this one-day 1-1 course to give it a go. Simon is an excellent teacher. I felt I learnt a great deal (which I still remember!) and got to try a variety of techniques. The time just flew by, it was 5 pm before I knew it! It's a nice location and the workshop/facilities are great. The lunch was lovely too. Went away with a nice bowl. Highly recommended."

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

"Hi Jason, Thanks for a great review; we're so glad you enjoyed your experience. Do get in touch if you need any further assistance. -- Simon & Louise"