Here’s a few recent reviews – it looks like everyone enjoys themselves and learns a thing or two about spoon carving as well.
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Dave delivered a first class course with excellent and well explained briefings and demonstrations covering knife and axe safety, axe and knife holds and cuts, sharpening plus much more all in a single day, without it ever feeling rushed. We were all able to produce a spreader and kitchen spoon from beautiful green wood despite any previous knowledge. The setting was amazing for such a course and we were kept well fed and watered with tea, coffee and some wonderful flapjack. What an excellent teacher – a really interesting and enjoyable day – and a new, immense respect for quality wood carving! (I’m also really pleased with my ‘rustic’ butter knife!!) Would thoroughly recommend this course as Dave is an excellent teacher: he breaks the skills down, teaching one element at a time and then almost immediately encourages you have a go. We all practised completely new skills to create a butter knife first, so that by the afternoon we were already more confident and competent to have a go at a crafting a spoon. What a fantastic workshop! So much learning, packed effortlessly into a relaxed and spacious programme. Loved Dave’s style, which was methodical and thorough, with plenty of awareness of safety and best practice and of our own limitations as beginners, yet his guidance was expressed with lightness and humour and never in a way which might have cramped our style or reduced our confidence. Instead we were inspired from the first moment to believe that this unlikely skill was something we could easily learn with practice. And indeed, we did all have something to take home at the end of the day! I attended Dave’s spoon carving course at the wonderful surrounds of Days Cottage. The course was superb, perfectly balanced for the skills of the group yet allowing everyone the chance to work at their own pace. Dave’s manner of teaching is highly informative and yet presented in a relaxed manner that encourages you to ask questions and engage with the group. I highly recommend Dave’s courses, just beware, you’ll be eyeing every tree as a potential spoon! I spent two days with Dave on this course, and I’ve found a new passion for carving. I was a total beginner at the start of day one, but under his expert and patient tuition I managed to carve both a spoon and a butter spreader. At the start of day two, we had a discussion on what I felt were my areas for development, and he focussed on those for that day. This resulted in me taking home much improved versions the second day. I would recommend this course to anyone starting out in carving, and if you can do two consecutive days then do it. Plus the flapjacks are as good as everyone says. Amazing course, great teacher, memories for life, thanks Dave. No two bodgers carve spoons in exactly the same way, and Dave has a relaxed, informative and natural way of teaching. He manages to combine total novices, and those with more experience in a single group and ensures that all receive detailed tuition and real insights on how to improve. Where better to receive such expert tuition than a warm yurt, with tea and flapjack, in an apple orchard. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone interested in spoon carving. I loved this course and came away with my first spoon and some very clearly taught skills to continue. Highly recommended and a delightful way to spend a day.A thoroughly enjoyable and educational day
What an excellent teacher
Dave is an excellent teacher
All credit to Dave that everyone in the group ended up with not one but two items to take home.
What a fantastic workshop!
The course was superb
I’ve found a new passion for carving
A wonderful day in an idyllic setting!
A delightful way to spend a day
