Testimonials

'Women's Retreats'

"A profound experience... I felt sad to leave such a strong, beautiful tribe of women but also felt a renewed sense of belonging and a huge pride in the art we created together."

"Thank you to Jackie and Ruth for such a fabulous weekend of nourishment from inside and out. I felt quite empowered coming by myself and camping. It was just what I needed, and what a marvellous bunch of inspiring people! "

"Well organised from start to finish. Beautiful natural setting with a warm welcome. Skilled facilitators who have perfected their crafts. Delicious, wholesome food made and served with love. Arrived as a stranger, left having made new friends."

"I just wanted to give thanks for the wonderful weekend just spent together. I left feeling totally elevated by the beautiful group of women who had come together in that special place and am still seeing glowing faces and reliving powerful moments every day. Thank you both, for each holding a hand through the whole process with such compassion, lightness and fun. Your own creativity seems boundless in how each of you approach your craft, how you share and how you enable others, with so much flow and also such forethought and consideration. 
I appreciate it all from a very heartfelt place and have come home more easily than I anticipated and somehow inhabiting a softer mind and body. 
Thank you both. Until next time, with love"
 

"This past weekend was just so beautiful in so many ways - I loved the way you two work together so naturally, blending both your incredible skills, seamlessly - you’d obviously worked closely to create a gloriously holistic vibe which brought out the best in us all - met such lovely new folk who all felt like friends by the end of the weekend. 

I loved our creation - The Maid of the Meadow and such symbolism which will stay with us longer than the Maid! 

We love Camp Plas - lovely that Charlotte could join us, and Barney too - that sauna is such a great addition too - and your team - Julie, Adele and Sally produced such delicious wholesome food too! 

So I guess you can tell I loved the whole weekend and went away feeling very chilled and glowing with a happy contentment / thank you so much for all your thought and kindness, fun and skill "

"Thank you for your email and for what was, for Melanie and me, our first retreat. It was wonderful, and we have booked for next year before news gets out!!

The friendliness and the relaxation it engendered were very special, and what an interesting group of ladies! Everything seemed to fit together, and we genuinely can't think of anything to improve the experience. 

I have racked my brains to try to remember where I picked up the flyer which advertised the retreat. It was in the cafe at The Old Market Hall but I had already heard great things about you both so it wasn't difficult to persuade Melanie that we should take the plunge. "

"The weekend was truly magical and I have just booked for next year.
The thing I loved most are those connections that you talked about ....  What I gained was a feeling of 'zen', which lasted for a few days on return, and moments that I can revisit to regain that calm.  There is nothing I would wish to be changed about the weekend.  And I heard about the retreat via Ruth's Instagram feed.

My personal note following the weekend:  Being in the company of such a wonderful group of surprising, interesting & interested, intelligent, independent, strong women.

Never felt so in the right place. Loved the fresh air, stunning location, the river to swim in, fabulous facilities, particularly the barn which brought us all together to create, move, chat, eat, sing, dance & celebrate being us, being women and being creative beings. That's a lot of beings. Every morsel of healthy food we were given was delicious and inspiring. Blessed with this weather too. We could not have asked for more from this weekend.

I got far more out of the weekend than I could have imagined.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the weekend such a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to joining you again next year."

"Dear Ruth,

I came yesterday to the demonstration organised by Petersfield Potters. I am not a member but am part of Southern Ceramic Group. On looking you up online I found that your interests and expertise echoed my own albeit with a much bigger dose of the latter; ceramics, printmaking, poetry, patterns, murmurations, trees, landscape…. I could go on. I loved every moment of your biographic talk, given with humour and modesty. I learnt a new process (my result promises not to compete), and my mind took off in so many directions for developing my own work further, not by emulating your work but by stimulating my brain into a long list of ‘what if’s’? You are a natural educator, so generous is sharing your process so succinctly and I think the whole hall was riveted to the spot. A huge thank you.
With best wishes,

Francheska"

 

Clay Club at Home

"A wonderful morning of pure crafty distraction, making beautiful works of art, with clay and nature. I am already looking forward to the next one. Ruth Gibson  ... you're a fabulous and talented mentor, I can't wait to see my pieces glazed and fired. Pray to the kiln God's!"
Katy W

"Ruth is a Master. I am thrilled with my pot, platter and warrior woman which I crafted with Ruth’s expert and sincere guidance during a morning workshop, rounded off with a wonderful wholesome lunch, and a follow up glazing session; both in her warm-hearted home. But, when I reflect on my experience it is the ‘soft’ benefits that I value as much as the tangibles. Nurturing, nourishing, calming and creative: a mindful moment to savour. Thank you so much Ruth for your generosity."

Gail

"A wonderful opportunity to discover our creativity with friends and guided expertly by Ruth-none of us anticipated how much we could accomplish with her kind and skilful help!
A fantastic, creative and inspiring experience that I can wholeheartedly recommend!"

“A really special and enjoyable opportunity to spend time with friends add learn new skills. Ruth has a confident, calm manner as a talented artist and teacher. She gently encouraged even those of us with zero talent to be our best, to relax and discover new skills. An unexpectedly delightful way to spend a morning. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to step off life’s treadmill and discover new creativity in a beautiful, calm environment”

“Ruth inspired us to create some beautiful things, and we all felt we achieved far more than we expected in a nurturing environment. She is a very talented artist but also kind & patient. Would highly recommend her workshops”

"Thanks Ruth for a fantastic experience for both our teachers and our pupils. The tile tree project not only represents our Academy ethos really well - looking terrific now in our reception - but also has given pupils a real insight into the creative and commissioning process - which will equip them in their future creativity, whatever future path they take.

Having undergone the whole process - brief > client liaison > design > redesign > materials tests > make > remake > site selection/measure up > installation > evaluation - takes them through the real life process of working as a designer maker - a totally challenging and engaging path, which is fantastic to have offered them in KS4.

Its been a total pleasure to work with you [and Mike] and we've really appreciated all the extra hours you've put in to make the outcome so polished and complete. You have left us with a lasting legacy that the pupils are rightly proud of, that will grace our wall for many years yet.

Our creativity showcase is on the 17th May, so we look forward to welcoming you back to that event, to officially open the piece.

With warm regards"

Anna Mosynska

Head of Art & Design

Abraham Darby Academy

Telford TF7 5HX