“Thank you very much for a thoroughly enjoyable few days, learning all about curtains. It was very informative and showed me just the extra tips and skills I felt I needed.”
Clare x
“Thanks Penny for the notes, I so enjoyed the course and would gladly recommend it to anyone. You are an inspirational teacher so good luck in the future. I will let you know as soon as I have got dates sorted with my aunt’s affairs and try and combine another course. Best wishes and thank you for three very happy days.”
Julia from Hereford
“Many thanks for the receipt for the course today. Such a super day – thanks so much. You are a very good teacher and you have a good formula for a great day. I will be telling all my friends about you.”
Shelagh
“Thanks so much Penny, had a great day, learnt a huge amount and lovely hospitality and food too!”
Lisa
“Thank you so much for an absolutely brilliant couple of days!! I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and feel like i have learn a lot.”
Alex
“Thanks for your email. I am living, breathing, dreaming curtains right now!! I really gained a huge amount of satisfaction from the course and – as you know – I learnt HEAPS!”
Martha
“I’m ridiculously proud of the sample I came away with and can’t quite believe it’s (mostly) all my own work! I can’twait till I have time toactuallysit down and start making them for the first floor of our house. All very exciting! I should tell youthat I got into the office yesterday and got sucked straight back into the swamp that is work, and it occurred to me that making blinds was so much more fun…”
Lia
“Thank you very much for the very enjoyable and informative Roman Blind course yesterday. I cannot wait to get going on making mine. I also hope in the future to come on the curtain and cushion courses.”
Lynn
“Penny’s curtain making business course gave me the practical skills and confidence I needed to set up my own business. From making curtains and finding out about different suppliers to tips and advice on some of the pitfalls to be aware of when running such a business – Penny’s teaching has proved invaluable. The courses are conducted in a really friendly and informal manor – and I never went away feeling hungry as the home cooked lunches were excellent!! And the support didn’t stop at the end of the course. Penny has only been too pleased to provide additional guidance by phone or email when I’ve come upon a new challenge of starting a business.”
Charlotte
“Blindingly Simple was a blindingly good choice!! Completing the Curtain, Roman Blind and Cushion courses under your professional guidance, has equipped me to start up my own business in soft furnishings.
You shared your knowledge and skills clearly and concisely. The courses were a pleasure to do with your warm welcome, friendly approach and delicious lunches. The business days were extremely useful, meeting reps from different company’s, and learning more about the business side of things. Knowing you are only a phone call away, (thankfully as iv phoned you quite a bit) with additional help and advice has been a great support whilst finding my way with my new business venture. Thank you for all your encouragement.”
Alex
“I would recommend Blindingly Simple’s courses for either people who want to learn for pleasure how to make professional curtains/blinds or for people who want to re-train and change their professions like myself. Penny is an extremely patient teacher with a wealth of experience and good sense of humour and soon praises your efforts but also more importantly identifies gently where you could improve or goes over stitching demos time and time again if it is necessary.
At the end of the training days I was able to take home three sample curtains; lined pencil pleat, lined and interlined triple pinch pleat and also lined eyelet curtains. I also made a sample roman blind and a sample pelmet. Penny uses fresh contemporary beautiful fabrics for training purposes which makes it more satisfying to see the end result.
Penny arranged for me to meet several reps who gave demos on different types of tracks and fabrics. Some of them have since become my reps and I am convinced that without Penny’s involvement it would not have been that easy in setting up my company, ‘Pretty Swish’.
It doesn’t stop when you leave Penny’s studio…. If you get stuck or can’t remember a step she is available to help you out over the phone.
Penny’s course has led to a job/career for me and I love every minute of it! I am my own boss, I don’t have to commute as I have a dedicated workroom and I can work when it suits me whether it is in the daytime or in the evenings. Working for myself I can still do the school runs and attend the children’s assemblies. Hopefully I will never have to send my CV out.”
Lisa Glasspool, Pretty Swish
“Thank yooo! The day was fab – thank you so much. I learnt loads, had a lot of fun & it was such a relaxed day it felt like visiting friends whilst learning.”
Linda
“I’ve taken away so many great ideas and so much reassurance that blinds are possible, provided I measure measure measure!”
Gail
“Thank you so much for a wonderful day! As 2 busy Mums with a need for roman blinds and a want to make them we came across your website and we are so glad we did. We have learnt so much and can not wait to get on to our own projects! We had such a fun chilled day and came away feeling so proud of ourselves, with so many hints & tips to help us on our way! You were very welcoming and fun to be around.”
Claire & Helen
“Thank you so much for the course last week. I really enjoyed it and feel very excited about starting off at home. I felt so welcomed at your home and feel I have really learn a new skill from an expert!Yesterday I rented a van and strapped Harry into the cab and we went to Weymouth and bought a curtain making table that i found on ebay! It is now in the dinning room, which is now in living room! And I am ready to go! I have also made myself an apron with loads of pockets!You kindly said I could get some lining and interlining from you. Please can you order this for me if that is still ok. I also wanted some heading tap and buckram. As I wanted to use the same as I did on the course until I am confident to get my own.Also I booked the blind making day with you in November. Can I also book the cushion day and lampshade?I remember that you are not working this week, and hope your trip to your sister goes well and I look forward to hearing from you next week.Take care and thank you again.”
Emma
“Just wanted to send a great big thank you for adding the lampshade making course to your suite of courses. Absolutely loved it. You truly are the most effective teacher I’ve ever known. You know when to step in and give advice and just as importantly you know how to encourage and build confidence. I came away from this course buzzing with ideas. Can’t wait to come back to do more!”
Irene
“I did a fair amount of research before booking onto the professional curtain making course with Blindingly Simple and had had great feedback from 3 previous students, all of whom were now successfully in the business. I felt sure that I had made a good choice. The course fulfilled my expectations and more.
I had sewn curtains much of my life and thought I did a reasonable job……only now do I know the difference between my previous efforts and a truly professional finish! I learned so much and feel I have benefitted enormously from Penny’s vast knowledge and experience. Now I have the know how and the confidence to make superbly finished curtains for my home. Thanks to Penny, I also now have the confidence to consider setting up professionally.
Just one month later I returned to complete the roman blind and cushion making days. Again, both courses were fantastic and extremely worthwhile. Penny is a great teacher. Whether you are an accomplished curtain maker (or at least think you are!) or a complete novice, I would thoroughly recommend Blindingly Simple”
Maggie
“Thank you so much for a brilliant course yesterday. It far exceeded my expectations, to say nothing of the delicious lunch you kindly provided for us.I shall be back for cushions and pelmets!”
Liz
“First of all a big THANK YOU for three very enjoyable days learning to make curtains. I must congratulate you on running such a well organised and informative course, and although my head was spinning by the end of it I learnt so much – just can’t wait to get started making curtains.”
Jenny
“Just wanted to say thank you for a fantastic four days. I loved the course content, relaxed teaching style, great lunches and my fellow student. Had a really enjoyable, informative four days and looking forward to the roman blind day; whenever we can book that in. Already making plans for how to construct a work table and have got the room in which I’m going to work. Can’t wait to get making the curtains for home.”
Laura J.
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for a wonderful day and delicious lunch, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and have come away feeling like I could possibly attempt a Roman Blind myself now, this morning I was more than dubious ! I shall be in touch to order a few blind kits if that’s ok once I have measured the windows.”
Olivia
“I rarely leave reviews however I wanted to leave this one for anyone else who has found their way here and is considering attending Professional Curtain Making course. I travelled from Scotland to attend this course and having never sewn on a button before I did wonder if I was making the right decision, factoring in the costs of travel, accommodation and the course.
The last time I had used a sewing machine was in high school, I am forty years old so that was quite some time ago!
From the moment I arrived at Penny’s door to be greeted by her I knew I had made the right decision. Penny is one of those people who instantly puts you at ease and you feel like you have known her forever. Her house is a home that is warm and welcoming it is the perfect environment for learning in as you feel really relaxed in your surroundings.
We had coffee/tea and a chat with the two other ladies attending the course which was lovely very informal and friendly then we went to the workroom eager to get started. Penny then handed me a set of notes detailing what we were going to learn in a week. Having no real previous sewing experience, no knowledge of how to work a sewing machine and reading notes that to me seemed like a foreign language I must confess I had a moment of doubt! There was no way I was going to learn or understand all of that in four days never mind make four curtains!
Well, I am very proud to tell you I did! I left Penny’s house four days later with a wealth of knowledge and four gorgeous handcrafted curtains made by my own hands. This was all due to Penny’s teaching methods she really has a gift in teaching.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this course to anyone who would is considering doing this course either for themselves as a hobby or if like me they have a dream of starting their own business.
I have gained new skills, knowledge and practical experience in making the most beautiful curtains to a professional standard, self confidence and belief in my own ability and I have also gained a few pounds from eating the most delicious lunches!
Penny has years of experience in both making soft furnishings and running a successful business all of which she openly shares with you. She is a woman who I admire, respect and have learned so much from. She is there on hand to continually offer support and help from the moment you arrive until you no longer need her. Her support does not end when the course finishes she is available to help when you get back home from answering ridiculous questions (sorry Penny!) to helping you source supplies and materials you need. This is not a service available from any of the other courses, it is unique.
I now regard Penny as a mentor and a friend she has a great sense of humour and is just a pleasure to be around, she deserves every bit of credit on all the glowing reviews she has been left and then some!
I can’t wait to go back to do my other courses Pelmets, Cushions, Roman Blinds and my business day.
I know this all sounds too good to be true, but this is an honest review, Penny has my details and if you want to speak to someone who has attended this course I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have. If I can do this so can you! ”
Nichola
