Hi Sue

One curtain finished - the other only just started due to far too much other work.   The lovely thing for me about your courses is that not only do I learn how to do things properly after all these years but they are relaxing and allow me to do something just for me without pressure from the family to do this and that for them.   So thanks very much.

All the best, Viv. Oxfordshire
June 2010

Dear Sue,
 
Thank you so much for the 2-day loose covers course last weekend. It was fantastic to be taught so professionally on how to cover an armchair properly and have the mystery taken out the process at last. It was indeed very worthwhile for me and I didn't even mind giving up the good weather to do the course! Thank you also for your kind hospitality and for your patience.
 
I am going to attempt to cover my old Parker Knoll wing chair this weekend.  My only regret is not buying a Ruler Grid from you -  I don't think I will be able to manage to cut out accurately without one now that I have been spoilt & used yours !  Can you post one please?
 
Once again, many thanks and hopefully I will come up for further tuition in the future.
 
Best wishes, Maggie E. London
May 2010

Extract from a very talented artist who Sue helped translate her brilliant drawings into ‘works of art using a sewing machine’ ..............

“Having bought a Pfaff sewing machine, I went to some classes with Sue Hazell, who taught me the more than the basics, and who is not responsible in any way for my subsequent breaking of most of the rules, and my total disregard for straight lines.  Sue taught me the phrase by which I’ve tried to live, work-wise, ever since (and mostly failed) “Don’t put it down, put it away”.  I should still be trying to thread my machine and work out what the bobbin was for if it hadn’t been for those classes.“

L. W. - Oxfordshire

Website

April 2010

Sue
Just wanted to say thank you for a great day.  I really enjoyed it and was amazed that I managed to complete a headboard in just a day (with your invaluable help).

Thanks for making it a really fun and worthwhile day
I am now looking at what other courses you do that it would be worth me coming to!!

Ann M.  Warwickshire

March 2010

Dear Sue

I just wanted to say how beneficial the sewing machine training day was. 
I came back home and went through all the new techniques I now have in my head, and put them into practice.   I now understand how the stitches all work together with fine tuning (thank heavens). 
The best bit however, is that I feel I have the confidence to 'just have a go' at anything, which I didn't feel before. 

Regards,
Louise – Glos.
February 2010

Dear Sue,
 
Hubby was well impressed, he said my work looked very professional.....  I learned so much, and the course was exactly what I was after.  I will make some more practise blinds before I use the scissors on my daughter's fabric.....
 
I shall certainly recommend your courses, your generous hospitality and who would have thought I'd be sharing a day with a young French man with such a lovely accent. Its a wonder I was able to keep my stitches in a straight line.......
 
It was lovely to meet your family as well, a good day all round........ 
 
Kind regards, Morag (Cheshire)
January 2010

Hi Sue,

Just thought I'd let you know that I did get onto the Diploma course and have just completed my 4th week.  It's great fun and we're learning lots about specialist seams, stitches and cutting and adjusting patterns. 

Thanks so much for your dressmaking ‘crash course’, it has been so useful already. On several occasions I have been able to draw on the knowledge you so kindly bombarded me with that day, everything is going really well!
 
More importantly I love sewing more and more each week, so hopefully I will be able to carry on and make some sort of living out of it. 
 
Thanks again and I hope your well.  Thanks also for my lovely Christmas card!

Sarah A. (London)
January 2010

Hi Sue,

I hope the courses are going well in UK & France.  An update for you - I am doing quite well on the loose cover front, so your course was worth the investment.

Best wishes, Gillian (Oxford)
December 2009

Dear Sue

I'm sorry it has taken me this long to write and thank you for 3 fantastic days tuition. I have already started on a couple of projects for my own home to get some practice!

I did want to ask your advice on something though. I am going to make some curtains for my living room, and wanted to make the headings double pleat instead of triple. Are the measurements/allowances different to those for triple pleat headings? 

Thanks again Sue, and hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes, Helen 
November 2009

When I first met you Sue, I couldn’t sew a stitch.  

During the time that I have known you, I have sewn curtains and blinds for at least 6 properties, as well as sewing clothes and costumes for my grandchildren. 

Your style of teaching means that you we can replicate the lesson at home without worrying. 

Pauline Jones FNAEA, Cert REA, FICBA Macclesfield
October 2009

Hi Sue,

Thanks so much for the photos.  I had such a wonderful time. Thank you so much for your guidance, the great tuition, copious cups of tea, tons of ideas and inspiration and such fun. It has been a wonderful few days altogether. 

I love my overlocker to bits now and can't wait to have a bit of time on Friday to get going!  I did get to Stow on Monday and bought various bits and pieces of fabric ready for more sewing at home.
 
Thank you so much again. Please give my regards to the family and a big hug to Sadie.
 
All the best Wendy, Yorkshire
September 2009

Dear Sue
 
I just wanted to say thanks once again for a great day on Sunday. I can safely say I'm no longer afraid of sewing machines, and was quite proud of my first efforts!
Thanks for your patience and good humour - I really had fun.
 
Arani x. Gloucestershire
August 2009

Shwmae Sue
  
I thoroughly enjoyed the course and feel more confident at cutting up my 30 meters of fabric for my sofas, will e-mail you pics when they're done.
 
Thanks for being so helpful and for fetching me from everywhere. The theatre was terrific and the jumble sale - well !!!!
 
The whole trip to your course & meeting you & fellow learners, then looking up my family local to you, has been one of my best experiences :)
  
Anyway Sue thanks a bunch and all that , I hope to see you again to pick your brains in another area of soft furnishings, hope children’s sewing breaks goes well.
 
Take care, lots of love
 
Hwyl
Tregaque xxxx Aberystwyth
July 2009

Dear Sue

I got an enormous amount out of spending 4 days in your workroom and learning from you.  The attached photos are two versions of the pelmet I made last week.

I guess the things I most appreciated about your way of working with students were:

· The excellent course notes

· Your flexible approach to training, whereby a learner can set the agenda according to their needs and even change their learning plan in the middle of day!

· The excellent practical advice you have provided on how to run a curtain-making business

· Your commentary throughout the day along the lines of, “I do it this way as it is so much easier………” a simple example is using yellow stickies to sew a straight line.

When I move into my workshop at the back of the house I shall invite you over.

Marje B. (France)

June 2009

Dear Sue,

Many, many thanks for a fantastic sewing day.  I cannot believe how much I have learned from you & hope to practise a lot.  I would also love to come again in the foreseeable future – I will e-mail.

I also greatly enjoyed your company – you are a great teacher !

Yours, Susi B. The Cotswold's
May 2009

Hi Sue,
 
Thank you so much for the speedy picture evidence of what I made with you ..... Mum has been suitably impressed!! 

I so enjoyed the weekend - something I've been wanting to do for ages and under your expert tuition I really believe I might be able to put what I've learnt into practice ..... watch this space.  Will send you a photo of the finished articles!!
 
Thank you so much for your patience, good humour and expert, easy to follow, advice.  I really feel I have learnt a lot.

I want to put my curtain/blind making into use and then will definitely be back for more in the future.
 
Many thanks, take care. Claire x 
April 2009

Hi Sue
 
Thanks for forwarding the photo, I thoroughly enjoyed the day and am so proud of the blind I made. I just can’t wait to get a sewing machine and keep practicing till perfect. I'll definitely be booking onto one of the cushion crazy courses and also curtain making so no doubt I'll be in touch soon.
 
Thanks again for a fantastic day :)
 
Kristy xx
March 2009

Dear Sue,

Just a note to say how very much I enjoyed the 2 day course.  It was fabulous & I came away with oodles of new tips & more confidence.  In fact, I am going to treat myself to another day or so in the spring with you – I just don’t want to stop learning about all the things that I really enjoy.

You made it so enjoyable & fun – I could have stayed all week!

My lambrequin looks really lovely on my landing & I’m going to make a roman blind to go with it.  Also, I’ve been measuring every window in the house to see where I can put some more!

Your workroom has given me lots of ideas too – I’ve even started a collection of greetings cards!

Anyway, once again, thank you so much, it was lovely to meet your family too, I hope you are all well.  Take care & see you soon.

Best wishes, Denise - Oxford
February 2009

Hi Sue, its Gemma, I got an A* on the skirt. (best in the class!!)

Thank you so much for helping me with the skirt. I hope you’re okay.

Love from Gemma

…x.x.x…
January 2009

Hello Sue,

I wanted to thank you for the course on Saturday; I found it really useful as well as being very enjoyable.  

My daughter was very impressed with the sample blind and it was great to come away with an actual blind as well as the handy notes. 

I compared the blind to my previous attempt and can see where I went wrong and made things too complicated.  

I plan to buy some material this weekend and start on the blinds for my bedroom very soon.

Tricia B. - Reading
December 2008

Hi Sue,

Thank you for your quick response in sending me you're book on advanced soft furnishings. It has given me lots of helpful details for new projects that I am looking to undertake in the near future.

You're attitude towards people which has come across to me not only with reading you're web site but also with the little note enclosed with the book, has made me feel very comfortable to approach you on a problem I have.  See attached.

Lucy - London

November 2008

Hi Sue,

I can’t tell you how much I loved the classes – you are such a wonderful master (mistress!) of ceremonies – making us all feel so happy & inspiring us to be creative & to make friends.

It’s a special gift that you have – not only as a fabulous “fabric artist” as they call people like you in America, but also as a “people person”.

So thank you for everything you do & you are! I loved the notice boards – what a fun gift idea!

Very best wishes,

Deborah - Stonesfield

October 2008

Dear Sue,

Just to say thank you for a great day & superb tuition - I do feel much more confident now to tackle an arched window with drapes & my sample will go up in my workroom too !  Quintet pleats & an arch all in one day - see you on the next course.

Best wishes, Yvonne - Oxford

September 2008

Dear Sue,

First of all I would like to thank you for such an enjoyable weekend course.  Not only was the tuition ‘first class’ but the friendly environment you created was a delight.

I found it very interesting seeing you sew part of a real item whilst we were busy sewing.  

I personally do not like to be stood over whilst I am learning & was pleased you were able to keep an eye on us by placing yourself within the group, but not on top of us.

I am now inspired to make a bedcover & cushions plus anything else!  I will for sure, come to another class as I am eager to learn more of your tips.

Very best regards, Susan - Northants

Ps. I have just folded my ‘t’ shirts from the washing line in a matter of seconds, great tip !

August 2008

Hi Sue

Many thanks for a fantastic day, full of information a form of tidy discipline, especially with pins!!

Great fun and practical tips.

Many thanks again you are inspiring.

Mary - ASTON

July 2008

Dear Sue,

Just a quick note from your most useless student to date....

I am so pleased that I came on the one day roman blind course, your help and humour was invaluable to a complete beginner-but I did it, I made my first roman blind - only another 8 to go.....

Thank you again for your support and patience!

Zoë - Milton

June 2008

Hi Sue,

Just to say thank you very much again for all your help teaching me to make items with interlining. It gives such a 'lush' feel to the furnishings.

I've never met anyone who is so clear in her instructions as you! It is so easy to understand your techniques - a pleasure to decipher. I'm so excited about making even more now!

Jane x SW3

May 2008

Hi Sue,

Many thanks for the great tuition last Friday - I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will definitely be back for more! All I want to do now is make curtains for my whole house. Thanks for the snow family picture - have they melted yet?

Sue - Wrexham

Snowy 2008

Hello Sue

Donna & I want to thank you for the wonderful few days that we spent with you and the hospitality that you showed to us.

You are an excellent teacher and fill your students with such confidence and enthusiasm. You only have to look at Donna for that - her blind hemming is perfect - not bad for someone who could not sew.

Since I have been home from the course I have made several sample curtains with various headings and have now got my first customer.

Once again Sue thanks a million and we will definitely be back.

Love from

Jan & Donna - SOMERSET

March 2008

Dear Sue,

Thank you for your support with our learning over the 2 separate weeks this year, kindness & your hospitality.

We cannot thank you enough for putting up with us, we have loved every minute – if you think you are getting rid of us that easy, then think again – we will be definitely be back!

We class yourself & Reg as our firm friends.

Lots of love Mand & Su xxx

Wolverhampton

February 2008

Hi Sue

I have been meaning to email you for ages to thank you for the great day
I spent doing Basic Skills on 19 March - in fact I so enjoyed it that I
bought the same machine as I had been using the very next day!

Since then I have attempted some more cushions, and am just embarking on
my first pair of curtains - nothing like ambition is there.....

Thanks again for the great day - would recommend it to anyone.

Kind regards, Lorna

WILTSHIRE

January 2008

Dear Sue

On behalf of my daughters Diane and Chrissie, I should like to thank you very much for the tuition and hospitality shown to us on Monday. Believe it or not, EVEN I learnt new things I already thought I knew....so much for clinging on to school days and the lessons where the only thing we learnt was how to make a sewing bag and apron. WOW!

I honestly don't know how you fit in everything in your busy schedule, and as I hadn't seen your web site until today, I'm gob smacked at the amount of information on it.... I hope you're being paid by the Oxfordshire Tourist Board for the hotel advertisements!!

Once again many thanks and give our best wishes to Shirley who we know is with you all week. It was a pleasure to meet her and we wish her all the very best in her future employment quest.

Sincerely
"Mumsie"

LUTON, Beds

December 2007

Hi Sue,

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for all your help this year. Its because of you that I have been able to take the scary step to go forward in my plans to set up in business as a curtain and soft furnishing making and so far, its going very well.

I called and left a message for you last week as I needed some advice on spacing triple pleats on a large patterned material. I'd worked out a solution by the time you called me back and I'm pleased to say that they looked ‘fab’, so my call to you wasn't necessary in the end!

Anyway, thank you for being there for me as its so good to know that I can call you for advice if I ever need it.

While I remember can you tell me what the name and make of tool is that I should buy that helps cover buttons. I'm doing them long handed by gathering them by hand at the moment and I'm sure there is a tool out there that can cut down the work involved. Thanks once again.

Kind Regards Dee, Cornwall

November 2007

Hi Sue

I'm not sure if you remember me but I was one of the family trio that attended one of your workshops back in January (my sister booked it and was heavily pregnant and her and my Mum stayed for 2 days, I only did the Saturday when we learned roman blinds).

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that since I attended your fantastic workshop, I have made 3 sets of curtains and 3 roman blinds and they all look beautiful and fit perfectly (well.... within 1/2 cm which isn't too bad for a 1st go, is it??)! I am thrilled with my newfound skills and have absolutely loved producing my window dressings...so much so that I'm thinking that I may come back to you for some more expert tuition!

I'm interested in headers and borders. Can I do this with you in one day? Also, I'd like to know how to interline. Further down the line, I'd also love to know about pelmets, swags and tiebacks but I suppose I need to do one thing at a time. One day, I'd love to have my own Wendy House like you in my back garden where I can lock myself away from my pesky toddlers!!

Anyway, just to say thanks again and your tuition and notes have been superb. Let me know how many days I would need to book for the subjects above and also your availability. There's no hurry for me.... it’s permanently Groundhog Day in my life!

Hope you are well.

Kind regards, Jane

Sheffield

October 2007