Month: May 2023

Handcrafted items to make it all even more memorable.

Any June wedding has the potential to be one of the most memorable and incredible weddings that you could ever have. If the weather is on your side, and it should be in ‘flaming June’, then you could have the perfect opportunity to create wonderful photographs and memories of a very special day. There are other ways to make the day even more exceptional. With the blue summer skies above your head, it’s every bride’s dream to look radiant as they enter the church and walk down the aisle. It’s also every groom’s dream that the weather holds off long enough for the reception to be a success and for everybody to enjoy themselves.

Once the splendour of the wedding service has been completed and everybody has watched the happy couple be legally married, it’s time to make your way out of the church or venue and over to the reception area for the wedding breakfast and the speeches. The centrepieces and decorations for a June wedding are something that should be given very careful consideration. One of the most enchanting options is for there to be handcrafted items on the table for people to enjoy. There may also be an opportunity to create handcrafted decorations as well for the general room. However, crafters do need to be protected in case something goes wrong and that’s where public liability insurance for crafters comes in.

There’s a very good chance that you may well be contacted by the bride and groom or their wedding organisers to help craft and create something special and different for a wedding. No two weddings are exactly the same and the inclusion of something for the guests to take away from the ceremony is one of the more common factors that have come into the wedding day celebrations. A handcrafted gift for specific important guests such as the bridesmaids, the best man and the mother and father of the bride, for example, should all be given nice gifts to commemorate the day. Again, caution needs to be taken by the crafters who have been commissioned to make the gifts. If something were to go wrong with the handmade gifts, there would be certain legal ramifications that the crafter would need to be aware of. For peace of mind, it’s a very good idea to get public liability insurance for crafters before you start making things and giving them out to wedding parties. Unfortunately, in our modern era, one has to consider the worst possible outcome for anything as we live in an increasingly litigious society.

What kind of handmade crafts can you give out to members of the wedding party and other guests? One of the most popular choices is that of a small wooden craft box. This can contain many of the traditional wedding elements such as sweets like sugared almonds or maybe even chocolates. A particularly special touch would be to engrave or craft the initials of the two married people into the box to serve as a memento for the day long after the wedding has finished.

Flowers make up a very important part of any wedding ceremony and how they are arranged and displayed can make or break how a wedding looks. Weddings give the crafter the opportunity to display flowers how they wish to see them and to create vases or display holders for the flowers so that everything looks immaculate. One of the best advantages of June is that it is in the height of summer, so flowers are in abundance and there is much scope for colour and decoration to be had with them.

However, the most common role of the handcrafter at weddings is for making invitations to the wedding in the first place. This has become the first stage of any wedding and, in many cases, the invitation card is judged as much as the wedding ceremony itself. It’s very important that the handmade crafter sticks with the theme that the bride and groom have chosen. The place settings or

name cards should also be reflective of that initial invitation to give the whole event a certain sense of symmetry. It’s not necessarily complete uniformity that makes for a fun wedding but there is a certain sense of tradition that has to be observed and followed throughout the ceremony and reception afterwards. This can also be followed on to the evening party where even more friends and family may be coming to celebrate the union of the happy couple.

With the decorations set and the flowers arranged and everybody aware of the date from their handcrafted invitations, the wedding can begin in earnest. It’s a good opportunity for the business handcrafter to get their work seen and it may well lead to further commissions and other work. Above all, the business-minded hand crafter should always be looking for the next client and the next opportunity. They should also make sure that they retain their own security with public liability insurance for crafters as well.

One final idea to suggest might be to engage in some of your own glass-blowing. Just imagine the look on the guest’s faces when they are presented with a hand-blown piece of glass with the date and time of the wedding engraved upon them! There is also the possibility of looking at creating your own range of pottery to give as a homemade gift at a June wedding whether the bride and groom appreciate a good mug or a champagne flute, you’re sure to be able to find some handmade crafts that will fit the bill for them. It’s true that handmade crafts can really make all the difference in setting a wedding apart and making it memorable.

It’s a scenario many of us dream about during those grey and drizzly winter days, a warm beach, the gentle lapping of waves and the feeling of sand between our toes. Relaxation, blue skies, cool drinks, and complete serenity. For the more adventurous among us, maybe our daydreams include rambles along Cornish coastal paths, the exhilaration of the surf or whiling away the hours exploring coves and caves from a boat. Whether we love vast swathes of sandy beach or lean more towards rock pools and quaint fishing villages, most of us love to be beside the seaside. 

Holidays beside the sea date right back to the Georgian era, when the wealthy would seek out the health benefits of salt water and bracing sea air by staying in coastal locations for a good length of time. We can get a glimpse of this in some of the literature of the time. However, the coming of the railways and subsequent affordable travel opened seaside holidays up for many more. Thus, we still have many Victorian seaside towns around our coast, complete with grand hotels, piers and ornate rooms for tea dances. 

As policies changed within our factories, requiring employers to give their employees a holiday entitlement, the annual trip to the seaside often became part of the fabric of our nation. Factory doors would close, and families would pile into trains which took them to such resorts as Scarborough, Blackpool, Weston Super Mare and Weymouth. Beach huts, donkey rides, fish and chips and ice cream all became synonymous with a good old British summer holiday. 

Seaside holidays reached their peak in between the wars, and then gradually started to decline in popularity post the Second World War as air travel became more affordable and the package holiday rose in popularity. Thus, many of our once thriving seaside towns became run down and a shadow of their former bright and sparkling selves. More recently, however, funding has been put into restoring many of these towns, and they are again beginning to flourish with a new, twenty-first-century set of visitors. Probably for a few reasons families are beginning to trickle back towards a holiday by the sea in Britain, whether this is in holiday parks, campsites, Airbnb’s or even hotels and guest houses, and it is good to see the donkeys plodding the sands yet again and ice creams being consumed with relish.

So, what is it that makes us think with such nostalgia of those seaside holidays of yesteryear, and how can we, as crafters, capture that in our products?  Maybe it is partly a sense of stability. In our highly unpredictable world now, the concept of a regular annual holiday to the same place, doing the same things can seem inviting. As humans, we like variety but also generally thrive off familiar rhythms; thus, an annual holiday by the sea offers just enough variation to be exciting but enough consistency not to be too challenging. 

Maybe it’s the sense of family and community these holidays encapsulated. Our world is changing so fast, yet these were times when family and the local community were the cohesion of society. Times were not as rosy as we may fondly like to think, but family ties of loyalty were strong and local communities helped each other out. Maybe too, in a fast-paced world, looking back to how previous generations lived offers a sense of stability and rootedness. We have a history; we have both rich and quirky traditions and a heritage we can learn from and build upon. Looking back may give us strength and inspiration to move forward. Or maybe it’s simply the stunning scenery, the colours, the smells, the textures, and the sounds which are evocative of sunshine, slowing down and rest.

Whatever fires our imagination for seaside holidays, it is certainly worth riding on the wave of this and producing some seaside-themed products. We are also in the season of outdoor craft venues at festivals, shows, fetes and fairs, so there are plenty of opportunities to sell your beautiful crafts. If this is your first season of selling in person to the public, you will need to have insurance for crafters in place. This will probably include public and product liability insurance which covers you for any unforeseen mishaps while selling, demonstrating, or teaching your craft, at any outdoor or indoor event. There may also be some regulations around your craft product, e.g. handmade toys or consumable products. These can seem a bit confusing at first, but as a family firm with many years of experience, we can help you find the best insurance for crafters. Pick up the phone and have a chat with one of us; either Samantha or Naomi will be here to talk it through with you.  We will sort out an individual insurance package which fits your unique needs and circumstances, giving you peace of mind and the time to get on with what you do best, creating beautiful craft products. 

The warmth and blue skies of summer often lend themselves to a little extra spending, even in these financially challenging times. As our collective mood lifts and customers wander around the numerous outdoor crafting and countryside events, there is a lure to splash out on a special item that reflects the season. This could be something useful like a beach bag or sun hat, something which will evoke memories of the sea like sea glass jewellery or something practical but with a touch of luxury like bath products. Or, what about a ceramic mug, decorated in the hues of the sea, which will bring back memories of sunshine on dark winter days as hands are warmed, and hot tea is sipped? Whatever your craft, give us a ring to ensure you have insurance for crafters in place and get crafting some products which will bring joy, beauty and memories of summer into our homes. 

For many of us, the ownership of some bespoke handcrafted jewellery is the highlight of our collection.  Knowing that the piece has been lovingly crafted by an experienced silversmith or jewellery maker gives that piece a certain extra special feel when we wear it. In many cases these have been specially commissioned and produced for weddings or for other important occasions such as christenings and as memorial keepsakes. If you are handcrafting jewellery yourself then it’s a very important factor to remember for your business to have fine art and jewellery insurance.  It is always a good idea to have extra provision and cover in place just in case something goes wrong or in case a customer is unhappy with your work.

The work of the silversmith is special as they deal specifically with that type of metal. There is a long, proud and traditional history associated with the creation of this art involving a set of techniques and training that has been passed down from generation to generation. Despite the increasing level of automation in our lives the work of the silversmith and the handcrafting jeweller is still greatly prized and sought after. These are usually among the stands and stalls at craft fairs that attract a lot of attention and a lot of commissions. The noble art of the jeweller and silversmith was in times past so revered that many formed guilds to protect their work and their skill set, then these traditions were duly passed on to the next generation. To be able to say that one was taking up an apprenticeship with a jeweller or silversmith was seen as a great honour and that the person who was successful already had an excellent set of skills already in place. Nowadays, those who choose to train in this field also need to consider acquiring fine art and jewellery insurance.

Getting the correct product and marketing at specific times of the year can be a very lucrative and positive experience for many craft jewellery makers and silversmiths. A great idea for making pieces unique is that of incorporating birthstones within the designs of the jewellery.  Exquisite and personal pieces can be created with the simplest of designs. The focus of the birthstone for the person looking to make the purchase can take the jewellery from a simple look to something that can have a very deep and personal meaning for the person making the purchase. It also gives their loved ones and relatives the chance to buy them something that can be seen as a very tailored piece of work.

This month’s birthstone (May) is the fabulous, green emerald. The beauty of this particular stone is that green is a very strong colour (due to the presence of Chromium and Vanadium) and when set within a piece of delicate filigree, an emerald can really shine out and be noticeable within a piece of jewellery. Emeralds are still seen as being particularly valuable – their strong green colour coupled with a high degree of transparency places them within the realms of rubies and sapphires.Their colour emphasises the return of Spring and the colour of summer as grass makes its way through the winter months back to life. There is absolutely no doubt that anyone born in this month receiving a piece of handcrafted jewellery featuring an emerald will know that the person presenting the gift has done some solid research to find something different for them.

Jewellers need to show extreme care when creating a piece of jewellery centred around the emerald.  Unfortunately, the stone is not renowned for its robust nature. Given that emeralds are considered to be easily damaged, a degree of fine art and jewellery insurance may well be required by any jeweller to cover themselves.

Handcrafted jewellery makers and those that deal in silversmithing are faced with considerable costs from tools and materials when they come to enter the field.  A saw, particularly a jewellers saw, is one of the most sought after and needed tools. There are also strong jewellers files for the shaping and moulding of the exquisite work that is required. The skills of the handcrafted jewellery maker need to be honed to perfection. A steady hand, patience and artistic vision are all skills needed when looking to create a new work.  Other items needed include a selection of hammers such as a planisher, for smoothing the metal, and cross pein types to put in small nails and pins to connect the pieces. Used together, these delicate instruments all have their place in the creation of something special for customers who want to buy something of value.

One of the most  difficult yet essential skills that the handcraft jeweller and silversmith need is that of being able to clean and buff the product, so that it gleams when it is on the shelf. When it comes to presenting the finished products, a striking display of work is one of the critical factors that need to be employed by the craft stall holder to draw in the customer.  Beautifully arranged jewellery is one of the best ways to grab the attention of the many passers by that come to craft fairs. People are all on the lookout for something that is beyond the norm, something that stands out that is bespoke or special. Another thing that people are looking for is something that is on point in terms of seasonality. Therefore, using emeralds, the birthstone of the month of May, as your primary focus for display can help generate interest in your stall and, most importantly, in your work.

References to Whitsun date back to the fourteenth century, and over the following centuries what started as a religious celebration grew into the nationwide holiday which we all enjoy. Its essence and traditions resonate with many of the values held by crafters, so it is a fun one to explore and could be an excellent springboard for craft fairs.

Whitsun falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter, and up until 1972 Whit Monday was the holiday which followed on from it. Traditionally this has incorporated a glorious mix of fairs, pageants, Morris dancing, parades, processions, markets and a good number of eclectic regional customs. In the north of England, the cotton mills were often closed during Whit week with the twofold purpose of allowing time to clean the machines and giving the workers a week’s holiday. In rural  Britain, Whitsun also was a time of holiday for land labourers and marked a pause in the agricultural year.

There are some wonderful and whacky regional traditions which have grown up over the years. These reflect the marvellous and delightful cultural uniqueness we find across our nation, which is in turn often echoed in local food and craft products. In the North West of England, parades and processions have been popular. These have often included clergy from the local churches, brass bands and a noisy throng of happy participants. Long distance Whit Walks were also popular during the last century. Indeed, the Bradford Whit Walk, began in 1903, boasted two Olympic gold medalists among its graduates.

Food is always central to any festivity, and Whitsun entertains some truly unusual and quirky customs. St Braeval’s in Gloucestershire is a picturesque village with a medieval castle at its centre. Each Whitsun Monday bread and cheese are thrown from a nearby wall, to be gathered by the villagers. In another Gloucestershire village three balls of Gloucester cheese are rolled around the church. One is then shared out amongst the parishioners and the other two are rolled down a hill. In a different part of the country, Cambridgeshire, a race of Stilton cheese rolling is held with the prize being a cheese and some port to accompany it.

Markets, fairs and festivals have always been integral to our bank holidays across the country, and Whitsun is no exception. Ale was the main drink at many a local gathering, so much so that the term a “Whit Ale” came about, meaning a party revolving around the jovial consumption of the local ale.

Whit Ales connect us with a humorous twist to the the origins of Whitsun. Some two thousand years ago Jews from all over the ancient world came to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Shavuot. On one particular year, following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, a group of his followers were huddled in a small room when a wind came and shook the building, flames of fire landed on their heads and they started speaking in different languages…at which point they were accused of being drunk. However, this experience changed them so dramatically that Peter the fisherman gave his first sermon to the multitude of visitors to the city and several thousand of them became followers of Christ. This was fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus (hence the name ‘Pentecost’). Pentecost subsequently became known as Whitsun, maybe because it was the Sunday when believers were baptised and wore white (Whit) robes.

Sadly many of these wonderful and community enriching traditions have now come to an end. In 1972 the Whit Monday holiday, always seven weeks after Easter, was replaced by the Spring Bank holiday which falls on the last week end of May. Might this be a time to restart some regional celebrations and new traditions in the shape of craft fairs and markets? 

Whitsun falls in the full bloom of spring, just as we are edging towards summer. The days are often warm enough to luxuriate in the feel of the sun on our faces, children run around bare footed and ice creams are consumed. People are looking outwards and are revelling in opportunities to be out and about enjoying the multitude of good things in life. There is often a sense of optimism, in tune with nature, which rises above any news items we are hearing. As we’ve seen over the past few years, our local communities are of increasing value in these times, so why not bring all these threads together and be a part of, or even organise a craft fair in your locality? 

Previous posts have given good tips and advice for how to prepare for a fair, but one thing you will always need is public liability insurance for craft stall holders. This covers both you and your customers from those unexpected incidents you cannot possibly predict. Having public liability insurance for craft stall holdersunder your belt means you can focus on the exciting and creative aspects of preparing for a fair; designing your set up, devising any themes you will have and producing your stock.

There may be a craft fair or market near you which you can sign up for, but if not, maybe you could consider starting one up next year? This is a big undertaking, but if you are inspired to have a go, give us a ring and we can talk you through some of the nuts and bolts of insurance including public liability insurance for craft stall holders.

Many towns have craft events during this bank holiday, with crafters selling from town halls or creating craft trails around the community. Or, if there is already a fete or farmers’ market, maybe you and some fellow crafters could supplement this with a few stalls of your own products. Let’s make the most of the wonderful Whitsun weekend to celebrate our local crafting traditions and the glorious uniqueness of our regional communities.