Month: January 2026

We may have got through the winter solstice, and the days are perceptibly lengthening, but we are still very much in winter here in the UK. Scotland has seen heavy snow falls, the South West of England endless days of rain and we’ve all shivered through the dark mornings and been blown around by great gusts of wind as we trudge, head down, about our days. With all this we may feel the need to indulge in some escapism and plan our summer holidays. Do you dream of sunny beaches, walking barefooted along the warm sand to the sound of gently lapping water? Or maybe of exploring ancient towns, wandering through cobbled streets and enjoying balmy evenings at a local taverna. Perhaps you like a more active holiday and your planning involves maps of mountain terrain and checking over your camping and walking gear.

The great thing about day dreaming is that we can go anywhere, without the confines of a budget, the hassle of airport queues and the stress of organising home, work, pets and the multitude of other minutia before we leave.

Crafters can add an extra dimension to these kinds of sunny dreams and get ahead at the same time. It’s not too early to start planning a summer selection of gorgeous products to entice your customers and help them get ready for their own holidays.

We’ve put together a tempting selection of summer craft ideas to set you on your way.

Firstly, think clothes and accessories. For those who can wield a needle, strappy tops and maxi skirts, flowing dresses and beach shorts are all must haves to pop in the bag as we head off in search of summer sunshine and blue skies. If you’re looking for something a little less complicated to whizz up, what about a range of over the shoulder or tote beach bags? Let your creative juices flow; think about your material choice (cotton, jute, beach stripes, floral fun, bold and plain), your decoration (appliqué, beading, embroidery), lining and pockets and come up with a unique design. Bags can be customised too, allowing customers to choose from a range of colours and designs.

Jewellery is next on the list of summer craft ideas – an ideal for first time craft sellers as it’s possible to start with fairly low set up costs. From bold and funky to understated and stylish, the sky is the limit. Beads and resin are both good starter materials. For the skilled and experienced jewellers amongst you, remember to create some eye-catching ranges for all the upcoming summer weddings. You might also consider, if you have not done so before, creating bespoke items for the bride and bridal party.

Cosmetics are next on our list. For those of you who already run successful cosmetics or bath products businesses, take the opportunity to develop some new ranges as well as recreating those which sold well last year. For those new to this, bath bombs are great as they require minimal start up costs. Think fresh summer colours and fragrances evocative of long summer evenings. You might consider delicate and floral, exotic and tropical or zesty and citric. Add a sparkle with biodegradable glitter and give your customers a luxurious treat for the end of a hot day.

Handmade cosmetics find their niche at any time of year, but with hot summer weather, natural products may seem even more appealing. Natural beeswax, essential oils and other natural oils (coconut, olive etc) are both good for dry and dehydrated skin and for our beautiful world which we all enjoy as we go out and about these summer days. Have a think about promoting products which travel well. For example, shampoo bars are great to pop in a beauty bag and won’t leak, and a small pot of lip salve is a must have for hot days.

While we all look forward to going away for a summer holiday, most of the season will be spent at home, so here are some summer craft ideas to make which will decorate our homes and gardens and usher in some warm summer vibes.

Starting with our front doors; what about creating a range of summer themed wreaths? You could go for a floral theme; generous bunches of dried flowers, delicate felted bouquets or whimsical crotcheted blooms. If you live by the seaside, you could muster up a sea breezes and wanderlust vibe with shells and starfish on a wreath beautifully constructed out of driftwood.

Summer themed bunting is another great summer craft to make and sell. Whether it is strung between bookcases and cupboards indoors, or flutters gently in the breeze in the garden, it is guaranteed to bring out some smiles and to create a relaxed, festival atmosphere. It’s great as decoration for parties and barbecues, but also to have up all summer long, ready to welcome gatherings of family and friends for a leisurely meal or long catch up over tea and cake.

As you plan your gorgeous summer products, remember to take a look at what craft fairs, markets or festivals you could book yourself into over the summer. You may be required to book early for the larger ones. If this is your first time selling, you will need to consider insurance, probably public and product liability. This can sound daunting and costly, but let us reassure you that it need be neither of these. As a family run business ourselves we are both aware of the importance of value for money on your part and of valuing our customers on our part. We therefore communicate with each of our customers personally; no long call queues. So, as part of your summer planning, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here. We look forward to hearing about your summer craft ideas and will make sure you get the insurance you need for your unique business.

January arrives with a mix of emotions. For some crafters, it’s a burst of fresh energy: new sketchbooks, new planners, new ideas waiting to be stitched, painted or printed into life. For others, the New Year can feel heavy. The calendar changes, but the challenges don’t, and motivation can feel harder to come by. 

This is where a light craft workshop idea such as vision board making can be wonderfully refreshing. Who doesn’t enjoy time to focus on what they really want out of life? Vision boards are simple, creative, uplifting projects that don’t demand specialist tools or advanced skills. They offer gentle structure, plenty of creative freedom, and meaningful results. Better still, vision boards aren’t just for personal inspiration – they can also become a thoughtful, sellable craft product. Why not help kickstart a January of a different kind for your customers by offering them a kit to put together a light craft workshop with family or friends and visualise a different kind of future? Or even make one yourself? 

So, whether you’re a maker looking to refocus your own goals, or a small creative business thinking about new product ideas for the year ahead, vision boards tick a lot of boxes. 

What is a Vision Board? 

A vision board (sometimes called a dream board or goal board) is a visual representation of your goals, intentions and dreams. Using images, words, colours and textures, you create a collage that reflects what you want from your life or your business. 

As a product to encourage buyers to indulge in a light craft workshop, vision boards are ideal. They’re accessible, low-pressure and adaptable to different styles – from minimal and modern to colourful and eclectic. That flexibility is exactly what makes them appealing to so many crafters and customers. 

Why Vision Boards Work So Well 

1. They make you slow down and get clear Creating a vision board forces you to pause and think properly about what you want. Not in a vague “someday” way, but intentionally. What matters to you this year? What do you want more of – creatively, financially, emotionally? Putting those ideas onto a board takes them out of your head and gives them shape. 

2. They get you moving in the right direction! Creative people are often busy people. Orders, deadlines, admin and everyday life can leave little room for reflection. Vision boards break routine. Cutting images, playing with layouts and following intuition can reawaken creativity and help you step outside autopilot mode. 

3. They provide daily visual motivation Vision boards work best when they’re seen regularly. Hung on a wall or propped near a workspace, they act as a daily reminder of what you’re working towards. Visual cues are powerful; they keep goals front of mind even on difficult days. 

4. They build emotional connection Seeing images that resonate with you can spark excitement and belief. That emotional connection is what turns ideas into action. When you feel inspired, you’re more likely to spot opportunities and take small, consistent steps forward. 

5. They’re genuinely fun to make There’s no pressure to be perfect. Vision boards don’t have to follow rules, colour palettes or design trends. They can be messy, bold, calm or playful. That sense of freedom is why they’re such a satisfying activity. 

Turning Vision Boards into a Craft Product 

For craft businesses, vision board kits are a great product idea. Easy to package, post and personalise, they are ideal for online shops and craft fairs. 

You could offer themed kits such as “Creative Business Goals”, “Mindful Living”, or “Seasonal Intentions”. Customers love products that feel thoughtful and purposeful, especially in January when reflection is top of mind. 

Vision board kits can also work well year-round. Goals change, seasons shift, and many people enjoy refreshing their boards several times a year. 

Vision boards are also wonderfully low-cost and adaptable. You won’t need more than a cork or mounting board, recycled cardboard, scissors, glue, tape, magazines for images and words, printed images from Pinterest, Google or Instagram, stickers, markers, photos, quotes or handwritten notes. 

Do They Really Work? 

They can, but only when they’re used actively. A vision board isn’t magic on its own. It works because it reinforces focus, intention and motivation over time. Stored away in a drawer, it’s not that powerful. Visible and revisited regularly, it becomes a quiet but consistent source of encouragement. 

Crafting Confidently 

If you’re selling vision board kits, it’s important to make sure you’re properly covered. If you’re unsure what cover you need, or want friendly advice tailored to your craft, you can always call into the office and speak to Naomi or Sam. They’ll be happy to help you understand your options and make sure you’re crafting with confidence this year. 

Here’s to a creative, inspired start to the year –  it’s time to start dreaming! 

A visit to an artist’s studio, a wander around an Arts Quarter or an evening spent with a Knitters’ Circle are just a few of the ways we can catch a glimpse of the incredible skill and creativity of these crafters. As with any masterpiece, natural talent needs to be honed by years of practice, self-discipline and sacrifice to produce the stunning creations that we can both enjoy and which generate in us a sense of awe. These master craftsmen and women deservedly gain our praise and admiration, and our homes and lives are richer from the beauty their products bring to us. 

However, we all need to start somewhere, and if you are in a position where you have a few spare hours a week and are looking for some way of earning a little extra cash around your already fairly full life, please be inspired by these veteran crafters, rather than intimidated by them. Very few of us will reach the level of craftsmanship displayed by some of our incredible artists, but most of us, with a little natural creativity, some extra time and a lot of determination, can begin small and then see how it develops. Many small businesses have begun life as a kitchen table venture, often by a mum with small children at home working away during nap times. Others start as side hustles, alongside full-time work, where passion eventually turns into a fully-fledged business. Yet more begin as retirement looms, when the decrease in income and increase in time are an impetus to step out into that long-held dream.  

So, if you are in a position where you have some flexibility in your day and need to earn some extra cash, making and selling crafts could be just the thing for you! You may have a particular skill which you want to develop, or you may be happy to try your hand at anything and looking for some easy craft ideas to make and sell. If this is so, then you’re in the right place! If you’re just dipping your toe into the mighty and exciting waters of selling handmade crafts, you will want low set up costs and some easy ways to market and sell your products.  

We’d certainly recommend scrolling through Pinterest for easy craft ideas to make and sell but here are some of ours. Greetings cards are a great starter as the initial cost is low, and you can use a huge variety of techniques to create them. There will always be birthdays, weddings, babies born and new homes, and as this circle of life continues in its rhythm, we love to mark these special events with cards. There are also lots of possibilities to expand, maybe into packets of note cards, gift cards or even wrapping paper. The possibilities are endless! 

The next in our lineup of our easy craft ideas to make or sell are resin-based products. These will probably have a slightly higher startup cost, but this is still low compared with buying a kiln or a potter’s wheel.  Again, there are endless possibilities with resin crafts, and potential products include jewellery, coasters, paperweights, key chains and candleholders. 

If you’re looking for something a little niche but with universal appeal and within most budgets, why not consider making some bird seed ornaments? You could tie marketing in with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch which takes place on 23-25 January. Awareness of our feathered garden friends will be heightened and as the days get longer an item which both provides nourishment for the birds and looks good in the garden could be a winner.  

Bath bombs are another low budget gift idea. While making soap and creams take more skill and equipment, if you’re looking towards the beauty product arena, bath bombs are a good place to start. Once you’ve made the base mix to the correct ratios, the colours, fragrances and botanicals are open to your own brand of alchemy! Get mixing and come up with some gorgeous products; a perfect present for mum, a great birthday gift for a girlfriend or an indulgent self-care treat for any weary, hardworking lady.  

One of the many advantages of buying locally produced, hand-crafted products over mass produced ones is that their production has a lower impact on our planet. You could further reduce this by making products from recycled items. If you live near a beach, why not head out for a blustery walk and do some beachcombing? Then try your hand crafting them into beautiful products you can sell. If you live in an urban area, you might like to visit a scrap store and have a rummage for some materials you could repurpose. Or use everyday items such as bottle tops or plastic bottles to create your own unique range of recycled gifts.  

Once you have decided upon which direction you will take, you will need to think about promoting and selling your products. Initially, go for free or low budget options. Use social media to your best advantage to promote and sell your new range of goodies. Depending on how IT savvy you (or a family member or good friend) are, you could also set up a website and sell directly from there. Then think about booking yourself into some local craft fairs or markets. Check out some of our previous blogs about these but suffice to say they are great ways of both selling your products and making good connections with other crafters. You could start with a school fair, a church bazaar or any other local fundraising event. These are generally very friendly and good fun.  

We hope we’ve inspired you with some easy craft ideas to make and sell. Dream a little and then gather what you need to get started and go for it! Enjoy the process and let us know how you get on!  

Happy New Year to all our crafting family! We hope you feel somewhat refreshed, if not totally rested, and ready to begin a new year of growing your business and branching out in more creative endeavours. January can be slow for sales, but is often a good time to dream some big dreams, to design some new ranges, to plan ahead and then to hone your vision into practical, achievable and measurable steps. If you are an experienced crafter but have not as yet stepped out into making your passion pay, why not take a good look at what you would need to put in place to dip your toe into running a crafting business? It could be an exciting year ahead for all!

What then, are some artisan business ideas you could consider either as you start a business or to boost sales in your existing business? Whatever your craft, here are some marketing ideas which you could implement throughout the year ahead.

Why not consider creating some seasonal ranges? If you start planning and creating now, you could include Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Father’s Day, Guy Fawkes and Christmas as well as products which reflect each of the seasons. For example, if you make soap and other bath and beauty products, you can theme colours, oils and botanicals around these occasions; glorious pink frothy valentines bath bombs; luxurious soap for Mother’s Day; fun, fizzy bath bombs for kids around autumn; spiced Christmas fragrances in December. If you work with textiles, your range could include seasonal bunting as well as some for Easter and Christmas, over the shoulder beach bags for the summer, cosy looking cushions for autumn and stockings, tree decorations and gift bags for Christmas.

Focusing on special occasions opens up another arena for artisan business ideas. Weddings, birthdays, christenings, a new job, retirement….there are many significant milestones as we walk through life and it’s good to mark and celebrate them. For card makers these are bread and butter, but they can also be incorporated into other crafting ranges. If you work with wood, photo frames make great gifts for many of these events. Jewellery also can be designed around celebratory occasions with distinct ranges as well as bespoke items. Ceramics lend themselves to speciality gifts as friends and family are often looking at a higher price range than they would normally consider to celebrate significant occasions. At the lower end of the pricing scale, themed resin coasters, paper weights or tea light holders make personal and welcome presents to mark achievements such as a new job, a graduation, or a retirement.

The next of our artisan business ideas to add to your planning calendar is around the seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. These can be reflected through just about any medium, using colours, patterns, textures, fragrances or words. Lift your customers’ spirits after a long, grey winter with vibrant yellows, blues, pinks and greens, an exuberant display of the colours of nature which are bounding back to life after a season of hibernation. As the vivid greens and yellows of spring give way to summer, your palette could include the bountiful spread of warm and blowsy colours which adorn our flower gardens and hedgerows.

With the diminishing of sunlight hours and drop in temperature come the rich array of autumn golds, reds, yellows and browns. This is the time when our thoughts turn to home so is an opportunity to produce items which will add a sense of coziness and warmth to the darkening evenings. Finally, winter comes, usually overshadowed by all the fun and festivity Christmas. However, once the twinkling lights and cheerful Christmas trees have been taken down, our homes can look empty and cold. We still have a couple of months until the sun strengthens and the days lengthen, so why not consider making a range of products for this time, using cool, crisp palettes of wintery white.

Focusing your thoughts onto your immediate locality, are there any regular festivals, carnivals, fairs or other traditions within your area? Or any landmarks or local history which could be recognised within your products? Scotland has the glorious celebration of Burns night to brighten up the dreary winter months, and each of our four nations have a Patron Saints day to celebrate; David, Patrick, George and Andrew. All these could be springboards for some crafty artisan business ideas.

Once you have come up with your unique rage of goods which will reflect seasons and celebrations, you will need to have some promotional tools at the tips of your fingers to make sure your products stand out from the rest. One of the benefits of buying hand made items over mass produced ones is that customers can have a connection with the skilled crafters behind their purchase.

If you have a website, spend some time over how you introduce yourself and your business. Customers will be interested to know how your passion turned into a paying concern. Did you start as a side hustle, or jump in at the deep end? What are the challenges and rewards? How does it fit in with your home life? (consider what you are comfortable to divulge). You could write regular updates in a blog; new ranges both current and upcoming, some background to the materials or techniques you are using, any craft fairs or exhibitions you will be a part of. You may like to hone it in a little more on yourself, giving customers a glimpse into your life and how your craft business blends in with and reflects who you are. You could do a ‘day in the life of…’ or write about somewhere you’ve visited or a walk you’ve taken from which you’ve gained fresh inspiration. You could include videos of yourself working, showing some of the techniques you use, or of snippets of non craft related parts your week. Use social media to your advantage!

We hope we’ve given you some fresh artisan business ideas as you start your year, and wish you success and joy as you grow your business.

For most of us these days, Twelfth Night hardly registers, arriving quietly as it does on 5th January, it serves as a gentle nudge that Christmas decorations should come down and normal life should resume. Trees are dragged to the curb, fairy lights are boxed away and thoughts turn firmly (and sometimes with relief) toward a return to routine — and to the craft workshop. Yet for centuries, Twelfth Night was anything but ordinary. It marked the climax of Christmas, a night of feasting, role reversal and merriment that rivalled Christmas Day itself.

Twelfth Night was the final evening of the twelve days of Christmas which began on Boxing Day, with Christmas counted as the First Night. The twelfth night, falling on 5th January, ushered in Epiphany on the 6th — a feast commemorating the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Epiphany once held immense importance, long before it faded into a footnote on the calendar.

In Tudor England, Twelfth Night was celebrated with great enthusiasm. At court, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I marked the occasion with lavish banquets, masques, music and pageantry. Records from 1532 describe over 200 dishes being served, with temporary kitchens erected to cope with demand. Elizabeth I even employed a personal gingerbread-maker, creating edible likenesses of the queen and her guests. At the heart of these celebrations was deliberate chaos and a joyful turning upside down of the social order.

This spirit of reversal extended far beyond the royal court. In towns and villages, households gathered to share food, drink and the famous Twelfth Night Cake. Hidden inside the cake were a dried bean and a dried pea. Whoever found them in their slice was crowned King or Queen for the evening, regardless of their usual status. Servants ruled masters, rules were gleefully bent, and laughter reigned.

By the 18th and early 19th centuries, Twelfth Night revels were still going strong. Regency households hosted lively parties featuring charades, games, wassail and punch. The Twelfth Night Cake grew increasingly elaborate, decorated with frosting, gilded paper and ornamental figures. Guests often drew character slips from a hat and were expected to remain in role all evening. Jane Austen herself is recorded as embracing the tradition with enthusiasm.

Literature preserves much of Twelfth Night’s original energy, none more famously than William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Commissioned around 1600 and first performed in 1602, the play was written specifically to close the festive season. Its plot — built on mistaken identities, disguised gender, and social confusion — perfectly mirrors the spirit of the holiday. Characters swap roles, servants outwit nobles, and order is only restored at the end, just as Christmastide itself gave way to everyday life.

Although Twelfth Night has waned in Britain, it remains vibrantly alive elsewhere. In Spain, for example, the night of 5 January, la Verbena de Reyes, is as significant as Christmas Eve. Children leave out shoes for the Three Kings to fill with gifts, and colourful parades flood the streets. (In Barcelona on 5th January, the Three Kings arrive in the port by boat!) On 6 January, families gather to give each other presents and share a Roscón de Reyes, a crown-shaped cake hiding a small figure and a bean. The finder of the bean must buy the cake the following year. In France, La Fete des Rois is also celebrated with a special cake, La Couronne Des Rois (King’s Crown). As in Spain, the Couronne des Rois contains a tiny figure of which the happy finder gets a crown and the status of King or Queen for the day!

So why has Twelfth Night faded here in the UK? Partly, it is the consequence of modern schedules and commercial Christmas front-loading celebration into December. By January, most of our energy is spent, along with most of our money! The feast that once rivalled Christmas now marks its conclusion as a practical deadline rather than a joyful finale.

Twelfth Night has always been about endings as much as excess — the last laugh before the rules return, the final spark before work resumes. Today, that return may be less festive, but the rhythm is the same. As the tinsel comes down and tools come out, there is comfort in a return to the norm.

It’s time for a return to creativity, no less for occasional crafters who aren’t full-time business owners. Even if you only sell at the occasional market, this week will probably involve packing away decorations and returning to your creative side hustle. If you are an occasional seller, don’t forget that one day public liability insurance gives you flexible, affordable cover just for when you need it.

You’ll be protected if someone claims they’ve been injured or had property damaged as a result of your actions, or even something as simple as a trip hazard at your table. Whatever kind of events you are attending this year, one day public liability insurance ensures you’re not financially exposed if something goes wrong. Just give us a call, and we’ll help you get the right cover without overcomplicating things.

So, as our modern day Twelfth Night draws in, and the last pine needle is swept away, we look forward to another year of supporting our amazing community of crafters as they head back to the craft workshop to start dreaming for 2026.