Getting Crafty With The Christmas Table
Coming home for Christmas…what images do these lyrics bring to mind? Maybe a young adult, living in the city, throwing a week’s worth of clothes, some random presents and a pair of walking boots into his car and heading out through the traffic until he reaches the open country and eventually pulls up at home, to be wrapped in hugs by excited parents and a gaggle of younger siblings. Or maybe a young woman, finishing her first term at university, backpack overflowing as she navigates buses and trains to finally pull up at her home station to be encircled in her father’s arms, as they both pour out their news in unison. Or perhaps it is a weather-worn farmer trekking through the snowy fells to tend to his sheep and being heartened by the warm glow emitted from the farmhouse kitchen as he wends his weary way home.
Whatever picture appears in your mind’s eye, home is both the destination and the centre. Christmas movies often portray houses picturesquely covered in snow, twinkling with an abundance of fairy lights, richly decorated with evergreens, sparkling baubles and scarlet bows and a laden table in the midst, ready to receive the happy throng of the gathered family to enjoy eating, merriment and spending time together.
While our homes probably look nothing like this, and the reality of family gatherings is that they can be anything from fun, noisy and messy to stressful, painful and a lot of work, the fact remains that Christmas is a time when our paths converge and food is a central part of the festivities. While we all acknowledge that this can be challenging at times, sharing food around the table, eating and talking is often a wonderful way to forge connections and deepen relationships.
Our homes and tables do not need to be movie-perfect. Acknowledging that they won’t be can take the pressure off and reduce the expectations we often put upon ourselves, thus giving us the freedom to open our doors and invite family and friends in to simply enjoy being together. Who would not like to be welcomed into a cosy home, greeted with a smile and have someone show a real interest in their hopes, challenges and dreams? If we would like this, so would our friends and family. So, why not decide, this Christmas period, to do slightly less, to lower the expectations of perfection and instead to invite family, neighbours and friends into your home? This does not have to be for a meal; sharing a pot of tea and a sweet treat over the kitchen table can enable your guest to leave feeling sustained and encouraged. You could help cultivate local friendships by inviting neighbours in for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. You might welcome family members home with a favourite meal, lingering around the table long after the food is finished.
All these are about connection, not a perfect home. Food and decor do not need to cost the earth, yet some well-chosen, stylish festive tableware will quickly create a sense of warmth and celebration. One of the joys of Christmas crockery, table linen and centrepieces is that they come out year after year, becoming part of the fabric of the season and the traditions of the family. As small craft business owners, your products will provide both simple elegance and longevity as shoppers look for purchases which will last for many years. Christmas is a great opportunity to promote the uniqueness of your products, their durability and your company’s environmental credentials. A set of beautifully crafted, hand-thrown Christmas mugs will bring a festive note to a cosy tea party, while an elegant table runner or stunning centrepiece will transform a simple meal of homemade soup and crusty bread into a feast.
Now is the time to loudly and confidently promote your unique hand-crafted Christmas tableware, whether that be online or at Christmas fairs and markets. In a fast-paced world, products made with raw materials rooted in their locality and a story alongside have an extra appeal. If you use driftwood for candleholders or centrepieces, why not write a paragraph about the beach where it is collected? Or the woodland from which your pine cones are foraged. Maybe you could highlight a local, talented craftsman or woman who creates the Christmas products your customers are buying.
Linen tablecloths, runners and napkins will add a natural beauty and timeless charm to your festive table. Make sure your customers know the many benefits of linen which make it a worthwhile investment.
With a stunning Christmas range of tableware which will bring festive merriment and delight to any gathering over the holiday season, you need to ensure you promote your products effectively and sell them well. Whether selling online or at fairs and markets, you will need to look into insurance for crafters UK. As a family-run business we value each of our customers and communicate with you directly. If you are new to selling your crafts, the whole area of insurance for crafters UK can seem a bit overwhelming. However, it doesn’t need to be, and either Naomi or Sam are here to guide you through to the right insurance for your unique business needs. So, pick up the phone or drop us an email and let’s talk insurance for crafters UK.
Whatever your circumstances, we hope you are able to gather round the table with friends and family, acknowledging the challenges of the past year and those ahead, reflecting on the times of success and celebration and mulling over the mundane minutiae of everyday life. This is surely part of the substance for a grounded life; gathering together with loved ones around a table lit with flickering candlelight, soft music in the background, enjoying good food within an atmosphere of festive joy. May our tables, dressed with beautiful hand crafted tableware be the focus of many such meals this Christmastime.