A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Creative people can struggle when working under pressure to hard deadlines. That’s when creativity becomes stifled and we stop dreaming our creative dreams. 

So, what is the secret of staying in that creative space? Inspiration can come from anything, whether it’s different experiences, conversations or pastimes. That said, it can be challenging in busy times, working a full-time job as well as making craft for sale, to find the time to try new things. However, a variety of experiences will fill our minds with fresh ideas, and these can lead to our best work. 

Don’t your best ideas come when you are doing something else? Often, a change of environment is what we need, along with a change of focus! We all have our favourite ways to unwind and refuel our creative tanks after busy periods of making craft for sale. Changing focus doesn’t have to cost the earth, it can be achieved even when times are more challenging.  

Here, in order to add to your repertoire, we have put together some ideas that you may or may not have thought of! Our aim is to suggest some excuses to get out and about this summer around our beautiful country, to breathe the fresh air and get those creative juices flowing..!  

1. Take a trip back through history and visit the following UK castles for free! 

• Alnwick Castle is one of the largest inhabited castles in England. Its construction was ordered by William II (Rufus), who was King of England from 1087-1100 and his descendants (the Percy’s) are still living there today!  

• Harlech Castle was built by English kings in the early 15th century, as a stronghold to control Wales, it is perched on a dramatic rocky outcrop, with spectacular views over Tremadog Bay.  

• Kilchurn Castle is the oldest castle in Scotland, built in about 1450 and has been passed down through four generations of the Campbell family. Thanks to its picturesque location on the edge of Loch Awe, it is the most photographed castle in Scotland. 

• Eye Castle is one of the few surviving motte-and-bailey castles from the early Norman period, built shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The castle site provides wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. N.b.The grounds of Eye Castle will be used for Outdoor Theatre this summer!  

2. Invigorate your senses with a dip in the surf. 

Whether you want to battle against some waves for a swim or to try surfing for the first time, you’ll come out refreshed! 

• Llangennith Beach on the very tip of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales is a three-mile strip of sand, ideal for catching any swells rising out of the west. This long beach is perfect for a day out in the water, no matter your ability. N.b. There is outdoor theatre taking place in Swansea Bay too this August! 

• Croyde, Devon Croyde Beach in Devon is a three-quarter-mile ribbon of white to which every year, many surfers flock, hoping to catch one of the famous barrel waves. This is a great spot for beginners to enjoy a day in the water. 

• The Wave off junction 17 of the M5 motorway in Easter Compton, Bristol, BS35 5RE, is a place where people can learn to surf on consistent waves all year round in a controlled environment.  

3. Get lost in nature 

They say that the best things in life are free and this is certainly true of the natural beauty with which we are surrounded. Taking time out to appreciate the wonder of the plant and animal kingdom, whether it’s in your own garden, a public park or further afield, is an absolute must for creatives. In the UK we are blessed with such an extensive and well organised network of public footpaths and cycle paths that it’s a shame not to go and use them!   

Who said lying on grass, looking up at a summer sky and letting your thoughts flow was a waste of time? Not in our book! It encourages creativity by keeping your brain engaged in a way that’s not demanding. It’s a perfect way to allow new ideas to percolate and you’ll come home freshly inspired to create more craft for sale! 

4. Let your imagination take flight! 

Speaking of the sky, birds have been providing us with inspiration since time immemorial. For a closer encounter with the avian kingdom, why not try a visit to one of the ten wetland sites around our UK coastland? For a modest amount each month you can become a member of the WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) and experience countless species of wetland wildlife close up, not just in summer either but all year round. In the sheer variety of colours, shapes and movement and in the beauty of birds in flight you’ll see things that you’ve never seen before.  

WWT sites are located in Arundel, Caerlaverlock, Castle Espie, Llanelli, London, Martin Mere, Slimbridge, Washington, Welney and Steart Marshes. 

5. Focus on the future. 

As summer hits our shores, why not spend some time with the people you love, engaging in blue sky thinking? Having a clear vision of what we want in life is the fastest way to get there. Without knowing what we want, how can we possibly have it? Rather than protecting ourselves from potential disappointment by not dreaming, if we keep our expectations realistic, we have the power to make things happen!  

Time spent with our nearest and dearest doing things that we all enjoy is fuel to our souls, so why not set some time aside (outside or inside) to create a vision board for yourselves to include all the things that you’d like to do together. What things would you do together if you had the time? Well, once you have written them down or presented them in a format that everyone can see/read and stuck it on the fridge, you are half way to seeing those things come to pass! Every day you’ll all be reminded of the things you really want to do together and you’ll be much more likely to make the time to go and do them! It’s guaranteed that most people want to go and try something new, so why not make a vision board to remind you to make a plan and make it happen!  

For our part, we are inspired daily by all of our incredibly talented customers. That’s why we are committed to giving the best value craft insurance packages tailored to the unique requirements of each person creating craft for sale. Please get in touch, either by phone or email if you need insurance for your craft business and we’d be delighted to help you.