In a world which feels like it’s changing at dizzying speeds, rooting ourselves in some long-held traditions and restoring our sense of place can be a welcome anchor. Harvest is one such tradition, and as it is deeply connected with the land and reflects regional customs and culture, it is especially grounding. Harvest Festival celebrations have been a part of the rural calendar for centuries.

Harvest is the culmination of the agricultural calendar, and in pre-industrialised times, it involved a season of intense physical work from sunrise until sunset. Wheat was cut using scythes and threshed by hand; it was weather-dependent, and the success of the wheat crop and hence the availability and price of bread the following year was affected both by the fickle vagaries of our climate and by a range of diseases or animal infestations.

As well as the wheat harvest, hay needed to be cut and stored in the dry for winter animal fodder, apples, pears and plums needed to be picked and the wonderful array of vegetables gathered in.

In days before refrigeration, all these had to be preserved, and women would be up from dawn to dusk bottling, pickling, making jams and jellies, salting pork and clamping potatoes. Wood was chopped for winter warmth and cooking, honey from bees extracted and jarred and eggs preserved in a variety of ways. This intense period of work reached its culmination in some well-earned and often raucous celebrations, with dancing, music and an abundance of good food and freely flowing drink (beer or cider, depending on the region).

This event generally took place on a day near the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. (The Harvest Moon usually appears in September, hanging like a large orange ball, low in the sky). Communities would gather together, often in a big barn owned by the landlord lord, and the merry-making began. In the nineteenth century, it was a central part of the year.

Although the bringing in of the harvest has been celebrated since pagan times, the actual harvest festival service held in parish churches only dates back to Victorian times. Since then, Harvest Festival has been firmly established, with generations of children from local church primary schools joining the congregation to deck their ancient buildings with flowers, vegetables, sheaves of corn and a Harvest loaf.

With such a rich heritage, it is not surprising that traditional harvest crafts are not only holding their space, but that new ones are being added each year to the selection. Harvest-themed crafts to make and sell are therefore well worth an investigation. Can you adapt your craft in any way to sell around this time of year?

The classic harvest craft is the corn dolly. This name was only given to it in the twentieth century; prior to that, they were known as harvest tokens, harvest trophies, or by their regional name. Initially, they may have been made from the final handful of corn stalks as weary labourers twisted them together, sometimes into amorphous shapes and sometimes into shapes specific to the region, eg crowns in Worcestershire and hand bells in Cambridgeshire.

In time, they became more refined, with techniques used by straw plaiters (hat makers) and decorative ideas adapted from rope makers. By the twentieth century, these evolved into crafts to make and sell, and such was their popularity that there was also a burgeoning number of workshops to pass on this traditional skill to others.

Nowadays, the appetite for harvest crafts and home decorations has increased even more. Awareness of the rhythms of the countryside has been highlighted by TV series such as the immensely popular Clarkson’s Farm. Our medieval churches are still bountifully decorated with the fruits of the harvest, especially in rural areas, but in addition, harvest is being brought into suburban and city homes as increasing numbers of people look to mark the season with harvest-themed garlands and decorations. This is an opportunity to give your creativity full rein, as you produce your own rich and varied range of harvest designs.

Popular crafts to make and sell around this time of year include garlands and wreaths. These might feature apples, pumpkins, autumn leaves or a selection of nuts and berries. Fabric, felt, or yarn can all be used to create stunning garlands which can be strung over mantelpieces or between shelves; dried fruit and flowers can be combined to fashion glorious wreaths for front doors which will welcome any visitor or family member coming home after a long day.

Soft furnishings too can be adapted to a harvest vibe, using a rich palette of orange, red, bronze and gold. An extra cushion or a warm throw will add to a cosy atmosphere as the nights draw in and the days become cooler. While Harvest Homes are still celebrated in many rural villages or towns, this does not have to be the prerogative of our country kinsmen. A harvest supper can just as easily be held at home and is a great opportunity to invite neighbours and friends for a simple meal using delicious homegrown or local ingredients. With the rest of the house decorated, some stunning harvest-themed crockery is all that is needed to complete the tablescape.

Harvest encapsulates so much that is both good about our British history and heritage and also essential to our continued wellbeing; without good food, we would be in a sorry state. So, let your imagination free and celebrate this long-held and delightful festival with a new range of crafts to make and sell.

Blaring music, vibrant colours, thrilling rides and clouds of pink, sticky candy floss. Many of us are familiar with the headache-inducing characteristics of a modern-day fair. For others, locally produced food and drink, regional crafts, and home-grown music alongside toned-down fairground rides might make up their annual fair experiences. Although the two versions have apparently taken different evolutionary paths, they do have many common roots. So, next time you or your children are whizzing down a helter-skelter or trying your luck with Hook a Duck, take a moment to think back to the origins of our much-loved UK institution – the annual fair. 

Many of our annual fairs have their origins way back in the twelfth century, as Charter Fairs. These were simply fairs which were allowed to take place by virtue of the consent of the King. These days, we need to apply to the local council if we want to close a road for a festival or fair, but nine hundred years ago, it was the King himself who gave permission for a fair to take place, by none other than a royal charter. These began as local gatherings and soon became a place for trade guilds to congregate and sell their wares. 

In the days before clocks were readily available to tell the time, the Church calendar was an important way of navigating the year. Thus, saints’ days were often chosen as the date on which to hold a fair. Holy days (Christmas and Easter) were preceded by a fast (Advent and Lent) and ended in celebrations of feasting, dancing and merrymaking. Some fairs became well known for specific products, e.g. woollen fairs, wool being a building block of mediaeval wealth, and some were linked in with the rural calendar, e.g. blessing or harvesting the crops, such as the St Andrew’s Lammas Fair. Over two thousand charters were given during the reigns of Kings John and Henry III alone, and similar charters were given to the people of Scotland by Scottish kings.  It would be interesting to find out if the origins of your annual fair date back to one of these.  

These Charter Fairs began life as small events which enabled local trading, but their popularity grew over time and throughout the heart of the Middle Ages, they became bustling fairs, lasting several days and welcoming farmers, tavern keepers, fairground attractions, craftsmen and circus performers. Some became renowned all over Europe and the Near East, and merchants travelled from far and wide to trade and enjoy the general revelry. The largest of these was Stourbridge Fair, in Cambridge, which ran from 1211 all the way through to 1933. Stourbridge Fair was patronised by authors and poets alike and, from its humble origins as a small fete at a leper chapel, reached the dizzying heights of being the greatest Fair in the world, according to Daniel Defoe. 

Another Fair which attracted many overseas visitors was Scarborough Fair, as referenced in the popular ballad. It lasted for over a month in late summer, and although its glory faded before that of Stourbridge was, nevertheless a huge and bustling cauldron of trade, enterprise and entertainment. Scarborough still holds an annual Fair which is now a celebration of local arts and crafts, music and food. 

Annual fairs are a part of the rich tapestry of our British history and culture. Many of us grew up attending a local fair, and still today many young people look forward to the fair coming to town, and there is much anticipation as rides are set up, folk from neighbouring towns flock in, and children save their pennies to spend on a fun day of entertainment which happens only once a year. Some of these events have now diversified into craft fairs, with stalls from many local craft businesses promoting and selling their unique and stunningly crafted products. If you are just starting a fledgling crafting business, maybe you could consider getting a spot at one of these. If so, it’s useful to be aware beforehand of some craft fair rules and regulations. 

Most of the craft fair rules and regulations pertaining to the event you attend will be the responsibility of the organiser, such as obtaining any permits required and informing you as a stall holder of their contact details and what will be provided within the booking fee. However, you will probably be asked to have the correct public and product liability insurance in place and be requested to provide proof of this. While public and product liability insurance is not a legal requirement, it is called for by most fair or market organisers, and it is good practice to have it in place anyway. Public liability insurance covers you for any claims made against you for harm or damage by a member of the public. For example, slipping on the edge of a tablecloth or tripping over a cable. Product liability insurance covers you for any claims made that harm has been caused by one of your products. Even if it is not your fault, the insurance will still cover legal and compensation costs. 

You will need to complete an appropriate risk assessment beforehand, and this, in addition to all the regulations you adhere to, which are specific to your products, should mean that accidents do not happen. However, the whole purpose of public and product liability insurance is that it covers you for the unforeseen. We’re a family-run business and communicate with each of our customers directly…no long call waits to speak to an anonymous call handler. So, drop us a line or pick up the phone, and either Sam or Naomi will be here to answer your questions and hear about your business. 

Armed with all you need to know about craft fair rules and regulations and with a stunning collection of handmade products to sell, we hope you can book a spot at a local or regional fair soon and be a part of the rich heritage of the medieval Charter Fairs. 

August Bank Holiday. What does this conjure up in your mind? Maybe a sunny day on the beach complete with sandy sandwiches, rock pooling with fishing nets, sand castle competitions and a fish and chip supper while watching the tide come in and gently but inescapably wash away your sandy creations. Or perhaps a day filled with all the fun of the fair; stomach churning rides, giant pink candy floss and the exhilaration of people, music and excitement. Or possibly a quiet day rambling through some local woodland with good conversation, a picnic lunch and maybe winding up with a pub supper.

Or, do you have memories of rainy bank holidays? When events which have been much prepared and anticipated are reduced to squelching, soggy occasions? Or perhaps of hot hours cooped up with tetchy children in a car while crawling along our main roads at a snail’s pace.

Bank holidays originated in the Victorian era to enable all banks to close for business on the same day. Before this, banks could offer their staff a holiday and close on whatever day it suited them; this led to some problems with financial transactions when they all closed on different days. The August bank holiday was originally taken on the first Monday of August, but since the 1970s it has been on the last Monday for England, Wales and Northern Ireland while remaining on the first Monday for Scotland.

At a time when we generally have a far greater holiday allowance than when bank holidays were first introduced and when most of our high street banks have closed down in deference to internet banking, does the great British institution of the August Bank Holiday still serve a purpose? In our opinion, the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, most countries have more bank holidays than we do, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have marginally more than England and Wales. We could argue that in our 24/7 culture, the concept of a holiday when most people will be off work is even more important.

It is good to rest, to play, to have fun and to laugh. A bank holiday is a great time to ring-fence a day to get together with family and friends and plan to do something which you would not usually make the time to do. It’s also important to fill our minds and souls with beauty and those things which will inspire us, such as books, music, art and nature. There are numerous such events on over the August bank holiday, so maybe it could be the time to treat yourself to a visit to an exhibition, an outdoor concert or theatre, or simply a nature trail in some beautiful countryside.

Bank holidays usually see a wide range of events at historic buildings or gardens, whether they be privately run or part of a charity such as the National Trust or English Heritage. These are great for all the family, with children and adults alike enjoying activities such re re-enactment events, pop-up Farmers’ Markets, vintage car shows or outdoor live music. It’s a great time for crafters, too, with fairs and markets being held in many towns and villages across the land. So, why not book yourself a table at one of them and start creating some easy to make crafts that sell.

Whatever your specialist craft, it’s worth bearing in mind that a fair amount of your customer base over the bank holiday will be families with children. It could therefore be a good idea to pitch your products at the lower end of the budget range, focusing on easy to make crafts which sell well in addition to some more time-consuming and thus pricier products.

Bank holiday weekend craft fairs can have a festival vibe and holiday feel to them as relaxed customers browse your wares, carefree with a bonus day away from the mundane routine of work. Hopefully, this will overflow into their spending! You too can enjoy the day, free from worries of any unforeseen mishaps, with a little extra planning beforehand.

Any regulars at craft fairs will be able to give you a tried and tested list of things to do beforehand and to bring with you on the day. From selecting a backdrop colour theme for your table and displays to bringing some extra safety pins, from ascertaining the distance between where you can park your car and where you set up to arranging to bring a helper along with you, there are numerous tasks, big and small which will ensure you have a smooth run and hence can enjoy yourself too.

Another important consideration is ensuring you have the correct craft insurance for the day. Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made by a member of the public against you or a member of your team for damage to self or property. Product liability covers you for claims made for damage by one of your products. Even if this is not your fault, the insurance will still cover you, thus enabling you to have complete peace of mind.

While you may think the types of mishaps which lead to claims being made could be avoided with proper risk assessments and safety checks, the whole point is that they are generally completely unforeseen and hence unavoidable. This is why we sometimes call these insurances our ‘sleep easy’ products. As a family business, we communicate directly with each of our customers, so pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be keen to hear of your craft fair plans.

We hope you can head out this sunny bank holiday with a good stock of easy to make crafts that sell, some extra safety pins, a trusted colleague to help and the correct insurance in place. Have a great bank holiday fair!

Summer is the season for creativity. The days are long and the nights are warm and perfumed with a certain evocative scent that carries you away. A summer night can be a powerful springboard for creativity, especially when the Perseid meteor shower returns each July and August. As the skies fill with streaks of starlight, let your imagination light up with ideas for easy things to craft and sell.

Whether you’re a hobbyist dreaming of turning your passion into a business, or a seasoned maker looking for fresh inspiration, the stars above may offer more than just a beautiful show—they might even spark your next best-selling product!

Unforgettable Summer Nights and the Perseids

Warm summer evenings are tailor-made for romance, relaxation, and reflection. There’s barbecue in the air, children chasing around, and conversations stretching lazily into the night. Then, just overhead—if you’re lucky and far enough away from city lights—the Perseid meteor shower will begin its dazzling annual display.

The Perseids return every mid-July and intensify until they reach their peak between August 11th and 13th. They are one of the most famous and active meteor showers of the year, producing 50 to 70 meteors an hour in ideal conditions. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s like nature’s very own fireworks show—silent, beautiful, and completely free.

For crafters, it’s an event that brings both awe and ideas. The shimmering trails across the sky can inspire a range of summer-themed creations.

Easy Things to Craft and Sell – Inspired by the Night Sky

When you’re searching for easy things to craft and sell, you don’t need to look much further than your back garden during a Perseid viewing party. Whether you’re at a campsite, on the beach or simply lying on a blanket in the garden, the spectacle is going to be equally impressive!

Here are a few celestial-themed craft ideas that are not only simple to make but have real sales potential.

Galaxy candles – Swirl together purples, blues, and shimmering whites to create candles that mimic the night sky. Add a subtle lavender or nighttime breeze scent for an extra sensory touch.

Star map prints – Use free software to generate star maps for a particular date (like a wedding anniversary or birthday) and turn them into personalised wall art.

Glow-in-the-dark resin jewellery – Craft pendants or earrings that glow like a shooting star after sundown.

Meteor shower window art – Using beads, wire, and crystals, you can create window hangings that sparkle by day and remind viewers of shooting stars by night.

Each of these ideas falls under the umbrella of easy things to craft and sell, especially if you’re starting small at a local market or on platforms such as Etsy.

How to View the Perseids

If you want to take advantage of the Perseids for both enjoyment and artistic spark, here are a few things to remember:

You’ll need to get away from city lights. Rural back gardens, parks, lakesides, or even football pitches are great places to sit and watch.

You have to allow your eyes to adjust. It’s best to avoid bright lights for 20–30 minutes before you start watching.

Look up and stay still as meteors are fast – up to 37 miles per second. If you lie down on a blanket or in a deck chair, you’ll avoid neck strain and maximise your view.

Make sure that the weather conditions are right. Clear skies are a must. If August 11th -13th looks cloudy, try the night before or after—you’ll still see dozens of shooting stars an hour after midnight.

While you wait for the next streak of light, keep a sketchpad or notes app handy. Some of the best craft ideas come when you’re relaxed and inspired.

Protect What You Create

Of course, if you’re turning your stargazing inspiration into a side hustle, it’s important to protect your business, no matter how small. Craft fairs, online marketplaces, and shipping products all come with potential risks. That’s where craft insurance comes in.

At Craft Insurance, we offer affordable, tailored insurance for makers, crafters, and artists—whether you’re selling from your kitchen table or setting up booths at local markets. You’ve put time, effort, and heart into your creations. We make sure you’re covered so you can keep doing what you love, without the worry.

Easy Things to Craft and Sell—Your Summer Starters

Summer is short—but sweet—and there’s no better time to start experimenting with easy things to craft and sell. Use the Perseid meteor shower as a chance to dream big and start small. Even one or two product ideas can launch an entire craft business, especially if they reflect something people find meaningful, like the night sky.

So mark August 11 on your calendar, grab your favourite supplies and lay out under the stars, as you never know when the next flash of inspiration will streak across the sky. You’ll see one meteor a minute starting around midnight or 1 AM.

And then, if you are looking to protect your crafts with reliable insurance, why not give us a call, and Sam or Naomi will guide you through our flexible plans designed just for creators like you? We believe that even a small side hustle deserves serious coverage.

National Book Lovers’ Day is fast approaching on August 9th, and with it comes the opportunity to create some gorgeous things to craft and sell, which book lovers will find hard to resist. In order to create a range of products which will truly catch the imagination of the book worms amongst us, it might help to understand a little of what lies behind the enduring appeal of books and reading.

A reading habit often starts in childhood, although sometimes it is as an adult that an individual discovers the rich depths and wild flights of imagination which can be discovered of books.

Most would agree that it’s important for children to read a range of literature, starting with picture books, through to a few classics in the teen years. However, it’s not just about passing exams that reading is good. It is through the pages of a book that we are both able to enter someone else’s world and see a reflection of ourselves and our own experiences. Through well-penned descriptions and exciting stories, we are able to travel the world, increasing our understanding and appreciation of cultures different from our own. We are also able to travel back through history and gain new insights into our current times through the lens of historical fiction.

Starting with picture books, children begin to learn language and concepts which will reinforce or add to their everyday life experiences. Although children are often expected to “move on” from picture books when their decoding skills allow, these can in fact remain a great source of delight for years. They allow a whole story to be told in one sitting, and the illustrations can be captivating in themselves: a picture gallery in our laps. Well-written and illustrated picture books can become family favourites, bringing back memories of past seasons of life.

Most children move on to easy readers. While this is good for their reading skills, and it is wonderful to see a child curled up in an easy chair, totally absorbed in a book, it’s still important to read to our children at this stage. We will always be able to read at least a level above that which their own decoding skills will allow, thus ensuring that rich language and a broad spread of concepts, genres and stories continue to fill their minds. For children who are dyslexic and struggle with reading, reading aloud is especially important. It is interesting to note that as adults, these children can have just as good, if not better, an understanding and use of language, than their non dyslexic contemporaries simply because they have listened to stories with excellent language and a wide range of concepts for much longer.

For a family who reads aloud, the benefits go far beyond the direct advantages of the content itself. It builds relationships, creates memories and can go towards building a shared culture with characters, concepts and even jokes in common. Reading aloud is often a great springboard for discussion, and many a good conversation can be had over a shared book. Combining a good read aloud with some delicious snacks and drinks will add to the power the story has to build connections and make memories.

If adults have had these foundations of reading in their formative years, they are likely to be avid readers. Some will veer towards nonfiction, while others enjoy immersing themselves in an exciting or character-rich story. While many read on Kindles, book sales still continue, and a screen simply can’t compare with the feel and smell of turning the pages of a freshly bought book. As hobbies go, reading is relatively low-cost, especially if there is a good library nearby. Rummaging through secondhand bookshops and charity shops is always enticing for book lovers, with many a bargain to be found.

Books can also be read while curled up on the sofa, while lying on a rug in the garden, while sitting on the beach … in fact, just about anywhere. This adds to the range of things to craft and sell for book lovers.

Bookish folk really love reading, and anything which will enhance this truly delightful hobby will be appreciated. Bookmarks may seem obvious, but if you have several books on the go, you will need several bookmarks. A handcrafted, totally unique bookmark will make a much-appreciated gift as it will remind the reader of the occasion on which they bought it, or the person who gifted it to them. Bookmarks can be made of card, but can also be felted, embroidered or even crafted out of a soft metal. For a book squirrel, a pair of bookends will make a beautiful and useful gift to help keep the growing home library in order. A robust tote bag with a book motif will always come in handy for library trips, and a small pencil case to go with it is useful when it comes to scribbling down the next book on the “to read” list.

Readers are often writers too, and a beautiful journal is always a cherished gift. Thinking more broadly, you might consider marketing cosy blankets to snuggle up in on a cold day with a good book, or a comfy cushion with a bookish theme for a favourite reading chair. On a similar thread, if you are a potter, what about a special mug for that hot cup of tea when settling down with a good book. Or you could combine with crafting friends and put together a bookish gift box, a mug, a selection of tea bags, a bookmark and a scented candle. Or maybe a journal, a bookmark and a pencil case. There are a number of things to buy and sell as National Book Lovers’ Day approaches, so let your own imagination run wild, have fun and let your creative juices flow!

August 12th marks International Youth Day – a time to recognise the vital role young people play in our world, reflect on the challenges they face, and consider how we might better support them on their journey into adulthood.

Every generation has faced its own set of obstacles. Teenagers during the two World Wars were shaped by global conflict, while those growing up in the post-war 1950s were deeply influenced by rationing, which left a lasting imprint on their attitudes toward waste and consumerism. Looking further back, history reveals a tapestry of challenges: from the harsh, uncertain life of self-sufficient farming before industrialisation to the gruelling hours and dire conditions endured by child labourers in the early industrial era.

While Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – has grown up with greater material wealth and more educational opportunities than previous generations, they are also among the most unhappy. Mental health struggles are alarmingly widespread, and suicide rates remain tragically high. Clearly, something is going deeply wrong in our society.

This is the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, with smartphones in hand and instant access to information and connection. Yet paradoxically, they are often described as the loneliest and disconnected generation in history. In many ways, we have lost something essential – our sense of community, our moral anchor points, and the grounding that comes from belonging to a particular place and people.

So, what does this have to do with crafting?

As crafters, simply through the work you do and the way you do it, you embody values and experiences that many young people are missing in today’s fast-paced, digital world. Creating something by hand from start to finish requires patience and perseverance – qualities that are increasingly rare in a generation raised on instant access to information and immediate gratification. The constant presence of smartphones has even rewired the brain’s ability to wait and focus, making these traits more essential than ever to cultivate.

Crafting also fosters community. Whether through workshops, shared studio spaces, or local galleries, crafting often brings people together in a way that screens cannot. Despite having hundreds of online “friends,” many young people struggle to build and sustain meaningful, face-to-face relationships. In contrast, the shared experience of making can provide a sense of belonging and connection.

Finally, crafting offers a deep sense of accomplishment. Mastering a new skill or completing a handmade piece brings real satisfaction, while also connecting the maker to the historical and cultural roots of their craft. It’s not just about making something beautiful – it’s about reclaiming something timeless.

While the overall picture of Gen Z can often seem disheartening, with rising levels of unhappiness and daily life challenges, this certainly doesn’t apply to everyone in this generation. Many of us are fortunate to know teens and young adults who are confident, articulate, and grounded, with a strong sense of purpose and direction in their lives.

This sense of purpose is often rooted in something they deeply believe in or are passionate about. For some, it’s their faith, while for others it’s their hobby or skill, from sports to music to crafting.

Having a skill to develop gives young people an immediate sense of purpose and offers the satisfaction that comes from progress and achievement. The act of creating—especially with our hands—can be therapeutic in itself. We all benefit from having a meaningful outlet for our creativity. It’s not just about the end result, but about the process of making, growing and expressing something that’s uniquely our own.

Many crafts are deeply rooted in a sense of place, either tied to a specific region or reflecting the local landscape and heritage of the maker. For example, the tradition of working with wool runs deep in the gently rolling green hills of Wales, where it has long been a part of daily life. In Cornwall, pewter jewellery – made with tin as its main component – echoes the region’s rich history of tin mining along its rugged coastline.

Crafts also often reflect the maker’s personal connection to their surroundings. The soft purples and greens of heather-covered moorland might find their way into a line of ceramics, while the wildflowers of chalky downlands could inspire a series of prints or bookmarks. These creative expressions do more than just capture beauty—they foster a sense of place and belonging.

In this way, craft becomes a powerful means of preserving cultural heritage and passing traditional skills down to future generations, keeping the story of a place alive through the hands and hearts of its people.

There are numerous ways crafters can share their skills with young people, from centre-based or detached youth work, through to taster sessions, workshops and training opportunities. At a time when the economy and job market seem somewhat uncertain, training a young person up to run a side hustle, or even a business of their own, will also pass on purpose and a sense of independence.

As any small business owner knows, there is much to learn about monetising a skilled hobby. One foundation which needs to be in place is artistic venture cover. Artistic venture cover will generally include both public and product liability insurance. It can also include insurance for specific items connected with your business, be they specialist tools, finished products or electronic equipment used for the running of the business. For anyone looking to start up their own business, insurance may seem a little confusing, and for a young adult with less experience in dealing with professional calls, this may be even more so. However, as a family business ourselves, we respond to each enquiry in person; we enjoy hearing about your businesses and will explain the options for artistic venture cover, thus offering a personal and friendly service.

So, as International Youth Day approaches, you may like to pause and ponder some of the ways you could pass on your finely honed skills to a younger person. In days gone by, skilled artisans passed on their craft within the family or to apprentices; thus, many traditional skills remained alive.

Maybe this is a model which could be resurrected in the twenty-first century, not only to hand on this part of our heritage, but also to nurture and train up the crafters of the next few decades.

Who wouldn’t want to spend some time off-grid, creating?

For creative souls, the prospect of a retreat to spend time surrounded by the beauty of nature, honing skills, or even learning new ones, has got to be high on the bucket list. Getting away from bills, broadband, and the cares of modern life is certainly a very attractive idea, especially when you throw in an invitation to others to share that creative space with you. (And with independent creator protection, you can go off-grid with total peace of mind)

Since time immemorial, artists and crafters have sought peace and tranquillity in nature as a springboard for creativity, and happily, there are still opportunities offered for creatives to immerse themselves in the wild beauty of the UK.

The Bothy Project

If you aren’t scared of a bit of isolation and you have some savings to live off, or if you have Bear Grylls style self-sufficiency skills, what could be more enticing than staying in the Western Isles, living and working off the grid in one of a network of architect-designed cabins inspired by traditional bothies? The Bothy Project invites artists and crafters to apply to stay in its tiny homes on a self-funded basis or institutions and organisations can support you to do so. In exchange, participants are encouraged to share their experiences via a blog post and through workshops, events or open studios aimed at the local community.

Ynys Enlli

If a long stint in the wild is not right for you, perhaps a shorter stay on Bardsey Island , off the Llyn peninsula in North Wales, where The Bardsey Island Trust Artist Residency Program offers six, two-week summer residencies to emerging and established artists in Wales. Renowned for its wildlife, history, and status as Europe’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary, Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) provides a tranquil retreat where Welsh artists and crafters can immerse themselves in the island’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and inspiring environment. Applications open in January for the summer. Artists can explore disciplines such as writing, music, performance, visual arts, craft, and research & development.

Nature Calling

Further south, in the heart of England’s lush countryside, the Nature Calling programme is offering free three-day artist residencies this November in Salford and Newbury. Nature Calling is the first national arts commissioning project for England’s 34 National Landscapes, and it is specifically designed to ensure our landscapes are a place for everyone. The sessions are designed to share a detailed understanding of the opportunities and considerations of working in protected landscapes and connect new audiences to nature through the arts.   

Besides all the residential opportunities for artists and crafters, there is a growing number of crafting holidays, retreats and getaways offered in some of the most beautiful parts of the UK with ample opportunities to sell as well as make.

Where crafting and camping collide

For example, every year since 2022, a relatively new crafting event has been drawing the crowds to West Sussex, “Carry on Crafting”. This year, the Carry on Crafting festival is to be held on 11th, 12th and 13th July at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, not far from Worthing. This three-day jamboree offers crafters the opportunity to sell their goods by day and then meet around the fire in the evening to have a laugh and crochet together. It is one of the few craft festivals that allows stallholders and customers to stay, camp and make friends. In fact, craft vendors are not allowed to pack down early; they must stay for the whole three days – you come in on Friday and you leave on Sunday.

Carry on Crafting is the brainchild of Justine Robson, who came up with the idea during lockdown. Justine wanted to run a big crafty festival where people could try as well as buy new crafts, take crafting classes, watch demonstrations, buy stock, enjoy some vintage stalls, and, rather than having to go home at the end of the day, just carry on!

Learn a new skill

Festival goers this year can book on to a variety of evening and day classes and learn crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, watercolour collage, wet felting, pottery making, mosaic knitting, drypoint printmaking, african coiling, pyrography, seascape painting, screen printing, dotting, glass bead-making, applique, or how to make epoxy resin coasters, macrame hanging baskets, finger-knitted necklaces, tote bags, felt floral vases or a painted peg doll. And that’s not all of them either.

Free camping is offered to all vendors, although there aren’t many pitches left now as the general camping tickets have sold out. However, there is some availability for vintage campers and caravans. For any visitors who don’t intend to camp, the festival opens its doors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday. Dogs are welcome too, as long as they remain on a lead.

If you are in need of a creative boost this summer, maybe it’s time to find a place in nature where you can recharge, either alone or in company. There are so many opportunities to create, as well as sell, and with your independent creator protection in place, the UK is your oyster!

Independent creator protection for you

Just pick up the phone or drop us a line via our website, and either Naomi or Sam will be here to answer your queries and talk you through the best independent creator protection for your unique business needs.

We love to talk about the weather on our wonderful island, and the meteorological conditions in the UK certainly give us plenty to talk about, changing as often as they do.

This week, looking out the window through the rain coursing down the pane, you can see how thirsty the ground has become as it drinks up every drop. May’s yellowing grass and dried seed heads line the roads, not exactly drought-stricken, but certainly in need of a drink. The warm weather has even brought cracks in the soil and only the rain can return this somewhat parched landscape to a fresh, verdant display.

Rain can be a nuisance when it disrupts our plans, and it’s easy to forget that it is also life-giving. Appreciating the rain is easy if you close your eyes to listen to rainfall from the warmth of indoors – it feels somehow safe, like an embrace from a quiet companion. It’s harder to appreciate that sound when you are outside getting soaked!

“The Rainy Day”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the following beautiful words in his poem about rainy days:

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Into every life, a little rain will fall.

Rain has to come as it is crucial for reservoirs, rivers, and aquifers, ensuring a steady water supply for homes, agriculture, and industry, and supporting diverse ecosystems. From mossy woodlands to peat bogs and heather moorlands, our flora and fauna native to the UK depend on high rainfall.

We can’t always see rain from a positive perspective, much like life, with all its trials and tribulations. We forget that the sun will eventually come out and the landscape will reappear, renewed and rejuvenated, bursting forth with new possibilities and opportunities.

Rain is distinctly British!

Rain is something that we have learned to contend with in the UK. We follow the weather forecast avidly and keep umbrellas by our front doors, carrying them out knowingly once the weather forecaster has made a proclamation. There might be a low-pressure system rolling in; however, getting wet is definitely not on our agenda – we have wellies and Barbour jackets! The rain is simply a part of our cultural identity and British charm!

The UK’s famously green countryside owes everything to its regular rainfall. Think of the Lake District, Scottish Highlands, or even your average village green — they wouldn’t be so vibrant without all that moisture!

Craft fairs in the rain

So, rain has its benefits, but what about craft fairs in the rain? How does that work? Well, with the help of a bit of forethought, craft fairs can work in the wet too! Here are a few things to consider:

1. Whatever the forecast, it’s a wise move to buy or borrow a waterproof canopy/tent to take to every UK outdoor show you intend to sell at. Protecting your wares from the wet is of paramount importance, and you’ll probably want to protect yourself too. Even if you don’t mind standing in the rain, you need to think of your customers who will be counting on you to provide them with a dry space to browse and shop. Sitting somewhere dry will also allow you to work on a little demonstration to arouse more interest in your products.
   
2. Rain or shine, pack all of your handcrafted goods in plastic storage boxes with tight lids, then take some pieces of wood so that you can stack boxes off the ground. Take a groundsheet or tarpaulin to use to cover anything in transit from your vehicle to the tent if the rain starts, or indeed to put on the ground(!)
   
3. Finally, ensure that you have the relevant maker insurance policies in place to protect you from anything else that might choose to befall you (apart from rain). The first ones to consider are product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers any claim of damage or harm caused by one of your products. Even if it is not your fault, it will cover legal fees or any compensation required. There is no excess. Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made against you, an employee or a volunteer for harm or damage done by an action or omission of yours. It covers you both on your own property and while you are out and about demonstrating or selling your crafts. Like product liability, there is no excess. Once you have these in place, you are covered for all those completely unforeseeable and thus unpreventable events which no amount of risk assessment could anticipate, a bit like the unpredictable British weather.
   
4. Finally, among the maker insurance policies worth considering when out on the all-weather craft fair circuit is “business items insurance”. This allows you to insure individual items which are essential for the running of your business and covers you whilst out and about, selling or demonstrating your craft. You can insure electronic card readers, portable electronic equipment and all you need for your stall. If, even in spite of your best efforts, items become affected by moisture, then this insurance will see you right.

We’d love to hear from you if you are starting out in the exciting, wonderful world of crafting. We are a family business, so please call us and either Naomi or Sam will be happy to help you set up the necessary insurance to protect your new business, whatever the weather!

Summer is beckoning us from around the corner, with whispers of warm, sunny days, leisurely barbecues spent with with family and friends, gentle strolls through quietly slumbering countryside and balmy evenings when the sun barely sets. Maybe you will be heading off with tents and a carful of children in tow, maybe you prefer a comfortable bed and plug in kettle and will be enjoying the delights of our countryside from an Airbnb, or maybe you are dreaming of even sunnier climes and will be boarding a flight to destinations beyond our shores. 

Summer also brings with it a plethora of opportunities to sell your crafts, whether that be at local craft fairs, fetes and markets, regional festivals, county shows or annual crafting events. It all happens over the summer and, if you’ve not already done so, now is the time to book yourself into a few events. While some fairs or markets may be very local to you many will involve a journey to reach them, and this will require packing all your exquisitely made stock, plus sales equipment such as electronic card readers and laptops, into your vehicle. If your chosen event runs over several days, or is at a distance, you will be needing overnight accommodation, and this will require you to leave your products in the venue or back in your vehicle.  

So, will you be insured for these exciting times when you are out and about, and if so what type of small maker business cover do you need to have in place? The answer to the first half of this question is easy; yes, if you are travelling within the UK, including the Channel Islands, you can rest assured in the knowledge that insurance will cover your stock and all the equipment required for promotion and sales. There are a few options when it comes to insuring your products for a summer season of travel, which we’ll outline in this blog post. It may sound complicated but is in fact very easy to set up. We are a family business ourselves and as such place value on every one of our customers. Here at Craft Insurance, we communicate directly with each of you who contacts us with an enquiry, so you will not have to wait in a queue and speak with an anonymous call handler. So, when you’ve finished reading, give us a call or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will talk you through a package specific to your business’s needs. 

Public and product liability insurance are your first port of call. Public liability insurance covers you for any claim made that harm or injury caused by yourself or a member of your team. For example, a slip hazard or accident involving some specialist equipment. Product liability covers you for any claims made for harm or injury caused by a product. Even if it is not your fault, the policy covers you for compensation and/or legal fees. There is no excess and it covers you worldwide if you are taking your crafts on a global trip. There are some limitations if you are selling in the USA or Canada, but we can talk you through those. Our product liability will cover your craft products sold, distributed or supplied anywhere in the world, but the claim has to be made within the U.K. or Ireland. 

Another component of small market business cover which you might like to consider if you are travelling is business items cover. This enables you to protect not only tools, but also stock, raw materials and any technical equipment used in creating your products. It will also cover items necessary for sales and promotion as you tour eg electronic card readers, laptops and photography equipment. In addition to all this, it covers cash connected with your business which has been lost or stolen for up to £500 anywhere in the world.  

The summer is a busy time for craft fairs and markets, and we hope you will be making the most of this and booking yourself a spot at some of them. They are a great way to showcase and sell your stunning products but always require a good deal of planning, financial outlay and time as you produce stock, promote your presence there and, if you are travelling a distance, book accommodation. Most organisers will require you to have a level of public and product liability insurance as you book and while our package doesn’t cover you if you are organising an event yourself, it will cover you as a stall holder or exhibitor. In addition, business items cover will compensate you if a pre-booked fair or event is cancelled or rearranged; something which could be valuable as you invest your time and money in preparation. 

While most crafters will be based within the four solid brick walls of home and making forays out into the world of fairs and festivals, a few of our intrepid community have packed yourselves and your crafting equipment into a van and travel from show to show demonstrating and selling your crafts. Some may do this just during the summer months, spending the winter making stock, but others have dived in headfirst and are enjoying the wonderful freedom van life offers, making friends and business connections as they travel from show to show. 

Whatever exciting travel and crafting plans you have for this summer, you will need to take a look at small maker business cover. Once you have the best insurance for your business venture in place, you can have complete peace of mind and be free to enjoy all the fun of fairs and festivals you attend. So pick up the phone or drop us a line and we will talk you through the cover which best suits your unique business needs. We are looking forward to hearing your exciting travel plans!