Category: Tips for Crafters

There is a line of argument that would suggest that all craft is art in the first place. There is very little difference between the creators of art, such as painters or sculptors, or someone who works in three dimensions, creating collages, and the craft person turning wood, creating pottery, or even creating some nice needlework. Ultimately, the end result is intended to be the same, i.e., to create something that is beautiful and pleasing to the eye and would make a fantastic addition to someone’s home. It’s why you’ll see collectors and aficionados of high-quality artwork and crafts wandering around local and national arts and crafts fairs, seeking out any new and exciting pieces that might be available. There is also a good chance they might be seeking something bespoke, so it’s always wise for crafters’ public liability insurance to be in place for anyone producing and selling their wares.

When we look back through history, there is one fantastic example of where craft became artwork at the same time as being a first-hand recording of a series of monumental historical events. I am, of course, referring to the Bayeux tapestry, which is widely considered one of the most incredible pieces of art and craft ever made. The tapestry chronicles the story of how William I came to be King of England. In minute and incredible detail, the crafters hand-sewed the events, starting from the passing of Edward the Confessor through the adventures of Harold Godwinson in Normandy, before finally documenting the actual Battle of Hastings itself. Its famous image of William, crowned King of England, with all the gold stitched glory behind him stands as an incredible testament to the skill and knowledge of the people who sewed it. Contrary to popular belief, the tapestry was not actually created in Bayeux. It was in fact sewn in England and then shipped over to France so that the person who commissioned it, Bishop Odo, a relative of William the First, could view it at his leisure. Regardless of who created it, or the fact that it tells the story from William’s point of view, it remains a miraculous piece of work. This is even more incredible given that it has managed to last for over nine centuries and remains almost completely intact. As the work was crafted, it’s hard not to wonder if the people sewing it, mainly highly skilled needlework women, ever considered the fact that it would also be thought of as an incredible piece of artwork. Although its worth could probably never be accurately calculated in monetary terms, its historical value is immeasurable.

Needlework is a good example of how art and crafts merge. Throughout the mediaeval period, large-scale pieces of tapestry and pictures in needlework were greatly sought after by those who could afford them. If you were to visit some of the older National Trust properties, such as Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, for example, you’d see plenty of tapestry work that is extremely grand in scale. These homes were draughty and cold places, so thick pieces of needlework and woven linen were essential to try and retain the heat of the room. In addition, they provided much needed decoration for the hard stone walls, which were only offering a slate grey palette in terms of colouring.

These large scale crafts would have been big business for those creating them. Although they may not have needed crafters’ public liability insurance as producers do today, you can be sure that the crafters that created them were certainly enjoying a lucrative return on their work. However, it isn’t only needlework producers who could expect to get some return on their investment. Those that worked with wood were also highly sought after, and some pieces that woodturners produced could quite easily be counted as exquisite works of art as well. This is also true of the work of the potter, especially when it comes to the decoration of the cup, bowl, teapot or plate afterwards. As with many things today, wherever a piece of craftwork crosses over into artwork, it seems to be extremely dependent on the person viewing it and the person who created it.

Never mind the voices you might hear coming from the critical camp, who believe they are able to distinguish between art and craft. As with many critical insights, it all comes down to a matter of opinion. All that the crafter really needs to have is faith in their abilities and the work that they produce, so that it is of the highest standard that they can make it. If this is the case, their work will undoubtedly be seen as artistic and worthy of the accolades that a piece of art usually receives.

No crafter should be afraid to display their work openly on their stalls and be convinced that they are also displaying it in an artistic way and as an equal to any artwork that is there at the time. It may well be that what you produce could someday end up in someone’s private collection or even part of their gallery. As far as you were concerned, you created a piece of craft, but someone else might consider it to be art.

For example, one of the greatest testaments to this happening is that of Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds. Within this Elizabethan home, you will find a huge collection of arts and crafts that was collected by Charles Wade. Wade saw no difference between what was art and what was craft.  He made it his life’s mission to collect examples of both to try and preserve the skills and knowledge that these artisans had shown to create the many pieces in his collection. These include tapestries, cabinets, models of ships, a huge array of clocks and even Samurai armour.

So, with crafters public liability insurance, you can safely trade in the knowledge that what you are producing will be protected should there be any issues arising from it, and who knows, one day your pieces may be considered to have caught the very epitome of artistic creativity of your time…

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you!”

“Red is for London buses and post boxes, yellow is for sunflowers and rubber ducks, blue is for whales and cornflowers.”

From our earliest days, colour is woven into our lives, from childhood ditties, picture books that teach us colours, and observation of the incredible multicoloured world around us. As we get older, we associate colours with specific objects: our team’s football strip, white wedding dresses, yellow chicks at Easter and red poppies for remembrance. For many years, when babies were born, tiny pink wrist bands were put on baby girls and blue ones on baby boys. Before this, pink and blue cosy hats were used in hospital nurseries. Doctors now wear surgical “blues,” and before that, white coats. Postmen and women wear bright red and the police wear black. Would we react differently to a policeman in a turquoise blue uniform or a medic in a sparkly gold coat? Is there more to colour than just our associations?

Interior designers use colour to create their desired atmosphere. White walls will create a sense of space, while for a season, maroon was in vogue, creating a sense of warmth and cosiness. A therapist’s waiting room will be painted in calming colours such as a cool green or blue; a hot orange might lead to raised blood pressure even as the patient waits! Colour can also be used to convey a particular message. For example, summer weather temperatures reported in the 1970s were given as yellow (happy) sunshine, but more recently similar temperatures are depicted in red (danger).

How do you, as crafters who are experts in colour, use it in both the making and marketing of your products? A scant glance into the psychology of colour reveals that different colours do give rise to different reactions. Brown and black portray a sense of seriousness and stability and generate respect, hence the police uniform. Red is linked with both danger (hazard signs) and love (Valentines Day). Green and blue are calmer colours, with green especially connecting us with the serenity and life of nature. Yellow is the brightest colour in the spectrum and is associated with fresh ideas and brainstorming (lightbulb moments).

Colour is displayed to perfection in the natural world all around us. Green is a calming colour, so it is ideal to have as the backdrop for everything else. When we leave the city and travel into the countryside, many of us will let out an involuntary sigh as grey streets and concrete buildings are replaced by rolling green fields and trees. Blue and green, neighbours on the colour wheel, are easy on our eyes and make the combination of green earth and blue sky both restful and uplifting. As an aside, many of us feel our moods lift with a blue rather than grey sky. As well as the effect of colour, we also look up more when the sky is blue, and this action in itself is good for our mental well-being.

It is well documented that being outdoors is beneficial for our mental health, and it’s interesting to wonder how much of this is due to the colour combinations we see. After a long winter, the vibrant green of new leaves, together with cheery yellow and blue bulbs are enough to lift anyone’s spirits. The abundant mayhem of colour during the summer months, along with the exquisite beauty of butterflies, wild flowers and birds, offer a feast for the eyes. Autumn, with its tones of orange, red and brown, were, to our ancestors, indicators to gather in and get ready for the cold months of winter. And, even in the long winter months, colour can be found, albeit in more subdued tones and hues. 

Over the centuries, many artists have taken inspiration from the beauty of the natural world around them, and customers continue to want paintings that bring the outdoors in. The palette the artist uses will generate different reactions in those who view their art, and therefore having a concept of your customer base and even the season in which you are selling could be helpful in marketing. For example, prints resembling the work of Cassatt or Monet might sell more during the spring and summer months, whereas a more sombre palette evoking a Renoir or Constable might sell more during the cooler months. 

If you are one of those gifted artists who is able to recreate the beauty seen outside into paintings that can be brought inside, you may consider exhibiting your art work at a local gallery or exhibition. This is a wonderful way to meet potential customers as well as sell some of your work. Whether you collaborate with other artists for a joint exhibition, plan it by yourself and exhibit solo, or then invite other artists to join with you, you will undoubtedly need art exhibition insurance. This covers any unforeseen accidents to members of the public during the exhibition and unavoidable damage to your work itself (product liability). Art exhibition insurance can cover you for event cancellation, damage to property or equipment, or disputes with a disgruntled customer over a commission. While all these are unlikely to occur, and your risk assessment will make the event even more watertight, mishaps do happen, and the whole point of insurance is to cover you for the completely unexpected. As a family-run business with decades of experience in craft insurance, we are deeply committed to supporting small craft businesses as they step out and share their beautiful artwork and crafts with the world. Give us a call, and either Samantha or Naomi will discuss your individual insurance requirements and work out an art exhibition insurance package best suited for you. 

Colour is an integral part of our lives, and we can use it to bring calm or to invigorate, to lift spirits and to engender a sense of well-being. Whatever your craft, have a think about how you can best use colour not only in your products but also in your marketing throughout the year. Go make a splash!

Many of us are looking towards living a more sustainable lifestyle, whether that be through our product consumption, our travel, or more holistically, by living at a pace and in a way that is good for our own health and wellbeing. Although sustainability is very much a word on everyone’s lips at the moment, it is an age old concept, one that was lost during the fast-paced materialism and throw away culture of the 1980s and beyond but to which we are now gradually waking back up. The concept could be compared to a voyage around the world seeking new ways of doing things, only to return home to port to find the old ways were in fact fairly sound and worth reinstating.

Until the mass production of plastic in the 1960s, together with an increase in a wide range of cheap consumer goods and easy finance deals, the population of our nation generally lived within their means, which meant that mending, passing down and reusing were part of everyday life. From the sustainability of woollen clothing, homespun and woven as a cottage industry in the Middle Ages, to rag rug making from scraps of fabric in the nineteenth century, right up to the ‘make do and mend’ mentality of the Second World War, our forbears had a toughness and creativity that can inspire and shape our modern drive towards sustainability.

Many customers are looking towards buying more responsibly made products and are willing to pay a premium for items that have both individuality and longevity. It is therefore well worth advertising your sustainability credentials in any marketing or promotion. There are numerous ways your business can be more eco-friendly, many of which you may already have in place. Possibly the largest contributor to a sustainably made product is the raw material used. If possible, source locally, or at least use UK-based materials. If this is not possible, look for fair trade options.

For example, if you own a ceramics business, you may be able to join with other businesses, e.g., brickworks or quarries, to use some of their offcuts. As a jewellery maker, you may be able to gather sea glass, plastic or other treasures from the shoreline in order to create your unique range of jewellery. If you use textiles, you might rummage through charity shops and reuse your finds. The beauty products industry is changing, too, with opportunities for small businesses that arguably put them ahead of mass produced products. As a small soap making business, you may be able to use discarded products from other businesses, and you could lead the way in bar shampoos rather than liquid ones. This would not only avoid the use of multiple plastic bottles but bar shampoos are often preferred by the user. Sourcing raw materials in this way will be more time-consuming than simply ordering them online, so you will need to factor this into your product price.

Packaging is another area in which small craft businesses can often excel in comparison to large corporations. Your customers will, by nature, often be more discerning in their desire for sustainable products, so using paper packaging, or even recycled paper, will always be appreciated.

Another fast growing area is the upcycling market. Upcycling, or the reusing and changing of discarded products or materials into something of higher quality or monetary value, isn’t a new concept either. Vintage cars have been lovingly restored for generations, soft furnishings have been reupholstered and patchwork quilts have been meticulously sewn from scraps of older fabric. It is arguably the most sustainable form of producing “new” products, as it avoids throwing old items into landfill. There is also a huge element of satisfaction in breathing new life into something which would otherwise be at the end of its lifespan. Upcyclers are very enthusiastic about their craft, possibly because of the “feel good” factor it produces.

If you are considering transforming your sustainable crafting hobby into a small business, it is worth getting your admin foundations in place first, so you are then free to throw yourself into creating your unique products. The Laws on selling handmade crafts in the UK are, fortunately, not too arduous. You will need to register with HMRC as a sole trader and fill in a yearly tax form; this must be done even if initially your earnings are below the tax limit. There are also specific laws on selling handmade crafts in the UK. If you sell toys, for instance, you have to ensure your toys meet essential safety regulations as laid out by the Toy Safety Directive.

Once you have your collection of beautifully and sustainably made products, you will need a place to promote and sell them. It is important to use a website and social media to your maximum benefit, but selling face-to-face to the public is also a great way to build up a customer base. This may be in local craft shops or quarters, at craft fairs, markets or shows. If you sell at a craft fair, the organiser will almost always have organised any trading licences needed. If however, you are trading at a market, it is advisable to check with your local council if any licences are needed in line with the laws on selling handmade crafts UK.   

Whether you sell online or in person, you will also need public and product liability insurance, and you may also require specialised insurance for your individual business. This may sound confusing, but as a family firm with decades of experience in the craft insurance industry, we can ensure you have the correct package to fit your specific business needs. So, pick up the phone and have a chat with one of our team members. Craft businesses are strongly positioned to make and sell sustainable and upcycled goods that are unique, made with care and will last. So why not take inspiration from generations past and get creating? 

Father’s Day is soon to be with us again. It’s a great chance to be able to celebrate the Dad in your life and to make sure that he feels special and valued. It’s not always an easy task to pick out what’s the best thing to get for a Dad. There are some quite common choices that people make, but here are a few other options that you might want to think about for this Father’s Day. Whatever you decide to do you might have to get a bit of a move on as Sunday the 18th of June 2023 is the day when it all happens. So here are a few gift ideas for Father’s Day that you can think about before the big day arrives.

Firstly, it’s a very common thought that all Dad wants is socks, beer and maybe a new pair of slippers. Perhaps it’s time to be a bit more creative with your thoughts as to what you can get him. Also, in this day and age, it is not so common for people to drink alcohol as much as they used to. Therefore, you could always consider getting some non-alcoholic versions of his favourite tipple for him. It’s probably time to be a bit more creative than buy him another pair of socks and slippers – he’s probably got enough as it is.

Some of the best gift ideas for Father’s Day could even stem from yourself. Why not focus on making Dad a personal gift? Rather than ordering something, there may be a chance that you could make some crafts yourself. There are plenty of options online where you can create exciting gifts for your Dad with your own personal stamp upon them. This could be sewing him a jumper, painting him a picture of his favourite landscape, or just simply making him your own personal designed card. Either way, crafting something yourself is a genuinely nice gesture that any Dad would appreciate. There are plenty of options for you to choose from and even some kits that you can purchase that will enable you to create the perfect crafted gift for your Dad on Father’s Day. Just make sure it’s something that he can use time and time again.

It may be that your Dad is something of a crafter himself. if this is the case then it might be an idea to look at things that you can buy for him that would make a great craft present. Outside of the usual gift ideas for Father’s Day, it might be that your Dad enjoys making things himself. One of the simplest craft items you could buy is a jigsaw puzzle, although a challenging one might be a better idea. If you are looking for something that can take your Dad back down memory lane to his youth, it might also be an idea to look at buying him a plastic model kit. There will certainly be a sense of nostalgia if he is bought something like a Spitfire or a Lancaster bomber. There are also plenty of other non-war-based options that you can choose from, like a model of the Titanic for example.

Other craft gift ideas for Father’s Day could be something as interesting as marquetry. This is where a hot iron is used to score designs and patterns on wood. This is a particularly decorative artistic endeavour but it’s also something that’s quite manly too. Just be prepared that you may well get your own piece of marquetry from your Dad at some point in the future.

Finding the crafting and creative spur in any Dad is a good thing to do and one of the most accessible ways is to set him up with some artistic painting. There are many excellent kits that you can buy that have all of the ingredients for someone wishing to undertake painting as a new crafting hobby. You could start with something as simple as a few paint-by-numbers or invest in an easel and a set of paints and brushes for your Dad to have a go with. Make sure you’ve also got him some easels so he can paint his masterpiece onto something. Remember that most Dads like a good project, and with crafting you can certainly find him something.

If crafting isn’t your Dad’s thing there are still other options that you can look at. One of the most innovative and exciting new developments in gift ideas is that of the experience day. They can be

quite expensive, but why not see about getting Dad the opportunity to drive around Silverstone or Brands Hatch at great speed, preferably with an experienced driver by his side? This is an exhilarating gift idea and they’ve risen to become very popular over a short period of time. This isn’t the only experience that Dad can have, there is also horse riding and visits to museums that could be purchased for him. There is also the ability to spend the day with an artist which, if you decided to take him down more of a crafting route, might be a good idea. It could well be that your Dad might find some new inspiration from a combination of a crafting and experience day that will set him up on a hobby that will keep him going through the rest of his days.

All in all, there are plenty of gift ideas for Father’s Day that you can use to make the big day go with an absolute swing. Whether you’ve got a Dad that likes a bit of action or one that is more inclined to the quiet life, gift ideas are certainly available for everyone. Don’t forget to include a card and cake as well, that’s something of an essential to remember. Whatever you choose, I’m sure that your Dad will thoroughly appreciate all the effort that you’ve gone into for Father’s Day on the 18th of June 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.

The traditional spring May Day festivities bring with them the chance for some great trading opportunities for anyone interested in crafts. After the long and relatively quiet winter period spring is one of the first chances that a UK craft producer can really start to get their work out into the marketplace and seen and sold. You should always make sure that you take the precaution of having adequate business craft insurance UK operators will require when looking to make a sale. The first of May, or May Day, is one of the oldest and most respected of traditional days, which this year has been given even more emphasis with the coronation of King Charles the third happening around the same time. The traditions of May Day go back a lot further than even our own royal family and many of the events that are celebrated on May Day have their origins in pagan roots. Our ancestors were very keen to acknowledge the return of the warm summer days and all of the opportunities it presented them.

These opportunities are exactly the same for crafters in the UK.  There is a real opportunity to tap into the heritage of the day and provide lots of different products and artistic crafts for purchase.  As we have mentioned before, this is when the craft market season really begins to come alive and it is quite easy to be able to fill in your weekends at most places throughout the spring and summer. May Day represents a real opportunity, but where does this seasonal day of recognition come from and what examples of its traditions are there?

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Our ancestors were very keen to celebrate the coming of spring and summer and they would do this through many events, like Maypole dancing, for example. If you are going to exhibit your products at a craft fair or local fete you will no doubt come across the Maypole. This features young children weaving their way in between each other to slowly wrap the Maypole with coloured ribbons. This is a complicated process and you would think that the children involved would need some kind of special protection much as you would need to for your stall! It’s why the provision of what business craft insurance UK providers can give is a necessity.

There are many other traditions associated with this special day, and many of them feature  parades of some kind and displays of flowers and floral arrangements. There is one tradition that sees the villagers walk the local area beating the ground with spades and shovels in an attempt to wake the Earth from its winter slumbers. This is one of the oldest of May Day celebrations but we do know that the first May Day of its type was observed by the Romans.  They had a celebration called Floralia and this was the festival of Flora. Flora was one of the many gods and goddesses that the Romans worshipped. As you may well have been able to guess from the name, she was a goddess of flowers. Displays and arrangements of flowers were common during this period. There were also celebrations of the god Dionysus and the goddess Aphrodite. A Floralia was a constructed stage that was decorated with flowers and to  please the gods, plays about them were held here. There were also many examples of worship of Ceres the goddess of wheat and farming. If you have a craft that is centred around decoration with flowers or their arrangements then this might be an interesting selling point to tap into.

There is a real emphasis on light with May Day celebrations.  As this is in recognition of the lengthening of the days it is also not uncommon to find many bonfires and beacons are lit at this time. We do not suggest that you do this necessarily but if you do happen to light some early summer bonfires on your premises it would be good to make sure that you had some business craft insurance UK provision to cover for any eventuality!

When May Day takes on a life of its own!

The Scandinavian country of Finland takes May Day very seriously and given that a large proportion of the country is in the Arctic Circle, the coming of summer is a very important thing to celebrate. It’s one of the largest public holidays of the calendar year and it’s known as vappu (always lower case). Many people converge in the cities on the last day of April and the First of May to see this two-day spectacle. Finnish students party hard during vappu, especially the engineering students for some reason! Contrary to the normal calendar, their vappu is a two-week party and hence called wappu. So the student May Day celebrations start in the middle of April and culminate on May Day.

Finnish culinary vappu traditions and specialities abound, like the insanely delicious fresh vappu donuts and tippaleipä  which is a special funnel cake only eaten during May Day festivities. Many people make or buy Sima, a non-alcoholic sweet sparkling brew made of water, yeast, lemon, and raisins.

Even in warmer Mediterranean countries May Day is still celebrated.  In Greece, for example, there is a big festival centred around the victory of the goddess Maia, as spring shows that summertime has finally defeated winter.

Running through all of these events is that of flowers and floral displays.  This theme is surely something that can be explored by all crafters regardless of what they produce.  Flowers also offer a large inspirational palette for many creators.  It really doesn’t matter what line of craft you are in. Card makers can capitalise on the springtime with work based around the flowers of the period. Pottery and ceramic work can also feature flower designs. For those who specialise in needlework and knitting, clothing representative of spring flowers may also be of interest.

Whatever you decide to choose, having a solid spring and May Day theme to all of your work is a great choice around this time. Making your business as seasonally focused as possible can be a big crowd pleaser.