Category: Tips for Crafters

There can be little else so evocative of balmy summer days, carefree and simple living, and a bygone rural way of life, than a summer meadow. The textures, colours and scents of the flowers, the grasses swaying gently in a playful breeze and the sound of birdsong brings immediate relief to the stresses and strains of everyday life. Wildflower meadows are rich ecosystems but have been affected badly by the use of chemical weedkillers. Their abundant biodiversity, as well as their beauty, have led to charities, farmers and passionate individuals taking up their cause and endeavouring to maintain and plant new ones. Those with the talent to capture the beauty of a wildflower meadow on canvas or paper are truly able to preserve a precious part of our landscape for us.

Wildflowers are, thankfully, found not just in meadows but in all parts of our nation, from river banks, to high moorland, in woods and along every country lane. They have been an inspiration to many artists over the years, with the illustrations of Edith Holden, Cicely Mary Barker and Beatrix Potter among the iconic ones of the previous two centuries. Edith Holden is best known for her intricately illustrated journal, “The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”. Published after her death, this stunning journal depicts the changing flora and fauna over the four seasons of 1906. It is a nostalgic picture of a former age, when it was not uncommon for middle-class women to write illustrated journals.

Cicely Mary Barker was self-taught as a child. She suffered from epilepsy and so was educated at home during her formative years. One can’t help but wonder whether her stunning drawings may very well not have been created if she had had a more conventional schooling, with less free time to wonder, imagine and explore. As a young teenager, her father enrolled her at their local Art Society and then on an art correspondence course. Her exquisite, botanically accurate watercolour paintings of wildflowers combined with charming fairies have enthralled numerous children over the years and taught them not only to recognise and appreciate the huge diversity of wildflowers of our nation but also opened their imaginations to wonder and delight.

While Beatrix Potter is best known for her tales of mischievous little animals, she was also a talented botanical watercolour artist, with stunning paintings of wildflowers as well as her fungi collection. She too had a less traditional education, learning at home until she was a teenager. She loved to be outdoors and spent hours walking, observing and painting. The Victoria and Albert Museum, in collaboration with the National Trust, hosted an exhibition of her paintings last year, and highlights can still be seen on their website.

There are of course numerous more contemporary watercolour artists whose paintings of wildflowers are inspiring and who also give of their time to pass on their skills to others. Many run wildflower watercolour workshops, sometimes in collaboration with local conservation areas or the wildlife trust. These range from workshops for complete beginners to instruction for accomplished artists wanting to hone existing skills and learn new techniques. Some courses will focus on the skills and knowledge required for botanical illustration, and some on techniques for a more contemporary style. Some are based inside but some are located outdoors, surrounded by the wildflowers you are studying and painting. Whether you count yourself as a watercolour painter or not, why not check out some of these courses and book yourself onto one this summer?  Count it as professional development, as well as investing in some time to nurture your own soul and creativity.

Whatever your craft business, you could think of incorporating wildflowers as a theme for this summer. They could inspire a range of pottery or a collection of handmade jewellery. Soaps and cosmetics often incorporate flower scents, but could you be bolder in your marketing of this? The colours, shapes and textures of wildflowers lend themselves to textiles; scarves, napkins and cushions inspired by them will bring all the freshness of outdoor breezes and the warmth of the sunshine indoors.

Wildflower paintings are perennially popular. Indeed, in our fast-paced, often urban-based lives there seems to be a longing within us to be more connected with the natural world. Coupled with our heightened awareness of the importance of conservation, paintings which depict the beauty and intricate design of nature are increasingly valued in our homes. Whether you sell online, in a gallery, at art exhibitions or at craft fairs, be sure to purchase the correct high-value art insurance. You will need this to cover any accidental damage to yourself or others within a gallery/craft fair space. Art is very subjective and what one person likes another may not. Therefore, high-value art insurance would also come to your aid in the unlikely event that a commissioned piece of work does not meet the requirements of the customer and becomes the subject of a negligence claim. Professional indemnity insurance would cover you in this instance; product liability insurance covers damage to your paintings themselves. Although all these events seem, and indeed are unlikely, that is after all the whole point of insurance cover. If you could predict the issues which might arise you could ensure they don’t happen. The very fact that you can’t is why you need insurance. As a family-run business, with a deep-rooted belief in family, tradition and experience we have a solid foundation to work from but also are always learning from each other in order to improve the quality of service we give to our customers. A small art business will have a variety of aspects so a talk with one of our team is the best way to find ensure you get the best possible package of high-value art insurance, which will meet your individual and unique needs. Pick up the phone and have a chat.

And remember,  as we head into the summer, don’t forget to check out some watercolour wildflower workshops and allow your soul to be restored as your creativity is inspired.

I heard some rather unusual news lately that Hawnby in North Yorkshire has become the first village in England to swap its streetlights and more than 100 other outdoor lights for dark skies-friendly lighting, in an attempt to cut light pollution and allow residents and visitors to see the stars. There are a few other villages in Wales and Scotland that have converted street lights to become dark sky friendly but Hawnby has gone even further by converting both street and external building lighting when the project completes later in 2023.

It’s a fact that, over the centuries, the night sky has been the inspiration for thousands of pieces of art, poetry and prose which we are still able to enjoy today. It’s a shame that streetlights are depriving us of this nightly opportunity for inspiration! Unless you are a resident of Hawnby, in which case, a rare treat awaits!

Spring is an excellent time to star gaze; the temperature is creeping up but the nights are still long enough to ensure that darkness envelopes our land well before bedtime. What about planning an evening to soak up inspiration from the night sky in the next few weeks? You could do this by yourself or with a loved one, or gather together family or friends. Even within a city, you will be able to see some of the night display, but if you can make your way out into the countryside, the spectacle will be all the more breathtaking. Obviously, the further you get from light pollution, the more you are going to see. You could pack up a bag with hot drinks and delicious snacks, wrap up warmly and take some extra layers or cosy rugs. You might like to grab a book or download an app which will help you interpret what you are seeing in the sky above. Depending on the spot you find, you may even be able to light a fire and roast marshmallows, or take a camp stove to warm some soup. The incredible display you will see as you gaze above is completely free, so make the most of it!

Still not convinced? If like me, you need plenty of encouragement to leave your warm home for a wild and probably chilly outdoor space, here’s a taster of what you might see if you venture out to survey the spring night sky. The star constellations of Ursa Major (the Great Bear) and Leo can be seen very clearly, and if you time it right, you might just catch a meteor shower. Look out for the Lyrid Meteor Shower which will be visible 14-30 April and peaking on 22-23 April. On April 11 you can see a pairing of two celestial beauties – Venus and the Pleiades star cluster. Venus will be easy to see with the naked eye as a brilliant star like object high in the southwestern sky. If you are away from light pollution you’ll be able to locate the Pleiades – they are the tight grouping of stars near Venus. The Pleiades actually consists of a grouping of around 3000 stars but the nine brightest are the Seven Sisters of Greek mythology and their parents.

And don’t forget, any intrepid early risers, you can always watch the planets of Mars, Saturn, Venus and Jupiter appear before the early morning light gradually chases out the darkness and the dawn awakens us to a fresh new day.

Stargazing is a great way of getting a fresh perspective on life and when you are looking for fresh creative inspiration, it really helps! The facts of our universe are awe inspiring in themselves. We are just one minuscule planet in our tiny solar system, itself part of the Milky Way which is one of the smaller galaxies. (The Milky Way is only 100,000 light years across!) It is estimated there are about 350,000,000,000 galaxies in the universe. One light year is six trillion miles. This vast expanse of space is beyond our comprehension, yet as we contemplate it and allow the sheer magnificence of the universe to seep into our soul, we cannot help but gain a different perspective on our own lives and challenges. Maybe star gazing could be prescribed regularly for our mental well being…

Possibly the most famous painting inspired by the night sky is Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. It is especially interesting to know the circumstances which preceded the painting of this masterpiece. Vincent Van Gogh struggled with mental health issues for much of his life, and spent some time as an adult in an asylum. In those days these were generally places where movement was greatly restricted, but due to his good behaviour he was allowed a fair amount of freedom during which he could roam the countryside with his brother and paint. “Starry Night” was, however, painted during an emotionally low period, reflected in the blue tones. He painted the sky as seen from his bedroom window, but the background was part imaginary. He did not think it was very good; a lesson all crafters can take hope from!

Of course it is not only artists who can take inspiration from the night sky, but crafters of all mediums. It makes a great theme for crocheted blankets, pottery mugs or even wooden hanging decorations. Or, what about a set of bath bombs on the starry night theme, or a beautiful children’s mobile?

If, however, you are pondering an art exhibition, a night sky theme could really capture the imagination of your audience. There are numerous articles giving good advice on the practicalities of organising a show, but jere are a few tips:

• It may pay to think out of the box when it comes to finding a venue. The traditional galleries could be expensive whereas other venues might be better priced as well as offering a more interesting location.
• Gather a team around you with whom you can collaborate.
• Ensure you advertise well, both on social media and in local papers/flyers.
• And of course, know the community you are aiming to draw in; this will impact both the venue and the marketing.

You will also need to consider art exhibition insurance. When running to a tight budget, you might question whether this is really necessary, but here’s why art exhibition insurance is well worth the small investment. It will cover you for all those accidents which you can’t predict and therefore plan against; for damage to your art work in transit and in situ; for any unforeseen mishaps of injury to clients while in the exhibition space. It will include both public and product liability insurance. Having the correct insurance in place is part of setting yourself on a good footing. Once it’s there you don’t need to worry about those unpredictable events which, although unlikely, can steal your thinking space. Instead, you can focus on the planning and smooth running of the event itself. So, pick up the phone now and talk to one of our experienced and friendly team members. As a family run business specialising in crafting insurance we can ensure you get the best art exhibition insurance package for your unique needs at a reasonable price.

Head out this spring and join the villagers in Hawnby be inspired by the splendour of the night sky.

Earth day is celebrated this year on April 22. It has captured the imagination of millions, and has gained support from a network of international charities and multinationals.  Its very size could appear somewhat daunting and far removed from small local craft business. However, a brief look at it’s humble beginnings offers inspiration as to how the convictions of individuals, carried over into actions, can have a far reaching impact. In fact the origins of Earth Day would probably strike a chord with the founders of many creative local businesses.

Back in the 1960’s the USA was enjoying the benefits of industrialisation, with large factories producing not only mass goods for the population but pollution as well, with inefficient cars adding to this. Increasingly, companies made goods that would have a limited lifespan and were thrown away rather than repaired. In the home, chemicals replaced the old non-toxic cleaning solutions and, most significantly, within agriculture, mass produced fertilisers replaced the time tested methods of enriching the soil; crop rotation and spreading of animal manure. It was against this backdrop that Rachel Carson’s iconic book, “Silent Spring” was published in 1962. It’s startling message must have jolted many readers into a new awareness of the beautiful world which has been entrusted to us and the fact that its guardianship had been increasingly disregarded over the previous decades. Her book is both a modern fable of a future year when we would wake up to a spring without birdsong, and a well researched scientific thesis. She questioned the use, or misuse, of inadequately tested chemicals and pesticides without knowledge of their potential harm on flora and fauna. She saw governments and powerful corporations as a big part of the problem and called on individuals and groups to question policy. Thus began a grass roots environmental movement. She received a fair amount of vilification for her trouble but arguably, this one woman’s courage and persistence to speak out changed the way a whole generation thought.

Her story is inspiring, especially when we consider that it was the large scale use of chemicals and the corporate self interest of huge companies behind their use, which she was highlighting. As small, home grown craft businesses we are already challenging the practices of companies which may be less ethically and environmentally committed, offering an attractive alternative of locally made products which are both robust and created with care for the environment in which we live. As Earth Day is recognised this year, it is a great opportunity to promote your own practices and policies which are respectful of the beautiful world in which we live and your contributions to both the local community and environment. Ensure your customers know of the care you take in sourcing your raw goods, whatever they might be. Make sure your website is up to date with the positive impact your business has on the surrounding community, from employing local staff to community workshops or the training you offer. The use of cleaning chemicals might be something you would not think is worth a mention, but these are in fact some of the very issues Carson highlighted; the chemicals we use in our homes and businesses will ultimately end up in our rivers and can have a devastating effect on floral and fauna. So, if you use eco friendly cleaning materials, or even old fashioned sodium bicarbonate and distilled white vinegar (a traditionalist’s option) be sure to publicise this. Your example in one small thing may well encourage someone else to do similar. Thus, a cleaning revolution can begin and we might start to see some changes in our rivers.

Earth day could certainly provide creative inspiration, from ceramic jewellery to eco friendly soaps and candles. Maybe you could add a twist to some of your products, and include a tiny packet of wildflower seeds tucked inside a pottery mug or nestled beside a hand made toy. If you produce hand made soap or cleansing products this is of particular relevance to Earth Day as it was the use of chemicals with as yet unknown side effects which sparked  the writing of “Silent Spring”. Use this opportunity to not only to sell your gorgeous products, but also to educate your customers as to why it’s worth paying a little extra for products made of gentle, natural ingredients.

Ceramic products seem another good fit for Earth day, with hand thrown earthenware mugs or other tableware wholly embodying the good earth on which we live. They are not only created from the clay of our land, but often are painted to reflect the bountiful variety of ecosystems within our nation. A rounded mug in soft hues of blue and grey can almost capture the wild waves and wind of the sea, and rustic style mauve and brown plates can encapsulate the essence of high moorland swathed in heather.

With a good stock of your exquisite, nature inspired pottery, you’ll be wanting to head out and make the most of the public’s propensity to invest in eco friendly products. You need to ensure  you have everything in place for craft fairs or exhibitions, as well as selling online. Do you have your craft potters’ insurance in place? There are numerous reasons why this is important. It will cover you for any breakages or damage to your goods, and also to yourself if you are using potentially dangerous equipment like blades and knives. Good craft potters’ insurance will include public and product liability and insurance covering those completely unforeseen accidents or mishaps to your customers or products. We are a family run business who value our customers and strive to do our utmost to help; we believe in the importance of family, tradition and experience and as such are always keen to learn from generations past. So, with this wealth of stored wisdom and breadth of experience in working with small crafting business, pick up the phone and talk to one of our friendly team. We will ensure you get a craft potters’ insurance package in place which fits your unique needs. You can then concentrate on being the best crafter you can be and enjoy selling your unique, nature inspired and eco friendly products to a world that will benefit from them!

You might think that baby showers are a relatively new occurrence here in the UK, having been a popular event in America for many years. However, baby showers have in fact been around in the UK since Victorian times. During this period an afternoon tea party would take place after the baby was born. During this tea party games would be played, food would be served and gifts would be brought for the baby. The most common gift to be given was an item made of silver. This was most often given by the grandmothers and usually came in the form of a silver spoon or rattle. These baby showers evolved from some of the ancient events that were held in Ancient Rome, where a mother and newly born baby would be anointed and blessed into the family.

Following the second world war, women in the UK started to hold these baby parties before the birth of their child, as the secrecy and taboo surrounding pregnancy and childbirth had lessened. These events soon started to include the fathers and grandfathers of the child and have evolved further into the events that we know and love today.

Baby showers are now much larger and in some cases lavish events that involve planning. They tend to take place between one and two months before the birth of the child and many different activities will take place and the party. These can include games centred around babies as well as the sharing of buffet food and of course the sharing of gifts for both the baby and the mum to be.

Here are some ways that those who work in the craft industry can provide products to enhance any baby shower.

Decorations – all baby showers need decorations. These could be based around the common colours associated with babies or they might be personalised for each expectant mother. They will commonly include banners, bunting and balloons as well as decorations that may be placed on tables throughout the party venue. You can of course sell these online or through craft fayres and stalls. Make sure that you have the right one day craft stall insurance in place to cover you in the event on an accident or incident occurring.

Food – every baby shower needs delicious food and of course a cake or two. There are many expectant mothers who will look for a personalised cake, similar to the types of cakes that you might traditionally see at a wedding. The colours and decorations that are used will often celebrate the babies imminent arrival and in some cases may be coloured to match the gender of the baby if this has been shared. The buffet food that is shared at these types of events will depend on the preference of the mother to be as well as the kind of atmosphere that is being created. For some this might be traditional finger buffet style food and for others it might be something more akin to a sit down meal.

Gifts – of course one of the best ways crafters can support the rising trend in baby showers is to create gifts for mum and baby. These could be pampering gifts that any expectant mother would love to receive and to use in the last few months of their pregnancy. It is important to make sure that you have all the appropriate safety certificates in place as well as one day craft stall insurance cover to allow you to sell the items safely.

When it comes to thinking about gifts to create for the arrival of the baby you can position your products as either those that are functional and will be used by the mother and baby, or celebratory gifts that are designed to be kept as keepsakes. Whichever one you decide to create it is important that you think about the target market that you are attracting as well as looking at ways in which you can sell these. It might be that your quickest way to sell them is through a Facebook shop or an online store such as Etsy or even through your own Shopify site or website. You could also look at local craft stalls. When selling at craft events you should make sure that you have some accessories to make your table look attractive to customers and that you also have one day craft stall insurance in place.

Gifts that are designed to be functional might include mobiles that can be placed above the baby’s crib, bunting that can be placed in the nursery and toys that you might create for the child to use as they grow up. Again it is important that you have all the relevant safety certificates in place to sell these. Mementos and keepsakes might include lockets that can keep a small lock of the babies hair, a kit or a voucher that allows the mum-to-be to take an imprint of the baby’s hands or feet for these to be turned into a small sculpture or even into an item of jewellery, memory boxes or scrapbooks that can be filled in by the parents as their child passes through a number of different milestones. Other larger keepsake items can include handmade chairs and even small rocking horses. These have become particularly popular over the last few years.

Whatever you decide to create to complement the rise in popularity of baby showers, be sure to make the most of any marketing opportunities that arise through the year. There are lots of mother and baby groups where you can advertise what you have to offer as well as taking up a table at any local craft fayres and school fetes as you will find that your target audience will be attending many of these types of events.

As the year begins to turn to spring, the calendar of events and selling opportunities start to really open up for Crafters and a real chance to sell their wares. Clever hacks for Crafty crafters can be found in many ways which means there are plenty of money-saving tips out there for creators to take advantage of. A quick look at the crafting calendar will illustrate that there are many shows going on through the springtime for you to showcase your products in. One thing that you need to make sure of is that you and your stall are covered for insurance. It’s always a good idea to see where the cheapest craft stall insurance UK is available.

So, in what ways do you need to be prepared for this busy time of year?

First of all, you need to be very careful about where you decide to sell your products, all the beautiful new products and designs that you have been spending the quiet winter months of January and February creating. However, it’s not just a case of simply picking out a few venues and booking a stall. You have to be very careful in where you set up. The really difficult part is knowing that the pitch price you are paying is going to be recouped through sales. Well established and popular events are a good bet but because they are so popular you can rest assured that the initial fee to book a place is going to be considerable. The best approach is to do a bit of research. Take some time to go along to the shows a year before you commit to them. You can see how the other stall holders sell and whether your products will fit into what’s already available. For example, if you see a lot of wood turners, and this is your line of work, is there space for you to take part or will you just swamp the market? Are you doing anything different from what the other producers are offering to make you stand out? This can be applied to card makers and knitters alike. Paying for a stall is one of the most expensive outlays that a crafter can have so it’s vital that you get this part right.

Secondly, try to ensure that your stall is of one look or theme. A mish-mash of images and messages about who you are and what you do is very off putting to the potential customer, and confusing too. Make sure that your banner and accompanying material all match up. The same is true for the tablecloth that you choose. Whilst this may seem a little “corporate” for many crafters it should all be remembered that income is a very important part of what we do, along with the love of doing it! Having a unified image and message stays with people and makes you look a lot more professional, it will also attract people to the stall.

Thirdly, a great money saving tip is to bring a selective product range. It’s best to approach this with a “greatest hits” mentality. It’s expensive and time consuming to just bring everything that you have made and then proceed to display it all on the stall table. It also opens up the possibility for accidental damage by yourself and members of the public. It’s why the cheapest craft stall insurance UK should definitely be considered to protect your wares and also the stall itself.

A word should be said about insurance in general at this point. One of the best ways to save money is to have this in place before you really start to take up the art of craft selling via stalls. It can be a long and gruelling circuit and making sure that you are adequately covered for any eventuality will mean that if something untoward and unexpected were to happen, you’ll have the peace of mind that everything is taken care of and you can concentrate on the task of creating and selling over everything else.

Another way that you can look to save a lot of money is to consider the possibilities of bulk buying, it’s something that you really do need to consider. Now is the time to really take advantage of being able to get in a lot of materials for your work. When you buy in bulk it immediately starts to bring the retail price down for you. Position it with suppliers that you should get some discount for taking a large amount of product from them. It also means that you will not need to be constantly replenishing the stock you have.

Spring brings with it plenty of sales opportunities for the crafter. There are many events in place where you can exhibit and produce pieces for. The main event is clearly Easter. There are so many themes that you can explore. When you think about Easter there are fun images of bunnies and eggs but there are also flowers and the religious aspect of the holiday that can be explored depending on your audience. Throughout the Spring there are three patron saints celebrated. St Patrick, St David and St George, and all are possible opportunities to create products for.

Never forget that you are also the best money saving element of your business. You can sell your product better than anyone in craft stalls because you know it inside out. Whilst it’s true that you will need the cheapest craft stall insurance UK to protect you, it’s money well spent to give you the time and space to produce new wares and to sell them to the public. It’s a truly rewarding working career and experience for you to discover.

The chainsaw represents a huge leap in our ability to manage and fell trees, shortening the process considerably and thanks to modifications such as guide bars, it’s much safer these days for those using them. Nevertheless, extreme care is required with this equipment because of it’s sheer speed – or it could result in severe damage to yourself and those around you. (I thought I’d better add that just in case anyone feels inspired by this blog and rushes out to buy a chainsaw).  

Not everyone knows that the chainsaw can be used to create exquisite pieces of art. Whilst it might seem like a purely aggressive, and singular use work tool, a series of artists down through the years have taken the chainsaw and turned it into the paintbrush of carving and sculpture. As we have mentioned before, using a chainsaw is still dangerous without proper care and attention  and for anyone trying to show off their products and work at an event, they’ll need insurance for craft fairs as a given!

The earliest recorded examples of the art of chainsaw sculpture began in the 1950s. The tool was established as part of general forestry care but it soon became clear to artists that its potential as an artistic carving tool was limitless. The precision it could give, and the speed at which it could be delivered, was too hard to resist using. Ray Murphy was the first artist to pioneer using the chainsaw. He started out by simply carving his name into the wood  with his father’s chainsaw. Nine years later, the artist Ken Kaiser really began to explore with the instrument. He proved that the chainsaw could be a tool of great artistic productiveness by carving fifty pieces for a show called the Trees of Mystery.

Inspired by these workers, other carvers began to put aside the more traditional tools of the wood worker and turner. A great slew of artists saw the potential of using the chainsaw to create art works and, due to the speed and ease of their creation they were able to hire or buy trucks and load up their wares. This enabled them to drive around the USA, moving from show to show, exhibiting with ease. Setting up their stall with a simple block of wood, they would set about creating something marvellous. Given the nature of the work I’m guessing that these early chainsaw carvers were prudent enough to have had some kind insurance for craft fairs in place to deal with any kind of accident or incident that could have happened!

It wasn’t until the 1980s that the movement became really serious and quite competitive. The long established Lumberjack World Contest was the place that really embraced the art of chainsaw carving. Along with all the other competitions of tree felling and climbing it seemed only natural that chainsaw carving should be a part of the championship. Due to the fact that the Lumberjack contest was widely televised throughout the USA, chainsaw carving was suddenly brought into the world’s focus. Soon carvers were popping up all over the States and not just in the Northeast and West. Carving proved so popular it broke away from the lumberjacks events and formed its own world championship in 1987.

Carvers would pick up ideas and techniques from each other and adapt them into their own set of skills. This resulted in a surge of creativity, perfect for pushing the work of this growing artistic community to new heights. The most important part of this movement was the creation of the Cascade Chainsaw Sculptors guild. Their newsletter became legendary in how it was able to unite and draw together the new and upcoming chainsaw carvers with the established ones.

Britain was not to be outdone. With an already strong, tightly knit community of wood carvers in place the introduction of the chainsaw was greeted with enthusiasm. Nowadays, the English Open Chainsaw championships brings in huge crowds, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the organisers and competitors have insurance for craft fairs in place!

The UK started to send competitors to the world championships and Duncan Kitson had the honour of the being the first. British artists also hold a few records over their North American counterparts. For example, Matthew Crabb’s statue of the Virgin Mary is the worlds largest chainsaw sculpted wood work, standing at nine metres tall. Other noted British chainsaw wielding artists are the father and son team, Harry and Danny Thomas. Harry is particularly well known and renowned for his work creating bears and Danny is now following in his footsteps. Perhaps the most impressive feat by Harry was his creation of a chainsaw sculpture of the late Queen Elizabeth the Second.

The art of the chainsaw carver has been made considerably easier by the work of the Finns. Finland is known for its vast forests so felling and forestry management is of paramount importance to them. The Finns have developed different blades or “guide bars”  that have smaller ends which enable the artist to create cleaner lines and more details. They are also a lot safer to use than a regular blade guide bar. Such detail with a regular chainsaw would be completely impossible.

This makes the pioneering work of Murphy and Kaiser back in the 1950s, working with a regular chainsaw, even more incredible in the context of what we have today to work with. With major manufacturers like Stihl, Canon to name but a few, its plain to see that this is an art form that only has more and more potential to grow and provide us all with truly inspirational and awe inspiring works of wood and wonder. The future looks to be assured and very bright and creative indeed! 

Jewellery is given and worn around the world to celebrate significant events in life, as a token of love and affection and as such tells part of its wearer’s story. In some cultures jewellery will indicate the number of children or position in society that a person holds. In other cultures rings are exchanged during a wedding ceremony. Little girls are often attracted to glitter and sparkles like bees to a honeypot! Throughout history, specific pieces of jewellery have been tenderly passed down from mother to daughter, carrying with them precious memories and the importance of family ties. This is not to say that men are excluded from the jewellery market; in some countries men rather than women are more richly and colourfully adorned! That being said, in the UK it’s usually excited young men rather than girls who are scouting nervously for engagement rings to place on the fingers of their betrothed! And round about now, with two significant days coming up which celebrate women, it would be savvy to take advantage of this fact in your marketing strategy.

Of course I’m referring to March 8, International Women’s Day and Sunday March 19, Mother’s Day.  Each of these celebrate women and offer ideal opportunities to sell beautiful and unique hand made items to be given as gifts.  Interestingly, they both originate from quite different roots and a cursory glance at these might help you to prepare for them.

International Women’s Day grew out of efforts in the early twentieth century to promote women’s rights, in particular the struggle to form trade unions and to achieve suffrage. There is a story, most probably not true, of a rally of female textile workers being brutally repressed and subsequent rallies commencing to commemorate this. In any case, rallies slowly grew to worldwide status and, in 1975, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate March 8 as International Women’s Day. It thus has socialist origins, but more recently has taken on a more commercial mantle in countries such as Argentina and China where the increasing focus is on gifts and flowers bought by men for the significant woman in their lives.

The goals of IWD certainly offer an excellent marketing springboard for small hand made jewellery businesses. While some are more political, e.g. calling out and challenging discrimination and inequality around the globe, others are about celebrating women’s achievements and acknowledging their potential to influence change. How could you maximise on this acknowledgement of women’s contributions to our communities, and at the same time bring smiles to a few often unrecognised heroines? Maybe you could promote IWD on your website or at upcoming craft fairs. There are legal requirements for selling handmade jewellery UK so make sure you are up to date with these as you plan ahead. They include regulations around advertising and how you can describe your products, tax implications, rules around online sales, hallmarking goods containing upwards of a specific amount of silver, statutory requirements for customer refunds and of course insurance. As specialists in craft insurance we can ensure you are covered in this area of legal requirements for selling handmade jewellery UK.

Mother’s Day here in the UK comes from a completely different tradition and is a wonderful opportunity to treat much valued mums with a stunning and distinctive piece of hand made jewellery. The celebration of Mother’s Day in the U.K. has merged in the last few decades with its counterpart from the United States, but ours does in fact have a different origin, and indeed this can still be seen in the changeable date of celebration each year. Our Mothering Sunday has its origins in the days when many girls in rural communities went into service at the big houses in nearby towns. They worked long hours and their time off did not always coordinate with other family members who worked on the land. So, on one Sunday a year, girls in service were given the day off to go home to their families. This day always fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent, three weeks before Easter; hence the date change each year. Girls often gathered wild flowers to give to their mothers as they walked home and we see the continuation of this delightful tradition in the giving of flowers and gifts to our mothers each year.

There is a poignancy to Mothering Sunday, or Mother’s Day. It can be painful for some; maybe due to bereavement and the loss of a much loved mum; maybe due to the deep and often unspoken longing for children which have never come; maybe through the many complications of family life such as blended or adoptive families. Family life is messy, and mothers are usually at the centre of it. Yet maybe it’s exactly because of this, not despite it, that we should celebrate motherhood. Through the centuries it’s often been women, and especially mothers, who have held not only their families but also their local communities together in challenging times. Much of their work is unseen and is most definitely unrecognised by both national leaders and often by their own children! However, their daily practical love is invaluable and the impact they have on forming the next generation is inestimable. Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday may be the only day in our modern world where mums can be spoilt. And what better way than by gifting a beautiful piece of handcrafted jewellery. Customers will be looking to buy something special, knowing it is  individual and created with care. You can offer your consumers products which will not only be beautiful in themselves and appreciated as such, but which speak of the value to the woman to whom it is given. So, ensure you have the legal requirements for selling handmade jewellery UK in place and head out to snap some sales and bring joy and sparkle into the lives of some hard working mums!

Take a deep breath in through your nose and aaaaaah, oh yes, spring is on its way! As the days become longer, daffodils wave their cheery yellow heads and birds sing heartily while building their nests, we can almost smell the change of season in the air. After the long dreary winter days and the heavy grey skies, these signs that the natural world around us is awakening are more than welcome. If you can make time, why not take a walk in your locality? Even in the midst of a big city, we can see signs of emerging new life. Look up at the trees and note the new buds forming, maybe some fresh green leaves appearing. Look down and between pavement slabs there might be tenacious weeds poking their heads up, determined to take up residence for another year. Look around and see jubilant displays of colourful bulbs, white daisies dancing on patches of green grass and maybe some early blossom preparing to make its blousy entrance. If you can get out into the countryside or a park, pause to take in deep breaths of the spring air, allow the warmth of the sunshine to soak into your bones and take some moments to do some cloud watching.

Spring is full of hope and new life as well as longer and warmer days, and with Easter falling near the beginning of this, we have a wonderful opportunity to go all out on some nature-inspired Easter gifts. Don’t hold back, let your creativity and imagination run wild, it’s time to celebrate the good things in life which are free and reliably gifted to us each year. Whatever our economy may be doing, those tiny green buds will still open up, and however troubled our world may be, the daisies will appear on cue each spring. So, pull out all the stops and create some inspirational designs which will sell like hotcakes this Easter.

One idea you might like to adapt to your craft is the concept of the ever popular Easter basket. These always bring a smile and encapsulate happy memories of childhood Easter egg hunts for many, thus having a nostalgic value of their own. Simply filling a small gift basket with some of your products can add an Easter twist and so add value to the products themselves. Those of you with chocolate businesses may already sell gift baskets as part of your Easter range, but if not, an attractive basket filled with your delicious chocolates is bound to be an eye catcher.

Baskets need not be confined to edible goods. Bath bombs or soap make a luxurious gift pamper basket, and the theme could be continued even further with egg shaped products. For parents wanting to keep a cap on the sugar content for their children, placing small toys in a  basket, nestled amongst a cloud of tissue paper would be a tempting alternative to a commercial egg. In fact, with a little imagination, many craft products can be packaged in a basket and marketed as delightful and unique Easter gifts.

There are a few practical points to consider. When it comes to choosing your basket, the cheapest is not necessarily the most cost effective. First impressions count so it’s worth choosing baskets which will show off your products to their best. Do some research, and maybe even have a range, from budget and pocket money items to indulgent gifts, which will tempt your customers to splash out and celebrate the season.

There are also a few regulations and laws on selling gift baskets. Some of these are only applicable if you are selling other people’s products alongside your own. It’s important to understand statutory rights too, in relation to customers’ rights to refunds. As specialists in craft insurance, we can help you with product and public liability insurance and the laws on selling gift baskets in relation to this.

So how can your gift baskets reflect the season? This is where you can take inspiration from the natural world all around you, which is so abundant at this time of year. It is almost as if nature is shouting out to us to celebrate and take delight and joy in the beauty all around. Take some time to immerse yourself in nature, whether this is a relaxing ramble in a peaceful location or sitting with a mug of tea in an outdoor spot, watching the clouds pass by and simply breathing in the fresh spring air.

As we observe the natural world more closely, we cannot help but be inspired by the intricate design we find and its subsequent beauty. Look closely at a flower; the geometrical shape, the blending of colours, and the smooth, soft surfaces. Look up and take in the sheer size of a tree, and then the intricacy of its buds and leaves. Immerse yourself in the vast spectrum of greens we see all around us. Green is the most restful colour and contrasts perfectly with the blue sky, which in turn contrasts impeccably with the white of the clouds. We’d all be exhausted if the grass was red and the sky was purple!

Many engineers take inspiration from nature for their designs. Did you know that the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical number sequence used by mathematicians and economists is perfectly formed in each sunflower head? The order of nature is calming and pleasing to look at, even if you think in numbers!

So, as Easter approaches and spring is definitely in the air, get outside and soak in some natural inspiration from the world around you, check out the laws on selling gift baskets and design some beautiful Easter creations of your own!

Working for yourself, either as a sole trader or as the owner of a limited company, will require you to keep a number of financial records which will need to be submitted at your financial year end. If you are a sole trader this will mean ensuring that you file your previous year’s tax assessment after the 6^th of April each year and that you make the payment by the 31^st of January the following year. You’ll need to take into account all your sales and expenses, even the craft stall insurance for one day that you use when attending craft fairs, If you operate your business as a limited company your year-end will have been determined when you first set up your company. If you are VAT registered you will already be filing VAT returns on a quarterly basis, based on when you became VAT registered.

There are a number of important steps that you need to take to ensure that you are adhering to your financial year end obligations. If you don’t feel confident in submitting your own year-end accounts you can work with an accountant or a bookkeeper to have these completed for you. However, it is still important that you check the assessment before it is submitted to HMRC.

Sales

This includes all monies that you make from selling your products. These could be ones that you sell through an online platform such as Etsy, Not on the High Street or through your own website and social media channels. You also need to include all sales that you make through attending crafts sales (as a quick aside, you should make sure that you have craft stall insurance for one day when you attend events like this to keep your protected against any accidents and incidents). It is important that you correctly account for your sales, especially if you have some customers paying you in cash. In these cases it is often best, even if you are a sole trader, to have a bank account that you use solely for business purposes. This allows you to keep your financial records nice and simple and you can always refer back to your bank statements if you want to ensure that you have included all your sales and expenses.

As a sole trader you and the business are classified as one entity and therefore all the monies in your business are yours to use as you wish. When operating a limited company you and the company are separate entities and the company will either pay you a wage and perhaps dividends as the director of the business. If you use software such as Stripe for online and card payments, you will be able to pull yearly reports to help you with completing your sales figures for the year.

Expenses

You need to ensure that you are keeping accurate records of all items that you pay for your business. This will include all the materials that you use to create your products and the packaging materials. These are often known as the cost of goods sold. Other expenses can include craft stall insurance for one day to make sure that you are covered for an incidents that may occur, as well as other annual insurances that you may have. If you market your business, you should keep any receipts for posters, business cards and flyers that you have created.

Other examples of expenses that you can claim include milage, parking and even a working from home allowance for the use energy that you use. There is a flat fee that you can claim for these or a more complex calculation if you have a room in your home dedicated to your workshop. Some expenses that people often neglect to include are any pension contributions that they make, donations to charity and also the fees that they might pay to an accountant to manage their end year financial returns. For a full list of expenses that you can include, there is a section on the HMRC website that details these to ensure that you are deducting expenses that are permitted.

Profits

This is the figure that you are left with once you take your sales and deduct all your expenses for the year. It is this amount that you will have to pay tax on. It is the profits that will help you to determine how viable your business is. If you are selling products as a second income or as a hobby, you may not be too concerned about the figure that you have at the end of the year. However, if you are looking to move into your craft business full time and make a good income from it, you will want to ensure that each year your profits are increasing.

Tax and National Insurance

These are two types of tax that a sole trader will need to pay and the amounts owed will depend on the taxable profits at the end of each financial year. The amounts have to be paid by 31^st January each year. It is possible to pay the amounts before this date and to have money paid on account. A good accountant, bookkeeper and HMRC can help you with this if necessary. If you have a student loan from when you attended university you will also need to make a payment based on the amount of profits that you have. You can find out what the current tax, national insurance and student loan thresholds are by visiting the governments HMRC website. Once you have submitted your year end assessment, you can print or download a copy of these to keep in your accounting files, along with any invoices that you create, and all receipts that you have for your expenses.

Once you have fulfilled all your year end obligations, breathe a sigh of relief, stick the kettle on and go back to the infinitely more joyful activity of creating beautiful art and craft!

Stained Glass is a craft and art form that is steeped in a long history, with its earliest usage being dated back to the Ancient Romans and Egyptians. During these times small items such as jewellery were made from coloured glass. These items were seen to be of high value and were most often owned by those in the higher classes. In England the most common and earliest forms of stained glass came in the form of the windows that were created in churches and monasteries. Some of the earliest examples in the country dating back to the 7th Century and many churches still contain stained glass windows today.

The popularity of stained glass rose in medieval times and as more people practiced this art form the creation of the windows became much more sophisticated. One example of the manufacture of stained glass in Europe is Chartres in France. They produced stained glass of the highest quality, and the Cathedral in Chartres contains a spectacular rose window with an intricate glass design. During this time the designs were much more gothic in their aesthetic. This slowly moved over to a more classical design. Chartres is now home to one of the oldest stained-glass companies in the world and they are inspiration for a number of modern artists and crafters who also use stained glass in their creations.

During the reformation period, stained glass windows were smashed, and, in their place, plain glass was erected. This led to a loss of a number of traditional methods of staining glass that would not reappear until the 19th Century. In this period there was a return to gothic styles and the use of stained-glass windows dramatically increased once more in popularity.

In the 1930s another French artist, Jean Crotti wanted to bring more light into his artwork and he started to experiment with glass. He went on to develop gemmail or gemmaux which using layers of coloured glass fragments fused together, not with with lead, like they had been in past, but instead with a clear glue like substance. This led to an incredible number of wonderful pictures to be created using this technique. It is a method that has been used to create new versions of famous painters works, such as Braque and Picasso.

One of the many reason that stained glass artists are so special is down to the way in which the glass is created and moulded. In order to create the final item, a design must first be established. This is where an artist will put their concept on paper. It may be a rough sketch of how they want to individual elements of the stained glass to be arranged, or it could be a drawing or a painting that is created and then reimagined in glass. These larger images are known as ‘cartoons’.

These ‘cartoons’ are then turned into a scaled outline of the final image. This allows the artist to use the lines to create the cutline that is a template for the design. Lead or copper can be used to draw lines between the sections if this is the look that is hoped for. In other situations, the different coloured elements will be placed next to one another and then glued together in the gemmail method, into one continuous image. This creates for a softer, clearer image and is much like the way in which suncatchers are created.

Once the cutline has been created it is placed on a flat surface and the pieces of coloured glass are placed on top of it. These pieces are arranged to create final image. If the glass is being cut a steel wheel or diamond tool will be used to carefully cut the glass to its desired size and shape. There are instances where the artist will blow their own glass to be used in their designs. This is much more common in items that are made in 3D. If the image being created is in a flat design, lead or copper strips are placed around the edges of image. This helps to hold the glass pieces in place. The metal is then soldered together to make a solid edge. The resulting window or image is now ready to be hung.

As well as traditional stained-glass windows and artwork images, it is also possible to use stained glass to create a number of other items such as wall tiles, mosaic items, even items created using a variety of glass pebbles. In some cases, these can be as small as a mug coaster, or they can be as large as a sculpture. The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to using glass as an art form.

Legal Requirements for selling handmade crafts such as Stained Glass

Stained glass is such a unique art form that takes a great deal of skill, time and patience and it is one of the reasons that artists that work with this medium are so highly thought of. Depending on the size and the type of the items that are made an artist can easily sell their creations through a number of different channels. It is of course incredibly important that when looking to sell items such as this that you ensure you are aware of any legal requirements for selling handmade crafts. This may include disclosing the materials that are used in your creations, any after care requirements and clearly labelling your items as home décor. Other factors of course include ensuring that you have the right insurance cover in place and that you have any safety certificates in place.