Crafting in the Heat

As our beautiful sunny weather continues and hasn’t turned to rain as soon as children and teachers alike pour out of school for their well earned summer holidays (as is too often the case) maybe we can dare to imagine another few weeks of glorious sunshine. While the lack of rain presents challenges for our hard-pressed farmers and garden lovers, for many the opportunity for a family camping holiday without battling with soggy tents and soaked waterproofs, for children to play easily outdoors and for all to slip on sandals rather than rain resistant boots is welcome.

The warm weather does invite us to slacken our pace a little and while this may not be possible for many during business hours, we may be able to sit outdoors during the balmy evenings and watch the sun as it gently sinks into the horizon or enjoy some lazy Saturday mornings with breakfast outdoors. You might be able to pack up a picnic and head out for a walk or a day at the beach, or for the more adventurous, wild swimming beckons. Whether you are naturally inclined to warmer or cooler temperatures, the seasonal nature of our weather patterns offers us not only a ready conversation starter or friendly greeting, but also a plethora of ideas for crafting projects.  

Not being used to sustained hot temperatures, these last few weeks have caused some challenges to most workplaces, crafting businesses included. It is well acknowledged that productivity drops in hot weather; we are often more tired as it’s harder to sleep and even if this is not the case our thought processes are naturally slower. In countries where warm summers are the norm, this is countered by air conditioning or, before this was invented, with an afternoon siesta. In our fast paced twenty first century lifestyle, we try to circumvent this inclination to go more slowly through our days, as the need for productivity requires us to keep going. However, it is worth bearing in mind that our body’s natural responses are there for a purpose, and that the reason we feel lethargic during hot weather is because it is working extra hard keeping us cool. We can help it by staying well hydrated and wearing loose clothing etc but we can’t escape the fact that it just is hard to keep working at our normal pace during extended periods of heat.  

So, if you have struggled to maintain your usual level of creativity you will not be alone in this. You may have come up against some technical issues too, for example wax melts could melt prematurely and fuse together, paints and resins might behave differently and even some tools might struggle in extreme heat.  

Whatever the weather, the summer months call for a fresh look at where to sell craft items. You may experience a bit of a ‘summer slump’ in your online sales platforms as people spend less time inside and more time outside and are also focussing on holidays. However, there are some ways you can use this to your advantage as you consider where to sell craft items over the summer holiday season.  

Many of us will be joining our crowded motorways and heading for the many gorgeous spots around the country. Form the stunning Western Isles of Scotland, to the glorious coat of Pembrokeshire, the open horizons of the Norfolk Broads, right down the the rocky coastline and crashing waves of Cornwall, the British Isles offers something for everyone. The local economies of many rural communities are boosted by tourism in the summer months, and this provides a good opportunity for selling hand made crafts. While your usual set of customers might not be buying online or at their own local markets, they may well be browsing elsewhere. So, if you live in or near to one of our many holiday havens, why not see if you can rent a shelf in a shop or even a cafe?  

You might also consider a holiday range for visitors to your area, inspired by the local scenery; seaside themed items made form driftwood or shells, textiles reflecting the colours of heather clad moors or home decor and utensils inspired by the industrial heritage of the region.  

Or you might like to focus on the weather theme…wind chimes, sun hats or beach bags. Before the time of weather apps, or even national weather forecasts, country dwellers used to look to the weathervane on top of their local church to see the direction from which the wind was coming. Weathervanes in the shape of cockerels were also placed on churches, to be seen by all, as a reminder of Peter denying Jesus. Weathervanes are still a striking addition to any home, and metalsmiths today are still crafting these from cast iron, in a multitude of shapes and sizes, as highly visible, as well as practical, ornaments.  

So, whether you’re a sun lover or a shade seeker, we hope you can enjoy some relaxed time outdoors over the next few weeks. If you’re looking towards renting a shelf in a local shop, remember that our basic insurance package covers you for this, as well as for online and in person sales at fairs and markets.  

Whatever the weather, have a good weekend!