Artisan Made 2026

A couple of weeks ago I took part in the Artisan Made trade show, and I thought I’d share a little behind-the-scenes peek at how it all went. You can see more information and the list of makers by clicking here.

In the lead-up to the show, there was (as always!) a lot of planning, prepping, and list-making. I’d been working on new products, refining my display, and generally trying to make everything feel cohesive and “me”. By the time it came around, I felt as ready as I could be… even if my body had other ideas!

I ended up being pretty unwell over the weekend (there was a lot of tissues involved), which definitely made things more challenging. But despite that, I’m really glad I did it.

The show itself was a little quieter than expected, but actually, that gave more space for proper conversations. I met some lovely shop owners, had some really encouraging feedback about my work, and made connections with other makers, which, when you work on your own most of the time, is incredibly valuable.

One of the biggest takeaways (and something I heard again and again) is that it’s all about the follow-up. The conversations don’t end at the event - they’re just the beginning. I’ve been slowly working my way through emails and reaching out to the people I met, and it’s already led to a couple of new orders, with hopefully more to come.

I also came away feeling really proud of how my stand looked. I’d put a lot of thought into how to display everything, and it was so nice to see it all come together. It’s funny how something like that can give you a little confidence boost, a reminder that you do know what you’re doing (even when you’re not feeling 100%).

Another unexpected highlight was the sense of community. The organisers (who are makers themselves) created such a supportive, friendly atmosphere, and the people around me on neighbouring stands were just brilliant. It reminded me how important it is to connect with others doing similar things - you never know where those conversations might lead.

Overall, it felt like a really worthwhile experience. Not necessarily because of instant sales, but because of the opportunities, connections, and confidence it’s given me moving forward.

I’ve already decided I’d love to do it again next year… hopefully with fewer tissues next time!