April 2026 news
I have to admit that last year was pretty brutal in terms of trying to find the right place to sell my card and art ! I think I must have tried virtually every different organiser and different venues – I even tried some large events like Tennants at Christmas but to no avail.
I think I have realised that somehow I don’t seem to get noticed at large events and also at events where there is a lot of lovely food – it seems people generally like to buy the food ( I don’t blame them – there is some fabulous producers for sure )
With peoples purses having to tighten ever more – I guess art and crafts are being seen as an extra luxury
I was planning and had booked some new markets this year – but now with the additional cost of fuel – I have had to make some tough decisions to withdraw – even form Middleton Indie market – which is a great market but too far to drive now for me – the same is true for Hawes .
In addition – I have been very reliant on my wonderful parents who come to help me set up markets – but with Dad turning 80 this year and all of us being totally exhausted by Christmas time - I simply cannot repeat the same pattern again this year !
All is not lost though ! I had the most brilliant days trading ever at the recent Rainbow Hippy market celebrating the Spring solstice – at The Witham Hall in Barnard Castle – organised by the brilliant Gather North Events and there are 3 more of them this year to look forward to . I will also be popping up back in Richmond just on the ordinary Saturday market again – it is still the most cost effective and with nowhere to drive to its perfect !
Richmond Town Council are also launching an Arts Festival in the town hall on 26th July which should be fab plus I am attending an Arts Fair at Ushaw Hall on 5th July
Hopefully Reeth Arts festival will go ahead and of course there is the wonderful Muker Show in September – so plenty to be working towards !
Workshops
I had begun another plan last year and that was to expand into workshops – it was not quite the right time and place last year but I am really excited to announce a great new development for Art and Rhyme with 2 venues available for workshops ( and selling my art and cards too !)
The first to tell you about is in Richmond – an exciting new gift shop is opening – in the space that is currently the Mamma Mia gift shop ( next to Thomas the baker ) – Lucinda is taking over at the end of May and creating a new shop called All Things Bright ! The shop will be selling crafts and gifts created only in Yorkshire and the North East and be hosting workshops in the upstairs space
I am so pleased and so excited to say I will be working with Lucinda – my art and cards will be in the shop but also I will be running workshops there too ! Lucinda came to the first trial of my collage card making ad poetry workshop a few weeks ago – it was a great success and enjoyed by everyone – so there are some dates in the diary already that you can book by going to her website www.allthingsbrightrichmond.co.uk
The aim of the workshops will be to combine my love of poetry and of collage artwork – the best thing about the magic of collage is that beautiful images can be created without requiring any “artistic skill” as such . Plus I am always amazed how people who don’t think they can write – find with a bit of encouragement that they can !
I am also going to be working with CRACCL and setting up workshops in the study space at Catterick Library – dates and details to follow !
I was so desperate to keep the costs per person as low as possible – I would hate money to be a barrier to a shared creative experience
