Summer Artisan Fayre - Sunday 19 July 2026 in Upwell
- siloutaggart
- Apr 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 21
ANOTHER BRILLIANT SUCCESS ...
... and another £750.00 raised for Norfolk & Waveney Mind!
Our Summer Artisan Fayre - the eighth Artisan Fayre we've held - was another great success! Simon & I would like to thank the fabulous artisans, visitors, friends & family who once again helped to make it all happen by spreading the word in a variety of ways or helping out on the day.
Our Summer Artisan Fayre fundraiser didn't disappoint and, similarly to the recent Spring Artisan Fayre, we were able to raise a further £750 for Norfolk & Waveney Mind - a charity close to our hearts.
In total, the eight Artisan Fayre events we've held so far have generated a fantastic £6450.00 for this worthy charity.
We are so pleased with the ongoing encouragement and positive comments received from artisans and visitors, and the overwhelming local support for what we're trying to achieve with our Artisan Fayre events (thank you also to our local Community Magazine for printing a 3/4-page article about our fundraiser even). We're delighted to have raised a further £750.00 for our chosen charity - Norfolk & Waveney Mind!
All the event profits are heading their way to the charity. We raise funds from the raffle ticket sales, tearoom profits and stallholder fees.
And check out the fabulous raffle prizes that were all made by our resident artists!
Another MASSIVE thank you to our lovely friend and bubbly front of house, DEE, who welcomed everyone with her familiar warm smile and cheer.
Dee also stayed behind at the end to help us clear tables and clean - we can't thank her enough!
Thank you also to our students, friends and those artists who helped to spread the word about the event - whether on social media or by distributing our fliers and posters (special thanks to our friend Michele who put out lots of posters for us in the Ely area).
We’d also like to once again thank Zakiya from Fanoggins Bakery for all her hard work baking and creating the tasty treats that were on offer on the day – and her partner, James, for helping to clear up at the end. It's always exhausting but in the most positive way. So we're really grateful to those who remained behind to help clear up and clean.
Huge hugs and BIG thanks also to those artisans (you know who you are :-)) and our loyal followers, customers, students and friends who helped to share the event on their social media platforms, distribute posters and fliers, and assist in making our high-quality artisan fundraiser event the success it has become.
A number of artists demonstrated on the day (thank you to those who did) and although I didn't get much of a chance to video the demonstrations that were taking place at stands, our friend Michele did get some shots of Simon's woodturning demo while I was manning our Blended Monkey stand.
It was really lovely to see how busy the workshops were throughout the day with:
Aimee from Nacho & Tiki's Studio offering metal embossing workshops
Fen Mill Crafts providing Powertex slate heart workshops and
Tic Challis holding pyrography mushroom workshops
We are really heart-warmed by the generosity and support shown by artists and visitors alike in buying raffle tickets to win the amazing, high-end prizes created and donated by each of our artisans (thank you!), as well as the purchases from our pop-up Fanoggins Bakery who spent many days before the event prepping & baking their tasty treats!
You can order their delicious cookies online or hire them for catering too! See their website HERE.
Our Fabulous Artisans!
Join us for our next Artisan Fayre:
AUTUMN ARTISAN FAYRE - Sunday 25 October
WORKSHOPS & ATTRACTIONS
you saw at our
SUMMER ARTISAN FAYRE
A lot of our artists demonstrated their crafts throughout the day, but we also had some scheduled workshops that could be pre-booked, including:
METAL-EMBOSSING: HANGING DECORATIONS & GREETINGS CARDS
with Aimee from Nacho & Tiki's Studio
Add a touch of sparkle to your day at the Summer Artisan Fayre with this hands‑on metal‑embossing workshop.
Whether you’re drawn to bold patterns, delicate botanicals, or looking to create something personal for you or a friend, you’ll learn how to turn embossed metal sheet into charming hanging decorations and/or greetings cards.
Each participant will receive an A6 metal sheet in a colour of their choice — gold, silver, or copper. You can create as many decorative elements as you wish from your sheet, and there will be materials available to make hanging decorations and up to two greetings cards each. using your embossed designs.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and experienced crafters alike.
You’ll be guided step‑by‑step through the embossing process, from choosing your design to adding those satisfying raised details and textures.
It’s a relaxing, creative session open to all abilities and from age 8+, with children accompanied by a paying adult.
POWERTEX SLATE HEART PLAQUE
with Sue & Lynda from Fen Mill Crafts
This project does not require any previous experience with Powertex and is a great way to explore the creativity that Powertex offers.
All materials are provided and at the end of the session you will be able to take way your completed heart (choose from a variety of designs).
They are 15cm in height and after a 3-week curing period can be hung outdoors.
We create alongside you so you can see the steps needed to create the project using Powertex, Stone Art, and pigments. This project uses minimal fabric and provides a focus on dry brushing to highlight all the textures.
Enjoy this creative workshop that is available to all abilities and from age 6+, with children accompanied by a paying adult.
PYROGRAPHED MUSHROOM
with Tic Challis
No previous pyrography experience required. Tic will provide the mushroom blanks made from sustainable safe woods and all differing slightly in size and shape.
Enjoy learning the art of pyrography, using marks made from a variety of nibs. You'll understand the differences between working on the end and side grains of the wood, and Tic will provide pieces of wood for you to practice on before you decorate your mushroom. You'll finish your piece with a safe oil.
All materials are provided and at the end of the session you will be able to take way your unique decorated mushroom.
Enjoy this creative workshop that is available to all abilities from age 14+, with children accompanied by a paying adult.
WOODTURNING DEMONSTRATIONS
with Simon from Blended Monkey
Throughout the day, Simon provided woodturning demonstrations on the electric lathe. Simon teaches woodturning (beginners, intermediate and a 2-day comprehensive course), green woodworking (using a pole lathe, axe block and shave horse), spoon carving, and sharpening.
More information about woodturning workshops: https://www.blendedmonkey.co.uk/category/workshops-and-tuition
ATTENDING ARTISTS & DEMONSTRATORS
MORE ARTISAN FAYRES
AUTUMN ARTISAN FAYRE - Sunday 25 October 2026
2027 ARTISAN FAYRES & BLENDED MONKEY EVENTS
SPRING ARTISAN FAYRE - Sunday 21 March 2027
CRAFTS VILLAGE with ELY ARTS FESTIVAL - Saturday 12 June 2027
SUMMER ARTISAN FAYRE - Sunday 4 July 2027
AUTUMN ARTISAN FAYRE - Sunday 24 October 2027
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