Haddon Hall’s renowned artisan market is returning for the Mercatum: Winter Artisan Market between 13th – 17th November 2019, with an exclusive VIP evening on Tuesday 12th November 2019. At this exclusive VIP evening, you’ll be embraced by the incomparable atmosphere of a 900-year-old manor house at dusk as you explore the wonderful creations of over 110 artisans.
Develop a sense of what’s to come by finding out a little more about some of our featured artisans and their work.
China Petals
Artisan: Diane
Craft: Mosaic and Ceramics
Contact: chinapetalsmosaic@gmail.com
Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram
What produce will you be selling at the Winter Artisan Market?
I will be mainly selling beautiful china mosaic Christmas decorations ideal to hang on the tree. Each decoration has been carefully made by hand, by me, from recycled china. They are lovely, unusual and special.
What sparked your passion for creating?
It all happened a few years ago when my husband set me a challenge to do something with a box of broken fine china or get rid of it. I couldn’t throw it away, it was far too pretty, so I taught myself how to mosaic and I haven’t looked back since.
What are you particularly looking forward to about exhibiting at Haddon Hall?
Haddon Hall is such a beautiful place, perfect for Christmas. I’m particularly looking forward to the atmosphere, the pretty lights, roaring fires and meeting lots of lovely people.
Grain Artisan
Artisan: Becky Morgan
Craft: Small Batch Distillery
Contact: becky@grainartisan.com
Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram
What produce will you be selling at the Winter Artisan Market?
I will be selling my range of artisan gins including:
Signature London Dry – smooth citrus, juniper led with a sweet liquorice finish
Derbyshire Blue – Blueberries, Blackberries, Mint and Butterfly Pea Flower. The freshness of mint and the heady, jammy fruit of blueberry and blackberry. Infused with butterfly pea flowers giving the gin its deep violet colour. This is also a colour-changing gin.
Matlock Marmalade – Distilled with oranges and marmalade, this is a really smooth and aromatic orange gin. Named Matlock Marmalade as a homage to where the Grain Artisan distillery was built before moving to Barlow.
English Orchard – Packed full of quintessential British fruits; raspberries, blackberries, crab apple and quince. This is a lovely fruity pink gin with a lovely floral aroma coming from the quince. The fruits for this gin have been purchased from local producers and have been foraged by myself.
Peak Heritage – Foragers Blend Gin. As a distiller, this was a recipe I helped develop with our sister company Cuckoostone Ltd. The gin contains four ingredients that I have foraged in the Peak District and on the farm where the distillery is located. These ingredients are Red Clover, Douglas Fir Pine, Gorse Flower, Bilberries. This is a premium gin. I will be selling on a handful of these during the two days.
What sparked your passion for creating?
I became interested in making gin after watching a segment on Countryfile about a family who liked walking in the Peaks and foraging and they had a tiny still in their conservatory and were making gin. This is the very successful Forest Gin. It started from there. We wanted to create a small batch artisan gin using ingredients sourced locally. The artwork on the bottle was hand-drawn by a local Derbyshire artist. One of the main elements is the gins are naturally flavoured and coloured by different fruits and botanicals.
What are you particularly looking forward to about exhibiting at Haddon Hall?
I’m really looking forward to being able to have a stall actually inside one of Derbyshire’s most beautiful halls. As an artisan producer, my gins are promoted as being artisan products from Derbyshire. I couldn’t think of a better place highlight that.
It will be my first time visiting so I am really excited!
Delicut
Artisan: Alison Evans
Craft: Paper-cutwork (scherenshnitte) Artist
Contact: ali.delicut@gmail.com
Links: Website / Facebook / Shop
What produce will you be selling at the Winter Artisan Market?
I will be selling my unique paper cut art, framed pieces, mounted pieces and cards, laser-cut from my original hand-cut designs and put together using Liberty fabrics and vintage fabrics as backgrounds.
I will be presenting my ‘Fancy Plants’ handmade by me using upcycled vintage fabrics and liberty fabrics, each plant is easy-care ‘low maintenance’ a perfect gift for houseplant lovers who are not so keen on watering!
Handmade bags using beautiful vintage fabrics, french tapestries designed and constructed using velvets and contrasting fabrics.
What sparked your passion for creating?
I have always loved creating, as a child my favourite gift was an old singer sewing machine! I would create clothes for my Sindy dolls using leftover scraps of fabric. This love of creating and design continued throughout my life through various creative careers. In the 1980’s I set up ‘ Clothes by Alison Evans’ designing clothes and making them to-order for my clients.
After having my family I joined my husband and together we ran a successful Garden design company, for 25years!
Delicut.co.uk came about after a holiday to Switzerland where I discovered ‘Scherenschnitte’ the art of paper cutting, beautiful intricate rural paper landscapes cut out silhouetted against contrasting backgrounds, I decided to have a go and created my first paper cut to celebrate our 30th wedding Anniversary.
What are you particularly looking forward to about exhibiting at Haddon Hall?
Mercatum Artisan Market at Haddon Hall will be an amazing opportunity to display my work in such a beautiful historic building. The setting will enhance the experience for the visitors and exhibitors alike.
Entry to the artisan market is included in admission to the Hall and gardens or costs £5.50 for those just wishing to attend the event, with children under 16 entering for free.
Visit for a unique shopping experience, a delight for the senses and the perfect summer day out for the entire family, featuring exquisite artisan creations, gourmet delicacies and creative demonstrations and activities. Learn more on our Special Events page, or register your interest on the official Facebook Event.
Haddon Blog