Clay, Chaos, and Crafty Comebacks: My August Round-Up

I’ve been really looking forward to having something real to write about – and this month, it finally happened! For once, it wasn’t just me stuck behind a computer screen writing out policies and procedures. Instead, August brought me a whirlwind of highs and lows in my small business… but wow, did I learn some lessons along the way!

So many ups and downs – honestly, it feels like I’ve been jogging up mountains and then rolling right back down again.

The Highs of August

Let’s start with the good stuff. This month I made some bookings (!!), which means my bank balance is finally moving in the right direction after so many hours of work and investing in materials.

The clay modelling workshop was definitely the star of the show – without doubt my most popular session yet! That little win gave me such a boost and reminded me why I love doing this.

When Things Didn’t Go to Plan

But, as with most journeys, not everything went smoothly. Unfortunately, the month ended on a bit of a low.

Every penny I made from classes ended up being swallowed by costs. I had been planning to launch a 7-week craft club and, before advertising, I’d organised a table-top event with introductory offers, free craft trials, and even a lucky dip.

My husband kindly sourced a friend’s gazebo, I ordered stools from IKEA for the kids, and I’d already paid for leaflets and posters. Everything was set – sessions booked, signed and ready to go.

Then, just two days before the event, I received an email: “Oops, sorry! We double-booked. You can no longer use our venue.”

I was gutted. They did offer me a new evening slot and a free session to help towards costs, which I initially accepted… but then realised it clashed with my own Little Crafters after-school clubs. Nightmare!

With the venue gone, I was left with a table-top event that would have cost more to run than it could ever bring in.

Finding the Silver Lining

After a (slightly teary) pity party with a bottle of wine, I decided to cancel, return the IKEA stools, and save my craft supplies for another day.

Although it stung to cut my losses, it means I’ve kept hold of the energy (and materials!) to channel into something better later on. Sometimes you just have to call it and move forward.

Looking Ahead to Halloween and Beyond

Luckily, I don’t stay down for long. I’m already back at the drawing board – this time planning my Halloween craft parties and mapping out my social media for the months ahead.

Running a small business is a rollercoaster – but it’s easier when we share the ride. What’s been your biggest high (or low!) this month?