Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026!

2025: A Year I Never Could Have Predicted

What a crazy, unexpected year 2025 has been. I couldn’t have predicted a single thing that happened, it’s been wild in every sense of the word.

Looking back over the past 12 months, I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved, especially given how tough this year has been for small businesses, and particularly for handmade jewellery businesses.

The Reality of Running a Handmade Jewellery Business in 2025

With the cost of living rising across the board, jewellers have had to navigate material prices that have doubled since January. Pricing handmade jewellery is already a careful balancing act — covering costs, earning a living, and allowing for reinvestment in tools and training, all while keeping work accessible. This year, that balance has been more challenging than ever.

Add to that the ongoing impact of throwaway fashion — I won’t name any names, as we all know which companies I’m referring to — and it’s been a tough climate to operate in.

By the Numbers: What This Year Looked Like

To put 2025 into perspective, I attended twice as many markets as I did in 2024 to earn a very similar income. Over the year, I travelled more than 2,250 miles, attended 14 markets, and spent 28 days trading. It’s been intense, and eye-opening.

Because of this, 2026 will be a year of adaptation and restructuring — ensuring I can continue running my business sustainably while sharing my jewellery with the world. Before I dive into my plans for next year, I want to reflect on five achievements I’m especially proud of.

Five Things I’m Super Proud Of

- At the beginning of the year, I was accepted into Goldsmiths North — a highly prestigious jewellery show. Although I didn’t attend, being accepted was a huge honour, and I hope to exhibit there in the future.

- I was also accepted into Handmade Oxford, which I did attend — and absolutely loved. I met so many incredible makers, caught up with friends, and had a truly wonderful experience.

- This year, I’ve juggled parenthood, a day job, and my business — something I’m immensely proud of. There have been early starts after sleepless nights and incredibly busy periods, particularly around Christmas, when both of my jewellery making roles ramp up at once.

- One of my biggest personal milestones was getting my own workshop separate from our house. It may be small, but having a dedicated space to make has been transformative.

- Finally, although it hasn’t happened just yet, I’m proud to say I’m officially launching jewellery workshops. My first one is in the new year, and it’s a goal I’ve been working towards for years.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As always, my priority next year is building a business that works around my family. We’re starting 2026 on a high with a much-needed family holiday to Paris — our first trip abroad as a family of three, which I’m incredibly excited about.

For the business, I have five clear goals:

• Run more jewellery workshops throughout the year

• Build my online presence by fine-tuning my website and Not On The High Street store

• Create new designs, ideally launching a fresh collection for summer shows

• Attend fewer, more selective markets to reduce overheads and spend more time with our Little Lad

• Insulate the workshop before next winter (thankfully, Winter 2025 has been kind so far)

One Last Goal Before the Year Ends

I also have one final goal to complete before the end of 2025: decorating and setting up our home office. We moved into our house in July 2024 and are slowly working our way through it. This festive season, you’ll find me scraping wallpaper, painting, and transforming our spare room into a combined office and guest room — complete with a dedicated dispatch area, which I can’t wait to have finished.

A Heartfelt Thank You

As I close the chapter on 2025, I’m feeling incredibly grateful — for every customer who chose handmade, every conversation at a market stall, and every message of support and encouragement. Running a small handmade jewellery business is never easy, but it is deeply rewarding, and this year has been a powerful reminder of why I started.

2026 will be a year of intention, creativity, and balance — adapting to the changing landscape while staying true to my values as a person and small business. I’m excited to hopefully share new designs, welcome you into workshops, and continue building a business that works for my family while creating jewellery with care and purpose.

Thank you for being part of this journey — whether you’ve followed along quietly, visited me at a market, joined my mailing list, or wear one of my pieces. Your support truly means the world. Here’s to a slower, more sustainable, and creatively fulfilling year ahead. ✨

If you’d like to follow along in 2026, be the first to hear about new collections, workshops, and behind-the-scenes studio life by joining my mailing list. I share occasional updates (no spam — promise!), and it’s the best way to stay connected as the new year unfolds.