Pumpkins and Presents | Peak District Artisan Market

Pumpkins and Presents is an Autumnal two-day Artisan Market.

It’s a proper feel-good gathering of independent makers and sellers who share values of sustainability. With this in mind, it’s encouraged to car share to respect the environment and the local residents.

You’re invited to bring along your carved pumpkins to display at the event. Everyone who does gets a prize! The more creative, the better. A perfect activity for the kids.

They’re also raising funds for Dogs Trust with a dedicated stall, and it is a dog-friendly event, so please bring along your canine companions!

If you weren’t already persuaded, here’s a brief introduction to the sellers:

If you find yourself getting a bit hungry, you’re in luck. This year Marmadukes Cafe is popping up from Sheffield for the weekend. It’s a foodie favourite who pride themselves on great coffee and delicious food.

Connecting people to nature. Fruits of the Forage create award-winning preserves, cordials & spirits curated from traditional fruits and abundant wild plants, capturing a sustainable taste of the British landscape. Since 2017 they’ve donated or planted over 800 fruit trees in schools, farms and communities. They have also conserved traditional orchards and hedgerows so that future generations may enjoy the simple pleasures of fruit picking. Their enthusiasm has set them on a course of experimenting with wild ingredients, researching ancient and modern recipes and honing their cooking methods to perfection.

“We hope our love for baking and our revisiting of this ancient tradition finds a space on your table and a place in your heart as it does for us!”

Wye Bake House focus on baking honest bread and pastries of the finest quality, unique in style, taste and process. Their baking is informed by traditions from all parts of the world, focusing on British, French, and Italian baking.

Angie is an Artisan florist in the Peak District who specialises in dried foraged and garden flora that she then casts onto hand-forged rings, bouquets or botanical cloches. All hand-picked and hand dried. Jack Daw Finds will be in the oak lambing barn this year.

“Home is about to get a whole lot cosier.”

Lou has been sourcing and selling ‘lovely things’ since 2003. Her inspiration comes from the cosy aesthetics of the Alpine Chalets and Modern Rustic living, home comforts that are often inspired by nature and the great outdoors. Scandinavian and Alpine inspired homewares, table linens, and lovely things drawn from natural colours and textures will make an appearance at Pumpkins and Presents.

Dog & Dome are a Mother (Catriona) and Daughter (Flora) team creating high quality British made gifts featuring Catriona's artwork, translated with Flora's design skills onto products. With an earthy palette and folk art feel, products include a range of stationery, homeware and kitchenware.’

“We look for good materials and well-made objects that have substance, style and stories to tell – we opt for quality and authenticity over fads, fashion and trends.”

Homeward Interiors is an independent home store selling a hand-picked collection of goods. Homeward interiors have curated a beautiful homeware collection alongside their made to order footstools, tables, benches, and chairs. They put independent creatives and artisan makers first when sourcing materials of hand-printed cloth or screen printed designs.

Based in Matlock as the ‘Go to’ for unique products to suit all tastes and budgets. Ag Gallery was established in 2001 by Kerry Philp to showcase the work of over 50 design-led independent jewellery and accessory makers. They hold an exciting collection of handmade, contemporary jewellery and accessories.  

Phil Sproson is a photographer helping promote the Peak District through his photography. In his coffee table book, “The Peak District”, he shows the Peaks go through a seasonal journey in 100 photographs - which took eight years in the making. His work is available on calendars, cards and Jigsaws too!

Sue is a local of the Peak District and advocates the countryside. She’s a photographer with an eye for beautiful landscapes depicting colours of nature, the seasons and mood. She has a delightful array of beautiful cards with winter scenes, ideal for spreading Christmas greetings to family or friends.

Beautiful woodland oak crafts - Churnet Woodland Crafts are known for sparking children’s imagination through storytelling thrones, woodland glockenspiels, and friendly wooden spiders for RSPB Coombes Valley. They also make beautiful cleft wood gates, fencing, garden shelters and a range of smaller wooden items such as benches, hooks, spoons, towel ladders and coat racks. He sources his wood locally, often felling it himself from woods within a few miles of his home.

Rachels workshop is in the heart of the Churnet Valley in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Taking inspiration from historic baskets, She crafts traditional British baskets and creative, contemporary pieces. Handcrafted articles for indoors and outdoors: made to last, using her homegrown willow and different varieties to add colour and interest to her work.

Unusual plants and a wide variety of garden metalwork, Dawsons Yard’s will also be joining with their beautiful wares from Sheffield. Their handmade garden metalwork and plant support are designed to be practical and attractive.

Trudi is the artist behind She Shed Ceramics. Using techniques formed from being a cake decorator, she has a fantastic eye for detail and forges these into her designs, which start their humble beginnings from the bottom of her garden. Inspired from living on the edge of the Staffordshire forests, her clay creations are mainly nature orientated. As her house began to fill up with her pieces and her style started to evolve, she started selling at Christmas markets and hasn’t looked back since. Her works make fantastic gifts for family and friends.

Enjoying the relaxed rhythm and the quietness of the momentum flywheel, Josie makes once-fired domestic earthenware. She gained valuable experience working at the Poterie du Don in the Auvergne, France, as an apprentice for 6 months in 1980.
She then returned to the workshop in Matlock to continue making pottery.
Later, Josie returned to education. In 1996 she went to study for an MA in History of Ceramics at Staffordshire University. Giving her opportunities in writing about history and curating exhibitions of historical pots, such as Brampton kitchenware.
Her pieces will be at Pumpkins and Presents, which are ideal for cooking with and serving delicious food.

With less than 100 days until Christmas, it’s the perfect event to get some shopping done early and supporting small independent businesses.

Click the button to view the event updates on Instagram and look out for our Social media post on Pumpkins and Presents 2023