The blooming of Birmingham’s beautiful cherry blossom (also known as sakura) brings out the amateur photographer in us all—whether you’re an avid Instagrammer or not. Sweeping the city, one of the most popular spots is outside the Ikon Gallery, with the red brick of Oozells Square the perfect backdrop for these pastel pink trees.
Yet despite this being an annual event for many years now, Brindleyplace is only now throwing the very first cherry blossom celebration this weekend (Sunday, March 29). Join in on a wonderful afternoon that’s full of craft market stalls, pop-up street food, a National Trust trail for kids (with blossom windsock making), and more.
The first ever Cherry Blossom Makers Market in Oozells Square has a nature-inspired theme—with everything from handmade lino-prints to bespoke embroidered shoes and carefully crafted flower bouquets. Plus, an indoor Japanese market is happening at 10 Brindleyplace, for authentic Japanese kimonos, illustrations, sake and more
You can also enjoy live music in the Square from the Cat Davis Trio, art activities at Ikon (which also has a new exhibition) and a blossom trail and blossom windsock making activities with the National Trust. The Cherry Blossom Makers Market will run from 12pm to 4pm.
Cherry Blossom Makers Market stallholders:
All My Blunders – Luna is an illustrator who loves to use traditional materials to create beautiful art prints, stickers, badges, cards and more. Her work paints nature in a colourful and ‘daft’, as she puts it, way – and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Beth AJI Design – Beth is a Birmingham-based maker who’s designing by day, carving lino by night! From fun stickers to pride yourself as a ‘Proud Plant Parent’, to hand-printed botanical garlands; you’ll have a hard time walking away from her stall.
Gaea Nayo Ceramics – Gaea is a Birmingham-based potter, who creates handcrafted ceramics made in small batches with multicoloured gloss glazes and textured stoneware. Her stall features gorgeous bud-vases, watering cans, planters and others – which would all look perfect in your home.
Hannah Bruton & Tailored Terrariums – Hannah & Sophie are a creative power-couple, trading side-by-side! Hannah is a talented mixed media illustrator who explores themes of outdoors, exploring and adventures in her work. Sophie’s passion is building terrariums and she offers kits so you can build your very own self-contained eco-system!
Moiemakes – Jo loves to paint with wool! Using needle-felting as her technique, she creates beautiful pieces of artwork with lots of patience and merino wool. She loves to use nature landscapes and flowers as her inspiration, and the outcome is always beautiful.
Lottie Mattison – Lottie is a recent Illustration graduate, who loves to combine surreal narratives, like fairytales, into the real world around her. She creates beautifully detailed prints, which without a doubt, will immerse you into a brand-new world!
My Minimal Co – Maria is a Birmingham-based candle-maker and is all about wonderful scents and helping the environment. With each market sale she makes, she donates enough to plant a new tree with One Tree Planted ~ which means you’re not only helping your home smell nice but helping the world too!
Odd Dot Designs – On Sofia’s stall, you’ll find hand-crafted jewellery that is unique and colourful, with each piece reflecting a deep connection to her home country of Chile. The bright designs represent her culture: the sun, the vibrant clothing, and the lively dancing ~ something I’m sure we all are longing for at the moment!
Panny Paint Pot – Pan, behind Panny Paint Pot, is a teacher, Illustrator and printmaker, specialising in handmade lino-prints & gouache painting. Her work features a whimsical, cosy style, and each thing is unique, made to last and designed to bring joy!
Paper Ink Alchemy – On Lottie’s stall, expect to find beautiful, botanical art in multiple forms like baubles, prints and bespoke embroidered shoes. Her work is perfect for lovers of florals, folklore & everyday magic ~ and you’ll definitely be wanting to book her for your next big event!
Pipes & Petals – Sarah specialises in handmade flowers bouquets crafted with care, offering everlasting beauty with the use of pipe-cleaners! Unique, sustainable, and made to brighten any space, their flowers would put a smile on anyone’s face this Spring.
Sam Liteav Paintings – Sam is a Birmingham-based painter, inspired by nature, buildings and all that surrounds him. He sells affordable prints of his beautiful original pieces, and you’ll find it hard not to pick up a few once you see them in person!
The Bug Club – Ellie is a mixed-media illustrator who loves to find joy in the ‘little things’. She creates and sells art prints based around the UK National Parks, lino-cut prints, greetings cards, stickers, notebooks and more, all designed to encourage you to learn, go outside, experiment, play and exist boldly!
The Catkin Boutique – Nicky is a self-professed lover of cute things, and creates gorgeous, nature-inspired gifts. Her stall includes products like prints, greeting cards, badges and wooden earrings; so you can pick your favourite woodland creature or wildlife, and proudly display them on your ears!
The Moushmi Edit – Moushmi is an artist and maker who loves to combine texture, emotions and flowers to create beautiful works of art. Using unique materials, she creates highly textured original artwork, which she then cleverly translates into high-quality prints, for you to fall in love with.
Vanessa Mountain Art – Vanessa is a designer based in Birmingham. Her work regularly bridges cultural heritage and narrative storytelling, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and shared human experiences. You’ll also find inspiration from her various hobbies; Japanese sword-fighting (iaido), photography, and learning languages (Tagalog, Visayan, French and Japanese).