Meet the seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Lizz from Midsummer Lily Academy

Name: Lizz

Shop Name: Midsummer Lily Academy

Shop Link: www.midsummerlilyacademy.etsy.com

Located in: Poole

Sells: Hand dawn and self published colouring books and pages, notebooks, art, cards and pyrography wooden gifts.

Maker's Story: I've suffered at the hands of severe Mental Health, since age 11, now I'm a woman in her 30's with a life I never dreamt possible! My mission is to help others practice mindfulness and own their inner power using colouring and also affirmation cards. My work is based on all of the whimsy of childhood mixed with a true love of nature and horses...all the things that have enabled me to overcome my years of ill health. I hope to inspire and support others to do the same.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Lizz will be selling her inspiring art work, colouring books and more at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Lizz and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post

A Dark and Stormy Night, Twitter Chat and some sad news about treasuries...

Boo! Hello lovelies from a rather wet and rainy Bridport today! I was a bit MIA last week busy with orders and designing so missed posting themes for Treasury Tuesday and Twitter Chat but here I am, back in action and ready to inform.

We have some rather sad news for our team as this week's Treasury Tuesday will probably be our last since Etsy is doing away with the ability to create treasuries as of 5th October. Read all about it here, if you haven't already done so.

Even so, our Treasury Tuesday theme for today couldn't be more fitting and wouldn't it be fab to go out with a bang and create many lovely treasuries featuring our gorgeous team makes? The theme is: It was a Dark and Stormy Night so...think a chilly Halloween night, full moon blazing, bone chilling howls and sounds in the night, dark storm clouds and thunder and lightning filling the air. What are your most creep-tastic items to showcase?

Just to get you in the spirit, check out our very own Lynn Davy's and Mariangel Antonini's treasuries by clicking their names above. They featured so many lovely items!

As for our twitter chat this evening, I think this theme is one I especially could use a bit of help with- time management. I think as most of us work from home it is something that can often be tricky as there are more distractions around us. I know that I sometimes long for a studio space outside my home as it would then feel more like I am "at work" so hopefully this discussion will lead to some tips on how to better manage our time with less distractions.

So, just to recap: our treasury theme is Dark and Stormy Night and twitter chat theme is Time Management.

Next week we will be looking at a General Q & A for our twitter chat which is always a good time.

Don't forget to use the hashtag #dorsetteam when joining in and remember that our team twitter is @DorsetTeam.

Title - Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Mary Jane Lillie from MaryJaneLillie

Name: Mary Jane Lillie

Shop Name: MaryJaneLillie

Shop Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MaryJaneLillie

Located in: Wareham

Sells: Beautiful handmade gifts, artwork and felt making workshops

Maker's Story: 

I am lucky enough to live in one of the smallest counties in England, close to the Jurassic coast and right in the middle of Hardy's Wessex. With no cities or motorways, Dorset is mostly rural and is an area of outstanding beauty.

Living here inspired me to indulge my more creative side and once I made the decision to limit my work tutoring I began to really enjoy taking up new skills. I have always enjoyed experimenting with different mediums but it has only been in the last five years that I really began to enjoy textiles.

My love of felting, finds me working in the kitchen, close to the kettle and butler sink. This gives me ample opportunity to watch my growing number of garden birds preening and feeding themselves in my kitchen garden.
 

My studio is located in my 18th century cottage in a spare bedroom which happen to have a good amount of natural light but when I host felt making parties we gather in one of my favourite rooms in the house. The dining room is perfect to teach needle felting during a workshop and I particular enjoy doing so to a group who are invariably enthusiastic and keen to learn a very versatile and rewarding skill.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Mary Jane Lillie  will be selling her beautiful handmade gifts at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet       and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post

Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Sue and Jo from Made by Swimmer

Names : Sue and Jo

Shop Name: Made by Swimmer

Shop Link: http://madebyswimmer.etsy.com

Located in : Bournemouth

Sells: Toys, accessories and cushions, made by hand using recycled fabrics and materials.

Maker's Story: We are two sisters with a passion for sewing. We use recycled and vintage fabrics to make an eclectic range of products. We love to trawl through second hand shops and markets to find fabrics that inspire us. We pride ourselves on the fact that at least 90% of the materials used for each product is recycled or reused. 

Made by swimmer evolved from a women's art group we were involved with at our local school.Our work is driven by the fabrics that we find in second hand outlets and flea markets - we find something and think 'that would make a great....' or sometimes we just buy something because it's beautiful and months later, a use for it will come into our heads. It must be in the genes but we share very similar ideas and rarely disagree on the finished work.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Made by Swimmer will be selling their cushions and accessories at Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Sue and Jo and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post

Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair – Katie Rewse from Katie Rewse Illustration

Name: Katie Rewse

Shop Name: KatieRewse

Shop Link: www.etsy.com/shop/KatieRewse

Located in: Bournemouth

Sells: Prints, cards, stickers for surf- and skateboards, temporary tattoos

Maker's Story: I am an illustrator based on the South Coast creating illustrated goods such as prints, stationery and greetings cards, as well as working on apparel graphics and artwork for surfboards and skateboard decks.

Using vibrant colours, playful patterns and a variety of medium, my work stems from my love of the sea, adventure, and travel. I am making a conscious effort to make products that are eco friendly, using recycled options wherever possible as well as being environmentally friendly in my studio.

Whether it's a surfboard design, a print, or a greetings card, if you are interested in a custom order, then I would love to chat.

Take it easy :)

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Katie will be selling her colourful prints and cards at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along and meet Katie and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm. Entry is free.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post 

Meet the Seller ­ Dorset Team Christmas Fair ­ Zoe Larkins - ​Love from Hetty and Dave

Name: Zoe Larkins
Shop Name: Love from Hetty and Dave 
Shop Link: lovefromhettyanddave.etsy.com
Located in: Bournemouth
Sells​:Handcrafted leather jewellery and accessories
Maker's Story​:

Zoe Larkins is the inspired British designer and maker behind the covetable handstitched leather jewellery and accessories label, ’Love From Hetty & Dave’. 

A Silver Smithing graduate of Kent Institute of Art & Design in 2001, Zoe was soon attracted by the more tactile qualities of leather & textiles and the possibilities for original and eclectic designs. 

Inspired by South American folk art, vintage design and 1950s kitsch, by 2004 Zoe had begun making her own range of handstitched nappa leather handbags, purses, brooches, and necklaces, successfully selling on London’s Portobello and Spitalfields markets and quickly establishing a cult following.

Zoe's highly original best selling items include up-cycled classic 1960s handbags customised with hand sewn decorative leather designs, including British birds and animals, for a contemporary edge; kooky cashmere slug characters; adorable country house tweed terrier and sausage dogs, and limited edition necklaces comprising luscious scarlet leather strawberries.

Love From Hetty & Dave designs have been picked up by customers all over the world, including celebrities, Amy Winehouse, Deborah ‘Dragon’ Meaden, and Jodie Harsh. 

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: ​

Zoe will be selling handcrafted leather jewellery and accessories at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne at the​ ​Dorset Team Christmas Fair​ on Saturday 3rd December.

Please come along, meet Zoe and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our​ Facebook event page​ or​ ​blog post 

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Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Sam from DorsetHillJewellery

Name: Sam

Shop Name: DorsetHillJewellery

Shop Link: https://DorsetHillJewellery.etsy.com

Located in: Broadstone

Sells: Jewellery

Maker's Story: My Etsy shop has marked the actualisation of a lifetime's ambition to do 'something creative' and get money for it! A gap of 20 years between doing Art at college and filled with 'proper job' and having children (wouldn't change them for the world!). 

I still can't believe I'm actually doing it! 

My inspirations are everywhere, beautiful Dorset! Coastline, geology, leaves, pebbles, driftwood, lots of texture, the chalky light here that I see as a non native.

If only there was more time before the school run..

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Sam will be selling jewellery at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Sam and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post

Meet the seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Kate Wakley Textiles

Name: Kate Wakley

Shop Name: Kate Wakley Textiles

Shop Link: http://katewakleytextiles.etsy.com

Located in: New Milton

Sells: Coastal inspired art, design and homewares

Maker's Story: Kate Wakley, has the beach in her blood! Her inspiration for her unique fabrics and artwork comes from childhood memories of beach holidays throughout Dorset, Hampshire and Cornwall, the wonderment at the treasures her Dad would bring home from diving shipwrecks and the joy of beach combing. 

Kate made the coastline her permanent home two years ago and takes inspiration from the wonderful, diverse coastlines and beaches we are fortunate to have on our doorstep.

Kate studied for a BA in Design Crafts from De Montfort, before specialising and graduating from Bournemouth University with a BA in Applied Arts and Textiles. Kate has a vast breadth of knowledge and experience when it comes to creating designs that we can all feel a connection with. She has a particular interest in free machinery embroidery with print, which translates exuberantly into her fabulous homeware items.

Living by the sea enables Kate to forge a natural, sensory link to the offerings our seas and beaches provide us with. From printed linen cushion covers, to unique artwork, to ceramic mugs and stationary, her wonderful home and giftware goods offer us something we can all feel inextricably linked to. 

Kate is a regular exhibitor throughout the UK and her work has been featured in Ideal Home magazine. She is also available for commissions, so please check out her incredible, captivating coastal delights as soon as you can!

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Kate will be selling her homewares at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Kate and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post

Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Melissa from JamDesignStudioCraft

Name: Melissa

Shop Name: JamDesignStudioCraft

Shop Link: https://JamDesignStudioCraft.etsy.com

Located in: Poole

Sells: Papercut crafts

Maker's Story: In my 'day job' I'm a graphic designer working in the print industry. After seeing some fabulous paper cutting artists online I was inspired to use my scalpel in a more creative fashion. This quickly turned into an all consuming obsession. I get so much enjoyment out of cutting and creating pieces of art from one single sheet of paper but my skills as a graphic designer also mean that I get an opportunity to create my own designs. I undertake commissions but also produce templates for other paper cutters who are not able to create their own designs. As much as I enjoy cutting my own designs I also thoroughly love to cut other designers templates as well - and why not? - there are some awesome designers out there. 

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Melissa will be selling papercrafts at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Melissa and our other makers and sellers.

Doors open at 10am and close at 4pm and it is free entry.

For more information please see our Facebook event page or blog post