Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Endless Summer Silver

On December 1st and 2nd the Dorset Team will be running a big Christmas Fair at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne which will be full of local makers and sellers who are part of the Dorset Team and sell their wares on Etsy.com. The fair is on for 2 days and set over two rooms of the Allendale Centre. 

In the lead up to the event we will be sharing some of the makers and sellers who will be stallholders at the event. 

Today's featured stallholder is Sue from Endless Summer Silver  who is a jewellery maker based in Christchurch who sells handmade styling and eco silver jewellery sets with vintage surfite.

Sue works from her small workshop at home which is not far from the sea in Christchurch. 

She is currently working on a range which uses vintage Australian surfite. Surfite is the excess resin that layers up on a surfboard shapers workshop floor. When the colours come together on the floor, they make amazing combinations of patterns and colours and Sue uses this surfite in her jewellery.

She says " I love the fact that the surfite I use is vintage and that I am recycling something that would have otherwise gone to waste; as of 2018 all the silver that I purchase to make my jewellery is Eco silver and will come with a certificate of authenticity. Recycle ~ Reuse ~ Reduce"

Sue spends a lot of time at the beach and says when she is not at home creating pieces of jewellery she can be found walking on the beach with her workshop buddy, Buster, her 10 year old working cocker spaniel.

3 things you should know about Sue....

1. She grew up in Dorset by the sea and has eaten her fair share of sand sandwiches!

2. She says she is am happiest when at the beach and has recently taken up paddleboard yoga. 

3. She has been lucky enough to visit many countries but her favourite place in the world is Hengistbury Head, Dorset.

Please do put Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of December in your diary for the Dorset Team Christmas Fair. Sue will be selling on Sunday only so if you want to come and see her, you will need to come on the Sunday (or why not come on both Saturday and Sunday!). There will be 60 stalls each day with some stallholders selling one day only like Sue and others selling for both the Saturday and Sunday.

The Allendale in Wimborne is super easy to get to and there are council run car parks surrounding the venue which make parking super easy.

For more information about the event please see our Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1994393970585608/

Stocking filler gift guide - Dorset Team Christmas Fair 2017

Our Dorset Team Christmas Fair is fast approaching. This year it is going to be an extra exciting event as we have not one but TWO days of shopping! Each day there will be around 60 stalls of handmade items, craft supplies and vintage goods. Here is a small taster of items by makers who will be selling at the event, all the gifts featured are £10 and under so make really great stocking fillers gifts. 

The fair takes place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December 2017 in Allendale Centre in Wimborne. Please put the date in your diary, it is going to be a really fantastic day out and a great way to pick up some really unique Christmas gifts whilst supporting local independent makers and sellers. 

Bird button brooch made from a mixture of modern and vintage buttons by Frankie and the Buttons - £10.00

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FrankieAndTheButtons

Everyone loves a Christmas craft project! This Rudolph felting kit comes with everything you need to make your favourite reindeer friend by Hawthorn Handmade - £9.95

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HawthornHandmade

This stunning vintage berry spoon would make a really unique stocking filler and perfect for serving those Christmas sprouts! - Nemeton - £10.00

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nemeton

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a Christmas robin! This lovely handmade keyring was made from Terri's original illustration - Terri Peay - £4.50

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TERRIPEAY

This UK coastal wildlife colouring book is perfect for keeping the kids (or you!) entertained. The book features 20 different animals who live along the coasts of the United Kingdom - Sarah Lovell Creations - £4.95

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SarahLovellCreations

Beautiful mini light box by Satis House Five - £9.58 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SatisHouseFive

This embroidered facecloth is a fun and practical stocking filler by Coralies Crafts Gifts - £4.00

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CoraliesCraftsGifts

For more information about the event, please see our blog page: http://dorsetteam.blogspot.co.uk/p/etsy-made-local-dorset-team-christmas.html or visit the Facebook event page where you can see more sneak previews: https://www.facebook.com/events/380837568923443

Meet the seller - Dorset Team Fair - Nathalie Moore Design

Name: Nathalie Moore 

Shop Name: Nathalie Moore Design

Shop Link: www.NathalieMooreDesign.etsy.com

Located in: Bournemouth

Sells: Cute, quirky and colourful prints and products - largely cat related

Maker's Story:

I am a freelance illustrator and designer currently working in Dorset and London.

I seek my inspiration from colours, patterns, nature and CATS, which by the way I have a huge passion for. I also like thrifting through old design books found in second hand shops. You never know where inspiration will strike.  I Love painting and making things, combining both digital and traditional techniques.

Like many designers, I studied BA (Hons) Illustration at The Arts University Bournemouth. I experimented with colour pencil, pencil, painting and print-making, which have become the fundamental techniques I use to create my products. I believe that you can never never never stop learning and there is always something new to try. 

Since graduating in 2013, I have worked really hard to create a great brand for myself that I hope other people can love and enjoy. My vision is to create these beautiful products that people will love and cherish and to put a smile on people's faces.

I am always looking to try new things, make new things and collaborate with other artists and designers as well as making special and bespoke products.

I believe adding a little bit colour to your life is important and colour is always abundant within my work.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair:  Nathalie will be selling her colourful cat themed products at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Nathalie and our other 60+ 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 - Karey Kit Katz

Name: Karey

Shop Name: Karey kit katz

Shop Link: www.kareykitkatz.etsy.com

Located in: Poole

Sells: Knit felted hand bags, brooches and needle felted animals.

Maker's Story: Some people are mad about shoes but for me it's always been bags, ever since I was give one for my 10th birthday, having said that though I love my bags to be unique, something different than anyone else. You wouldn't catch me paying tons of money just for a certain name and have the disappointment of seeing someone else has the same one as me. So I decided to make my own, I love knitting and felting so decided to combine the two hobbies. As more people saw one's I'd made for myself requests for me to make one started happening, then word of mouth got round and I eventually found myself living under a mountain of wool. So I decided to open this shop in Etsy, it took a while to make a selection for the shop, all ones I wouldn't mind keeping myself.

I hope you all like them as much as I do!

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

Please come along, meet Karey 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

Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Sellers Spotlight

With less than 1 week to go until our big Dorset Team Christmas Fair, we thought it would be a great idea to place some of the attending sellers in the spotlight!  A real way to get to know both the designer/creator and to also see some of their work.

Our first seller is Sarah Ricketts from Delicious Bits - In her own words;

Type of Items sold

Bright, original jewellery, cards and prints

How and why did you get started. What are your inspirations?

I have always been creative and love to spend my spare time crafting although jewellery making became a passion around 5 years ago. I did the odd craft fair but didn’t really imagine taking my jewellery making more seriously until I discovered I could sell online with Etsy. I had a good read through the set up guide and it didnt look too tricky so decided to set up my shop a couple of Christmases ago and have never looked back. 

Top 3 reasons to start an Etsy shop

1. Simple and cost effective. 
2. Great opportunities to work with other like-minded crafters
3. The fantastic community I have met since joining

Top 3 tips for new sellers

1. Take great clear photos in focus
2. Make sure you write up detailed descriptions of your items
3. Check your postage costs cover sending your items abroad

Description of shop:

A combination of original, bright, chunky jewellery and modern cards and prints

Sarah's social media links;

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Our second seller is Danielle Janes from Chibi Chi Designs - In her own words;

Type of Items sold

 Predominantly paper cuts, but we also sell prints, cards, jewellery and gift bags too!

How and why did you get started?

It started with a hand made anniversary gift for a family member.  It was a family tree paper cut that when shared on facebook started a flurry of requests.  Before I knew it I was getting messages from people asking me to create them presents, gift bags and even cards, I quickly needed an official business.  Thus Chibi Chi Designs was born.

What are your inspirations?

My main inspirations are cult classic books and movies.  Myself and Mr Chibi Chi are quite geeky, this is why you will find such a variety of items in our shop; from Alien inspired cards, right through to Alice in Wonderland paper cuts.

Top 3 reasons to start an Etsy shop

It's one of the simplest ways to have your very own online selling platform.

You are connected with buyers from all other the world (The majority of our orders are to the US)

There is a real sense of community with the other sellers and I am fortunate enough to have made some great local friends!

Top 3 tips for new sellers

Make sure your pictures look professional, take multiple shots of your item from all angles and ensure they are on a clear, clutter free background.

Although it can seem daunting, get to grips with keywords and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as it is this and your photographs that will help your items be found and hopefully sell.

Be patient!  Rather than sitting on your laurels waiting for the orders to come in, use the time to create and list new items, hone your photography skills and tweak those descriptions, it will pay off I promise.

Description of shop:

If you need a personalised gift that really shows how much someone means to you, Chibi Chi Designs is the shop for you.  We have been fortunate enough to make bespoke Anniversary paper cuts, Wedding gifts and even pregnancy presents too.

Danielle's Social Media Links;

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Featured Stallholder - Dorset Team Christmas Market - Bradstocks of Dorset

Featured Stallholder for our Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Bradstocks of Dorset

Bradstocks is run by two families; Mark and Lorraine Goudge and Rob and Alice Hole who are all close friends. I can't wait to see their stall at the Christmas Fair as they not only sell the most beautiful handcrafted sheepskin products, but I love the story and heritage behind their brand. The sheepskin comes from sheep reared by Rob in Dorset and then are made into handcrafted products for the shop.

Rob Hole has famed Poll Dorset sheep with his father for most of his life and now has a flock of over 400 pedigree ewes. "Their existence is due to Rob’s grandfather the pioneering sheep farmer Bunny Lenthall who imported the very first Poll Dorset sheep from Australia back in the 1950’s and gave Rob’s parents their first pedigree Dorset sheep from his renowned ‘Bradstock flock’ situated on the beautiful Dorset coast line at Burton Bradstock as a wedding present!"

If you are looking for a gift for someone hard to buy for but who appreciates handcrafted, beautiful and unique products come along to the Christmas Fair and visit Bradstock of Dorset's stall. Bradstocks sells everything from iPad cases to bags and to womens and mens clothing all lovingly handmade locally.

Please see Bradstock of Dorset's online store here https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BradstocksofDorset

For more information about our Dorset Team Christmas Fair please see our Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1433547900231175/

The fair is at the Wimborne Allendale Centre and entry to the fair is free. There are 80 different stalls so is going to be a wonderful festive day out and there is something for everyone.

Please stop by, have a browse and support independent local businesses this Christmas!