Dorset Team Spring Fair - SM designs in Wood

Our Dorset Team Spring Fair at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne is fast approaching and this week we are sharing another one of our stallholders who will be selling at the event. 

This week's featured stallholder is Simon of SM Designs in Wood. Simon is based in Portland and  sells beautiful handcrafted wooden furniture and wooden items. This will be Simon's first time selling at one of our Dorset Team events and we are really looking forward to having him at the Spring Fair. 

Work in progress photo of Simon making a chopping board

After 18 years working in a different career, Simon decided to return to Dorset and fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a furniture designer and maker. He finds the Dorset landscape offers much inspiration and he hopes to highlight this by using local woods and other natural products like Portland stone in his work. 

He uses a mixture of traditional and modern woodworking skills to produce unique, high quality pieces and makes and sells everything from candle holders to beautiful handcrafted tables.

He says, "I want to create pieces that are aethetically beautiful to look at, but are functional in the lives of people who own them."

Come and meet Simon and see his beautiful handcrafted wooden items on display at the Dorset Team Spring Fair at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne on Saturday 5th May. Entry to the fair is FREE and there will be 60 stalls by local makers and sellers at the event. 

This is a fantastic way to support small independent sellers whilst also picking up some really unique items for your home or for gifts. 

Please put the date in your diary and we hope to see you there! 

More information about the event can be found over on our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/282450382285845/

Date for your diary: Dorset Team Spring Fair 2018

The Dorset Team will be heading to Wimborne on Saturday 5th may 2018 for their Dorset Team Spring Fair. 

It is going to be a fantastic day with 60+ local designer-makers, vintage sellers and craft suppliers selling at the event and a great way to 'shop small', meet local creatives in person and pick up some unique items and gifts. 

There will be something for everyone and every budget and a huge range of different products on display.

Dorset Team Spring Fair 2018Saturday 5th May 201810am - 4pmAllendale Centre - WimborneBH21 1AS

FREE ENTRY

You can find more information about our event over on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/282450382285845/

We hope to see you there!

Please help us to spread the word about the event by inviting anyone to the Facebook page who you think might be interested in coming along. 

Bright & Beautiful Items From The Dorset Team On Etsy

We hope that everyone is enjoying February! Are you starting to see signs of spring, bringing a promise of longer days and warm weather?

If you need a little more colour and light to uplift you then check out this month's 'Bright and Beautiful' Pinterest board. Our team members have been pinning cheerful products from each other's shops. It's definitely something to make you smile when the weather is grey and the nights are still drawing in too soon!

Treat Yourself - Items from Dorset Team members for the New Year

Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who has supported the team in 2016. We have seen our membership grown greatly in the past year and we are now over 700 members so can offer an even wider selection of locally made products as well as crafting supplies and vintage goods.

This month the theme for our new Pinterest board is Treat Yourself and members have been sharing their favourite items from Dorset Team members to the Pinterest board. Choose from something indulgent, relaxing, fun, luxurious or just simply beautiful things from the team's shops or why not take up a new craft by trying one of the craft kits or craft tutorials by Dorset Team members. 

Dorset Team Gift Guide: Autumn Items

The Dorset Team have some beautiful items inspired by Autumn in the countryside and have been putting together their own "Autumn" Pinterest board where you can see items by many of our 700 members.

Here are some of our favourite Autumn inspired gifts by the Dorset Team:

1) No Bunny Compares cross stitch by Little Beach Hut who is based in Poole.

Perfect for a budding crafter or someone who wants to give cross stitch a go. The kit comes with instructions and everything you need to make it.

Click here to view

2) Collection of Mushrooms print by Jenni Saarenkyla who is based in Bournemouth.


Which can be found in Jenni's Etsy shop here

3) Leather wrap bracelet in Autumn Colours by Wildkat Jewellery

Made from beautifully soft leather and the good quality Czech glass beads, this bracelet looks perfect with a warm winter jumper!

Find it in Katherine's shop by clicking here

4) Baby Pumpkin Hat by Snug Creations. How cute is this pumpkin hat?! Made with Merino wool so it is super snug!

Find it here in Gemma's shop

5) Halloween Dog Bandana by Bourne Wild Pet Care for dogs that need to look the part for Halloween...!

Find it here in this Bournemouth based Etsy shop


You can also find more Autumn themed gifts by members of the Dorset Team on our Pinterest board here: https://uk.pinterest.com/dorsetteam/autumn-by-the-dorsetteam/ with new pins going up each week.

Gift Guide - Something for everyone - Gifts from the Dorset Team

The Dorset Team is a group of over 700 local makers, designers, vintage sellers, craft suppliers and artists who all sell their wares on Etsy.com. Members sell a diverse range of different products so there really is something for everyone!

You can find some examples of their work on our Pinterest board here or by searching #DorsetTeam on social media.

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 - Blooming Vintage Craft

Name: Jenny and Ian

Shop Name: Blooming Vintage Craft

Shop Link: www.bloomingvintagecraft.etsy.com

Located in: Bournemouth

Sells: Handcrafted journals sketchbooks, photo albums and scrapbooks with a vintage twist!

Maker's Story: Blooming Vintage Craft is run by Jenny and Ian who started their Etsy shop in 2013. They say...."We're a married couple living by the sea who love creating hand-crafted journals and sketchbooks. We both work in the digital industry and enjoy indulging in traditional crafting in our spare time. Everything on sale is handmade by us, in our little craft room in Bournemouth."

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Jenny and Ian will be selling their handmade stationery at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Jenny and Ian 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

Featured Product - Embellished sunglasses by Pinks and Minks

This week's featured item are these embellished sunglasses by Lesley from 'Pinks and Minks'. Lesley is from Poole and has been selling on Etsy since 2014.

Lesley says "At Pinks&Minks we believe fashion should not be boring and customers of all ages and walks of life should be be able to have fun with their accessories and stand out from the crowd"

Find Lesley's glasses here in her Etsy shop 

Feature Product - Heart Earrings by Studio Pickles

Today's featured product is this beautiful pair of heart earrings by Studio Pickles in strawberry red! Studio pickles is run by best friend's Natalie and Jo and their heart earrings are part of their new range.They would make a great gift for a loved one for Valentine's day or as a little gift for yourself. They are all made individually by hand then stamped out so each colour/ pattern is unique. 

Find them in Natalie and Jo's shop here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/264920738/heart-earrings-red-strawberry-earrings

Product Feature - Arrow and Triangle Badges

These arrows and triangles badges made by Jennifer Grace from Happy Scatter are our featured Dorset Team product for today.

Jennifer is a mum of two who started scrapbooking after her eldest child was born. In 2013 she started designing her own product which other people could use in their own projects and in 2014 took the plunge to make this dream a reality.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/233463642/arrows-and-triangles-flair-badges

Would you like to see your product featured on our Dorset Team social media? Please share on #dorsetteam for your chance to be included.

Be an Expert - Planning for 2016

We know you are all really busy with the run up to Christmas but if there is a spare minute why not start thinking about what you would like to achieve in 2016. Perhaps a goal for your shop that you would like to set or something new that you would like to learn.

Has been exciting to hear lots of you talking about 'relaunching' your shops in the New Year, bring out new products and expanding into new ventures!

Good luck, we would love to hear what your goals are for 2016. Please let us know in the comment section below.

If you are looking to improve your shop, the Etsy seller's handbook is a fantastic place to start. 

Here's a link to the seller handbook:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/seller-handbook

We also have some fantastic threads in the Dorset Team to help you kick start your shops in 2016.

Need to help identifying where you are going wrong? and how you could improve your shop? Why not check out our shop critique thread https://www.etsy.com/teams/14319/dorset-etsy-team/discuss/17180536

Are you a new seller? We have a Newbie Sellers thread in the forum here https://www.etsy.com/teams/14319/dorset-etsy-team/discuss/17143226

Featured Product: Light box by Ruth from Satis House Five

Find Ruth's light box in her Etsy shop 

 Today's featured product is this beautiful light box made by Ruth from Satis House Five.

Ruth sells crafting supplies, jewellery and light boxes such as this one of Carnegie Hall in New York. Her light boxes are made from original magic lantern slides which stopped being made in the 1950s.

Ruth will be selling her beautiful wares at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair next weekend. Ruth's light boxes make really fantastic gifts. They are so unique and each light box has a different vintage slide. These look amazing as Christmas decorations to put in the window.

If you are local please pop along to have a browse around the fair and to meet Ruth or if you are further afield please take a look at Ruth's Etsy shop 

Treasury Tuesday: Gift Guides

Happy Tuesday everyone!

This week's Treasury Tuesday theme is Gift Guides!

We would love to see you make a Christmas gift guide of your choice. Not sure how to make a treasury? Please click here for more information: https://www.etsy.com/teams/14319/dorset-etsy-team/discuss/16990487/?ref=team_page

It has been fantastic to see lots of treasuries being made already. Here are some of our favourite collections from today. Each treasury collection features products from the Dorset Etsy Team.

First up, Lynn made this beautiful treasury for Animal Lovers featuring stallholders who will be at our Christmas Fair on the 5th December.

Gift Guide for Animal Lovers

From stallholders who will be selling at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on 5th December

Whether you're into sharks or unicorns, whether you're a dog or a cat person or a bird lover... Dorset Etsy Team has the perfect gift for you! Come along to our Xmas Fair, more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/866031100155674/

Archival Giclée Open edition print on 100% cotton rag of a Leopard by Nkolika Anyabolu. Signed and dated by artist. ArtbyNkolikaAnyabolu £50.00	Fox Felt Miniature Animal Needle felted from Wool Apulina £40.00	stone - unicorn - à mon seul désir IV littlevagaries £8.00	Vintage French Decor Style Cushion/Pillow Cover with a Running Hare, Laura Ashley Linen - Le Lievre - Shabby Chic - Country Decor EnglishNordic £17.00
Rabbit Stud Earrings ~ Cute Woodland Accessories Winter Wedding Alice Inspired Jewellery. Slumbermonkey £7.00	You Lookin' at Me poppydot £10.00	Hare Crochet Cushion Kit - Complete Craft Kit HawthornHandmade £35.00	SALE!! A fox in his trunks with a medallion. hand made cloth doll art doll The fox thecatintheshoe £55.00
Personalised Wooden Pet Bed Dog Cat Bed Apple Crate Handmade Shabby Chic Small Pet Bed, Free Delivery Uk Applecratescouk £26.99	Christmas Decorations, Bird Food, Tree Decorations, outdoor decorations, Mini Wreaths, garden decorations, UK Gifts, Gifts For Mum, Dad, TheBirdBakery £12.99	Shark Fin Shark Tail Kids Costume thetiredbears £35.00	German Pointer wire sculpture figure NicoletteDawn £225.00
Winter Animal Card- Squirrel TERRIPEAY £2.50	Custom pet glitter portrait StudioPickles £25.00	Needle Felted little robin MADE TO ORDER using a selection of quality wool tops MaryJaneLillie £25.00	Corgi Heart Card - Perfect for Any Corgi Lover! Choose Your Colours, Paper Cut Card ChibiChiDesigns £3.00

Gift Guide for your Best Friend 

Made by Natalie and Jo from Studio Pickles

Wonderful gifts for your BFF! Everything from iPad cushions to knitted bags to fairy doors! The Dorset Team has such wonderful and unique gifts.

Hello Beautiful Personalized Handmade Coin Purse/ Change Purse/ Mini Wallet - Customized Gift for Girls doalittledance Sold	Knitted Adult Santa Hat, Santa Hat Adult, Adult Christmas Hat, Hand Knit Adult Hats, Chunky Pom Pom Hat, Hat With Ears, Ready to Ship SnugCreations £16.75	sew-your-own Little Flying Friends paperandstring £15.00	French Bulldog Fun Plush Cushion Pillow perfect to decorate the kid's room or for a dog frenchie fan gappyGOBS £29.00
Fairy Door AnniesFarmhouseCraft £15.00	Fairy ice earrings, cluster earrings, winter shades WychwoodDreams £7.50	Deer Cotton and Velvet Animal Shaped Pillow SkySioukisShop £20.00	Handmade iPad cushion woodland theme fabric gadget cushion handmade cushion SunnyBunnyCraft £12.00
6 Bath Bombs AromaticHolisticUk Sold	Original watercolour sea shell illustration painting ocean beach series SeasideStudiosUK £40.00	KITTEN - Kawaii Pin Badge TomoIsland £0.80	Sterling Silver Star- Friendship Bracelet- Wish Bracelet- Sister Bracelet- Sister Gift- Cord Bracelet- Colour Choice WishCharms £4.95
Immortalise Your Cat in Glass, Custom Quirky Cat Pendant or stick pin brooch, 1 Cat, One of a kind, Handmade Lampworked Glass amareargentum £25.00	Letter Initial necklace in silver on 16 inch chain - monogram necklace - name jewellery - personalised silver metal alphabet etsy uk etsyuk TheDorothyDays £6.00	knit felted bag - Irish moss floral Kareykitkatz £45.00	Floral hanging hearts mobile LeaLucy £3.99

Gifts for Her

Textile Gifts for Her curated by Lynn Davy 

Another beautiful collection by Lynn of textile gifts for her. These talented textile artists will be at Dorsetteam's Etsy Made Local event on Dec 5.

 https://www.facebook.com/events/866031100155674/

Felted bag - Very berry, stripey knit felted handbag Kareykitkatz £35.00	Baby Pink Knitted Bow Headband, Knitted Headband, Oversized Bow Headband, Cute and Cosy Ear Warmer in Pastel beauxoxo £14.00	BABY BALACLAVA pink/purple Bearinthehood £10.00	Heart Keyring ChalkhillBlueCrafts £6.50
Embroidered Cards CoraliesCraftsGifts £3.50	Unique Crochet "Home" bunting, banner, garland, wall hanging with coordinating flowers, buttons and tassels. Unique and handmade. DAISYandARTHUR £15.00	A light drawstring children's bag that is a great gift to remind a special little one in your life that you love them! Dorsetmade £15.00	Individually Designed and Handmade Bumble Bee and Red Ticking Cushion - Country Decor - Rustic Decor EnglishNordic £17.00
Fabric Fat Quarter Bundle 5 Gutermann Country Chic Cottage Dusky Pink and Beige - UK Shop - Craft Supplies GreenCallow £12.99	Kit to make two needle felted strawberry brooches from wool tops, with full colour, easy to follow instructions GRADED: EASY MaryJaneLillie £8.00	Amigurumi Afternoon Tea Pattern - Crochet Pattern by DMC MysewingboxUK £3.00	Three flower posy needle felt necklace / pendant hand made one off. StuffmadebyEmma £25.00
Dinosaur Ball-Oon Ball TinkerTemptress £7.50	Fabric iPad cat theme cushion with removable cover gadget cushion beanie handmade gifts for teens gifts for her etsy uk SunnyBunnyCraft £10.00	Wristlet. Clutch purse. Clutch bag. Purse, in Ndieh's Designs Sunshine fabric NdiehsDesigns £12.00	Pretty in pink - Pink rose silver hair slide tenandsixcraft £10.00

We would love to see all your treasury collections. Please remember to tag them with 'dorsetteam' so that we can find and share them or share them to #dorsetteam on social media.