Gift Guide - Sellers for the Dorset Team Christmas Fair

Our gift guide this week is a sneak preview of some of the items by stallholders at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair.

There is something for every taste and budget with items ranging from DIY craft kits to home furnishings and from jewellery to art work.

Have a browse here and we hope to also see you at the event on Saturday 3rd December at the Wimborne Allendale Centre.

Entry is FREE and there will be 70+ stalls.

Many members are also taking part in a special Buy and Collect promotion which allows you to buy in advance of the event and collect on the day. For those taking part please see: http://dorsetteam.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/buy-and-collect-at-dorset-team.html

Meet the Seller - Dorset Team Christmas Fair Jennifer Grace Tubbs from JenniferGraceCreates

Name: Jennifer Grace Tubbs

Shop Name: JenniferGraceCreates

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

Located in: Wareham

Sells: Fun custom handmade jewellery and gifts

Maker's Story:

I am a mum of two and have enjoyed arts & crafts all my life. My mother is an artist and crafts person too, so she showed me the way. I've been blogging about my crafts since 2008 at http://jennifergracecreates.com. 

I love to own bright jewellery and fun items as well as giving them as gifts, so one day I decided that I was going to design and make my own. In early 2014, I took the plunge and bought a drawing tablet and Adobe Illustrator software. I spent hours upon hours after the kids had gone to bed learning how to use Illustrator and developed my own designs based on themes that inspired me.

I began creating and selling stencils and embellishments for crafters on my other Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/happyscatter, which I loved doing and still currently create items for. Nevertheless, I always wanted to have another shop with colourful things that I could lovingly paint or make myself. In 2015 I designed some pendants and earrings, but given that I had a part time job, two children and volunteered for a girl guiding group and my kid's school's PTA, it took me a while to get things up and running. 

Now I am very happy painting and crafting away. Most of my items can be customized to suit you or your gift recipient  by choosing the colours or text.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair: Jennifer will be selling her handmade jewellery and gifts at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne.

Please come along, meet Jennifer 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

Free product photography webinar by Lyndsey James for Dorset Team Members

Some exciting news for Dorset Team members... photographer Lyndsey James will be hosting an exclusive FREE photography webinar for Dorset Team members on Wednesday 8th June.

Lyndsey has 14 years experience as a pro photographer and has also worked closely with Etsy assisting them on their Etsy School photography module as well as writing several photography articles for the Etsy seller handbook (some of which we shared with you all on both our team blog and social media). She also regularly speaks at events on the subject of commercial photography including at Kirstie Allsop's Handmade Fair.

Durring the webinar, Lyndsey will be sharing her "combined knowledge of Etsy and Photography with YOU in what will be a great 45 minute webinar full of easy to apply photography & styling tips that will help you on your way to taking amazing product photos for your Etsy store."

The webinar will be showing between 9am - 9pm so you can tune in at a time which suits you best.

Lyndsey will be online between 9-5 and then again from 8-9pm to answer any photography questions you have in real time chat (which will be on the same page as a photography webinar).

Signing up is super easy to do and there is no complicated software required to join, just click the button and enter your details. To join in, you will need to sign up in advance. The webinar is FREE and you will receive viewing details sent to your inbox on the day.



Register >>


Hope to see lots of you there! We will also be continuing the discussion on product photography over in our team forum HERE

Community News - Etsy Success

A few weeks ago Etsy launched some 'Etsy Success' social media pages, devoted to Etsy sellers. They aim to keep sellers connected to advice, inspiration, news, and what fellow sellers are saying! The YouTube page already has several videos with tips and 'fireside chats' such as this one on How to Open an Etsy Shop 

Or view the rest of the channel by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9e0tqE1Zh-iHtofu08pxA/

We hope you find them useful whether you are just starting out or a more experienced Etsy seller.

The Dorset Team

Shop Updates - A new marketing tool from Etsy

Photo Credit: Etsy.com 

Exciting news this week from Etsy, they have introduced a new marketing tool for sellers which is being rolled out to make sharing on the Etsy sellers app earlier. It is called Shop Updates and will make sharing from the app onto social media much easier and quicker and works as a 'in house' social media feed. 

Etsy say "Buyers using the Etsy shopping app will see these updates on their homescreen from Etsy sellers they’ve interacted with through favoriting or purchasing. Buyers will also see updates on a seller’s shop home. "

Do you have the new Shop Updates feature? We would love to hear what you think about it in the comments section below!

For more information on the update please see the Etsy community news: https://blog.etsy.com/news/2015/shop-updates-a-new-marketing-tool-for-etsy-sellers/

Product Feature: Jolly Good Sticks

Photo Credit: Samantha Jolly

Our second product feature this week on our theme 'Gifts for Him' are these beautiful handmade wooden keyrings (please click here if you missed the feature on David's beautiful fly fishing prints).

These tactile keyrings have been made by Samantha from Jolly Good Sticks who is a Dorset Team member based in Corfe Mullen. The keyrings are made from different woods and have been lathe turned in Samantha's workshop. 

Samantha says, "My background and interest has always been in art & design, even as a small child with my box of crayons and pencils never far away! Over the years I have dabbled with various art forms, but when asked to design and make a walking stick for my father I found a special relationship with wood. I loved the tactile healing quality, the scent and the endless beauty found in this natural material not to mention the challenges and differing characteristics certain species can throw at you! I also have a fascination for traditional craft methods & tools, and where possible I try to incorporate these methods in my work."

If you would like to find out more about Samantha and see her keyrings, Christmas decorations and walking sticks please take a look at her shop here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JollyGoodSticks

Product Feature - David from Beneath Bright Waters

This beautiful hand editioned print by David from Beneath Bright Waters is our featured product for today. David is part of the Dorset Team and was a stallholder at our 2014 Christmas Fair.

The print is one of three prints which forms part of David's 'Upsteam' set and was inspired by a season spent fly fishing on the beautiful chalk streams in Dorset including the River Piddle.

David says, "I'm lucky enough to fish the river Piddle, in Dorset, England, a perfect example of an English chalk stream. It's always a privilege and a delight to be stood on her banks casting a fly at the wild brown trout that lie beneath her bright waters.

My prints are the result of days spent by the river over the last few years. Sometimes alone, sometimes with friends or family. Occasionally there's a picnic, often a beer, but there's always a smile as I squint through the sunlight on the lookout for rising trout. 

There's no better feeling than reaching down and releasing a beautiful, perfectly finned and spotted small trout back into the gin clear water lapping around your ankles."

David's work is hand drawn and then hand printed. Each print is limited edition so they make for a really beautiful and unique gift. David is based in Wareham in Dorset and his Etsy shop can be found at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BeneathBrightWaters

Product Feature - Handmade 'Belle' inspired dress by ShinkuRose

Our second product feature for this week (Please also see Annie's pallet heart) is this beautiful mustard coloured dress by Emily and Debbie from ShinkuRose. 

Emily and Debbie are mother and daughter and both work together on the brand.

Debbie began sewing when she was 12. She is the older of six with four brothers and one sister who she used to sew items for. Debbie says 'I am continually learning and always looking for new techniques to improve the finished look of the product'. Debbie taught her daughter Emily to sew.  Emily is a university graduate in costume design for screen and stage. Upon graduating she worked in a bridal shop as a pattern cutter and now works in fashion full time. She says ' I am fortunate enough to have a mum who taught me how to sew and now have the privilege of working with'.

Everything they make it one of a kind and made to each client's specification and sizing needs. 

This dress was inspired by Belle's dress from the disney film Beauty and the Beast and old school lolita fashion. 

As well as having lots of beautiful handmade dresses in their shop, Emily and Debbie also make tops, skirts, blouses and accessories.

Please take a look at their shop here: ShinkuRose 

Debbie and Emily are part of the Dorset Team and will be selling at our 'Etsy Made Local' Christmas Fair in December 

Product Feature - Love heart by Annie from Shabby Chic Pallets

One of our featured product for this week is this beautiful rustic 'shabby chic' heart made by Dorset Team member Annie Edgecombe who runs Shabby Chic Pallets on Etsy.

Annie is based in Dorchester in Dorset, England and makes bespoke wooden gifts mainly from reclaimed wood such as pallets. Her range includes shabby chic hearts, wooden display boards, signs and fairy doors.

Annie has recently joined the Dorset Team and we can't wait to see more of Annie's products. 

Annie's shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShabbyChicPallets

Pink heart shown above: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/230359314/wooden-pallet-heart

You can also find Annie on Facebook and Instagram and Annie will also be selling at our Dorset Team Christmas Fair in Wimborne.

Applications for our Dorset Team Christmas Fair are now OPEN

Exciting news, the Dorset Team will be holding two fairs this year. One in Autumn and a Christmas Fair.

Autumn Fair Details: 25th October in Christchurch - Booking information and costs will be released in late summer/ early autumn so please pop that date in your diary!

Christmas Fair: Saturday 5th December in Wimborne Minster - We are taking bookings NOW (deadline to apply is midnight on the 15th July).

It may seem rather early to be thinking about Christmas but, if you would like to sell at our event please fill in the application form. Last year's fair was a huge success so we are hoping this one will be even more successful.

Application Form: goo.gl/forms/Dxn46YldQs

The Christmas Fair is part of the Etsy Made Local events taking place across the country on the 5th and 6th of December.

Details:

Allendale Centre,
Hanham Road,
Wimborne Minster
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 1AS

Open to the public 10am - 4pm

Please see the form for full details and requirements.

We hope lots of members will apply. If you are currently not a Dorset Team member but would like to take part in the Etsy Made Local event there is a group run by Etsy Admins which will help you get your shop set up in time to apply for our Christmas Market. You can find the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1592485134333249/

If you have any queries please contact the Team Captain directly on thedorothydays@hotmail.co.uk