Introduce yourself & say Hello!

[#1]

The Made in Devon team is a little over a year old and is still evolving...

So whether you are brand new or have been a team member a while, do pop in, say hello and tell us what it is that you do. What is it about being creative in Devon that is important to you? What would you like from this team?

This team can evolve into whatever matters to you! If you don’t see a discussion you would like to engage in – why not start one yourself! Ask questions, offer advice, get something off your chest – get involved and see what happens....

To get the ball rolling – I am Lynn, a printmaker in Exeter and part of Double Elephant Print Workshop. Mt Etsy shop is coming up to 3 years old in July. I’m pretty pleased with how it’s going – but I had v modest aims of selling one print a month, & v happy to have exceeded that. It was partly the colour of Devon soil that encouraged me to move into the area – but that’s a longer story.....

I’ve noticed this comment in the origin “welcome” thread from Ren from Fairysteps and think it would be a good idea to reiterate it here -

“For all members...

If you click on the 'Subscribe to digest' link on the left hand side menu of this page, you will receive all updates that happen within the Made in Devon team!

A great way to make sure you don't miss anything!”

BIG FAT DEVON WELCOME TO ALL.

[YellowT4Studio]

Welcome to the mad house.
Message sent.

Janners

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sammy ;)

Best
Dave

[AnnHydeArtist]

Hi - Ann Hyde here @studiohydeart - Have only recently discovered Teams. I'm not used to Forums and find them a bit confusing but here goes, sometimes you just have to jump in don't you.

I'm an Artist living in Devon, inspired by my surroundings on a daily basis.

[WholeCaboodleDesign]

Welcome to the team Ann, you can just dip in when you want to, that's what I do. love your little watercolours, particularly the dogs!

[DevonPens]

Hi Ann,
love the miniature seascape and harbour views. You have captured a little bit of Devon in each one.

Dave

[Lasercutz]

Hi Ann,
Welcome - it is nice and gentle in this team so a good place to start ;)

Best
Dave

[AntiquePaperieStudio]

Hi to all, I am just starting to use Etsy and hoping to make a go of my business this year which has been an embryo for so long it could have had children of its own by now! I make jewellery and gifts using polymer clay and I have just delved into wet felting and now make bags and scarves and other goodies. Am looking forward to getting to grips with the discussions and meeting maybe a few of you along the way. The colours, the people and the lights at the seaside form a lot of inspiration for my work. I love flowers and insects too! (not all of them!)

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sherril - welcome, look forward to seeing some of you items listed soon ;)

Best
Dave

[AntiquePaperieStudio]

Hi all, I am brand new to this. I am a mature lady who has been making things at home for some time and would now like to see if I can sustain myself on any basis by selling my wares. As a technology dinosaur, I dont know where to start - are there meetings around the exeter area where I could go and get some advice from local small businesses?

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sherril,
Sorry - just seen this!
I'm sure there are - are you on Facebook? There are some small business pages for this end of Devon (Honiton, Sidmouth...) who have meet ups once in a while.
The other way would be to start a new thread in the main section of the teams here and I'm sure we will try and help ;)

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone, I'm an illustrator from Totnes, and I've just got my shop up and running. I'm keen to make contact with other local artists and makers, so I thought this was a good place to start!

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sara - welcome to the team.

Lovely images, they should do well!

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Thanks Dave, glad to be aboard!

[2minty]

Hello all, great to find such an active and friendly group.

2minty Studio is in Crediton and has only just opened here on Etsy. I'm a paper weaver, I love all things papery from antique books and maps to comics and old letters. I cut them into strips and weave them together to make something new. So far I've only listed some cards but there are framed weavings coming.

Girts is the potter, he loves designing new shapes and adding texture to the clay as well as fused glass decoration.

Look forward to getting to know some of you!

[Lasercutz]

Hi Jan and Girts, welcome ;)

Look forward to seeing more of your items.

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone!! I recently moved to Totnes from Reigate, Surrey (but originally a Londoner) where I was involved in quite an active Etsy group - we would meet once a month for tea and discuss business bits. I'm a needle-felter and produce 'wool paintings' so my work is more fine art than textile (or so I think) I've only recently started focussing on Etsy again as I noticed today my page has had 4000 viewings but pitifully few sales! Hope you be sharing tips and maybe meeting up?? Sarah

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sarah,
Welcome from another ex-Londoner ;)

Hope your sales improve ;)
Best
Dave

[DoraCountryLady]

Hello everyone! May I invite you to our GRAND OPENING on next saturday, 22nd of October. There are 50 GOODIE BAGS for the first 50 customers.
Cake and a drink! We celebrate our shop opening in PAIGNTON. Purple Valley Design and PUrple Valley Yarn is a toy, fashion and yarnshop.
The address is 103 Winner Street, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3BP.

See You saturday!
Kind regards
Andrea

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings all new and newish team members. (& greeting to "old-lags" too),

Its shows the strength of the team that we are still functioning well with a rather absentee Team Captain - me... (see here https://www.etsy.com/teams/15348/made-in-devon/discuss/18055123/page/1)

Keep sharing your news and helping each other with questions about your Etsy shops, surviving as a maker and questions about life in general.

The whole team is here to help each other - so don't be shy about offering an opinion, even if you have only been a member for 5 mins. There are no official experts here, but many have some very helpful insights to share.

I will pop in and contribute when I can - meanwhile I would like to thank our team captains for holding the fort, and everyone for fostering a helpful and friendly team spirit.

I'm currently a "tad" stressed with moving (or not quite moving), not feeling prepared for an art fair next weekend, email and new phone problems & a family not meaning to be high maintenance - but is.

... so normal life I suppose.

Hope everyone is getting ready for a Christmas rush - it can happen!!
Share your good news stories - I think it could give as all a bit of a boost.

Cheers

Lynn

[Lasercutz]

Hi Lynn,
Hope it gets better for you soon ;)

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Hi, I'm Jenny and I'm in Bideford, North Devon! I crochet at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PinkTulipShop. Tentatively starting out on Etsy after I had enough of scammers and trolls on the BookofFace 😉 still waiting for my 1st sale!

[Jessicastrideart]

Hi, I've had an Etsy shop selling my colourful paintings for a few years and I was very pleased to find an Etsy team thats local to me (near Brixham). I have 6 grown up children and 4 grandchildren, soon to be 5!
I'm going to be having a local exhibition in Dartmouth at the end of the year so I'm working on larger scale paintings for that but also I love to work smaller too and I list those in my Etsy shop.

[Lasercutz]

Hi Jess and Jenny,
Welcome to the team - sorry we have not been about much to respond. I have been madly busy since last November and enjoying large number of sales!

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Hi all, I think I have just joined your team, sorry, new to this, only just opened my Etsy shop, so learning the ropes in baby steps!

[Lasercutz]

Hi Gabi - welcome to the team ;)

Best
Dave