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.

[sunshineshenanigan]

Thank you charlotte!

[ModernClocksByCraig]

Reformations specialises in reforming materials into fashionable feature wall pieces. Inspired by a passion for producing original artworks, alongside an aspiration to induce intrigue through interpretative features.

These creative and affordable designs are available in a variety of sizes and make unique features for any home or office.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/191477394/a-modern-abstract-glass-clock-very?

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings to all Devon creatives who've popped in and said hello recently.
I've been a tad busy lately but I see that the other Made in Devon leaders have also popped in to great you. I look forward to getting to know everyone and your lovely art & craft works.

...and sorry Craig for bumping you out, but although London seems to be getting bigger it isn't part of Devon yet. Interesting products though. I'm sure you'll find the right niche in Etsy.


Good luck to all, don't forget to call by and tell us how you're getting on.
L

[TeodoraPainting]

Hello, my name is Teodora and I live in Tiverton, Mid Devon. I create original paintings and I exhibit in local exhibitions in Devon and Somerset. I also create pendant necklaces using mini prints after my paintings. Thank you for inviting me to be part of this team.

[Former_Member]

Hi, I'm Rachel

I live in West Charleton, just outside of Kingsbridge, South Devon
I moved back here to my parents' home two years ago, after a separation.
I'm from lancashire originally, but we moved down when I was 14. Then i disappeared off at 18 and lived in various places, inlcuidng bristol and bolton, and eventually found myself back down here.

It definitely feels like my spiritual home though.

I've been making and crafting all my life, but started making to sell after my separation, 2 1/2 years ago. As I have fibromyalgia and wanted to do something to start earning my own money/become self-employed. I'm also a Photographer, having got into photography 1 1/2 years ago.

I crochet, make jewellery, and up-cycle. I am self-taught, and the items I make have evolved, and will continue to evolve. I'd love to learn some more skills, particularly glass making, silver smithing, jewellery making techniques, but I'll just see what happens/what I come across!!

My etsy shop has been a bit neglected, and so has my involvement in teams, but I should really give it another go/get involved more. I've been setting up my own web-shop and I also sell on folksy and eco-create.
I also did fairs, hence I never put much in my etsy shop as trying to keep a track of stock was quite difficult as all my items are one-offs, but currently I'm focusing online for my craft, to leave my weekends free for Photography/Free-Lancing.

And I have a dog called Sinatra, a very bouncy and fluffy Cockapoo.

Rach x

[Former_Member]

I can't believe I'm so late to the party...damn the subscribe button for being so small!!

My name's Jen and I sell craft supplies...initially it was going to be craft and party supplies, however my mum has a fabric store and as she's become busier and busier over the last 3 years I've been helping out more and more and so I've been slowly cutting down on the variety of items I sell (to save myself some time when packing!)....I'm planning on ending up with just a huge range of washi tape as I have an unhealthy obsession with the colours and patterns you can get :)

I live in Torquay, South Devon, with my boyfriend and 2 cats - Simon, and a girl cat (which our neighbours) named Princess - and boy is she a tricky little diva!! I've lived here for the majority of my life now...having tried out other towns and cities and realising that I hate being too far from the water!

Jen xx

[Former_Member]

Hello All,

Wasn't sure where to post this but here goes...

Has anybody heard of (please don't shout as I expect I am the last to know!) Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Fair? I only heard by chance this morning as I was listening to the radio but after a quick perusal you can find it on google http://www.thehandmadefair.com Etsy are supporting this and running a workshop. I just wondered if anybody was exhibiting there or if it would be a good idea to have a 'Made in Devon' collective presence...who knows...??

Gutted that I missed the first meet-up but had some personal stuff which has been too time consuming to say the least :( anyhoo given myself stern talking to and trying to get back on track as I only joined in April so have got a lot of work to do. Hope to try and make a meet-up at some point and in the meantime I shall enjoy the sunshine!

x

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings Teodora, Rachel, Ren and Freddie,
Enjoyed having a look at all your shops – what a great diversity we have in Devon!
Looking forward to getting to know you all more.

Yes Freddie, you were missed at the Exeter meet up. The next one is due to take place in Plymouth, which is probably a tad too far for you from Axminster I suppose. Hope you didn’t have to bail out due to anything too stressful. I’m sure there’ll be another opportunity.... some-when...

And no, Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Fair had passed my notice too. I’ll have a look in some of the other UK teams and see if it gets a mention anywhere. It would be good to hear back from anyone who can go, take part &/or try out the “Etsy Business School”. I have now liked on FB and followed on Twitter so I might notice if this proves to be a yearly event.

Kirstie does seem to draw quite a bit of attention, so let’s hope the link with Etsy with be fruitful too. She came to the workshop (Double Elephant Print Workshop in Exeter) a while ago to make some hand printed wall paper with my colleague Emma Molony, and we had several enquiries asking when we would be running our next wall paper workshop. Unfortunately, the workshop isn’t really set up for wallpaper so we had to hope it was sufficient to turn people on to trying screenprinting and other types of printmaking instead...

Hope everyone has a nice weekend lined up – whether than it lolling around in the sun or being industrious in your creative work spaces.

Cheers

Lynn

[YellowT4Studio]

welcome all, lots going on. Any questions....just ask!

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Like the new "mug shot" Janners......

[HepzibahMcLeod]

mazedasastoat I live near Startpoint, I moved to Strete about 6months ago, originally from Beeson. I love your work, and was curious as we're both in the SP fog horn radius!

My name's Hepzibah, and I 'came home' from Brighton roughly 3 years ago. I'm in to drawing atm, but that's not always been the case, though I've always been an artist.
I really struggled with Etsy, and kind of gave up on it back in the winter- which I'm sure you can tell if you look at my shop. I Make fine art, but I've created a range of art tees, tanks and totes, aswell as stationary from my artwork, as a means of making art more affordable and accessible. I sell through a range of trading fairs throughout the summer months, but it would be great if I could sell more successfully in the virtual world. Maybe it's time a took on the etsy challenge again soon.

[Former_Member]

Hi, I'm Tamsin and currently live in Torrington, but moving down to Ipplepen. My husband is a graphic designer in Newton Abbot and we have a toddler (Elsie). We are from the Midlands originally (but we try to forget that!)

I began by selling crocheted and knitting goods over a year ago, then registered properly and have mainly been selling via facebook and locally. I now do naturally hand dyed yarn too.

I'm hoping to get some yarn stocked in some local yarn shops and have not yet managed a craft fair- not enough hours with a little one! So I'd really like to get Etsy working for me. I love Etsy as I bought my wedding dress from here, but unfortunately haven't had much luck yet. I know I need to really focus on it though and put more time and effort I to this side of my business, at least so I can start breaking even! Xxx

[handcutbymedesigns]

Hello everyone here is a wonderful made in Devon team treasury...
www.etsy.com/uk/treasury/Mjg5Mzg2MjF8MjcyNjM3ODkzNg/made-in-
devon-england..

Enjoy

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings all, thanks for coming in to say hello.

Thanks Glenis for alerting us to a Devon treasury. I might not have noticed that one of my items was included in this! I shall share it in the thread already started for Devon Treasuries.
There is also a general treasury thread if anyone has created any treasuries that they would like to share.

Cheers all....

[Former_Member]

Hello everybody,
I've yet to navigate my way around Etsy fully it seems so huge! My aim is to be selling found object charms for jewellery.
I'd love to connect with fellow makers in the local area via Etsy. I finished a Fine Art degree in 2012 and have just moved back recently for good.
Looking forward to seeing lots of local events and fairs info for the coming months.

[YellowT4Studio]

Hi Medusa, and welcome aboard. Any questions just ask. Can't say we'll have the answers....but sometimes we do!

[Former_Member]

Hi!
I've finally got round to sorting out my shop

I've having a final push with etsy as I have a load of stockpiled free listings

So I spent last night, and this morning listing a load of items, and will continue to do so in the next few days...

So if you visited my shop before, and there wasn't much there, pop back, loads more now :)

Planning to get much more involved with teams and give etsy a real good push!!

also, my website shop is looking pretty full now too :)

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Good for you Rachael,
Always good to see a shop growing.
Here's to all of the hard work paying off!

Thanks for popping in to say hello...
If there's anything that the team might be able to help with either start off a new thread to bump up a topic already in the list of discussions.

[Lasercutz]

Hi all - we moved here to Honiton last July and loving it!! I have two lasers that can cut and engrave acrylic, wood and card etc.

I mainly make soap stamps (for embossing logos on to soap) but also do custom work such as jewellery or small displays and signs. Always happy to help ;)

Best
Dave

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings Dave,

Welcome to Devon as well as to the Made in Devon team! Glad you are loving it :-)

Laser cutters sound like a really useful bit of kit to have. And probably not that many around.
It might be in your interest to make contact with the Fab Lab that's only just getting off the ground at the newly reopened Central Libruary in Exeter.

Can your stamps be put to printmaking use as well as embossing soaps?

All the best with your Etsy shop. Feel free to chip in and stir up some of these threads - or start a new topic if there's a subject that not already going..

All the best

Lynn

[Lasercutz]

Thanks Lynn,

I started with one small laser about 4 years ago and now have two medium size lasers (takes stock 300x600mm). I still watch them in awe when they cut even though they drive me insane sometimes :-)

The stamps are a hard acrylic so not much use for ink (I have one customer who uses them to stamp cookies!). I can make rubber stamps but it does not work very well IMO plus it makes a mess of the machine so I don't offer that service I'm afraid.

Will have a look at the fab lab - thanks ;)

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

hi am new to etsy really do not know what i am doing any help /advice would be appreciated many thanks

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings Sidmouth Poppy,

Hope you are enjoying the Sidmouth festival!

You have made a good start with your shop.
Good name, recognisable avatar and those floral bouquet broaches are lovely.
Good write up on your profile. The personal touch and telling a story here is important.

As a new to Etsy person, I would advise that you take plenty of time looking around. See how people with similar products present themselves, think about how you could do it better. Fill in your shop policies and get your About paged filled in (you have the basis for this already done on your profile). Then it’s *just* a matter of listing lots of stuff with great photos and using all the right key words and tags to get your items noticed.

You might like to bookmark this link https://blog.etsy.com/en/2013/the-seller-handbook-archive/ to the seller’s handbook. It has masses more links to each aspect of having an Etsy shop that you might like to look up as you go along. AND yes, do join in discussions here as well. Start a new question if the subject doesn’t come up when you put it in the search.

I would think twice about using “Cath Kidston” as a tag. This is probably a copyright infringement. It’s probably OK to say “Cath Kidston inspired colours” – but I’m not an expert in this area.


Point of interest for anyone...
I don’t think anyone in the team is doing this – but it’s worth thinking about...
People often get into trouble when they buy fabric from a well know designer (eg Cath Kidston and especially Disney fabrics) and then sell their craftwork using the fabric. They don’t have a licence to do this, the fabric was sold for personal use, not for further commercial use. I would advise anyone who does go through the expense and effort to get a licence to use any copyrighted materials or terms to make it very clear in their listings. There are some people who make it their hobby to call out infringements.

.... Anyway – sorry to go off on a tangent!
My main advice is to go through the handbook, take a critical eye on your competitor’s then concentrate on yourself. Enjoy your shop, develop your own look. Link it up with facebook and twitter and whatever social media you enjoy using. And keep shouting about it at every opportunity.

All the best. Let us know how you get on of if there’s any specific areas you are struggling with.

[Lasercutz]

Hi Sidmouth Poppy - welcome to Etsy :-)

Best
Dave

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone :)

I am Gemma, I live in Okehampton, hence the name of my business 'The Okie Soapy Soap Shop. I make luxury cold process soaps and (hopefully) before Christmas will be selling bath bombs too!! I am very new to etsy, only have a few items in my shop right now, look forward to getting to know everyone :)