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 folks.
Good to see a gathering. Hope you all have a busy run into Christmas.

[WholeCaboodleDesign]

Hi, I'm Lorraine and I live near Newton Abbot with My husband and 2 kids (age 11 and 8) and have just joined the Made in Devon Team. I've been specialising in Wedding Stationery for the last few years and wanted somewhere where I could sell other bits and pieces as well - show what else I can do! I like the feeling of community that you get on Etsy as like many one person businesses, I spend most of the day in my studio on my own. Trying to get to grips with FB, Twitter etc but that's a work in progress. Nice to feel there are others out there nearby, thank you for the invite to the team x

[YellowT4Studio]

Hi Lorraine welcome to the Motley Crew.

[Former_Member]

Hi All, I'm Tracy. I'm based just outside of Exeter in a little village called Tedburn St Mary with my husband Carl and cheeky little pup, Mr Gatsby! I have been designing and making for quite a few years, have dipped in and out of selling online as my 'proper job' got in the way for a while! Now I am self- employed with the opportunity to make it work, so I am grabbing it with both hands! I have launched a website but now need to complete my etsy shop so I'll let you know when it is live for some feedback from you lovely talented lot! :)

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Greetings to all new members. - And everyone whether you have been around for a while or not.....

I've been a bit quite regarding the forums lately, but look forward to having a good rummage in all your shops soon.

Great to have such a variety of people here :-D

[Former_Member]

** WAVING.....hello everyone. I am Michelle. Live in Braunton, Devon. Single mom to 3 lovely (most the time) boys.

New to Etsy but trying to find my way around. Hoping to get onto Barnstaple indoor market next year when boys at Senior school.

So may dreams to fulfil and hopefully this is the start xxx

[Former_Member]

Welcome mrs embroidery from Braunton x

[Former_Member]

Thank you Virginia.......how do I change my name to my real name lol

Shell x

[DamianMilesJeweller]

Hi everybody.

I'm a husband and father of two (pigeon pair) living at working in Okehampton. I was born and bred in Newton Abbot, but have lived in Okehampton for 12 years. I love being on the edge of Dartmoor although I haven't had much time to get up on the moor.

I'm a goldsmith, silversmith, gemmologist and mineralogist. I also work in wood and leather. I would say my mind is full of ideas with not enough time to put them all to paper or practice.

I was made redundant from a jewellery retailer earlier this year and took the opportunity to go self employed. The main part of my business is repairing jewellery and silverware, but I really want to let the creative side fly.

I've had an Etsy shop for a couple of months now, but don't really know what I'm doing yet.

[Lasercutz]

Hi to all new peeps to the group :-)

[Former_Member]

Hi I'm Sam from Plympton, I've been in Devon for around 12 years now. moved here from W.Sussex to be with my Husband.

I have two Boys, 18 & 8, along with my husband, they all rally round me when i'm having a bad turn of M.E.

I came back to my art and crafts after falling ill with M.E. 4 years ago now. It's been my 'happiness' along with my lovely family.

lovely to meet like minded people online, especially local. will always return a heart if you come over and support my shop <3

[LynnBaileyPrintmaker]

Hello Michelle, Damian and Sam, and Greetings to all new team members. I can see that I have quite a back log of welcome emails to send out!
It's lovely that some have taken the initiative to introduce yourselves here. :-)

Hope everyone is feeling like hitting the ground running for 2015. Do feel free to ask questions or share tips and advice - either in a suitable pre-existing thread or start up a new one. Team members are here to help each other.

If anyone would like to take the initiative to organise a meet-up in your area, start a new thread and see what happens!

L

[DebbieBrannenArtisan]

Hi I am Debbie and my Etsy helper is Helen, together we run the shop for any of the 21 members of Exmoor Arts who wish to sell their items on here.

I started the group Exmoor Arts in October 2013 initially to help promote work by other like mined people in the Exmoor area. If we all have individual websites it is hard for us to be found but with one large one it helps keep us up the listings in google.

Since then we have gone from strength to strength with currently 21 members and more joining all the time.

We hold art exhibitions and craft fairs locally and meet approx every quarter.

We have a facebook page and a group page, use twitter and pinterest.

Glad to be part of the team :)

[Former_Member]

I LOVE to sew and upcycle lovely little vintage finds.

I have been trying to utilise Etsy as a shop base for a little over a year now but so far have not done overly well at it as I haven't really paid it as much attention as it deserves and don't really know what I am doing! However, I am hoping that with the help of wonderful, local, crafty people like yourselves I will be able to glean some much needed help and knowledge.

Isn't Devon just lovely?!

x

[Lasercutz]

Hi Debbie, Helen and Zoe.

Zoe - hang in there, most shops take a while but you do need to feed Etsy by visiting and favourite items and shops.

Best
Dave

[YellowT4Studio]

As Dave says. Etsy is a strange thing, you need to be active on it. The more activity you put into it the more it appears to bump up your listings.

Janners

[Former_Member]

Popping in to say hello!

Double Elephant Print Worksop is based in Exeter and we have only just opened up our Etsy shop. So far 2 of the work shop members have managed to send in everything needed to create a listing for the shop. But there will be more to follow – probably quite gradually.....

Admin for DoubleElephantPrints is LynnBaileyPrintmaker (*waves*).
It would be a bit silly if I came back as myself to welcome myself as Double Elephant to the team...... But thought this was the best way to let people know that DoubleElephantPrints is now here in Etsy-land.
:-)

[Lasercutz]

(*waves back*) Hi Lynn - hope Double Elephant settles down well into Etsy ;)

Best
Dave

[AbercrombieCumbes]

Finally had a moment to catch up and pop along to the new members shops :) Speading a bit of Sunday love! Hope you're all having a fabulous start to this year xXx

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the welcome, Dave.
And hello Abercrombie Crumbes.

Workshop wise, it's been a very busy start to the year. New Etsy shop wise, things are growing a little slower than expected - but we will get there!

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone, I opened my art shop here on Etsy this February and have sold two paintings so far. A lot to learn still. Happy to have found a local team here.

I live in Chagford, small town on the edge of Dartmoor. Closest big town is Exeter. I saw there was a team there, but hasn't been active for years apparently.

So I wonder, how do you support each other here in this team? And do you ever meet up?

It would be nice with some more local connections among crafty people.
Looking forward to get to know this team.

[Lasercutz]

Hi Martina,
Welcome - well done on the sales, I am reasonably new to the made in Devon team but we did meet up in Exeter a while back.

Have a look at some of the other posts here - liking, posting here and adding favourites helps get you noticed.
Best
Dave

[YellowT4Studio]

Welcome all, we do "Tea and Biscuits" on occasions, which is always fun.

Janners

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Dave! Looking forward to see your work when you're back.

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Janners. Tea and Biscuits sounds nice!