Friday, 25 December 2015
Monday, 21 December 2015
Twitter Basics and Twitter Hours explained
Hi everyone!
A while back on my blog I posted my list of Twitter hours for crafters, creatives and bloggers. The post has been hugely popular (my most read blog post on my blog EVER!) and quite a few of you have messaged with other questions about Twitter especially about how to participate in the Twitter Hours and Twitter Chat Hours that I listed in my list.
So, in this blog post I hope to go through some of the Twitter basics and how to participate in Twitter Hours.
I hope that you find this useful. If you have any questions please feel free to either tweet me @thedorothydays or leave them in the comments section below on my blog and I will do my best to help.
What is a hashtag?
The definition of a hashtag is: "a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media sites such as Twitter to identify messages on a specific topic. "
Why use hashtag?
This is really useful as it means that if you are looking to read tweets on a particular topic you can search for a hashtag. And, if you are looking to post your own thoughts or join in a discussion about a particular topic you can use the hashtag in your own tweets so that more people see them.
Many big events, TV programmes etc will have their own official hashtag.
For example...
Gogglebox (a programme which is really popular in the U.K) was on T.V so lots of people were tweeting about the programme. If I wanted to read which people were saying about the programme I would type into Twitter on the search bar on the top right #gogglebox
There are different ways you can then filter the search
'Top' which means tweets by big accounts such as celebrities or Channel 4 who broadcast gogglebox , tweets which have been shared many times and also tweets by people you follow on Twitter
'Live' shows the newest tweets first
Accounts shows accounts associated with the hashtag, for example Channel 4.
Photos and Videos will show photos and videos of Gogglebox
I would then find tweets about the programme....(the tweets shown here are filtered by LIVE)
If I then wanted to write a tweet about gogglebox I could then include the hashtag and other people searching #gogglebox will then be able to see it.
This is me composing a tweet using #gogglebox
Once I have posted it it will then appear when you search #gogglebox and filter by 'live'
How can I use hashtags for my shop/ business/ blog etc?
There are many many ways in which you can use hashtags but some ways include...
1) Using hashtags to talk about big events, programmes etc which might interest your followers (for example #Gogglebox )
2) Many larger craft fairs, exhibitions and shows will have their own hashtag which you can use both if you are participating in the event or visiting the event
3) Twitter Promotional Hours and Twitter Chat Hours
etc
What is a Twitter Hour?
Twitter hours are a way to bring people together to discuss a specific topic or to cross promote and network.
The idea is that you set up a time (normally 1 hour) for people to tweet using a hashtag and during this hour they will be able to interact and see the tweet other people are sending in using this same hashtag.
Twitter Hours normally fall into two categories
1) Promotional Twitter Hours
2) Chat Twitter Hours
However, many promotional Twitter hours have a chat element.
Twitter Hour can be on any topic. For example, there are Twitter Hours for different health conditions so people can come together and discuss and support one another, there is a Chicken Hour for people who keep chickens and there are many Twitter Hours for those who run small businesses, blog and Twitter hours for different regions.
You can find out about some of the Twitter Hours useful if you are a crafter, creative or blogger here: http://thedorothydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/list-of-twitter-hours-for-crafters-and.html
How to participate in a Twitter Chat Hour?
Different chat hours are run in different ways but normally there is either...
a) No set format. You join in and start talking to other people who are tweeting using the same hashtag and there is no set theme or questions.
However, more commonly, there is either....
b)A theme/ discussion topic set for that week. For example if you were participating in a bloggers chat they might announce to say that the theme for that week is 'How to get more blog readers' and you would then talk about that topic
or,
b) Set questions that are tweeted out by the person/ account running the Twitter Hour. So if you were taking part in a bloggers chat about how to get more blog readers the person running the Twitter Hour might tweet saying "Do you find being active on social media helps get more blog readers". They usually will number the questions Q1 Q2 Q3 etc and then you tweet back using A1 A2 A3 etc so it doesn't get confusing which question/ topic you are responding to.
Here is an example from a recent Twitter chat for Lifestyle Bloggers. The person hosting the Twitter Hour that week tweeted saying
This lady has then responded to the question by putting A4 (meaning answer to question 4)
Notice how she has also included the hashtag #lbloggers (the hashtag for the Lifestyle Bloggers Twitter Hour) so her tweet/ response to the discussion topic will be seen by others participating in the chat.
How to participate in the Promotional Twitter Hour?
These are run to cross promote products, network with other people and businesses and get the word out about your shop/ business.
They still have a chat element and it is important to interact with other Tweeters rather than just pushing your own products.
There are many promotional Twitter hours for small businesses or regions and lots for handmade products. To join in, you would include the hashtag for the Twitter Hour in your own tweet.
For example, every Monday between 7.30 - 8.30pm it is #DorsetHour (Dorset is a county in England) so to join in you would include #DorsetHour in your tweets.
Here is one of the tweets I put out during that Tweet Hour. Other twitter users from Dorset who were also participating in the Twitter hour could then see my tweet about my new items.
So now you know about hashtags and how you can use them to interact with a group of people or talk about a specific topic but what if you want to talk to one person (or a few people or mention someone in a Tweet (and want them to know about it!)?
This is really easy to do on Twitter and can be used without a hashtag or with.
You would just type @ and then the Twitter username (also known as a Twitter Handle). Mine is @thedorothydays
If you wanted to talk to me directly you would put my Twitter handle first in the tweet
For example:
If you didn't want to tweet/ talk to me directly but wanted me to know that you had mentioned me then you might instead put my twitter handle in the middle of the tweet. This will mean that everyone will be able to see the tweet and I will get notified that you mentioned me. ((Whereas putting the Twitter Handle first will not show the tweet to everyone on the Twitter feed, but please note it is still visible))
For example:
What is retweeting and what does retweeting do?
To retweet a tweet you click the 2 arrows under someone's tweet. This is called retweeting and it means that their tweet will then get shown to all of your followers. This is a great way to make your twitter page look more interesting as you can retweet people saying fun or interesting things. If someone does this to you it is also a great way to get your tweet seen by more people (as it gets shown to all their followers) and this often will also give you new followers.
Retweeting is one of the main ways in which promotional Twitter hours work as you retweet each other's tweets as a way of cross promoting.
If you have 100 followers and I have 150 followers and I send out a tweet and you then retweet it my tweet can potentially be seen by all of the followers that we both have so could reach 250 people rather than 150 people. If you were to retweet my tweet and then one of your followers retweets it who has 500 followers (for example), it could then potentially be seen by 500 plus 100 plus 150 followers which makes 750 people rather than just the 150 followers.
Top tips for Twitter Hours
A while back on my blog I posted my list of Twitter hours for crafters, creatives and bloggers. The post has been hugely popular (my most read blog post on my blog EVER!) and quite a few of you have messaged with other questions about Twitter especially about how to participate in the Twitter Hours and Twitter Chat Hours that I listed in my list.
So, in this blog post I hope to go through some of the Twitter basics and how to participate in Twitter Hours.
I hope that you find this useful. If you have any questions please feel free to either tweet me @thedorothydays or leave them in the comments section below on my blog and I will do my best to help.
What is a hashtag?
The definition of a hashtag is: "a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media sites such as Twitter to identify messages on a specific topic. "
Why use hashtag?
This is really useful as it means that if you are looking to read tweets on a particular topic you can search for a hashtag. And, if you are looking to post your own thoughts or join in a discussion about a particular topic you can use the hashtag in your own tweets so that more people see them.
Many big events, TV programmes etc will have their own official hashtag.
For example...
Gogglebox (a programme which is really popular in the U.K) was on T.V so lots of people were tweeting about the programme. If I wanted to read which people were saying about the programme I would type into Twitter on the search bar on the top right #gogglebox
There are different ways you can then filter the search
'Top' which means tweets by big accounts such as celebrities or Channel 4 who broadcast gogglebox , tweets which have been shared many times and also tweets by people you follow on Twitter
'Live' shows the newest tweets first
Accounts shows accounts associated with the hashtag, for example Channel 4.
Photos and Videos will show photos and videos of Gogglebox
I would then find tweets about the programme....(the tweets shown here are filtered by LIVE)
Just finished watching #Gogglebox now time for bed
— lisa (@LisafgLisa) December 20, 2015
Scarlett still my hands down favourite "I'd have my tinsel farted out by fairies" #Gogglebox
— Claire Malthouse (@ctwink) December 20, 2015
If I then wanted to write a tweet about gogglebox I could then include the hashtag and other people searching #gogglebox will then be able to see it.
This is me composing a tweet using #gogglebox
Once I have posted it it will then appear when you search #gogglebox and filter by 'live'
How can I use hashtags for my shop/ business/ blog etc?
There are many many ways in which you can use hashtags but some ways include...
1) Using hashtags to talk about big events, programmes etc which might interest your followers (for example #Gogglebox )
2) Many larger craft fairs, exhibitions and shows will have their own hashtag which you can use both if you are participating in the event or visiting the event
3) Twitter Promotional Hours and Twitter Chat Hours
etc
What is a Twitter Hour?
Twitter hours are a way to bring people together to discuss a specific topic or to cross promote and network.
The idea is that you set up a time (normally 1 hour) for people to tweet using a hashtag and during this hour they will be able to interact and see the tweet other people are sending in using this same hashtag.
Twitter Hours normally fall into two categories
1) Promotional Twitter Hours
2) Chat Twitter Hours
However, many promotional Twitter hours have a chat element.
Twitter Hour can be on any topic. For example, there are Twitter Hours for different health conditions so people can come together and discuss and support one another, there is a Chicken Hour for people who keep chickens and there are many Twitter Hours for those who run small businesses, blog and Twitter hours for different regions.
You can find out about some of the Twitter Hours useful if you are a crafter, creative or blogger here: http://thedorothydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/list-of-twitter-hours-for-crafters-and.html
How to participate in a Twitter Chat Hour?
Different chat hours are run in different ways but normally there is either...
a) No set format. You join in and start talking to other people who are tweeting using the same hashtag and there is no set theme or questions.
However, more commonly, there is either....
b)A theme/ discussion topic set for that week. For example if you were participating in a bloggers chat they might announce to say that the theme for that week is 'How to get more blog readers' and you would then talk about that topic
or,
b) Set questions that are tweeted out by the person/ account running the Twitter Hour. So if you were taking part in a bloggers chat about how to get more blog readers the person running the Twitter Hour might tweet saying "Do you find being active on social media helps get more blog readers". They usually will number the questions Q1 Q2 Q3 etc and then you tweet back using A1 A2 A3 etc so it doesn't get confusing which question/ topic you are responding to.
Here is an example from a recent Twitter chat for Lifestyle Bloggers. The person hosting the Twitter Hour that week tweeted saying
Q4: Do you sometimes stop blogging because you are busy with school/uni? #lbloggers
— Little Day Dreamer (@littledaydreame) December 20, 2015
This lady has then responded to the question by putting A4 (meaning answer to question 4)
@littledaydreame A4) sadly yeah, I often run out of time to blog/prep for blogging because of college work #lbloggers
— Isabelle Kate (@Isabellekategm) December 20, 2015
Notice how she has also included the hashtag #lbloggers (the hashtag for the Lifestyle Bloggers Twitter Hour) so her tweet/ response to the discussion topic will be seen by others participating in the chat.
How to participate in the Promotional Twitter Hour?
These are run to cross promote products, network with other people and businesses and get the word out about your shop/ business.
They still have a chat element and it is important to interact with other Tweeters rather than just pushing your own products.
There are many promotional Twitter hours for small businesses or regions and lots for handmade products. To join in, you would include the hashtag for the Twitter Hour in your own tweet.
For example, every Monday between 7.30 - 8.30pm it is #DorsetHour (Dorset is a county in England) so to join in you would include #DorsetHour in your tweets.
Here is one of the tweets I put out during that Tweet Hour. Other twitter users from Dorset who were also participating in the Twitter hour could then see my tweet about my new items.
I have been adding lots of new items to my shop this week https://t.co/u32jTeT2Ff #dorsetteam #dorsethour pic.twitter.com/heOx7YkPbJ
— The Dorothy Days (@thedorothydays) December 14, 2015
How do I communicate directly to someone?So now you know about hashtags and how you can use them to interact with a group of people or talk about a specific topic but what if you want to talk to one person (or a few people or mention someone in a Tweet (and want them to know about it!)?
This is really easy to do on Twitter and can be used without a hashtag or with.
You would just type @ and then the Twitter username (also known as a Twitter Handle). Mine is @thedorothydays
If you wanted to talk to me directly you would put my Twitter handle first in the tweet
For example:
If you didn't want to tweet/ talk to me directly but wanted me to know that you had mentioned me then you might instead put my twitter handle in the middle of the tweet. This will mean that everyone will be able to see the tweet and I will get notified that you mentioned me. ((Whereas putting the Twitter Handle first will not show the tweet to everyone on the Twitter feed, but please note it is still visible))
For example:
What is retweeting and what does retweeting do?
To retweet a tweet you click the 2 arrows under someone's tweet. This is called retweeting and it means that their tweet will then get shown to all of your followers. This is a great way to make your twitter page look more interesting as you can retweet people saying fun or interesting things. If someone does this to you it is also a great way to get your tweet seen by more people (as it gets shown to all their followers) and this often will also give you new followers.
Retweeting is one of the main ways in which promotional Twitter hours work as you retweet each other's tweets as a way of cross promoting.
If you have 100 followers and I have 150 followers and I send out a tweet and you then retweet it my tweet can potentially be seen by all of the followers that we both have so could reach 250 people rather than 150 people. If you were to retweet my tweet and then one of your followers retweets it who has 500 followers (for example), it could then potentially be seen by 500 plus 100 plus 150 followers which makes 750 people rather than just the 150 followers.
Top tips for Twitter Hours
- Interact with other people. It is a bit like going to a party or a networking event and speaking all night about yourself, other people will get bored and are less likely to tell their friends about your amazing products or want to come and talk to you! In both promotional hours and chat hours make sure you talk to other people. Reply if someone tweet you, comment on other people's tweets and if it is a promotional hour especially, make sure you retweet some of the tweets.
- Use photographs - it makes your tweets much more engaging.
- Find a Twitter Hour that suits you and what you want to talk about. There is something for everyone out there!
Hope this has helped explain some of the Twitter basics and the basics of joining in on a Twitter Hour.
If you have any questions or comments about this post please either tweet me or comment below on this blog post.
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Dorset Team Christmas Fair - Gift Guide for creatives!
Buying for a fellow creative can be super tricky. Lots of my friends are super talented creatives and I want to buy them some unique gifts this Christmas but it can be hard to find something so this week I have put together a gift guide for gifts for artists, makers, crafters and fellow Etsy sellers.
All the sellers who are featured in this collection will be selling their wares at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair in Wimborne on the 5th December as well as having their own online Etsy shops.
For more information about the event please see our event page Dorset Team Christmas Fair
1) Handmade Business Card Holder
William Morris once said “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”. These handmade business card holders by Sonia from Layoutlines tick both boxes!
Perfect for a friend who does lots of shows, fairs and events
Shop online at Layoutlines or visit Sonia's stall at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair
2) Bunting
Everyone loves bunting right?! I love this vintage style doily bunting by Anna from Tinker Temptress which has been made by crocheting. This would be a great gift for a creative friend who has a work room, studio or shedio!
Shop online at Tinker Temptress or at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair
3) Fabric Basket Organisers
Craft rooms deserve to look pretty too! These handmade fabric baskets are perfect for organising and storing craft materials, fabrics etc
Suzanne from Sunny Bunny Craft sells them in a range of different fabrics and sizes on her Etsy shop or come and browse Suzanne's stall at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair to see her latest makes!
4) Crafting Kit
If who your buying for crafts or makes for a living perhaps they would like to learn a new skill or craft to do for pleasure which is totally different from the craft they sell in their shop.
I particularly love this beading kit and tutorial by expert beader Lynn Davy. Not only does it have step by step instructions but there is everything you need to make one her designs.
Lynn has a beautiful online shop and will also be showcasing some of her prize winning designs as well as kits and jewellery for sale at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair. Lynn has recently written a book on beading which will be available to preview at the Christmas Fair and available on Amazon for pre-order. This would make a fantastic accompanying gift.
Hope this has given you some gift inspiration and hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog post!
All the makers in this blog post are Etsy sellers based in Dorset and stallholders at the Etsy Made Local Christmas Fair in Wimborne on the 5th December. Please come along and say hello and meet the sellers behind the shops.
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Bicycle - A short film by artist Dana Sink
Hey everyone,
Hope that you are all having a wonderful week so far. I thought today I would share with you all something a little different. I like to try and start my day by watching something creative, reading something inspiring or doing something creative myself that isn't related to the shop but rather just for total enjoyment and fun. I find it is a really positive and nice way to start the day!
I started my day today watching this short film which is just over a minute long. The film was made by Dana Sink who lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and has been shown at many different film and animation festivals.
Dana is also a painter who works in the medium of oils and his interpretations of space. You can find out more about Dana and his work here http://www.danasink.com
Bicycle from Dana Sink on Vimeo.
Hope that you enjoyed the video as much as I did.
How do you like to start your day?
Would love to hear, please either tweet me @thedorothydays (there is a Twitter box over ----> there on my blog) or leave me a comment in the comment section below.
Have a fantastic day!
The Dorothy Days X
Hope that you are all having a wonderful week so far. I thought today I would share with you all something a little different. I like to try and start my day by watching something creative, reading something inspiring or doing something creative myself that isn't related to the shop but rather just for total enjoyment and fun. I find it is a really positive and nice way to start the day!
I started my day today watching this short film which is just over a minute long. The film was made by Dana Sink who lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and has been shown at many different film and animation festivals.
Dana is also a painter who works in the medium of oils and his interpretations of space. You can find out more about Dana and his work here http://www.danasink.com
Bicycle from Dana Sink on Vimeo.
Hope that you enjoyed the video as much as I did.
How do you like to start your day?
Would love to hear, please either tweet me @thedorothydays (there is a Twitter box over ----> there on my blog) or leave me a comment in the comment section below.
Have a fantastic day!
The Dorothy Days X
Monday, 23 November 2015
Quote of the week - Bear Grylls
Hello everyone,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you are looking forward to the week ahead. My motivational quote of the week for this week comes from British adventurer Bear Grylls
"If you risk nothing, you gain nothing"
- Bear Grylls
What is your favourite motivational quote? Please let me know in the comments section below or tweet me @thedorothydays (tweet box on the right hand side of my blog)
The Dorothy Days
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you are looking forward to the week ahead. My motivational quote of the week for this week comes from British adventurer Bear Grylls
"If you risk nothing, you gain nothing"
- Bear Grylls
What is your favourite motivational quote? Please let me know in the comments section below or tweet me @thedorothydays (tweet box on the right hand side of my blog)
The Dorothy Days
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Featured Item - My new house key rings
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Today I wanted to share with you all some new products that went live in my Etsy shop this week.....
I have been working on making some new house key rings for my shop. I made and sold some of my house key rings a little while ago but they were popular and as they are all one of a kind, I almost sold out of them.
This week I have been busy making some new house key rings. The houses that I draw are based on the houses in my village and surrounding area. In my village all the cottages look very similar but each house has their own slightly different features. I wanted to try and keep with what traditionally you think of a house but also include all the little extras that make each house different. So, the key rings have different colour front doors, some houses are tall and skinny, some are wide, some have lots of windows and some have a few and some have flowers growing up the front or chimneys.
I really enjoyed making them and hope that you will all like them too.
To find them in my Etsy shop please take a look at my keyring section which can be found here: Keyring Section
Thanks for reading!
The Dorothy Days X
Saturday, 21 November 2015
Style Saturday - Christmas Styling
Hello everyone,
I am WAAAAAY too excited about Christmas so couldn't resist doing a blog post about Christmas styling today for my Style Saturday blog post.
I really like this collection as nothing is too obviously Christmas themed (well okay, maybe the Christmas tree!!). This means you can decorate and enjoy the decorations a little earlier in the year and it gives the house a lovely wintery feel.
This collection would also be fantastic if you live in a smaller house or flat so don't have space to store lots of Christmas decorations. The few added 'extras' such as the moose and reindeers that add the 'Christmas' into this collection could be packed away but the other elements could stay.
I love the minimalist, nordic style and use of traditional materials like the wood along with more modern and man made materials such as acrylic, steel and plastic.
This collection looks really warm and cosy and light and fresh at the same time. My favourites are the use of branches to make decorations for the table. How easy and simple is that to do but still super effective. I also love the big lampshade as it really completes the room!
The Dorothy Days X
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Name That Mouse!
 |
| Adorable Mouse Necklace by The Dorothy Days |
My little mouse necklace has been super popular this month so I decided it was about time that he had a name. I have had some wonderful suggestions on my Facebook page of what to call him but still can't decide which one to choose! Which name do you like the best? Please head over to my Facebook page and like the name you like the most https://www.facebook.com/thedorothydays/
At the end of the month the name with the most votes will become his official name!
Will he be a Brian, a Pipsqueak, a Norman or even a Sir Reginald Winston Chessington III?!
You can also find my mouse necklace in my Etsy shop
The Dorothy Days X
Monday, 16 November 2015
Beautiful time lapse of Dorset Coastline
Hello everyone,
Happy Monday :)
Today I wanted to share with you all this amazing video by Mattia Bicchi Photography. The video shows a time lapse of some of the most beautiful places in Dorset (the place that I am lucky to be able to call home!)
I know that I have quite a lot of readers from outside of the U.K *waves* (particularly from the U.S.A and Russia) so I thought it would be fun to show you a little glimpse of what Dorset is like.
Lulworth Cove is just a short drive away and has the most amazing little tea shops all the way down to the beach where you can buy cream teas and have a bite to eat. The beach itself is rugged which I love. Just along from Lulworth Cove is Durdle Door (the archway you see in the video) and from here you have the most spectacular views across the landscape before carefully climbing down the coastal path to the beach. In the summertime the beaches are a really relaxing place to come and enjoy the sunshine but my favourite time to visit the coast has to be in the Autumn and Winter where there is a chill in the air and the waves high and the beaches quiet. It is stunning. A few years across I waited at Durdle Door on the cliff edge for the sun to rise and took photographs. Such a beautiful and magical experience.
Feel so lucky to have this on my door step!
The film is by Mattia Bicchi who is an Italian born photographer who lives and works in London. He specialises in Time Lapse, Hyper Lapse, Architecture and Landscape photography. Find more about him and his work here: http://www.mattiabicchiphotography.com
The Dorothy Days X
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Paris - My thoughts are with you Xx
The weekend has been filled with such shock and sadness after the Paris attacks and news of other tragedies happening around the world. I really don't have any words. It has just been such a sad weekend.
I know quite a lot of you who read my blog are based in Paris so I just wanted to send my love and thoughts to you all and all of those affected.
Xx
 |
| Photo Credit: Jean Jullien |
Battle of the Christmas Ads!
Hello everyone!
Isn't it funny how most of the year we try we hover over 'skip' when an ad comes up on Youtube or we dash to the kitchen to grab a cup of tea when the adverts play on TV so we don't have to watch them or we have our hand ready on the remote so the moment that the programme goes to a break we can fast forwards through the adverts but a Christmas we look forward to seeing some of the adverts! We even find them on Youtube and share them on our social media and here I blogging about them!
Over the past few years there has been some really great and creative adverts (the John Lewis one with the penguins was one of my favourites!) and this year has been no exception.
Here are a few of the Christmas adverts for this year.....
Mulberry Advert
The nativity Mulberry style!
]
Cadbury Christmas Advert
Sainsbury Christmas Advert
Sainsbury has given me a blast from the past with this advert featuring Mog from the Children's book by Judith Kerr (who also wrote The Tiger Who Came To Tea). Judith herself can be seen in the advert as one of the neighbours. I think this is my favourite advert this year!
Harrods - Once Upon A Christmas - Festive mice!
John Lewis - Man on the Moon
John Lewis have gone for one that tugs on the heart strings with an acoustic cover version of Half the World Away (originally by Oasis). But....is it as good as last years penguins?! Would love to hear your thoughts!
Which is your favourite?! I think mine has to be Mog! :)
Isn't it funny how most of the year we try we hover over 'skip' when an ad comes up on Youtube or we dash to the kitchen to grab a cup of tea when the adverts play on TV so we don't have to watch them or we have our hand ready on the remote so the moment that the programme goes to a break we can fast forwards through the adverts but a Christmas we look forward to seeing some of the adverts! We even find them on Youtube and share them on our social media and here I blogging about them!
Over the past few years there has been some really great and creative adverts (the John Lewis one with the penguins was one of my favourites!) and this year has been no exception.
Here are a few of the Christmas adverts for this year.....
Mulberry Advert
The nativity Mulberry style!
]
Cadbury Christmas Advert
Sainsbury Christmas Advert
Sainsbury has given me a blast from the past with this advert featuring Mog from the Children's book by Judith Kerr (who also wrote The Tiger Who Came To Tea). Judith herself can be seen in the advert as one of the neighbours. I think this is my favourite advert this year!
Harrods - Once Upon A Christmas - Festive mice!
John Lewis - Man on the Moon
John Lewis have gone for one that tugs on the heart strings with an acoustic cover version of Half the World Away (originally by Oasis). But....is it as good as last years penguins?! Would love to hear your thoughts!
Which is your favourite?! I think mine has to be Mog! :)
Saturday, 14 November 2015
Christmas Gift Guide - Shopping for Children
Hello everyone!
As you have probably seen on my other social media accounts, I am super super excited about the Dorset Team Christmas Fair. I have been involved with the planning of the fair so have got to know quite a lot about the different stallholders and the products they will be selling so, for this week's Style Saturday post I wanted to share with you a gift guide I put together with some of my favourite products that are coming to the fair.
Not local to Dorset? Each of these sellers also sell online on Etsy.com so you can also shop online! Hooray!
Buying gifts for children can be rather tricky especially if you are not completely au fait with what the latest trends and 'must have' product is but why not get them something unique this Christmas that you won't find on the high street.
Anna from The Tired Bears makes the most amazing animal tails to help enable children's imagination and promote creative play. She says " A child's imagination is so vivid and need to be nurtured and encourage, and it is so easy to strap the dragon tail around their waist and all of a sudden they are a fire breathing monster!'
Find Anna's shop on The Tired Bears on Etsy
or, if you are local, please come along to the Dorset Team Christmas Fair on the 5th December and Anna will be bringing along her full range of different tails including unicorns, killer whales and sharks!
How adorable are these?! These circus bears are made by Claire from The Bear in the Hood. Claire also makes and sells personalised children's wear, hand knitted hats, nursery prints and teepee patterns so if you are looking for something a little different this Christmas her shop is a great place to have a look.
Find Claire's shop on Etsy Bear in the Hood
or come along to the Christmas Fair to see more of Claire's work
Get ready to welcome fairies into your home with this toadstool manor by Lizz from Mid Summer Lily.
The toadstool has been hand painted and would make a really lovely decor piece for a child's room. I have heard lots about parents using things like this as a way to comfort children who are struggling to sleep by knowing the fairies will be watching out for them.
Find Lizz on Etsy or at the Christmas Fair
I chose this as I remember the delight I had when I was younger and someone would buy me something with my name on it. It always felt super exciting and special. This print is something the child can treasure and keep when they grow up and is as much a gift for the parents as it is for the child.
Find Fizzy Lemonade on Etsy or at the Christmas Fair
Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed reading this post as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
The Dorothy Days X
Saturday, 7 November 2015
Gift Guide - Gifts for women from the Dorset Etsy Team
Hello everyone!
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far.
Now that November is here I know that lots of you are starting to do your Christmas shopping so I have decided to put together a series of gift guides to help you find the perfect gift. Where better to look for amazing sellers for my blog post than my local Etsy team, the Dorset Team?!
I love buying from independent sellers and even more so when they are local sellers too!
All of these sellers will be exhibiting their work at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair this year. I am heading there to do my Christmas shopping so if you are local please do come along and if you are not, please check out these Etsy sellers' amazing Etsy shops to purchase online.
They are all mini works of art. Lucy's shop is hugely popular so she releases her dolls in batches and they often sell out within a few hours.
Top tip: Follow Lucy on social media by searching The Cat in the Shoe to see when she will be releasing the next batch of beautiful dolls.
Find Lucy's Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecatintheshoe
If you are local to Dorset, Lucy will also be bringing her dolls along to the Dorset Team Christmas Fair in Wimborne on the 5th December. This provides a rare opportunity to see a large range of Lucy's dolls and purchase dolls that are super hard to get your hands on online!
Know someone who loves items from days gone by?!
This art deco style hair comb would add a touch of vintage glamour to an outfit.
Find Amy's Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DaydreamBridal
or visit her stall at the Christmas Fair in Dorset
These best friends from Dorset have a superb eye for colour and always have an eye catching stall.
This piece would make a fantastic gift for someone who is difficult to buy as they have everything....I am pretty sure they won't have an embroidered button art hoop in their collection ;) !
Find their Etsy shop Studio Pickles here https://www.etsy.com/shop/studiopickles or come and have a browse at their stall at the Christmas Fair if you are local
The ring was made by Katherine from Wildkat Jewellery who is based in Bournemouth, Dorset.
Katherine also makes beautiful wrap bracelets and her shop is well worth a browse!
You can find Katherine's Etsy shop or come and meet Katherine in person and browse her full range by coming to the Dorset Team Christmas Fair in Wimborne on the 5th December
Wildkat Jewellery
Hope you enjoyed this gift guide and it has given you some gift ideas for those who are a little more tricky to buy for! Please do take a browse in the shops of these amazing makers and hope to see some of you at the Dorset Team Christmas Fair!
Thanks for reading
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Dorset Team Christmas Fair in Wimborne - Part of the Etsy Made Local events
Hi everyone,
I know I have quite a lot of local readers *waves to you all* so I wanted to share with you all a fantastic event which is happening this December.
After the success of last year's Christmas Fair the Dorset Team are returning to Wimborne for their annual Christmas Fair.
The fair is being officially supported by Etsy and will feature 70+ local designers, makers, vintage sellers and craft supply sellers. This is the perfect place to pick up a unique gift that you won't find on the highstreet or beautiful crafting supplies to make your own Christmas gifts (I have already got my eye on a few things!).
The fair has some really great sellers with high quality products and there is something for every taste and budget.
Entry to the fair is FREE
Please put the date in your diary or, even better, head over to the Facebook Event Page and click 'going' or 'maybe' and Facebook will remind you that the event is on nearer the time.
I am really looking forwards to the event and doing my Christmas shopping from local makers and sellers!
The Dorothy Days Xx
Event Page for the Fair: https://www.facebook.com/events/866031100155674/
Saturday, 17 October 2015
Hello Autumn - Half Price Sale
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! Autumn is now in full swing so to celebrate I am offering 50% off of my pinecone necklaces.
The offer will last until Sunday and means that my pinecone necklaces are now just £2.50 instead of £5.00 and all will come with a organza gift bag too!
Shipping is just £1 for U.K buyers and slightly more for abroad.
They make a great end of week treat for yourself, a gift for a friend or even a stocking filler gift for Christmas
Please take a look at them in my shop here
Have a great weekend and thank you to everyone who has already purchased :).
Etsy Captain's Summit in Amsterdam 2015 - 10 things I learnt from the summit and being in Amsterdam
I have just got back from the most amazing and inspiring trip to Amsterdam for the Etsy Captain's Summit where I was representing the Dorset Team.
The trip was so full on, there was so much to take in but incredible at the same time!
Here are my top 10 things that I learnt at the summit...
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| Photo Credit : Nafsika who runs the most beautiful Etsy shop selling jewellery |
1) Talking to other Etsy Captains is really inspiring.
Wonderful to hear not only what they have achieved as team captains but also in their own businesses. Feeling super motivated after coming back to improve my own shop and ideas for running the Dorset Team too!
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| Photo Credit: Nafsika |
2) Etsy Admins and staff are pretty awesome!
All of them were so friendly and you can tell that they really cared about their work. Even to the point that several of them cried when we were doing the final goodbyes as they said they felt so inspired by the Etsy community AND not only that but lots of the Etsy staff and admin craft themselves (which in my eyes make them even cooler!) Anda who works for the design team brought to the summit her amazing crochet blanket which she worked on over the weekend (with her amazing glitter crochet hook!)
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| Photo Credit: Silja who is the captain of the Estonian team |
3) Amsterdam is full of bicycles!!
They are EVERYWHERE which is amazing but also makes crossing the road quite a scary experience. You have to watch out for cars, the tram AND about a dozen bicycles coming from all directions.
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| Photo Credit: Silja |
4) Etsy know a good cake! ;)
They provided us with so many yummy cakes throughout the summit including some on the last day which Annabel from Ka-ching Collectief informs me are from the best patisserie in Amsterdam!
5)Sometimes silence is good and often what you need to gather thoughts, reflect and gain the confidence to share your thoughts with the group. When in a group discussion situation you shouldn’t be afraid to have silence.
6)Etsy listens. We were able to feed back our ideas directly to the Etsy admin and they listened and seemed genuinely excited by some of the ideas we were coming up with! Can’t wait to see some of our ideas being made a reality and Etsy as a platform improving.
7)You can fit quite a few Etsy captains into a photo booth! (So much fun even if the photos didn’t come out too well!)
8)Amsterdam is actually pretty cold in Autumn. Lots of warming hot chocolates were needed!
9)Ideas sometimes come from the strangest places and often spark an even better idea. You know when you have some crazy idea which isn’t complete or your thoughts are everywhere so you don’t share it? Well I tried sharing a few of these and actually talking them through with other people and having their ideas about it made them become a ‘thing’. Yay for creative people working together.
10) I'm super proud of the Dorset Team, all the members and particularly thankful to all of those who volunteer their time to the team :). Made me feel super emotional thinking and reflecting on how much we have achieved as a group. Go us!
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