It’s all gone Digital….

So here we are almost at the end of 2020 and we find ourselves in very strange circumstances.

Back in January I had big plans for Olive Rose, I felt like I was finally finding my feet, the designs were flowing, the shows where booked and nothing could stop me……. ah wait……apart from a global pandemic.

We tried to make the best of it, follow the rules and just keep working away hoping it would only last a few weeks but……. IT…… JUST…… KEPT…… GOING. Full lockdown was in full swing and not only was I trying to manage Olive Rose (in it’s best year ever! - good one) I was also home schooling two little people and working from home for my day job (teaching maths). How on earth am I expected to stay creative with all that going on?!

Craft Festival Cheltenham in March had already been cancelled, and although I had considered organising a digital event, I just wasn’t up to it. As June approached we knew Craft Festival Bovey Tracey was going to be cancelled, but us creative types aren’t that easily beaten and Sarah James and her team got on it and arranged the first Digital Craft Festival. I remember getting a message from Sarah asking if I’d consider being involved and I think my response was HELL YES! My amazing (and creative himself) Husband (Mr ORJ) had been working away in lockdown to build me my very own garden studio and we had finished it just in time, so I was excited to show it off! Time to back into my creative groove and make some new jewellery.

I went Live almost all weekend, got my head around IGTV and took soooo many pictures and videos, I blinking well loved it. I had the most amazing response from all of you and the orders came in. Of course I missed being at the festival and the whole atmosphere but this was the next best thing. I must admit I liked being able to nip across the decking and make a cuppa whenever I liked and sleep in my own bed! It was a success (in my eyes) and we all learnt that when it all goes a bit wrong there is always another way!

Here we are again, 5 months on, still in varying levels of lockdown chaos, at the second Digital Craft Festival. Obviously we are all pro’s now and Sarah has pulled out all the stops to make this Digital Craft Festival even better than the first. There is so much planned over the weekend I can barely keep up! We have all been working hard creating new designs and collections and pre-recording lots of lovely and interesting content for you to all engage in. If you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet this is a ‘one stop shop’ for sure, everything you could ever want all made by hand by the most talented makers!

Digital does not come natural to many of us (me included) but if I’ve learnt one thing its that when times change you’ve got to evolve…….

Make sure you tune in to Instagram, Facebook and the Digital Craft Festival website and get involved.