Lucy Howell
I would say that the pandemic really changed the direction I had initially planned for my business to go in, I'd been in contact with some craft shops around Yorkshire (as well as where my family are from in Cheshire) and I had intended to sort of work between the two places, supplemented by a few posts online. But obviously when lockdown hit these stores had to close and I decided to stay in Yorkshire.
Lucy Howell
The images I have included are of pieces I've made throughout lockdown.
I focused on building a website and social media presence in response to the situation which has been an amazing learning experience for me but definitely not what I had in mind when I first set up the shop. I started out with an Etsy shop but now have my own website www.saffronskies.co.uk and we have social media too (@saffronskiesgb on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok!). Everything is made from second hand and repurposed fabrics.
We have mainly done smaller pieces like hats, cushions and bags so far but I've been working on a few bigger clothing items (see the patchwork waistcoat images for an example) that I'm hoping to launch very soon!
I've ended up sending products all over the world including America and Australia which may not have been possible without the wonderful online art communities!
In short I would say: The pandemic made my initial business plans with craft stores and independent shops no longer possible, so I had to adapt to an online-based store. While this allowed me to put time and energy into developing a strong website for Saffron Skies and a social media presence (where I was able to reach customers all over the world!), I'm really looking forward to taking part in more local projects again through 2021.
