Devonshire October November 16

Letterbox
YOUR NEWS TO THE EDITOR - LETTERBOX@DEVONSHIREMAGAZINE.CO.UK
New horizons for family business
One year after relocating their
successful family furniture making
business from exotic Hawaii to
bucolic Axminster, Joshua Johansen
has realised his dream of building a
traditional English Shepherds Hut.
“We decided to move back to England
to be closer to family and so our
daughter could start primary
school here. While planning our
relocation and researching the area,
I fell in love with the history and
beauty of Shepherd Huts,” said
Joshua. Traditionally the huts were
used to provide shepherds with
practical accommodation during
the lambing season. They would
normally consist of a basic kitchen,
dining room, bedroom, sitting room
and storeroom, with an area for
orphaned or sick lambs under the
shepherds’ bed. “It was my dream
to not only build furniture, I wanted
to bring together my engineering,
fabricating and woodworking
skills to build a Shepherds Hut
that not only honours its history by
staying true to the original shape
and functionality, but is also a truly
beautiful and comfortable outside
space.
“Our huts are certainly an upgrade
for the shepherds of old. With a
hybrid steel and oak chassis and
wheels from our local foundry, it
has a very traditional look ‒ all you
need to add are the sheep!”
www.joshuaroseshepherdhuts.co.uk
10 years at the Salon
Based in the stunning location of
Sidmouth Esplanade, Julie Twigg and
the team at Seabrease are celebrating
10 years at the salon this year. “ I want
to say a big thank you to all our loyal
clients. Since establishing the salon
in 2006, the business has grown and
evolved. 10 years on, the business is still
here and we are extremely grateful to
our clients for the continued support
we receive. I’m lucky to have a superb
team who are all very passionate
about our treatments and the care of
our customers” said Julie. Seabrease
offer a full range of treatments and
use a top range of products. The salon
now also hosts regular skin clinics and
makeup workshops. What a fantastic
milestone, wishing the team all the
best for the future - Editor.
Visit: www.seabrease.co.uk
Crux Craft Fair’s 21st Year
Crux Craft Fair, now in its 21st year,
has built a reputation as one of
the best events in the South West,
showcasing contemporary craftwork.
This year’s show promises to be a
memorable occasion, with work
from over thirty makers. There
will be ceramics and jewellery,
textiles and artists’ prints, wooden
toys and vessels, leatherwork and
wirework, knitwear and basketry,
handmade soaps and other less
easily categorised things.
The fair has also become famous
for the quality of the café’s food
offerings - Tara and Anna of Two
Good Cooks, produce mouthwatering
lunches, delicious cakes
and snacks, and wonderful coffee.
Every year Crux supports a charity,
New Development Officer for HubCast
As part of Devonshire magazine’s longterm
commitment to the innovative
HubCast What’s On platform, we’ve
recently appointed Jenny Jones as
Development Officer to assist with
HubCast network growth across the
South West and beyond. Jenny’s role
will be to assist organisations get
the most out of the multi layered
and this year’s chosen organisation
is Luck of Birth, a tiny operation
started by Sam and Theo from
Totnes. After visiting the refugees in
Calais and taking aid to people there,
they are now based in Thessaloniki,
promotion that HubCast’s innovative
event promotion engine provides.
Great new developments coming
on stream this year are a county
level website for Devon (for use in
additional counties also), which will
gather information on major events
from across the existing 7 regional
websites in Devon.
in northern Greece. They are doing
what they can to support desperate
people there, focusing on vulnerable
women and children, and are giving
everything they have to making
a difference. Each stallholder at
Crux donates a piece of their work
for the raffle. www.luckofbirth.org
Rattery Village Hall has hosted the
show for many years, and is easily
reached from the A38.
Crux opens its doors on Friday
25th November from 4 -7pm, and
on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th
from 10 - 5pm. Rattery Village Hall
TQ10 9LD
Visit: www.cruxcraftfair.co.uk
Image Left: Taja (Crux Exhibitor)
10 years of volunteering
A volunteer celebrating 10 years of
working with the Mare and Foal
Sanctuary has been honoured by her
colleagues. Sandra Pitman began
volunteering in 2006 at the charity’s
shop in Dawlish after retiring, to keep
active and meet new people. As an
animal lover, Sandra is very happy
giving her time to help raise money to
go towards the care of rescued horses
and ponies. She said “I love it. I really
enjoy the company and having a chat
with the customers, and as this is a
tourist town, I really enjoy hearing all
the different accents. “My favourite
customer is a 90 year old lady who
brings us jigsaws. She always gives
them directly to me as she knows that
I will check them, to make sure that all
the pieces are there. I’ve never found
a piece missing.”
For most charities, volunteers are a
lifeline, dedicated and hard-working
people who donate their time and
skills to a cause they believe in, to
make a difference.
Email volunteers@mareandfoal.org for
more information about volunteering.
hubcast
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