Father's Day

Just a quick reminder!

Its 3 weeks to Father's Day - June 20th.

If you are looking for an unusual gift or an original card, you might want to visit the

dots and spots

Father's Day

page.

Vote for Me!!

Someone has very kindly (& anonymously!) nominated this blog for the:

So I need you to vote for me!

Click here

to visit the site and cast your vote

(scroll down the page to find dots and spots)

We think that our camper van

is pretty cool, but whilst your over at the Dorset Cereals site you can enter a competition to win the real camper van below. Now winning that, that would be cool!





Good Luck - and don't forget to vote for me!

Deadlines!!!

So as you can see, I've been making a right old mess in my studio. I have so much going on at the moment and there certainly doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. I love to be busy but hate it when I have deadlines looming and feel a little out of control!!

One project I've been working on, is the layout of the new dots and spots catalogue. We have so many new products now, that the old catalogue is very out of date. There are only so many extra sheets that can be added.

Dots and spots is very nearly 2 years old and it is very nearly a year now since I gave up my teaching job to concentrate on growing the business full time.



Sometimes I shock myself at the number of cards, postcards and quality products we now produce and supply to a variety of different outlets and shops.


This catalogue is to be 16 pages plus the cover in order to fit everything in.

If you would like a copy then please do email us your details and, as and when it arrives, hot off the press, we will send you a copy.

Just visit the 'contact us' page on our website to send us an email

There are a number of other projects I am working on simultaneously - updated order form, display ideas for our first BIG Trade Fair in Harrogate in July, designing new postcard ranges, beach hut wedding finishing touches and putting together our Christmas products!! Yes, you read that correctly it is only May but the media need Christmas product images already - quite tricky to remain focused while the sun shines.

A sneaky peak of what we will have to offer!

www.dotsandspots.co.uk

The dots and spots guide to the perfect sunny day

Don't forget to

Water your
Plants before leaving

Home. Choose your transport:

Camper Van or

Caravan. Head to the

Beach and build a

Sandcastle before buying an

Ice Cream.

And, at the end of the perfect day,

Sail away into the sunset, with the one that you

dots and spots

A well earned day off....

Today I treated myself to a little retail therapy in one of my favourite cities - Bath. I love it there and view it as a real treat. It seems ages since I last went child free and there were so many new things to see.

I have two or three 'must see' shops - one being Vinegar Hill, where I'm sure I spied some mugs designed by the very talented Snapdragon Jane.

Next on my 'must do' list was a visit to Cath Kidston. I still have vouchers from Christmas - you see how long it's been since I last visited, burning a hole in my pocket.


I treated myself to a red and white spotty beach towel in preparation for the long hot summer we are well overdue! Of course there where many other shops ticked off on route and I have come home with a 'comfy' yet stylish pair of shoes ready for my first trade fair in Harrogate this summer.

So all in all a very enjoyable but tiring day - must put my next visit on the calendar - make sure I don't leave it so long! If you would rather shop from the comfort of your own home, I can recommend a very good webshop for you to peruse!

www.dotsandspots.co.uk

A little taster....

I love it when I have the 'need' to create new designs. Some of my postcards are in need of re-printing, so I have a few spaces on the print run to fill with new designs and this is a little glimpse of what I have been up to!

I'm back off to my studio to complete the next 2 designs in this set -

'Hens and Bees!'

Have a lovely afternoon - the sun is shining here in Somerset - according to the paper today we are destined for a long hot summer, so bees a plenty in the garden.

How does your garden grow?

I LOVE my garden - it's not big but it's all mine!

Living in Boarding Schools for the past 7 years has allowed me to enjoy the vast grounds on offer but not a space I can call my own. We did have a roof terrace once that was accessed via the bathroom window but we were on full view of everyone and it was extremely dangerous with 2 young children. In our last school we had a corner of the playground, just big enough for a bench, a few pots and a paddling pool but every time the school bell rang we felt like exhibits in a zoo!

Then we moved to our current house, our 'own' house with our own private garden and haven't looked back.

I have the envious position of my studio being at the back of the house, looking out over the garden.

After this recent unseasonal cold spell, I've been peering out of my studio, doors firmly closed, wishing for warmer weather.



This morning the promised sunshine is shining - I've enjoyed my breakfast outside and had a wander around the garden looking at all it's promise for the month's ahead.


The clematis is beginning to flower.


The grasses are lush and green.


The prize Allium's are beginning to flower in all their glory. Must remember to keep my son and his football away until they flower fully!!


The tree is beginning to leaf but had a very heavy 'haircut' in the Autumn and I'm not holding out much hope of a lush, green canopy this year.


Enjoy your garden this weekend, where ever you are!

Congratulations to ...

The results are in, and I'm delighted to announce the 3 lucky winners of my notebook give away!

(Drum roll, please ! ...)

Congratulations to winnibriggs, who entered via the blog, and who suggested a 'Sew Inspiring' front cover.

The Facebook commenter who was first out of the hat was Claire Hurd - who would like to see a 'Beach Huts' cover for a holiday book.

And Tweeting their way to a notebook was nicsknots who suggested a sailing boat for the front of a future notebook.

An enormous "Thank You" for all who took part in the give away.

There were some great suggestions ranging from: 'James May' (!!!) to 'odds & sods' and including 'shopping' and 'cooking' - you've certainly given me lots of food for thought - now I'll have to start jotting down these ideas in a notebook ...!

notebooks

by

dots and spots

(If the three lucky winners could get in touch, and let me know which notebook they'd like - and where to send it - I'll pop your prize in the post)

Notebooks!

I'm delighted to announce that my brand new notebooks are now available!

Featuring 4 fun and vibrant designs, they are perfect for your notes, plans, sketches and secrets.

A5 in size, with 64 blank pages just waiting for your pen and pencil - these notebooks make writing fun!

To celebrate the launch of the dots and spots notebooks I've got 3 notebooks to give away. I'll pick 3 lucky winners at random - One from those who write a comment on this blog post, one to someone who comments on my Facebook Fan Page and one to someone who Tweets on Twitter.

To be entered into the prize draw, all you need to do is tell me what you'd like to see on the cover of the next notebook I design - so add your comment below now!

If you are Tweeting, just copy and paste this Tweet:

** I'd like to see a ????? on the next #dotsandspots notebook http://bit.ly/a6XxHr **

replacing the ????? with your idea and send your Tweet.

Give yourself 3 chances to win by entering the give away 3 times - via this blog, via my Facebook Fan Page and via Twitter.

Best of Luck!

Becky

Is it a bedroom, or is it a storeroom? Boxes of notebooks ready to ship!

Just For Girls

'Boys Only' - front and back.

Keep a note of how your garden grows!

'Stuff!' front and back. Who doesn't want a camper van?!

All 4 notebooks. What design should I do next? Tell me and you could win one of these great notebooks.

notebooks

by

dots and spots

Who'se your ...

Sorry! There's no escape from electionmania even here at dots and spots HQ.

One of our stockists, The Pod - with shops in Bristol, Cheltenham, and soon to be opening in Oxford - joined in the fun with their 'Party with the Party Leaders' store front displays.

This made the message clear!

But to be honest, we can't help but feeling that all politicians are pretty pants!

I don't think that these will be a Not on the High Street best seller!

Whoever you voted for, you can be sure of a bright and happy future with

dots and spots