New for the New Year!

I went back to work 'properly' today - well I started to get into work mode and whilst having my coffee I flicked through the recent copy of Greetings Today and there we were - page 43!

What a nice surprise!

So I thought I would share with you what's new for the New Year!

Firstly, cards - 12 new designs for every occasion.

Secondly, postcards - 2 new sets for children, perfect for thank you's, invites or just a way to say hello.

Thirdly, the very popular decorative tape.

We have added 3 new designs to our wide tape - hens, lovebirds and baubles and have introduced a new thinner tape - bunting, spooky, cupcakes, sweets and of course more spots!

Our place setting cards proved to be very popular last year, so we have come up with 8 new designs to choose from.

And don't forget our new magnets and stickers - which were supposed to be unveiled in the New Year but I wanted to show them off the minute I got them, so introduced them to you just before Christmas!

All the Christmas cards designs for 2011 are already done and printed!!!!

So now it's starting on all the new ideas, products and designs to be unveiled mid year!

My mind is whirling - no wonder I find it hard to sleep!

Just click on the image and it will take you directly to the correct website page so you can have a closer look!

A year of dots and spots

So it's a new year, I've shared a year in the dots and spots home and now I thought I'd take an opportunity to look back through the dots and spots year and see just how much we have achieved!

Wow! What a lot!

January

February saw us launch another range of cards - of course one for Valentines!

March is of course for Mother's day.

April saw me working on a range of Owl posters - a perfect addition for any child's bedroom.



And of course our decorative tape - which has proved to be a very popular dots and spots product.


May - I had the opportunity to visit the printers and see all my dots and spots goodies in production. Such an incredible insight.



I brought out 3 new ranges of postcards ....


.... and a range of notebooks.


June saw me complete my beach hut wedding commission...




.... and bring out a new, updated catalogue
(our new version will arrive next week!)



July was a major time for dots and spots when we exhibited at our first Trade fair in Harrogate. We have not stopped from that day forward!



August saw us move into premises locally, as we finally agreed that dots and spots had all got too much for our little house. There are only so many boxes you can home at the end of your bed!



So Jeff spent the remaining days of his summer holiday in Ikea cube unit hell!

September was very busy, fulfilling all our show orders, working our way through numerous trade orders brought in by our new agents.

October - whilst busy with orders day to day, behind the scenes I was busy designing new products - our new sticker sets for boys and girls.

Our new fridge magnets are already proving to be very popular.

In November we felt very grown up and changed our postal system to online- which during the busy Christmas period was a huge time saver.

I continued to work on new tape designs which are now on sale on our website.

December has pretty much been a blur - busy with orders and preparations for our next big Trade show in January. Lots of work has been going on behind the scenes and I will fill you in on all our new designs next time. I'm busy preparing envelopes for our new catalogue to be sent out, boxes of samples filled with all our new goodies for our Agents and Jeff has been busy getting everything on the website

So, what a busy year 2010 was and 2011 I hope, will be more of the same. We have our big London Trade show - Top Drawer in just 2 weeks time - eek!

I am already working with the printers on our wrap and tag range which I have been promising retailers for over a year now. Space was always an excuse but latterly it has quite simply been time.

I have some other product ideas in the pipeline plus continuing to update and keep fresh what we already do!
So it does look like a busy time ahead and of course I promise to keep you all updated with regular posts here!

Wow! What a year 2010 was.....

....roll on 2011!

A year in the dots and spots home

A year in photo's around the dots and spots home!

January - started the year afresh with a studio re-organisation.

February - one of my favourite hearts

March - Mother's day

and I'm now the proud owner of some Moobaacluck, hand painted bunting

April - Easter time

May - The garden beginning to green up!


June - a posy of blossom from my son (What did he want)


July - a studio with a view


August - holidays


September - the sunflower


October - beautiful Autumnal colours


November - start of the cold stuff


December - here comes the snow


Christmas - and the end of 2010 and the start of a New Year.

Today the tree comes down - New Year's Day and a clean and fresh start. I'm putting off the enviable task by writing this blog - better get on with it.

Have a fatastic, happy and healthy New Year.

Happy New Year!

Well I can not believe that 2010 is coming to an end - it's been a very good year for dots and spots, me personally and the whole family! I have been very lucky to have the support of my family and appreciate all the help and advice that has come my way, particularly my husband - Jeff.

I have a lot to look forward to in the New year - the good side of turning 40 is that I have my night with Take That booked in June!! and my one and only New Years Resolution is to be Thin by Take That! It had been thin by 40! but as that has now passed me by...

So all it leaves me to say is, Thank You for your custom, interest and support throughout the year and I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

Tidying up for the end of the year

I have spent the day in my studio - looking out at the grey, miserable sorry for it's self, garden! It always looks it's worst at this time of year. I've been tidying up all the loose ends of 2010 - paying outstanding bills, packaging up post Christmas orders and turning my attention to list making! So many things to do in 2011.

I also took a moment to look back through my blog and when I got to this photo, I stopped and sighed. This photo was taken at the end of April this year - hard to think that in 4 months time the garden could be looking like this again - fresh and green and with the promise of some warmer days ahead.
Roll on Spring!

Christmas at the Peabody's

So at last, the day we'd all been waiting for - at a very reasonable 7.00am, we were all downstairs opening presents and at last 3 members of the family were very happy to get a Wii!

Father Christmas was very good to us all again this year.

The table was set for 7 and although I say so myself Christmas dinner was delicious!


Everyone has now gone home, we've cleared a little space, the Wii has been 'activated' and I'm now in for a very quiet few days as they all fight it out to win! I'm taking today and tomorrow off completely, then I'll disappear and do some jobs towards Top Drawer - a large design led trade fair in London in mid January.

I've had a little tidy up using our fab Pudding bin bags! and had a little look through the gifts I've received - it's always a blur on the actual day.

I am now a the proud owner of a fancy phone - I'm so not a gadget/ technological person so I am being given a lesson later today (probably by my 8year old!) on how to use it.

I was also very lucky to receive the Julie Arkell book and some spotty bits and pieces - of course!

So I will sign off and wish you all a continued happy Christmas and start focusing on New Year and the dreaded resolutions I make and never find time to do!.