Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

from

dots and spots.

Many thanks for your interest, support and custom throughout 2009.

Wishing you a very happy holiday, and hope to see you again in 2010!

Becky

dots and spots

Rockin' Robin!

These robins have proved to be a great seller this Christmas - I'm not surprised, I first bought one for myself because I loved them so much and then decided to stock them in our polka dot spot shop.

Hand made in Cornwall by artist Kirsty Elson, each robin is unique, made from fabric and perches jauntily on a cinnamon stick. A robin is not just for Christmas and my birds have now found permanent perches in my home.

The robins are just one of the many beautiful things that Kirsty designs and creates. Why not hop over to her blog "sixty one A" to see some of her other work - you wont be disappointed!

Keep an eye out - in the New Year we hope to be stocking more of Kirsty's wonderful designs.

rockin robins

created by

Kirsty Elson

brought to you by

dots and spots

Its a wrap!

I don't (yet) produce my own wrapping paper - its an idea I keep returning to though, I'd love to produce my own wrapping paper. 2 problems to solve: one storage and the other cost - being able to produce it at a price that you'd be happy to buy it from me! Anyway, who knows, maybe next year ...?!

But I do love wrapping presents - you spend time choosing that perfect gift, the perfect gift that demands equal attention and care in its presentation.

So here are my five top tips for wrapping presents:

1. Space - clear the table, gather your tools: paper, scissors and tape.
2. Paper - choose a good selection of papers, but always, always include a red and white spotty paper. Christmas is red and white.
3. Boxes - gather together a collection of boxes for those odd shaped presents. So much easier to wrap this way.
4. Trimmings - make sure you have some beautiful ribbon and great gift tags to add that finishing touch.
5. Festive music - it doesn't matter if Noddy Holder & Slade are your 'thing' or the more relaxed charms of 'Carols from Kings', turn the music up and enjoy yourself!

Merry Christmas!

dots and spots

Christmas!

There's nothing I'd like more than to invite you round to dots and spots HQ to share a Christmas drink, a mince pie and a good natter - but, alas, that's not practical.

So here's the next best thing - a quick tour around dots and spots HQ, dressed up in its Christmas best!

dots and spots

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

A Brief History

Each year I make the family Christmas card with my children and each year I like to look back over the cards we've made together over the years, seeing not only how the designs have developed over the years, but also how the children's writing inside the cards has matured with the passing of time.

For the fourth year, and ever since, I have had the cards professionally printed - by the printers who now produce all the dots and spots printed goods - and I included a picture of my two children on the back of the card, an action shot of the two of them creating the artwork for the card. (Here's a little tip for you if you decide to do this yourself: having this picture printed on the back of the card adds nothing to the printing costs as all the printing is still only on one side - it only appears on the back because the card is folded in half.)

Below is a collection of the children's cards, beginning with the first ever - a potato print robin - through to this years pair of snowmen.

Bringing back so many memories, I love them all - which is your favourite?

Christmas, by dots and spots

Lasso the Moon

The internet is a wonderful thing - it provides the opportunity for small, but talented, businesses and individuals to reach a wide audience and it allows you, the surfer, to find those special, uniqe and personal items that mean so much. No longer do we need to be at the mercy of the big multi-nationals, churning out mass produced goods - never has it been easier to find those items that define your style and proclaim your taste.

Not on The High Street was amongst the first to bring us those personal and unique products - under their strap line of "One basket, hundreds of unique shops" and it remains a one stop store showcasing talent and creativity. I first discovered Not on the High Street as a shopper, long before joining as a partner to sell my dots and spots range with them, and I still enjoy browsing through their many wonderful items.

Another, new, similar website that I think you'd enjoy visiting is Lasso the Moon - a collection of "fabulous gift ideas all made with heart and soul by our favourite designers and makers." The clean lines and simple, effective navigation make this website a joy to browse and you're sure to find many gorgeous products on its pages. It does not have as many lines as Not on the High Street - but this can be an advantage, one is almost spoilt for choice on NOTHS, Lasso the Moon have definitely gone for quality over quantity. Why not visit it and see what you think!

Now, I must confess an interest, as I have just recently teamed up with Lasso the Moon and you can find the dots and spots range there too. But just like with NOTHS, I was a customer first and was so delighted with the service and other items on offer, I was happy to join "Lasso" - I'm sure you'll enjoy shopping there too!

dots and spots

Advent Garland

A happy and exciting morning spent putting up the

advent garland!

Stairs are perfect for stringing a green garland - interlaced with red berries and white lights and with 24 little white buckets containing goodies to be opened - 1 a day - in December as the Christmas excitement and expectation builds to a crescendo.

I just LOVE Christmas!

dots and spots

for your

Christmas Cards

Have you received yours yet?

Your dots and spots package, that is?

As much care goes into packaging and preparing your dots and spots order for posting as goes into into its creation. Receiving a package from the post man is always a thrill and at dots and spots we feel a delivery demands the dots and spots treatment on the outside, as well as on the inside. Each parcel is carefully packed before being 'brightened up' in that unique dots and spots way, so you'll be sure to know who its from even before you open it!

dots and spots

November Give Away

The draw has taken place for the November dots and spots give away.

Watch the video to see if you are the lucky winner (or runner up - we had so many entries we thought it only fair to offer a couple of runner up prizes, each winning a pack 4 Christmas cards.)

Not your lucky day? Keep looking out for the dots and spots December give away, next time it might be you!

See the full range of dots and spots

Christmas Cards.

dots and spots

Helping you get ready for that perfect Christmas.

Its Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas!

My 'Washing Line of Love' personalised cards and prints have proven to be such a success that I have launched a range of personalised Christmas cards. Snow has fallen all around the washing line, a robin sits on top, with presents and holly underneath, setting a fantastic festive scene.

You choose your own message - "Christmas" and "Ho, Ho, Ho" look great, or alternatively choose your child's name to send them a truly original and unique Christmas card.

dots and spots for

original Christmas cards

Thank You For Shopping with dots and spots

I've been happily shut away in my studio creating these new "Thank You for shopping with dots and spots" cards to pop in with every purchase from dots and spots.

Whether its bunting, ribbon, cards or a robin, everything gets packaged and dispatched with the same loving care and attention that went into its creation.

dots and spots

for

shabby chic gifts and cards

Mid-November means 'Carnival Time' in Somerset and Monday night saw a long line of gaudy floats begin to line up outside dots and spots HQ. Dawn broke to a misty morning, revealing a collection of carnival floats snaking up the road as far as the eye could see.

But it is when night falls that the magic and spectacle of 'Carnival' comes to life as float after float parades through the town, lights blazing, music blasting and dancers dancing. dots and spots would like to salute all those volunteers who give so much of their time to bring a unique and vivid spectacle to the towns and villages of Somerset in the dark, damp month of November.

You can see more carnival photos by clicking here

***

dots and spots