The Faberge Big Egg Hunt

How fab is this - a Great Big Egg Hunt across London.

There are over 200 eggs hidden around London for you to find - each egg has been created by some fabulous artists and designers. If you go to the Faberge Big Egg Hunt website you can read more about it and even bid for your favourite egg and all the money is going to charity.

Here are some of my favourites

Union Jack by Mark Shand

Busby by Rachel Waldron

The Birds Promise by Rob Ryan

Where's Wally? by Martin Handford

Now I need to see if I can get to London and spot some of these sp'egg'tacular creations before they disappear.

Fresh start

I do feel, at last that Spring may have sprung and the start of better weather is now ahead of me. A time to motivate myself on a personal fitness campaign. I have over the years settled at a weight/size that is not the best and have periodically given myself little targets that have passed me by - 'Thin by 40', 'Thin by Take That'. But I have 3 personal targets coming up over the next year to work towards and am determined to do better.

We live in the most beautiful part of the country and our house backs onto the most beautiful park, so I am going to start walking around it every day as part of my new fitness drive.

Sam kept me company today - we timed our fast paced walk up the back alley way

and then around Collett Park.

It is such a lovely park, well maintained and well used.

The duck pond is a beautiful backdrop and you can just make out the bandstand which visiting brass bands play at during the summer.

Our house is part of this terrace row that borders one side - truly lovely views.

So my half an hour walk is completed in the most beautiful of settings and with a little more focus and routine, I hope to make my daily walks something I look forward to and hopefully it will help shift a few of these stubborn pounds!

So a fresh start now Spring is well and truly here!

Have a lovely Sunday.

Mother's Day.....

....is fast approaching - Sunday March the 18th.

We have a selection of gifts and cards that I'm sure your Mum would love.

Our new MUM mug is already proving very popular.

Our mini notebooks are just right for your mum's bag or pocket.

Or you may like our mini gift packs, which include an A6 notebook, 2 postcards and a fab magnet.

Or our larger gift packs include an A5 notebook, 4 postcards and a fab magnet - this is good one for any garden fans. (just scroll to the bottom of the 'link' page)

Our bright, cheery magnets are a pocket money spend and would be the perfect little extra.

We have a fabulous choice of gift wrap with matching tags to wrap your Mum's gift in style.

Our postcards are a top drawer essential - and we have a huge selection of designs to chose from.

We also have a great selection of cards that are perfect for the occasion.

Make your Mum feel really special this Mother's Day with a dots and spots gift she'll love to receive.

Mugs

The mugs are now live on our website and available to buy

Click Here

Another milestone

September 2010 we moved the business out of the house and into local rented premises. It was the best decision we made.

We quickly outgrew our first unit ........

and in February half term, last year we moved everything next door into this larger space.

The week was spent making up shelving for a warehouse space and making a carpeted pick and pack area where we would work.

It was light and spacious and gave us plenty of space to grow (or so we thought!)

We celebrate our 1 year anniversary this week and it is frightening how quickly we are filling the space. I have spent the whole day over there, tidying up, moving things around - really working out how to maximise the little space that is left.

This was my area this time last year.

This is my space now!

The card wall - all clean and clear and uncluttered,

is now full to the brim - I will seriously have to think how many more designs I can introduce to our card range just because of available space.

The 'warehouse' area is full to the brim with boxes of stuff

and made up stock ready to be picked and packed for orders.

I went to Ikea and now have cube units on top of each other so that no space is wasted.

You realise just how many postcard designs we have when you see them all out on view like this.

And our tape remains a popular product.

Next on the list is a trip to the tip

And I dream of more space!!!!!!!

Who knows where we will be this time next year!

MUG GIVEAWAY - WINNERS!

Yesterday, midday I posted my blog post about the mug giveaway. By yesterday evening there were over 100 entries so I made the decision to stop it at 6pm today and all I can say is a huge thank you to all of you who have entered.

Sophie has been jotting down all the names as of yesterday evening and has been excitedly watching as more entries 'ping' through. We added in the few comments from facebook and the odd tweet from people who had difficulties leaving a comment here on the blog - well over 200 comments.

Bless her, I don't think Sophie for one minute, thought there would be so many entries - she might not be so keen to offer to help next time.

As we had so many entries we have decided to pick 2 winners.

The first......

pulled out by Sam is........

Caroline - Little Paper Gallery

Your top choice - the 'Star' mug will be coming your way.

Our second winner, pulled out by Sophie is.......

Mary Poppins

Your top choice - the 'Dad' mug will be coming to you.

If the two lucky winners could email over their address details to info@dotsandspots.co.uk then I can get these in the post to you.

The mugs will go live on our website late Saturday, early Sunday

A really heartfelt thank you to all of you who entered - much appreciated, am just sorry I can't send you all one.