Green Shoots ...

The skies are leaden, the wind is cold and the days are grey, but what's this?

The first green shoots are poking their brave heads out of the soil to let us know that Spring will come.

Tulips are my favourite and a bunch of tulips in an old jar or jug bring a splash of colour to the kitchen and remind of the sunny days to come.

Next time you're out and about why not treat yourself to a bunch of these colorful and versatile flowers - you're worth it!

Tulips

by

dots and spots

Personalised Valentine Cards

How will you tell your Valentine that you love them?

Whether its sent in secret, or you wear your heart on your sleeve, nothing says "I Love You - Be Mine" like a personalised Valentine Card from dots and spots.

Choose your own name or message, or take inspiration from the photos below to help Cupid keep his aim straight!

Personalised Valentines Cards

by dots and spots - discretion guaranteed!

Top Drawer

Sunday morning and it was up early for a trip to London to visit the Top Drawer Trade show, showcasing the designs and products that will be in all the very best shops this year.

It was also a great opportunity for me to personally meet up with a number of Blog followers, Facebook Fans and Twitter friends - the Internet is great and its been a real pleasure to get to know so many people online, but it was a real treat to meet up 'in the flesh' and put a real face to an Internet name! Some were exhibiting and some were buying and maybe one or two were visiting like me - for inspiration, but also with a view to exhibiting in the future.

Carpe Diem! Inspired by what I saw I have decided that dots and spots will hit the road this year and launch our first trade exhibition at the Home & Gift Show in Harrogate in July and to then join the wonderful exhibitors at next year's Top Drawer.

Below are a few photos from my visit, from some of the best, most inspiring exhibitors and I am very grateful to them for allowing me to photograph their stands. Why not pop over to their websites for a closer look at their wonderful, eclectic ranges.

pearl & earl

Sugalily

Sarah Hough

Poppy Treffry

Little Brown Rabbit

Snapdragon


design rocks

Alice Palace

... and After!

As promised, here are some 'After' shots of my re-modelled studio, featuring an extra work surface and more storage.

I do love IKEA!

No excuses now - time to get creative!

dots and spots

Before and ...

Perhaps its the snow. Perhaps it was not being able to get out and about, or perhaps it was just because it was too cold to sit still and work in my studio that I decided it was time for an overhaul.

So below I offer you a 'Before' picture, but alas I can't yet show you an 'After' picture as the overhaul is still very much a 'Work in Progress' - when the snow melts a dash to IKEA will be needed. So in the meantime I can only show the turmoil that is now my work-space!

However, the thermometer's rising, I've leafed through the catalogue - I hope to be able to show you the 'After' photo before too long!

Before

Work in Progress

dots and spots

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

After watching the rest of the country gripped in an icy embrace, the 'white stuff' finally fell on Somerset today, and boy did it fall!

Beautiful though it may be, it does mean the studio igloo lives up to its name and I'm not sure creativity and the cold are a good mix!

Here's looking forward to Spring!

dots and spots

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

from

dots and spots

We hope that your 2010 is filled with:

and peace

and it turns out to be a vintage year!

dots and spots