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 ...!

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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.

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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

2 Years and 400 yo -yo's!

Because she won't blow her own trumpet, I'll do it for her - the artist and a good friend of mine, Sharon McEwen Moore, has just completed the most beautiful quilt you can see below.

Each 'yo-yo' is individually hand made, before being stitched onto the quilt. 400 yo-yo's - each a mini masterpiece in its own right - were used to make the beautiful finished item, taking two years of patience and needlework!

I'm lucky enough to own one of Sharon's smaller pieces - a beautiful cushion that is a constant reminder of our friendship and which has pride of place in my home.

Sharon truly is a talented artist, I would have neither the skills nor the patience to produce such items that do deserve to be described as works of art.

A close up to show some of the yo-yo's in detail.

My own McEwen Moore Masterpiece!

Not only is Sharon a creative artist, she is also an imaginative, creative and talented Early Years teacher and you can read her blog here

And you can follow her on Twitter, too!

dots and spots

What the difference a day makes ...

... 24 little hours.

Garden in the sun

Garden in the rain

Gloomy! Lets hope today's rain is only a blip and that the sun will soon be back, but I must confess the rain's been good for the garden and I've got a whole lot more work done!

Bright, contemporary collage printed designs