Evangeline

I have been waiting in this morning for a special delivery.

A very special delivery.

A little something I treated myself to, to celebrate all the hard work I have done this year.

She is called Evangeline and she was created by the very fabulous Vanessa Cabban.
You may remember me mentioning her and this gorgeous little mouse in an earlier blog post.

Well I heard Vanessa was going to sell Evangeline in her Etsy shop. I had fallen in love with this little character the minute I'd seen it, so I cheekily emailed her to ask if I could buy her privately and she said YES!

So this morning she arrived, wrapped beautifully I might add.

And has found her new home, on the mantle piece, surveying all that goes on around her.

I wish I had time to have a little play myself and create something in papier mache....

....but for now I am happy that I have the beautiful Evangeline to own and cherish.

Thank you very much Vanessa.

Back to it!

So the last 2 days have been back to 'proper work' with a bump! There is so much to do and time is not on my side. The start of a New Year and a deadline already upon me - that being Top Drawer - a design led Trade show at Earl's Court in London on the 16th, 17th and 18th of January.

Bringing out new products is great and designing them is the best bit but of course my agents need to be supplied with new samples. I have spent the past day preparing all the samples and packs ready to be sent off - just waiting for the new catalogue, which arrives later today - then it's all systems go.

I'm trying to get as much prepared before the show as is humanly possible so I can send the orders out quickly. I am no where near where I wanted to be - not one pack of postcards is sat ready and waiting yet - there are just not enough hours in the day!

But the tape is checked, tagged and sat ready to go!

The display boards have come out of hiding and new ribbons will need to be attached to string up the cards and postcards. A little re-jig is needed but not such an immense job this time round as when I first did it, in preparation for Harrogate.

The dresser I bought a month or so ago will be given my full attention at the weekend - it will be used to display my tapes, place setting cards, notebooks and baskets of magnets and postcard packs.



So a busy few days gone and a few more in front of me!

But I wouldn't want it any other way!

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.