Stocking up and reflection....

So we are fast approaching the Easter holiday's and while I have had some child free time I have been busy stocking up. I made some more fabric boxes having had a small order in from some Easter boxes for egg hunts with some cute little chicks on the front...what a great idea, wish it was mine!!!
My little fabric lavender filled boats... always great to be making as the sun comes out and I dream of long sunny days by the beach...
Oh how I love selecting the fabric for these, I usually use linen as I like the way it drapes but this time I have used some different cotton's having done a little fabric shopping... you know how it is you have to use the fabric you just got... right... or is that just me!!!
My seaside bunting makeup bags have sold so well, I am really pleased with these and thankful that I took the time to pay attention to detail when placing the zip in these and the pretty lining, you just can not go wrong with spotty dotty fabric...
With the sun coming out we are back to using the garden as our new room and eating as many meals out as possible, when we awoke to a super hot day on Sunday we treated ourselves to some tasty treats for breakfast whilst we soaked up the sun, still our PJs!
Can you tell I am typing in a hurry, busy I am, getting ready for a break, taking the boys to the place they love best... you guessed... we are off to the beach for a few days to our little beach shack, eating ice cream, long walks down the beach and evenings around the fire with friends...
So I leave you for a week, my camera is packed and I cant wait to capture some memories. My knitting bag is stuffed with more projects than I can possibly manage, and as I have done so much sewing this past week I am not going to take my sewing machine with me, but I look forward to coming back and making up all the beach inspired creations.

I leave you with a photo, a photo I love, it holds so many memories for me, the place and time it is taken, of course who the picture is of, its my youngest, my little long haired surf dude... sadly for Mom the curls are all gone now, I miss them so, but I have to admit the squeals of pain as I combed out the sand filled locks was something close to torture, which might explain the rather annoyed look...

What ever you are up to this Easter, I wish you only the best, a time spent being with your family, surrounded by those that you love and love you back, and maybe you to will be blessed with some time in your favourite place....May the sun shine...please!

Baby Doll...

Out of my comfort zone this week. I have been asked about fabric dolls, not for children to play with more of a nice thing to have on display, its news to me but apparently fabric dolls are the 'in' thing. Following on from the sock monkey trend little fabric dolls with lots of attitude are very desired. I live near Hebden Bridge which is a lovely market town filled with lots of beautiful individual small shops with a very arty bohemian feel to it. I love the place. A shop has asked about dolls...Mmmmm not to be beaten by this I had a play, I researched the net I read my book from the lovely Wee Wonderfuls and thought... I can do this... SO I drew up a pattern, which has been redrawn many times now, nearly there I think... oh lots of cursing went on and seams ripped and re-sewn. Finally I would like to introduce you to JENNY. She is a very happy doll and really likes the simple things in life, she is especially enjoying the warmer days and finding time to sip tea in the garden...
She is a bit shy of those long skinny legs and likes to put on pretty dresses to cover them up a little, a vintage girl so her clothes have lots of lace and pretty buttons on them.
Jenny's best friend is her little felt dog called Scotty. After a day of walking her dog through the daffodils she likes to relax in the evening, she is a bit 'saucy' as she lounges around in her ribbon undies... after all her pretty dress is only worn for best!!!

A little more work is needed I think. I think I need to enlarge the pattern a little so the turning of the body with all those skinny arms and legs is a little easier and I need to change (once again) the position of her arms, a little higher and at more of an angle. Ideally I would like to give her a more defined neck, but this is proving near on impossible and on looking at other doll designers this is something that is a case of 'that's how it is' well if its good enough for them it is for me too. All in all I am pleased with Jenny. But she is a little shy and I am a little scared to show her off.

I hope Mothers Day was a good day. I sadly did not have my boys with me, but after a week of birthday celebrations we have had lots of fun this week. We went to see 'John Carter' a great fantasy film, I think I enjoyed it more than my children. Rosy the pup is not speaking to us after we had her spayed, she looks so sorry for herself at the moment.
I leave you with a beautiful picture of my Mothers Day flowers (actually they had been bought for my Mum but she didn't have time to see me, so they are now on my kitchen window looking stunning and the smell is filling my home beautifully.

Thank you for all your positive comments last week, I am very touched by them, My meetings came to nothing due to a waiting list to get on a college course for small business/start up advice... I have been given another date, in four weeks!

Dog pattern came form the very talented All Sorts.

put the kettle on and catch up...cup of tea?

Its one in the morning here and the house is all silent except for the gentle hum of the freezer... my puppy sleeps at my feet ensuring they are cosy and warm. Its been a busy week here at the Dotty Red Household and I am pleased we are now on to the weekend. As I sit at my kitchen table with my big mug of Lady Grey sporting my rather posh new Cath Kidston apron, which was a treat to myself having wanted one for over four years and is making me HAPPY! My thoughts run through the week past and start to plan the week ahead...
At the moment my life is full of plans for the future and its direction. A lot of a planning and research is going on at the moment and seeing if things finally come off and next week some meetings take place to take this research onto the next level. Its exciting and full of anxiety all at the same time. Next to this is completing my studies and my time spent working as a teaching assistant. I adore my hours in school and I am working with a teacher who is allowing me to concentrate on the creative side with the children and I come home very happy and covered in paint. How can I explain the thrill I get as I watch these very little people learn to draw and paint, mix colours and see their excitement when they turn red and white into pink, the work is truly inspiring...
So I have a decision to make in the coming months, do I sew for a living and come away from being a hobby and actually make it my family way of life that puts food on the table or do I follow the teaching assistant path. The decision I think will be made for me as due to all the education cuts its the Teachers Assistants jobs that have been cut. My college have talked to me about continuing my studies to a foundation degree, whilst I would love to commit to this on so many levels MONEY and CHILDCARE stop me. I have to put that food on the table NOW not in four years, the advantage of the course... a stable and secure career in teaching, if there are any jobs at the end of it!!!
Its a dilemma for sure and far to serious for this small hour in the morning. The reflection of the past week is a good one, it was a week of success and getting things done...
Working on a new range of tea pot cosies, watching them grow from the idea of a friend of mine who wanted one to making a lovely pile of them, selecting all the fabrics and matching them up, cutting out little bits and putting it all together...
The joy this brings never stops making me smile, tweaking out any little problems, finding the right wadding and how big or small to make the loop... then suddenly it all falls in place and satisfaction is bliss...
Whilst I have sewn I have allowed my thoughts to wonder back to my holiday...
I am still carrying the feeling of contentment this week brought to my family. A few new little routines have been put in place and we rediscovered our time together, the boys and me, so much more enjoyable without all the modern stuff, the computer games and the Nintendo. Drawing and reading an hour before bedtime, long walks with the dog, family bath times full of silliness and of course cookie making....
COOKIE MAKING. I always used to bake cookies for my kids, but life changes and things stop, to rediscover this simple pleasure enriched now as the kids do most of the baking, and it is me that sits tapping my fingers waiting for the cookie to come out the oven and be the first to eat one.
Memories of the beautiful cottage, sweet and pretty have made me take time to clear and tidy up my own home. It was a break that made me slow down and take stock and see things for what they are instead of thundering through life, its left not just me but the boys too with a new rhythm and new appreciation of what we know is important to us and that is our precious time together.
So the thoughts to the week ahead... well its birthday week here, both boys a day apart (plus four years and two minutes) so plans are being made, presents being bought and made secretly in the evenings...
Birthdays are such special times, I think for the children it is filled with great excitement but for the Moms its a time when you stop and look at the stage your child is at. One birthday marks a change...as my little boy, my first born, turns into a teenager. As we sit together in the evenings when the littlest one is asleep, I know now that this is not a time to fear, it enriches us, he doesn't need me as much as he did, he is capable and balanced. (Most of the time)! Our time is now spent talking, as he questions everything, he laughs too at his silly Mom who gets her knickers in a twist and he helps me see the funny side of our life. He is a support, a helper and my friend. Sometimes when the going gets tough it is him that gives out the hugs and that fills my heart to bursting...

Have a fabulous weekend.

Pictures: (1-7) tea pot cosies and a small selection of my china cups, yes I am a collector!!! (7-13) pictures from our holiday away in our cosy cottage with a sprinkling of snow on top...oh yes and the flying dog!!!

NB: All cosies gone to new homes. Thank you :)