Just foxing around!

 Busy... ha! Life is going at a fast pace at the moment and the 'to do' list is just getting longer but I am really finding my rhythm.  For the first time in a while I feel in control, yet realistically my security is far from - well secure.  Since I last popped in here big changes have taken place at the home of Dotty Red. Very exciting changes. Dotty Red is now a full time business. The seed was planted here over a year ago and over the months that seed has shooted and grown in to an exciting venture.

 I long to have my own little shop, I know just how I would have it, down to the wall paper, the window display and a big bucket of fresh flowers on the counter (this is something from my past, as I qualified as a florist many many years ago I have a need for fresh flowers around me) but this is just a dream at the moment, as a single Mom, I still need to around for my children or at least earn enough to pay for childcare, so this is my option and right now, in this moment, its thrilling.

 I have had support from a business adviser and after many hours of sums and speculation we got to the stage of 'Just why are you not doing it'? I have to admit to being a little intimidated by all the paper work and lots of brown envelopes arrive through my door at the moment.

Well here I am and I have to thank you.  For the lack of my posting and you still stick by me, I appreciate that so much. The emails I have had have really helped me on my journey.  Blog land is just the most supportive community. Its a great place to share and inspire. I have watched a few of my favourite bloggers move from hobby to business and it has been wonderful to watch the challenges they over come but mostly the life balance it offers.

But here I am at my computer gone mid night, with a bowl of porridge to stop my late night tummy rumbles and I still have an hour of sewing a head of me.  I guess no one said it would be easy!!!

PHOTO'S: Fox and Owl autumnal cushions, using vintage fabrics and buttons collected throughout the summer at various vintage fairs. A big fluffy feather pillow inner to give it that extra 'squish' appeal.

What you been doing...

 Utter madness here, I have neglected you so much and I am ashamed, ashamed I said...Because I am still not back, just popping by to have a cuppa with you and a quick catch up.  Funny I have noticed a lot of bloggers really slow down this summer.  Maybe its the lack of sunshine we have had.

 Anyway I have been, and in fact still on, a path of discover and I am stretching myself more than I have done in years, its scary but also kinda exciting and along the way I have met some fabulous people. Also some not so nice people but the least said about that the better. All those plans made last year, well its happening now.

I have found new beaches to walk along, great big stretches of beach filled with pebbles that go on and on for miles, and indeed I and my little family (my boys and the doggy) walked them...The summer has given us some precious memories despite all the changes and challenges but discovering a new beach is such a gift.

 Managing a business at home around the children is no easy task, but we are doing well, and the boys are my biggest fans, which is such a great feeling.

 My home is still up for sale which gives us all an unsettled feeling but we are blessed, we are warm and cosy and life is good. As the leaves turn and fall as we move into another season, we are closer now as a family than ever.

Oh yes...Its CHRISTMAS!!! I know its not, we still have three months but on the sewing front, its happening right now in my studio and every other room my sewing travels into.

 I miss this place so much, I love the friendliness of it all, the support and the beautiful inspiration. The top of my to do list is to get back to regular blogging, my space the space I am me! Soon... soon.

Excuses Excuses...

 How many times is it decent to excuse yourself for not blogging.  My only saving grace is I have noticed there are many of my fav. bloggers slowing down the posts whilst the little people are on holiday.

 This is my first summer as a Mom with her children at home trying to work, getting the balance between play, family, entertaining, eating and work is no easy task.  No day up on day at the beach this year, as soon as I start to get finished I have more to do, oh don't get me wrong this is not a complaint, but some beach time would be fun.

The boys and I are getting our rhythm, Mom works in the morning whilst they play, then its a family brunch and out for the afternoon. Yummy food and play time in the evening.  Once the guys are in bed its time for some more work.

 Yes indeed we have found a happy flow to this little family life and some sunshine has meant meals outside and splashing in the paddling pool.

So I just wanted to say hello and explain my lack of interaction, its busy here and my little business is nearly on its feet, a few more bits to organise and I will be ready for 'full on work' mode just in time for the children retuning to school.  I thank you for sharing this venture with me, its scary and some big lifestyle changes have had to take place. Life moves on and changes are always part of life, I struggle now to take time out to smell the coffee but I always have time to listen to what my kids have to say to me and always have time for a cuddle with them. 

I hope your summer is fabulous and the rain isn't spoiling it to much. Thanks for popping by and normal blogging will resume in just a couple of weeks, which is just as well as I have so much to share, I have met some really lovely people over the weeks and been very inspired, its been an exciting time.

To Do...

 Its happened again, what is going on, the rain comes and I just seem to hunker down in my little sewing studio and lose track of time.  Actually getting a little business off the ground is maybe taking up a lot more of my time than planed.  No sooner did I pass my exams the school year ended and I was jobless, so here I am...with a list of 'TO DO's' like I have never had before.  My sewing studio is in need of a good tidy as its getting hard to find things...

One of the 'To do' points was to sort out a desk area for laptop and Dotty Red paperwork.  Would you believe it no sooner was it typed up in the business plan a friend offered me this beautiful desk, it looks like it has always been there, I love it, am sat at it now typing away, best of all at the end of the day I roll the top down and no one but me knows the mess inside...

 I have been working on numerous things ranging from Elephants (picture of their tails). Through to many of these little pretties...

 and some more...

 and would you believe it, I am working on some idea's for Christmas...

My fabulous boys are now off school and this week has been spent working on getting all my orders completed, just one more to finish, burning the midnight oil here, then its time to close up DOTTY RED for a week and spend some quality family time.  Some great county walks with Rosy the dog, some time with friends and I am sure we will manage a few days to at the beach...

My blog is on the to do list, I have a half written post to finish, so many pictures to share...I feel I have neglected you badly and for that I apologise.  I am struggling a little with blogger, with all its new singing and dancing gizmo's. However I just don't have the time to learn what does what and how do I do what I usually do... I will get there but for now I bid you goodnight and for a week - Goodbye.  I hope you have a fabulous week and manage to make some very happy memories, apparently the sun is going to SHINE!!!

Going Dotty...

 What can I say...

Time is passing by so quick...

So much to do and so little time to do it it... and what suffers,? My Dotty Red bloggy home...
 Trying to establish a good routine of work and family, not balanced at the moment but I will get there. So I am preparing a post following on from my award...Still smiling at this and grateful. But rather than neglect you further I thought I would write a few lines and show what I have been up to.

Thank you for the warm comments and emails with love and support for my venture... couldn't do it with out you.  Thank you.

needles and pins

What an incredible couple of weeks, my main focus has been Dotty Red and here at the home of Dotty Red its been none stop sewing, needles and pins, pretty fabric and the sweet smell of lavender.

 Each day brings a new design to the lavender hangers and as I match up the ribbon and fabrics I bask in my love of colour.

 But its not all play, my book keeping has had to have some attention, trying to make myself more organised and I am revising like mad for my Math GCSE exam. To be taken on Tuesday!

Fortunately the week away at the sea side was the place and time I needed to rest and recharge my batteries.

 To be able to feel the warm sand between my toes, lie back and let the sun shine on my body and listen to the waves gently lapping in whilst my giddy children run in and out of the sea until they eventually get so wet they give into the water and swim... yes swim, you wouldn't catch me in the sea without my wetsuit on at this time of year....

 We spent all the sunny days at the beach and on the less, more wet, days we walked through the beautiful countryside.

A celebration party for the Jubilee with friends and family in true British style sitting out with our BBQ food trying to shelter from the rain!!!

Our little pup had her little legs walked off and was indeed a truly wet dog after many an impromptu run into the sea as she chased seagulls. Yes a great, if somewhat wet, week.

This was the first school week in six years I have not gone into school, oh how I missed it, but life moves on and as much as this makes me sad I guess I have to admit the career path of a teachers assistant has now ended for now and I am concentrating on Dotty Red.

I am a bit behind in my blogging duties, I have a wonderful interview to share with you and a fabulous award to accept.  Will be back later in the week, just need to get through my exam...

I thank you all for your wonderful words of support and encouragement on my last post, it means so much to me and I feel very blessed, thank you form my heart.

Introducing ...

The busy thing I talked about, well its still happening, but its turned slightly, its gone from stressful to really kind of exciting.  Its complicated, 'what isn't' I hear you say!  So I have just about completed my Level three Teachers Assistant course, but heck... there are are no jobs out there, a couple of vacancies advertised but when I went to college I found that the trainees in the schools had already got the job but the positions had to advertise. How frustrating is that. So whilst I still want very much to get a career in school I have to face the reality that the jobs are just not available.

 But I have to feed and dress my children... EK!!!  So here is the exciting part... I have taken the rather scary decision to make DOTTY RED my career.  I have been working with a business adviser to make sure everything is as it should be and I am walked through all the details that scare me, registering, tax, insurance etc... but its all good, did you hear that, its all good!

 I had to pitch my business idea and write a big and ever evolving business plan, it all felt a bit Dragons Den-ish, but here I am launching my new line of textiles. Lavender hearts have been a big part of Dotty Red and I will always make them, but I wanted something a little more designer in feel, with my passion for free form embroidery I designed these hangers.  Hangers as in you can hang them, on your coat hangers, on the wall, in your bathroom, add it to a gift or as these ones are filled with lavender you can pop them in your smalls draw and let the lavender smell waft out and do its magic. Pop one under your pillow for a sleep filled night!

 I loved making these, I drew and sketched, used my colour pencils and then once I had enough ideas, I started to put them together.

 A huge fan and collector of ribbon, modern and vintage not to mention my passion for buttons and a little liking for wool felt...

 Each day I designed a different hanger, I have to confess I have a pad filled with many more ideas, I have been asked to make Love Heart ones to, oh the possibilities...

 each one could be personalised, a babies name or date of birth...

 These Happy Birthday Bunting have been the most popular today, I think the country has gone bunting mad at the moment and long may it carry on, love a bit of 'smile inducing' bunting.

 But by far my favourite and I have a couple for myself, are the 'Beach Life' ones, designed after a fabulous weekend at the beach, (see previous post) they hold a memory for me, a special time that keeps me going when the rain falls.

So its been busy, but good busy, it saddens me more than I can share with you that after two years of serious study and over six years voluntary work in school my plans for the future have had to change, but with great support around me I am following my heart, something not many people actually will do, its scary and gives me butterflies, but it is thrilling and exciting and you know... I am going to give it my best shot because I don't want to say... if only!

After all the planning and the designing and making... I have my beautiful, funny and ever growing boys for a full week, so we are packing our bags, buckets and spades, picnic basket and the odd waterproof jacket and we are heading out for a beach week.  I am longing for long walks with 'Rosy the pup' on big open beaches, popping into the best beach cafe for a tempting bacon butty and a side of chips, pottering around the art shops and beachy places, there will be nights snuggling around the camp fire and the toasting of marshmallows. The diary is full on my return so this week, no watch, no meetings, no school runs... its all about family, play, relaxing, friendships and being in love with life... Then the work begins...

Have a fabulous Jubilee weekend, smile and as I keep being told by numerous people, you gotta role with it.  Have a blast!