Baby its cold outside...

Its just so cold here at the home of Dotty Red, chilly chilly chilly... Snow on the ground and ice all around. Every morning its a routine of filling the kettle, pulling on our wellies, scarf and hat then walking to the main road to my car. I live on a hill and in this weather there is no hope of parking near my home. It then takes a good fifteen minutes to warm the car and de-ice the windows (hence the kettle), then our day can begin...
But you know sometimes its just too cold to go out and with my kitchen being nearly finished after the flood in the summer (seriously nearly five months, still waiting on some work to be done through the insurance) it has now been worth the wait and I have a kitchen that's warm, cosy and ever so inviting. already I have had friends around to sit back around my kitchen table, how I have missed my kitchen being the heart of the home.
There have been some changes in my kitchen, my sofa that I had such happy memories of curling up and nursing my babies on is now no more, it received the most damage in the flood and was sadly tipped, so now in its place is my lovely white comfy wicker chair brought back from my place by the seaside (when I closed it down in November) this helps to remind me of summer mornings sitting on my deck listening to the sea rolling in and seagulls overhead whilst I sipped my morning coffee... also my beautiful new (well shabby chic new) dresser.
For many many years I have always wanted a dresser, but it was one of those things that never happened. Well with no one else to consider now plus a little bit of insurance money to replace the lost items, I treated myself. I can not tell you how happy this makes me. I have filled it with all the china that I have collected over many years. It just makes me smile, on a cold winters morning when I stagger down to my kitchen, this alone warms my heart.
Why is it that when you are about to sell your home you get it just how you like it... So with the old pine kitchen table now taking up the main living area of my family roomed kitchen with six chairs of different design I can once again fill my home with the friends and family I love this Christmas...

Edited to add... heart cushions and felt mice now sold, thank you.

In full swing

In full swing indeed, its all going on here...The Christmas puddings are a treat, I had intended for them to be hanging puddings but I love them bunched together and like the little cupcakes, I think will make great pin cushions. I have really enjoyed making these, I have to confess though to finding a pattern for suitable holly was not an easy one, in the end I had a play and put two patterns together to make my own. Knitted on small sock needles and using 4ply they take a little patience. Guaranteed to make you smile though.
Cute and pretty is the theme for this years Christmas. The Christmas Craft fair season is in full swing and my stall takes some arranging, trying to get the balance between too much and not enough was harder than I had imagined. My success this year was in my cushions, even the none Christmas ones and my linen lavender hearts with Merry Christmas Labels on. I have to confess though I think it was the smell of the lavender which helped, I watched everyone around me twitch their nose to find out who had the lavender.
Its nice to see all the bits and peaces I make all together, as I put my stall together my head was already filling up with ideas for next year, Ahhhhh so many extra sewing hours needed...Its always nice to meet new people and a fair is a great way to meet fellow crafters, to whom I am grateful for looking after me.
Generally things are starting to come together here, had a couple of blips in the past week, I reversed into a parked car...ouch !!! My washing machine gave up in the most spectacular fashion, shredded clothes and a haze of toxic smelling grey cloud covered the kitchen. I have been told my repair work on the house might go on into the new year but the painter has been in and things look so much better even if they are unfinished, a bit of colour goes along way. The activities in school are starting to busy up and there is that air of excitement. So its full steam ahead to the holiday season.

With the first heavy frost today and all the hills around me are white and glistening in the cold clear air as the sun shines over the moors... I feel bless. So forgive me and if I can ask you to indulge me in a little beach time. No more swim suit and bare feet but a cold, clear run along a beach with wellies and sweaters. Ah its good for the soul...

Its crazy here at the home of Dotty Red. So much so I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and struggling to see if there is actually an end insight. Just about every room in my home is full of Ikea bags filled to the brim with all sorts off stuff as I get the work done on my flood damage and prepare the house ready for sale which means a massive amount of sorting out.Of course for a crafts person its also the busiest time of year as I prepare for the Christmas season. I was doing quite well with this as I had worked on various projects through the summer. Then on a Christmas visit to two very special customers of mine they cleared me out of most of my stock, this of course made me very happy, I still get a big kick out of people wanting my work for their homes especially at such a family time as Christmas. So my sewing room now looks like a party has been taking place and every surface is covered in different projects, the kitchen table (when the builders have left for the day) is taken over by a production line of stuffing hearts and little birds with lavender, then buttons being sewn on and finished with a Dotty Red label, whilst I try to re stock. At least with the smell of lavender it helps me to relax a little and de stress! But sometimes it gets too much... with all the upheaval going on in my home and indeed life, I needed to get away, a little break of a different kind, one that would sooth my soul, blow clear fresh sea air through my hair and enjoy some quality time with my boys.
So we headed off to Anglesey and had two of the most beautiful days, with fabulous crisp, cold, blue skied days. Our time was spent chilling out and walking along the sea edge wrapping up all cosy in many layers plus hats scarfs and gloves. The boys took great delight in catching ten crabs whist crabbing over the little pier which had the most amazing views of Snowdownia.
For the first time in a while I took hold of a camera and started to take pictures again...

Excuse me...

Just dropping in to explain my total failure to blog. We are all well and had a super week away in our little escape pad at the beach. It was the best week of the year so far, the boys and I had a super time and except for one rainy day we made the most of the Autumnal sunshine and spent most of it outside.Splashing in the sea in our wellies, shivering on the beach eating ice cream and then warming up with hot chocolate and a huge pile of melting marshmallows. YUM!

It was hard saying my goodbye to the friends I have made there and indeed we had a very social week enjoying this special time with special people.
We ended the week with the traditional Halloween party, we make a scary family I think...

So excuse me whilst I get back to dealing with my home being in total upheaval whilst the kitchen ceiling is being ripped down, re plastering and painting in three different rooms after the flood in the summer... busy busy busy.

Catching a few hours in my sewing room to keep on top of the orders, nearly there now and then can spend some time planning a new range, this always makes me happy.

Studying is taking up my time in the evening as I have my first assignment to hand in this week - nervous !

Will be back next week, thanks for bearing with me.

Get knitted

A glowing fire, the warmth it radiates, the wonderful smell reminds me of richly coloured Christmas evenings. The leaves crunchy underfoot......Ah yes the nights are drawing in far to quickly, I am not ready yet to move indoors in the evening so the fire is made and we carry on...

Warming mugs of homemade soup and crunchy bread keep us going until the chill really touches our fingers and toes.

Then its time to curl up in the evening with a little creative work.

Its madness here at the home of Dotty Red. I am chasing my tail the majority of the time, why is it that when one thing goes wrong, others follow. Still waiting on my Lloyd's insurance people sending the builders in to my home to sort out the damage caused by the flood in July. What I have learnt from this experience is that after a while you really do stop noticing the damage and sheer ugliness, you just learn to live with it, I even have only half the lights working in the kitchen from the electric damage... The rest of the list is too boring to mention-fridge, bed, washing machine, car etc - oh my oh my!

So a week away to our little hide away by the sea is just what my boys and I are in need off, it breaks my heart more than I can tell you that this will be my last holiday here, my children are devastated to have to say goodbye with me to this special place, this place that they love so much.

As I live right in the middle of this Island I think a move nearer to the ocean might be considered in the future as the boys and I are such beach babes and for the last few years we have spent the majority of our free time here.

So with the box of toys packed and of course my beloved sewing machine we are running away for the week. I wish you a fabulous half term holiday and I hope we are all blessed with some special family memories to carry us through the darker days a head...

No Seriously...

Autumn has well and truly arrived here, the leaves are almost off the majority of the trees in my garden and I mowed the lawn for the last time this year. The air is crisp and when the sun shines, if you close your eyes you can make believe its still summer as the sun has warming strength to its rays.So as much of our time is being spent outside before the cold grey damp weather takes a hold, of course this means little time spent at the sewing machine, no seriously, this week I have hardly sat in front of my sewing machine and I miss my time there not to mention my productivity levels are low, low, low!
But watching the delight in my children's faces as they kick up the leaves and enjoy the textures of the season, their rosy cheeks and I can not forget to mention that magical dragon breath as they roar around the garden. Sadly our colds and coughs remain with us, well mostly with me, but a little fresh air never did anyone any harm. As the nights draw in I am reminded that this is precious time as soon it will be dark and the playtime will be focused indoors.
However when the little ones curl up to sleep I can usually be found curled up myself with a glass of wine and a little hand sewing... The Christmas fair season is nearly upon us and the sewing needs to get done... but for the meantime, a few extra hours in the garden and a few more leaves to clear up.

Packing my bags for a weekend in Wales, some cosy clothes and a little knitting, its promised sunshine... an autumnal walk along the beach is being hoped for, have a great weekend and catch you next week.

Planning for Christmas

Its a poorly house here at Dotty Red, nothing serious, just the usual seasonal coughs and colds. Which of course involves lots of snuggling up on the sofa under quilts, the fire on and a movie or two to sit and snuffle our way through.
I really am amazed at how I have just accepted Autumn this year and the usual sadness of the loss of the long summer days this year is just passing me by. Its been replaced this year with a longing for glowing warmth, the cosy and dare I say it, even looking forward to some snow. Its a shock to me, the summer girl that I am, the girl that loves the beach and playing in the sea, being out in the garden till as late as possible enjoying every minute of the warming daylight. Indeed it comes as a surprise. Only this morning when I was raised from my sleep by two little people wanting their morning cuddles and breakfast, I lay there actually enjoying the dark, the dark mornings when you have to put the lights on to reassure yourself that it is actually morning.
As the light forced its way through the night sky revealing the mist over the hills that surround my home, yes indeed Autumn this year is a treat. My little one runs into school with squeals of delight as he breathes out and his breath swirls in front of him he shouts "Dragon Breath"...
Yes indeed Autumn and all its changes... for me a completely new routine, free time seems a luxury of time gone by now and maybe the little dose of sickness is an opportunity to slow down a little and curl up with my children. College is going well and work is a learning curve but none the less enjoyable. Sewing time however is hard to find and to keep up with orders requires some strict time management.

I have been working on Christmas stock and playing with lots of buttons, how I love buttons, little button heart Christmas wreaths are keeping my hands mobile and some what sore with all the wire cutting, I have even had time to try out some new product lines... now if I could just magic up an extra couple of hours a day and the ability to shake this cold... dream on... dream on...

A little give away soon...