I have no idea how this wintery magic happened to my picture in Google.... but I like it!! 
It's my last day on our Dotty Wren calendar. How I managed one a day last year I have no idea!

If I don't get a chance to post again before Santa comes...

Merry Christmas everyone! x

Hop over to Pingsome (was Jeego but they've rebranded themselves) and send my lovely baldy 

Santa to your favourite peeps... now you know what Santa's hair looks like under his hat! 

My advent over on the Dotty Wren blog today

Honestly, can you believe it's the 14th already... where is the time going?

I hope you're doing better than I am with your present shopping... 

I need to stop faffing and get my (ice) skates on! 

Have a scoot over to our dotty wren blog advent if you haven't already.

Woo hoo! Dotty Wren Studio had a fabulous mention on Print and Pattern today. 

I love that blog... it's my daily read with my morning cup of tea.

Thanks so much Marie! 

Take a look here if you haven't seen it already.

My fancy ice skating Miss on today's advent over at our dotty wren studio. 

You can catch up on all of them so far here. 

Yep, it's that time of year when I need a wagon to carry all the stuff the kids need to take to school each morning. Today, it was a fairy outfit and wellies, a bakers outfit with chefs hat and apron, outdoor learning clothes (a change of clothes for making xmas wreaths in) football kit and don't forget lunch boxes and book bags. I think we were meant to take in mince pies as well for something but to be honest I didn't have any spare hands! 

Where does the time fly? It's me again already on the Dotty Wren blog today. 

Pop over and take a peek. 

Another week over, an exciting big project almost in the bag....I'm going all out 

Christmas from now on! Tree, Michael Bubes, Santa hat on at all times, twinkly lights on anything that doesn't move... the works!

Those lovely peeps at Jeego have turned another one of my characters into a birthday vid. (Only for 3 year olds for this one) I love seeing them come to life... it's such a treat!

Jeego have got such a great selection of ecards by some well known and amazing designers, it's a nice little app to have if you forget to post someone a card... (which I often do!) or send aswell as a card (just because you can!) 

I'm looking forward to seeing their Christmas selection soon. 

I'm following Dawn with Day 2 on the Dotty Wren Advent. 

The 2nd of December already...where did the 1st go? And so begins the daily view of my lovely postman struggling up to the front door with Amazon boxes cursing under his breath! Ta Postie, love you! ;-)

Christmas is coming folks! 

The girls and I at Dotty Wren are doing an advent....

Click on the pic to reveal Dawn's Day 1!

At this time of year, I should really be hibernating. I'm that sort of girl, I should be covering myself with leaves and going to sleep for 4 months. However, this doesn't really fit in with work and play! The Christmas Season has started and this weekend I had two very late nights which almost sent me over the edge. Combined with late nights working it's not good! I used to be able to do it when I was young, I even used to go out mid-week...imagine! But I'm an old woman now, I've got kids and the school run every day. Where I see well rested mums literally jogging in and looking fresh and not grumpy! It's really annoying!  I need my sleep! So this week, I've set myself the challenge of going to bed early, each night, until Saturday...when I'm out again. 

I'll be the new, old me again! Yeah!! 

I think a celebration is in order! This week, one whole year ago, the studio that I'd been working for went right royally tits up as they say! At the time, it was a disaster but actually it's been the best thing that could have happened. For starters I wouldn't have met my wonderful BFF design friend Dawn, I wouldn't have entered the Christmas Tigerprint Competition at the end of last year, I wouldn't have done my advent pictures which started many balls rolling for me, I probably wouldn't have done the MATS course which means I wouldn't have got to the finals in the GTS, I wouldn't have met Sue and Wendy and started Dotty Wren Studio, I wouldn't have met some fantastic dream clients and I wouldn't be going to Surtex next year! 

I wouldn't say it's been easy, it was sad and horrible to have the rug pulled out from under your feet and I lost ALOT of money. I've had to work really hard and put the hours in but it's definitely a case of when one door shuts another one opens!

I am absolutely loving Autumn this year, it is stunningly BEAUTIFUL. Went for a walk in the woods yesterday with our friends, built a dam, picked up pretty leaves, ran about....all lovely stuff. But here's something I don't recommend, do not talk about Blair Witch and other scary woodland films whilst actually in a wood. It will scare you... especially when you stroll upon a dead deer's head and suspicious string in a tree. We knew it was poachers but it still freaked us all out and we pretty much ran all the way back to the car! 

Tea...Tea...Tea...that's me! 

It's a bit chilly where I work so I drink tea to warm me up. The bigger mug the better...

 I am turning into a vat of tea.

Spotted!

Some lovely jim-jams of mine in Asda at the mo. Even comes with a little tutu... cute! 

Sadly, not in my size :-( 

Another half term holiday is over...back to the everyday. I am bigging up the badger today. Poor fellows.. they've just finished culling them in West Somerset, over 900 have gone (65% of them) and apparently it's still wasn't enough. :-(
(Besides, don't they all know that they're the wise creatures of the woods who all other animals go to for advice and hot chocolate. Who are they going to go to now?)

Happy Halloween everyone! let the Trick or Treatin' commence! 
This year, my husband has realised that it is far better to be the one staying at home with a glass of wine and handing out the treats than traipsing around in the rain (it always rains) with our sweet crazed children. Damn!

BIG NEWS! The Wrens have hatched!

I have an announcement to make! Myself and 3 other lovely designer birds Dawn Machell, Sue Driscoll and Wendy Kendall have been busy hatching up the DOTTY WREN STUDIO. And what's more.... we are going to SURTEX, next year 2014... oh yes we are, so exciting!

I'm amazed we've actually gone and done it... the booth is booked, we're on our way! 

This is something we've all separately wanted to do for ages. Dawn and I have chewed over the dream in endless emails. We met Sue and Wendy in Lilla's MATS course, all caught the train up to 

Wendy's house a couple of weeks ago, hatched up a name over several hours and several bottles of pink fizz, a nice curry (thanks Wendy!) and decided to go for it. 

Now, comes the next bit....working towards Surtex but while we're doing that, in the meantime...

we'd love to hear from you!

What are you waiting for, fly yourselves over to our website and blog to find out more. 
www.dottywrenstudio.com

These wings were made to fly!! :-) 

I know it's another squizzer but there are lots of cute little squirrels bobbing around in my neck of the woods at the moment . I should imagine last night they were blown about a bit in the predicted great storm of storms that turned out to be 'windy but not as windy as everyone was expecting!'

Hey, what's up!

Lots is what's up, that's what! I don't normally love when the cold weather creeps in and everything gets soggy. But it's ok this year... The trick is to have lots on..... exciting stuff around the corner, watch this space! 

I've met and spoken to some wonderful people recently who are genuinely lovely and inspiring. 

And, it's the Bake off final tonight.... what more does a girl need, my spot on the sofa is booked!! 

Happy Thursday all! 

Ooo... how fab! A dino design of mine is over on Print & Pattern today. It's one I've done for 

the wonderful Dashwood Studio. Hot foot it over to Fabric Rehab right now and get some... or the dinosaurs will come and get you!

So, a while ago, when I had a quiet day, I signed up for the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap... not thinking at the time about actually getting it done! So, at the weekend, I rustled up a quick postcard which will be winging its way across the ocean to Judy in America. The theme was celebration... and I say celebrate and enjoy each day people because each one is a little blessing!

Yep, Autumn is definitely here... cheerio sandals, hello converse. 

Happy weekend everyone... I'm going to spend mine working and eating apple crumble whilst watching X Factor (sorry I can't help it... we shamelessly love it in this house... apart from my husband, he's now entering weeks of torment and torture.) 

My dad, who's a very spectacular calligrapher, was clearing out his studio and bought over some 

lovely nibs for me to have. I've been having a little play in my warm-up this morning. 

I'd forgotten how nice they are. Thanks Pops! x

(all copyright of me, Lizzie Mackay 2013) 

In the fine words of Katy Perry. My kid's favourite song of the moment. 

(It's actually great to run to, try it, you feel like Rocky!) ;-) 

Hello! I'm back! I sneaked off on holiday for a week...that's why my blog has been lonely and bare for a while. We went to Ibiza... somewhere I have always yearned to go... and I now know I should have gone sooner... it is beautiful. It now has a piece of my heart, I love it, can't wait to go back... it's sunny and Spanish and stylish and boho and blue skied. I'm thinking I should really be living there, it suits me.   

I'm a solar-powered sort of girl. 

Anyways, back to reality... while I was away I found I that didn't win the Global Talent Search. :-(

If there's one place to be to find out if you're the winner of a huge competition, it's as the sun is going down on a beautiful beach with my little family. It softened the blow. Definitely. 

Yes, my hands were shaking and I was disappointed. Who wouldn't be right? But it's ok... it wasn't meant to be. I've spent so many years telling my children to not be disappointed by things and smile that it's actually rubbed off on me! To be in the top 6 with such talented designers from over 1500 people is amazing in itself. I knew that from the start. :-)

So, I thought you'd like to see my designs for the final brief. Lilla teamed up with Margo Tantau from Midwest CBK and they came up with a 'to die for' home decor brief. There were 4 mood boards to choose from to create designs for a home range. I chose Boho. I love Boho... looking at my love board on Pinterest.... it's my favourite sort of style. 

I'm pleased with my designs.... not mega mega but pretty... there are always little bits I want to do again and change. I think I needed another week but that's just me. It's hard to step away from something when you're right in the thick of it. 

In fact, if I had the brief again this week after being inspired by Ibiza (it's the isle of boho) I'd like to see what I could come up with all over again. 

I'd like to add a real nice pop of neon and a little more Aztec. I think I will! I can! 

So, congratulations Zoe Ingram... this is your dream come true and Daniel Zoode.... your designs are just so gorgeous. Exciting times ahead!! 

Love to my other finalists who didn't make it... you all rock!

And thank you to Lilla and all her lovely team for their encouragement and support throughout. 

It was great fun and a wonderful opportunity! 

And last but not least (sounding like an Oscars speech again!) thank you to everyone else who supported me and crossed their fingers for me and sent me sweet messages and the kindest words. 

Can't thank you enough! 

xxx

Today I had a tour of the local secondary school where my daughter will be going next year. 

All of a sudden I'm wondering where the time has gone, one minute they're tiny, the next they just want to hang out with their friends on FaceTime. New times ahead! ;-)

Just submitted my final designs for the Global Talent Search... here's a sneaky peek. Right, no time for this here bloggery, I've got work to do! 

My daughter's love for her rabbits runs strong... through wind, rain and hail she's out there making sure they're ok. It warms my little heart. x (The rabbits, on the other hand, just want to escape and eat next door's beans, but still!) 

....I'm sorry for this slightly late post (I was too busy dancing round my house) but I only went and got through to the finals of the GTS!! 

I actually hadn't planned to get this far, I just thought the semi-finals would be nice, get my name in front of the coolest panel of judges, then carry on! 

But now,  I've got another brief to do... it's big... I have to design my own home range.. I don't know where to start! 

Wow, I just want to thank those lovely judges for picking me, the comments they wrote were amazing, thank you... especially the 'creating flowers for the universe' one... I'm right on it! Thank you also to everyone who voted for me and took the time to like my bag. Thanks and love also to the MATS girls.. we carried each other through this.... my new friends from all over the world. I wish we were all in the finals, that's the sad part... especially my friend Dawn ... she's not just my design friend, she's one of my besties and I know she wanted to be here with me. She's still a champion to me anyway!

So now it's me and five mega talented others, Zoe Ingram, Emily Balsley, Josephine Kimberling, Daniel Roode and Vesper Stamper. Good luck guys...we can do it!

Right this sounds a bit too much like an Oscars speech, I'd better get off here and get going... I've got to try and fit it in with a tonne of other work.... I apologise to my family already for what's to come over the next couple of weeks... I will try and remain nice! ha ha! 

My biggest thanks to everyone who has voted for me so far in the Global Talent Search comp! 

If you haven't, don't worry peeps, there's still time! 

Check out all the designs over at...

http://lillarogers.com/gts-2013-round-2/

and while you're there, vote for my rock of a friend Dawn Machell too... she's awesome! 

Me again! The voting gallery is still open today for the semi-finals

of the Global Talent Search. Pop on over and vote for your faves!

 (pick me, pick me! :-))