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