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?)