A day at the farm

 

I spent the day at my friends farm in Dolphinholme and we played with willow, willow is amazing for building structures, we used Osier willow to make lanterns and I made an oblix for my ivy to grow up.

There is a local custom in Chediston, Suffolk, known as a 'willow stripping' ceremony. This is usually held at the first full moon in May. A Green George figure is dressed in willow strippings, dances around and is then ceremoniously thrown into the local pond.

Osier withies (strong, flexible willow stems) are traditionally used for basket-making and weaving, and are becoming increasingly popular for use as willow screens and sculptures.

Osier, like all willows, is also grown for its ability to absorb heavy metals, and is often planted to 'clean up' contaminated waste ground. (thank you Woodland Trust for this info)

We had a lot of fun and used wire to make tealight holders for the bottom of the lanterns, tissue and handmade paper for the sides and used PVA to keep it all in place.

I also saw the first born lamb of the season, only minutes old. Spring is such a wonderful time of year.

boho decor bliss

I have been in a bit of a boho bliss here, I haven't had as many orders as January, so have taken some time to concentrate on our home and get around to the creative things I have been wanting to do for some time. 

Oh my goddess I am in love! I finished my giant dream catcher from a hula hoop complete with rose lights, beads, vintage lace, ribbon, wool, feathers from one of our past chickens, vintage doilies and vintage mirror beads from an evening jacket collar. It's take me the best part of a day to make but I couldn't be happier

 I'm also making over a cupboard in the dining room that was a fifties cupboard I have had for years and it was looking tired and dull, every time I ate my dinner I looked at it and thought it looked dreary so I put all the other millions of jobs aside and started late last night, it's evolving and developing into something lovely. I have some gorgeous vintage embroidered ribbon and Pom Pom trim to embellish it when it's finally finished, still a long way to go yet

Its nice to have chance to do some things just to play, but the guilt of 'should be' is always there, in this society we are super conditioned that we should always be doing things to make money, to get higher, to achieve more etc.

Sometimes its good to step back and just be.

 

Valentines day wisdom

Valentine's Day:

To all the single parents out there who feel like they are not doing a good enough job, ask yourself this has my child gone to bed tonight fed, warm and content? then you are doing a good job,if your circumstances right now are hindering you in doing this for your child, then seek help or try and come up with a solution to change your circumstances, if you really can't see a way to feed or keep your child warm, send me a private message, I will help you.

Don't feel guilty, nobody comes with a parenting manual saying "this is the way to do it". You are doing your best, that is amazing. You are truly loved even though you're on your own right now,it is bloody hard sometimes, you are still loved, you are doing the best you can with the knowledge you have right now and that is amazing.

To the people in same-sex relationships that get pissed off because of the way commercial Valentines is portrayed with a man and a woman, just be patient, a little bit longer, the world needs to catch up, you are pioneers of a new generation, instead of getting annoyed by the man, woman thing, how about taking charge and designing your own line of cards for next year, get them sold! There is obviously a gap in the market and they could be a best seller.Go to those restaurants that put the valentines posters up aimed at a man and his woman and explain to them your point of view, they probably have never even thought of it, people need educating we know this. Change takes time and it starts with us.

To all the people who have, had love and are widows,or who are divorced, who now find themselves in a different situation to the one before. Yes it's hard, today it seems all about happy couples everywhere rubbing it in that you're on your own now. But do you know what, you have experienced something that a lot of people never experience, you have experienced true love.
Be thankful for that and remember how that felt, it was wonderful and although I know you would love it to be like that right now, one day it could be like that again.

To all the people looking for love and have never found it, yet. Stop looking! that's it, just stop looking. You are wonderful, you are amazing and there is somebody out there for you. First of all, you need to really love yourself, I know that sounds cliched but there is work to be done. Do that work on yourself, your own personal development and put it out there to the universe the kind of person you would like to meet. The kind of perfect partner, you would love to attract and then let it go, let that shit go, stop letting it consume your whole being because when you do you create a block. When you let it go, that person will come into your life just be open to opportunities.

To the teens who feel fat or ugly, or like you are not normal, for the ones that don't fit in who feel like they don't belong. One day darling you're going to look back at this time and think "oh my God what the fuck was I thinking of" because you're the ones that are going to be the creatives, the ones who are brilliant ideas people, the ones that have overcome adversity and will go on to do amazing things.
You have compassion, you are full of Love for others and the planet, it's time some of that love went towards yourself too.  Today I want you to do something radical!! I want you to go and look in the mirror and instead of seeing the empty shell of somebody who feels downtrodden and alone, I want you to look at yourself and say I am going to be somebody, I am, I am beautiful, even if you don't believe it this moment, right now, you are! I'm telling you! you are beautiful.

Beauty doesn't have to be the outward appearance, the tall, long gorgeous flowing hair magazine type, you are the perfect already.
Inside beauty comes in all sorts of ways, beauty comes from a deep understanding of the world, it comes from a passion for music, it comes from the way you write, it comes from all sorts of things darling.You are full of those things, please believe me. All the things that bother you now, like the freckles, the hair colour, spots, too thin, too fat, too tall, too small etc, those things won't matter to you as you grow, it just feels painful now because of all the changes and the transfer from child to adult, it's a mixed up crazy time, just see it as a ride, a rollercoaster to be ridden and the end is coming.

To all the people in relationships that suck right now, if there is abuse involved, its time to leave, if you are going through a bad patch, talk things through. You both know though, when you are flogging a dead horse, why stay together making each other miserable? why not part (as hard as that may seem) and let each other find true love or happiness with someone else?

To all people who don't feel there are enough or they are not enough to be loved or they are not enough to do wonderful things. You are always enough!! you are alive, you are breathing, you have a body, you are a miracle, did you know that there is 1 in 144,000,000,000,000,000,000 chance of your dads sperm fertilising your mums egg, and then a 1 in 3 chance of you being born alive? Think about that or a second! You are a miracle.









Just how amazing is it, that you are meant to be, you are here to be happy, to live your fullest life, this all starts with you. This starts with inside of you feeling you are enough. Forget all those people have told you throughout your life are stupid, or who think you're not good enough, do you know what, fuck them! fuck them all, because everybody is enough! Everybody is wonderful and a miracle and I just wish I had a magic wand so everybody could see just how truly amazing they are

On Valentine's Day we are shown really happy faces about love, it has turned very commercial, buy this, do this, buy cards. Or if you don't get a card, you not good enough. If you don't send a card you are not good enough. I used to hate it, I used to really hate Valentines for the commercial aspect, but this year lets embrace the love side of it. If a lot of people can wake up to the love and yes it's only for one day, if we can wake up to love today, that's a wonderful thing.

But what we need is to wake up to love every day, it all starts with us, it all starts inside, from now on let's try every day to love ourselves a little bit more and to love those around us that means something to you, whether that's our family or friends or just a lovely person that you talk to the greengrocers every day because you got nobody else to talk to you. (I've been there) but let's start with that.

Let's radiate that, let's do little kind things for each other, even for people we don't know. Let's just radiate love to all, instead of Valentine's Day, it could be 'Radiate love day' and that's much nicer, just remember you are loved even when you feel like there's nobody there, even when you feel like there's nothing you can do, even when you feel at the depths of despair, like ending it all (I've been there too). Please don't, please just know there is somebody that loves you, even if you haven't met that person yet, it's aligned in the stars.

Just hold on darling, just hold on for one more day, that's all you can do and then the next day, hold on for another day and then the next day, hold on for another day and if you can't manage today, hold on for one hour, change something, get dressed today. Go to the library. Pick a book and sit there in the library, so you're actually in the company of others, you don't have to talk to anybody but you're actually outside doing something, pick up a book and start reading that book, get involved in a different story within the pages and let your imagination take over a while, go for a walk in nature, if there is no nature near by, you could jump on a bus and go to a park, just do something for yourself today to make yourself feel that love. If you can't do any of those things and you can't leave the house, run yourself a bath, if you feel disabled and you can't get in the bath, get a bowl of nice warm water, get some bubbles in it or some herbs and salt and just pop your feet in it, you deserve that, you deserve that today, you deserve that every day. There are always small things you can do to make yourself feel better and to make yourself feel good.

Just know I LOVE YOU! just know you are needed and wanted and loved. Happy Valentine's Day from me to you.

To all people who don't feel there are enough or they are not enough to be loved or they are not enough to do wonderful things. You are always enough!! you are alive, you are breathing, you have a body, you are a miracle, did you know that there is 1 in 144,000,000,000,000,000,000 chance of your dads sperm fertilizing your mums egg, and then a 1 in 3 chance of you being born alive? Think about that or a second! You are a miracle.

Journaling, behind the scenes and our beagle

I'm doing a behind the scenes video of my journaling pages today with the most basic of equipment, a paint can, a tub of stampers, a bit of foam and my iPhone, no fancy pants tripod here yet! I will be doing a full video of the whole process later.

 Journaling yesterday after listening to an Abraham Hicks video on YouTube and it's all about serving your happiness and everything else will fall into place because being happy is more important than being right, being happy in this moment right now is so important.

 My darling Stanley ❤️he knows where it's at, being cosy, sharing love and snoozing 

This journalling has all been about forgiveness for me, it started the other morning when I was doing my miracle morning routine I journaled and wrote about, I did a page in my art journal too and even a video check out  my video 

Have you forgiven yourself? 

Love Dotty xx

A week in the life of an artist

I have been really busy launching new products this week, I am in love with how my art looks framed! I have been painting and illustrating these lovely acrylic paintings which make perfect new baby gifts.  

Each one is unique and is hand painted and illustrated by me and you can even choose your own quote and background colour.  What a difference a frame makes!

I have been having really early starts before 7am and working late into the night and Mr Delightful has been busy making me a new website ready for the launch of .......

 Delightful pamper boxes!!

 Each comes with a unique piece of my art print exclusive to the boxes, a downloadable link to my new online magazine (eventually this will be a printed magazine when funds allow), a love letter, a crystal of the month, this month its all about love so Rose quartz will be coming your way, a rose and patchuoli bath bomb, some gorgeous incense and some love tea bags for you to sit down and relax with.

They are available for pre-order on 4th November and will be shipped out on 18th November.

 Hope you have had a lovely week

 Love Dotty xx

360 of my art studio

 



if you ever wanted to know what my studio looks like around the whole room I did a video for you.... don't get dizzy ;)

Smart strategies for artists who procrastinate

'Being who you are that's happiness' 

 I made this canvas when we moved home is appropriate for today and it's a wonderful day, got up early, did some miracle morning, meditation and personal development, taken the dogs to the park and all the leaves are glorious autumn colours, crunched through leaves, found a pine cone and discovered this gorgeous scented flower in our garden. Had coffee and a danish and now I'm going to do some creative work.

I have really been  trying to get my bum into gear and be proactive in my business which I do find difficult because I love the creating bit and still imagine successful business women in suits (can you imagine me in a suit hahaha) so it's undoing all those limiting beliefs, I posted in Leonies forum and got great support and some cracking answers. 

This is what I asked:

What do you think this is about? I am really creative and have billions of ideas, I start loads of projects but rarely finish them, I know I'm talented and have a 'gift' and if I got my ass into gear could do pretty well I think but everyday I wake up with great plans but then faff around, read a book, walk the dogs, snooze, eat food, watch a film etc anything really to avoid doing what I should be doing. The thing is we are now really struggling financially and it's either carry on with my art or get a job (which I really don't want to do) so have any of you been thorough this? Any tips to make me be proactive? 

Loads of various answers came back but the ones I found most useful were:

Read anything by Barbara Sher. (I have started looking at this author and feel she will be a good fit with my scatter brained approach, let me know if you have read any of her books)

First, don't think about how long something is going to take just tell yourself you're going to do fifteen or twenty minutes. (I like this because it doesn't seem too long if I get bored)

Sit down and write all about your fears and blocks around success. write down every "disadvantage" of being a successful artist/woman; your beliefs around financial success; everything you have heard about those topics that is negative or any comments from people throughout your life that say YOU can't become successful. Once you know that you can work on them and see how false they are. 

(I like this because I know I have some weird ideas as above the suit thing)

Make a "someday maybe" box or folder for your other ideas. (This is brilliant for me because I like making and creating so this could work really well and the symbolic gesture of shutting the lid on my ideas will help)

So with all that in mind I went onto my Pinterest vision board this morning to visualise and ended up finding this awesome site for creatives

I have been printing some great worksheets and reminders too last week, this was Sunday night organising for the week, I need to get my ass in gear and be the best I can be, I want to be financially free and travel, eat out, have holidays and move from Blackpool so I'm going to ride my wild donkey and get stuff done this week!

Love Dotty xx

Scrapbooking packs, Etsy and behind the scenes art studio

This week I have been making colour co-ordinated scrapbooking packs to put on Etsy and I didn't realise how many lovely things I have in my boxes, they have inspired me to be more organised and I plan on a day of sorting soon to make it easier to find things in the studio. 

I really enjoyed looking through all my collection of things like papers, buttons, photos etc, I have been collecting for about 6 years now and hardly look through them unless I am doing a project

So this was a lovely way to discover them, I love colour co-ordinating and seeing what works together well. Imagine being an interior designer, that would be so cool, collecting samples, swatches etc and making a vision board.

I discovered things I totally forgot about like this vintage cigarette card that was sent to me in a blog swap about 6 years ago!

I finally made a bright and bold one, even though I love colour so much I tend to shy away from bright colours in mixed media, thats pretty interesting seen as though my studio is bright and bold and I adore it.

A peek behind the scenes, I don't think sometimes people realise how long it takes to do one listing, you have to source the items or make them, then you have to set up an area to do the shoot, then you have to take photos, get the lighting right etc, then upload to the computer, edit them, and then do the listing and them promote them to get them seen, don't get me wrong, I love doing it and enjoy the process but there is more to it than meets the eye ;)

Mr Delightful is working on my website to get it running better with an in built shop and my newsletter sign up on there. (Or if you can't wait you can sign up now below). So I can crack on with the next part of my artistic journey.

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Love Dotty xx

Do you know how important it is to love yourself?

Do you know how important it is to love yourself?

Not in a big ego “I’m so pretty” way, I mean truly loving yourself from inside out. Your body is amazing, think about that for a minute, think about how all the organs inside you are working in harmony, how your strong heart beats, how your lungs work so you can breathe. How each day you can walk, talk, see, hear, feel, taste and you are alive!!

Be grateful for your amazing body.

Look in the mirror, really look into your own magical eyes and see the beautiful person you are. Tell yourself out loud or in your head if you feel self conscious, 3 amazing things about you, what makes you unique?

Be grateful for your unique qualities.

Each time you see your reflection today I want you to smile at yourself, really smile and think “I’m beautiful”.
Tonight before you go to bed, look in the mirror, really look at your face and say “I love you”

It may feel strange at first, you may feel like its silly, you may not even believe the words that you are saying, that’s OK.

The universe does not know the difference between positive and negative thoughts, it just acts on what you think/say. So each day tell yourself how lovely you are, not how fat you are or that you have wrinkles because what you focus on becomes a reality. So start off by pretending when you say the words. Eventually you will believe them.

We love you!

 Love Dotty xx

Artist burnout recovery

Just wanted to share with you, a month or so ago I was pretty down and felt burnt out, I became ill and was forced to take nearly a week off, just lying on the sofa and trying to recover, it was so frustrating to me but I obviously needed it, then after many days just reading, taking the dogs to the beach etc, I sat at my easel and tried to draw, nothing came, I did something else, the next day I tried again and did a little background and felt it was rubbish. 

No matter how many times I tried I just couldn't get into the zone, I was doodling like a 3 year old. Instead of getting sad I concentrated on doing Kelly Rae Roberts Flying lessons, learning from Leonie Dawson academy, browsing pinterest and making plans in my bujo.

 Then a couple of days ago I woke up with an idea and tonight I finished Autumn girl, I am so happy I feel like this is the best art I have done so far. Sometimes we just have to listen to our bodies and come back even stronger 

Rest when we need to and take time to just be, how many times do you watch a film and be on your phone or knit at the same time?
 

We need to get back to living in the moment and totally being absorbed in one thing at a time.

Love Dotty xx

Wearing no bra with big boobs

My friend snapped this photo of me without me knowing and I love it, I'm in the river Dee in Wales for conscious camp, it's freezing but invigorating, I'm wearing no bra, this is a big deal for me, to be in public with no bra, I have large G cup boobs and they sag down, I don't want to wear a bra for health reasons (lymphatic system can't drain toxins properly when constricted) but having them swinging around goes against the norm. It's weird when you start thinking about how society has moulded us into believing certain things and when you go against the grain you are deemed the weird one ;)

 I also feel a bit weird and unattractive without a bra (conditioning I know) sometimes it feels freeing and I don't get back or shoulder ache or headaches either when I don't wear one, I wear scarves a lot to cover them but find most of my wardrobe now totally unsuitable for going bra less, the cuts of the dresses are made with pert boobs in mind. 

It's a quandary because I feel it's important for breast health not to wear one, with underwires digging in and your lymph system being squashed, it isn't healthy at all. There have been links to breast cancer and bra wearing plus I feel constricted when I've got one on. But I feel hot and heavy without one. 

At home I tend not to wear one at all, I got this stretchy bra with no wires/structure to it that I wear if I'm doing housework, exercising or if guests are coming over. 

I figured out if I buy loose fitting tops, and wear scarves you can't really tell I am not wearing one out the house and I am sarong mad, I use them to tie around my chest in various ways to let them swing free and keep cool.

Got any tips? share them in the comments 

Check out this video about ditching bras by Nikisha Brunson

I would like to know your thoughts on going bra-less (please keep it friendly)

Check out this unapologetic account from a mum about men drooling over freed nipples!

Reading Miracle morning has given me more energy

Yesterday was all about planning and sorting out my week for work, cleaning and personal development, reading some more Miracle Morning 30 Day Challenge, getting locations for our vision wall and drinking THE most incredible smoothie that tastes like mint choc chip pudding crossed with horlicks, yummers indeed

 We are going to make a chart like they used to have on Blue Peter, for saving money for our passports and surround it with photos of destinations we want to visit.

Today I was up at 6.30am, I am trying to get it down to 5am and I am sure that will come soon to do the miracle morning, so far I have journalled, taken the dogs to the beach with my son, been to the cinema to watch Nine Lives, cleaned both bathrooms, fed pets, read an inspiring book, meditated, hung washing, had a catch up with 2 different friends, stuck unicorn stickers on my computer desk (that was most important) snuggled the dogs, exercised for 20 mins, made lunch, made cacao orange bliss balls, got some food shopping for tea and now I'm going to paint some backgrounds on watercolour paper ready for a positivity book I am making.

 Hope you have had a most excellent day, I feel I am back on top form! 

 Its only 5pm and there is so much more to do with the day, make the most of every minute, as far as we know we only get one life, choose to spend it wisely doing things you love and enjoy, filling your body and brain with goodness.

Love Dotty xx

Artist studio tour 2

It's been a weird month August and I can't believe it's nearly at the end already, I have been having a hard time the past few weeks (damn that full moon) feeling totally exhausted, my immune system has taken a battering and I had mastitis and Hidradenitis suppurativa, I have been running on empty for a while but kept going to be supportive and I felt I needed to be strong for everyone else. 

I feel my hormones are all over the place and making me feel totally disconnected, snappy and tearful, I have been keeping in my emotions of feeling unlovable and slightly depressed to myself, but I shared them with Mr Delightful in a heart opening way, I allowed myself to feel vulnerable and explained everything, after his kindness and total support in finding ways to change my diet and take supplements to help me and after using some natural remedies, I could actually face up to these past few days and share with you. 

I didn't want this truth to break the 'always positive' delightful me, but I feel you deserve to know why I haven't done any art, posted on my blog or been attending anything.

I have some wonderful friends who are so caring and their messages have kept me going on the dark days, I have been reading, watching films, resting and restoring myself. 

So all I have to offer is some photos of my studio, this place brings me joy, I am so grateful for this space.

Little things here and there, that have been given or collected over time.

My easel really needs a good tidying up, it is full of unfinished projects.

Always got to be feeling the love no matter how dull things seem, if you have no one else to love, always love yourself, and I am sure there are plenty of people who love you, even if you don't think there are, I love you, each one of us is a miracle, I mean check out how amazing it is and the odds you are actually here, its something crazy like there is only 4 hours a month in which you can get pregnant, that's is if a sperm actually reaches the egg and the egg actually gets fertilised, I won't go on, this isn't a place for biology lessons, but I hope you get my point, before anything else, how amazing is it we are actually alive!

Old books, new books, god I love books, I love the smell of musty bookshops, crammed from floor to ceiling with so many possibilities and ideas in those pages.

Rose quartz for love and my studio angel

These little 50p storage pots from Ikea are great for keeping all my bits and pieces in one place. My tiaras are in there too for the days when I need an extra princess vibe.

The summer holidays are nearly over, Autumn is nearly here again, what are your plans and how have you been feeling with this crazy moon?

Love Dotty xx

A day in the life of an artist

I am so nosey and love looking at other peoples 'a day in the life' stories, so I thought I would share my own with you.

Some mornings I really make an effort and make a super good and healthy breakfast and then other days, I really want to get into my work and make jam on toast, I know I shouldn't really eat bread as it makes my tummy swell, but I love it so. This is Hovis doorstop bread, its super thick (not very healthy) and is yummy with dairy free spread and cherry jam, I drink decaf tea, mainly Clipper and have hemp milk.

Each day is super different and I don't really have a plan as such but each day I try and do some work on my business which includes learning, I flit between Leonie Dawson, Kelly Rae Roberts and Lucky bitch, today was a lucky bitch day and it was so good learning about manifesting money in 24 hours, as its a video I listened while I prepped my canvasses.

I was painting larger canvasses today, I start off with the rainbow coloured background, I love how I blend the colours so they seamlessly flow into each other, it takes a while but is worth the finished look. I use a mix of acrylics and emulsion.

Then I stopped to take notes from the video while the canvasses dried. I browsed on Pinterest for a bit, while I had coffee and a couple of bits of Green and Blacks orange chocolate, I think I'm addicted! Then the Riverford organic box delivery arrived.

It's pretty cool getting the box because you never know what is coming from week to week (unless you look on the website) and dinners are often made up on the spot because of it, I think I am swapping back to Able and Cole though as you can do your dislikes with them.
The veg and fruit is always really nice though from both types of boxes.

I did some social media updates and had a look at instagram, then started doing a couple of mixed media canvasses for a fair I was doing at the weekend.
I love doing mixed media, I love the glue on my fingers and never knowing how a piece is going to turn out.

I did something to my camera and it went all blurry so I stopped taking photos at this point, I made garlic tomatoes on ciabatta with salad for lunch, played cards with the boys for a bit, did some more online research and posting, spent a while cutting out images from magazines, I am making a collection for a rectangle canvas I am doing of Alice falling down the rabbit hole. 

I also read a bit more of Kelly Rae Roberts flying lessons, I am up to the blog part weirdly! 

I ran in and out about 5 times through the day, sorting the chickens out, they squawk really loudly when laying eggs and if seagulls fly over!

We walked the dogs for a bit, as they was getting on my nerves barking at horses going past the house and then we we came home it was teatime, I normally make tea but Mr Delightful is a great cook and often does it if I have a lot of work on, I also make the boys wash up every night alternately except Sunday night where it's our turn, they also sweep the floor and wipe down the sides, we put this in place a few years ago and it is so helpful to me. 

After tea, I checked facebook and had a chat to my friend on it for ages, I also posted some photos on instagram ( I have two accounts one for Dotty Delightful and one for our other business naked wild and free and have to keep up with them, I finished some of the paintings while half watching a film with my youngest son. 

I snuggled with the dogs and fell asleep, waking up at 3am, cold and annoyed I didn't go to bed earlier!.

The only regular things I do each day are feed animals, collect eggs, take a skullcap infusion for my nervous tension, make dinners, check facebook and instagram and drink copious amounts of tea and 1 filtered decaf coffee, say "I'm hot" and "my back hurts" a lot.

Love Dotty xx