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

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

Studio tour - dreams do come true

I am so happy that I actually cried today, I was overcome with gratitude because one of the dreams I have had for years came true, you know we moved to a new home in January and I was blessed with a room to be my studio, well Mr Delightful has been sharing the space as he is self employed too, until his office was redecorated, rewired etc, the past week he has worked hard getting it all ready and yesterday he moved out of my space into his own. He helped me moving furniture, building an ikea unit my friend donated, hanging rails etc and then today I got to do my favourite bit, sorting everything out and making it look pretty.

Welcome to my delightful studio:
click the photos to make them bigger.

I have always wanted a craft room for years, read all about it, and knew I wanted it in different zones because as well as being an artist I love to sew, make clothes and all sorts of handmade things from fabric and wool.

I have 3 'zones', an art area as you walk in the room, this has a big architect easel I have had for years, I actually found it in the back garden of an upstairs flat I lived in about 16 years ago. I watched for a week to see if anyone claimed it, but no one came so I dragged it up a flight of stairs in 2 pieces, it is really heavy and I don't know how I did it, sheer determination I guess!

I have all my art, scrapbooking, drawing, stamping stuff in this area.

I have a sewing 'zone', this part I am most happy and grateful for, because I don't have to put anything away now tbefore I use the table, I actually have a cutting table, and anyone who sews knows this is like pure gold.

The little white tubs on the wall are from Ikea, only 50p each too so really affordable and very handy.

I have 2 tables in an L shape for sewing on, a fantastic huge window which the sun shines through on a bright day, but it's been pouring down here all day. I am going to whizz up some curtains tomorrow with this gorgeous Rosali fabric and give the windows a good clean (if it's sunny)

I also have a computer 'zone', this is a brilliant piece of furniture because when you are not using it, it folds up so your computer is out of the way and your computer chair tidies away underneath. 

I want to give that lampshade a makeover soon too, I like the shape, but the fabric is a bit daggy.

I adore the wallpaper, and know I am boring you with it before, but it's so cheery and always makes me smile, the blue tits remind me of my mums garden.

Honestly, I don't know how to convey to you just how happy and grateful I am, I feel like it's almost a dream. For so long I used the dining table to work at, in a cramped and damp living/dining/storage room, I dreamed of one day being like the women on pinterest or on other blogs who I thought were so lucky to have such lovely places, I kept putting it out there to the universe, what I really desired and needed to get me to the next level in life.

I have done many things over the years, had shops, ran events, had wild ideas ( I still have them daily) but nothing has fitted just right, this though, this is the place at the moment I feel right in, this is where I feel I can let my creativity soar, and for that I feel like all my christmases, all the jewels in the world have come all at once.

Keep dreaming, keep believing, know in your heart that dreams do come true, I didn't know how I would end up with this beautiful studio, there have been weeks where I didn't eat so I could feed my boys (pre Mr Delightful), times where I burnt furniture on the coal fire because I couldn't afford fuel and I didn't want the boys to be cold, desperate times, times of despair, times where running away became an option, but I clung onto the hope that one day life would be how I dreamed, life would be so wonderful. That day is today. 

Tomorrow is our 10th anniversary and that is another law of attraction story with an amazing 10 years behind us, that I will tell tomorrow (or maybe the day after depending on if I get chance with all the kissing going on ;) 

I am so blessed with amazing people in my life who often donate fabric, buttons, wool, furniture ect to me to help me along the way. 

I may not be rich in money (yet) but I am rich in happiness, an amazing studio and home and love.

I wish for your dreams to come true.

Love Dotty xx

New studio makeover!

I'm back!! 

Moving house was an epic journey, we finished moving the last bit of furniture at 1.30am! the removal van was 3 hours late, we was totally shattered, its only just starting to lift a week later!

Anyway we have managed to get the living room straight, I just need to hang curtains I finished today up, the kitchen is almost sorted but most importantly.......

I want to share my studio/craftroom at our new home, I am so, in awe. I am so grateful, for so many years I have wanted and desired a room of my own to work from, I have in the past, used the dining room table or on my knee in the living room and have had to clear everything away (sometimes in the middle of a flow) to serve dinner etc. I have asked the universe for a wonderful room full of girly essence to create in for 7 years. Today one of my biggest dreams came true, I got to paint in my very own space. I feel so very lucky and thankful each time I walk in. The magic that will be created in here will be awesome, I know it! 

 I still have some more unpacking to do and Mr Delightful is using part of it as his temporary office, just until his office room is all decorated and ready, so after that I have a pine dresser to put in and fill with magic potions. I also have a painting table, perfect for workshops and messy playing, to pop in the middle of the room. 

Dreams do come true, you just got to believe and look for the signs and make steps towards your dreams.

Love Dotty xx

Creative ways this week

What have I been up to?

 It's been a busy week for me, trying to pack for the new house move on 23rd January, keeping up with lovely orders (so grateful every time someone orders from me) decorating the new house, luckily we have keys so can pop round when we like to crack on. Mr Delightful has been working his arse off sanding floors, they look amazing.

I have been making these lovely wooden heart hangers, a lady suggested they would make good coasters too, which is a great suggestion, I originally made them in pink and purple (see photo below) but a lady ordered these in blue/green. I used an app for instagram to add the light beams to the original photos, I love it!

At night when I want to be a bit more mindful, I have been colouring in, adult colouring books have become the bestseller of 2015 and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. I think they are a great idea especially if you feel you are not very creative or artistic, its a lovely way to produce something wonderful, plus it brings the stress levels down and that's sure to be a good thing.

Being weird

I finished this canvas too, I realised that to conventional people, I'm really weird, I have always felt a bit odd, like I didn't fit in, but I have really embraced my 'weirdness' in 2015, I have tried many new things including sound healing, putting my menstruation blood on my plants (my chillies have doubled in size) opening my 3rd eye with crystals, going on shamanic journeys, dying clothes with elderberries, stopping wearing any kind of deodorant (I use clay on my pits to detox them and every morning give them a wash) because I don't eat meat they don't smell like they used to, and many other wonderful things. My friend doesn't like it that we 'different' ones are called weird because we are the ones getting closer to nature and how we naturally originated. I don't mind because to me weird = amazing!

More of the hearts I painted, I am going to hang these in our new home, I also sell them on Etsy and take commissions. At the top of this picture is a letter from the Circle of stars. The Lifeletter acted as a gateway to connect the ever expanding circle of earthstars who hold vital knowledge, resources, lessons, skills, recipes, healing, books, art, poetry, insight, support and most importantly love.The last edition is sent out January 2016.

I have also enjoyed doing some watercolour portraits and affirmations for some gorgeous ladies, this is one I did for myself, I am going to frame it and put it in my studio to read everyday before I start work.

Lastly this week I made a 'hope' necklace, I hand stamped a mandala onto a sliver of wood and added beads and a metal 'hope' charm to make a necklace. It's so earthy and reminds me of a pixie girl, always believing good things are about to happen.

Hope you have had a lovely week, I am so grateful to all my beautiful readers and thank you all each day for being so supportive.

Love Dotty xx