Designer Brunch - Dots & Spots

Morning! I hope you are all having a lovely weekend and getting to enjoy some sunshine.  After a long winter I really do believe Spring has finally arrived and the promise of warmer, sunny days is very uplifiting.  Perhaps you are planning a family brunch or lunch in the garden today or a lovely walk on the beach or across the fields. Today I am very pleased to share this weeks Designer Brunch post with you all and thrilled to welcome Becky of Dots & Spots as my guest.

Dots and Spots Studio

Becky is a very talented greetings card and giftware designer whose designs are always colourful and cheery.   As her business name, Dots and Spots suggests, she uses these in all of her designs.  Creating collages with spotty papers Becky then uses her designs for cards, notebooks, magnets, giftwrap, mugs, decorative tape and more.  Having launched her business as a part time venture whilst still working as a primary teacher she has allowed her business to grow steadily.  After working from home initially Becky had to move to dedicated premises as trade orders flooded in aswell as orders from retail customers, via her website and Not On The High Street storefront.  Before long Becky left her teaching job and now focuses full time on Dots and Spots. This year has seen Becky expand into the party business with spotty party bags, invitations, spotty balloons, and party bag packs.  I always love to read her blog and hear about her new designs aswell as her life in the pretty county of Somerset.

Decorative Tape

I met Becky via twitter and have since met her in real life.  She really is a lovely lady and I am delighted that she has joined me for todays post.  So I shall now let Becky share her perfect Sunday morning with you.  

Best drink to start the day?

Black coffee every time!

Croissants or full English?

Warm Croissants with rhubarb jam

Sunday papers or favourite magazines?

Favourite magazines Country Homes and Interiors, Country Living, Homemaker

Party Invitation

Favourite blogs to read at the weekend?

I follow 100's and 100's - so catch up daily with Google reader. I'm too visual and scan images rather than read great chunks of text.

Sunday morning playlist - 3 songs for Sunday brunch?

The Corinne Bailey Rae CD on repeat for a chilled out Sunday brunch

Favourite local shop or market for weekend shopping?

Wells Market, Somerset although the Wednesday Market is best for food - fab breads, fresh meat and fish, artisan bakers, home grown fruit and veg, delicious jams and chutneys and sweet treat yummy fudge.

Find out more about Becky and Dots and Spots and to see more products visit -

Website - www.dotsandspots.co.uk

Not On The High Street : www.notonthehighstreet.com/dotsandspots

Thank you Becky, I hope you are enjoying a late breakfast in the garden. Corrine Bailey Rae is a favourite choice for Sunday mornings in my house too, well when I get to the docking station first!

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday,

Zoe

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Designer Brunch - Snapdragon

Morning! Another lazy Sunday has arrived and sadly the last one of the Easter hols. At least we have some bank holiday weekends to look forward to next month and I'm sure the summer holidays will arrive quicker than we think.  Today I am excited to share another new blog series, Designer Brunch.  This new series has been one of those ideas that I have spent sometime pondering and have finally got it started! Designer Brunch is a short interview with fabulous British designer makers, getting them to share their perfect Sunday morning with you.  So let's get started and meet our first designer for brunch. A very warm welcome to Jane from Snapdragon.

Personalised Typewriter Tote Bag

Jane is a very inspiring lady, working in the beautiful Scottish location of Loch Lomond, designing and making a fantastic selection of gifts and homewares.  Having retrained in Horticulture and selling the flowers she grew on her land, but as a savvy business lady realised the seasons limited her business, so added machine embroidery to her skills. Her business, Snapdragon, soon grew and she now employs a team of talented ladies and her business has grown so much that this month saw the start of building work to extend the Snapdragon workshop.  This is definitely an exciting year for Snapdragon as Jane has also recently launched her new website, where you can register to gain access to the members area.  This special part of the website has tutorials and printables, the latest being a fab paper doll, which my daughters love.  Jane also keeps her blog up to date and her weekly newsletters are always a treat to find in my inbox.  

Personalised Camper Van Mug

I met Jane via twitter and am pleased to say I have since met her in real life.  She is a lovely lady and I am thrilled that she agreed to be part of Designer Brunch today. So let's now find out about Janes perfect Sunday morning.

Best drink to start the day?

A large pot of coffee - strong and black

Croissants or full English? ( or Scottish of course!)

I love to start every day with porridge - salty with cream- it really sets me up for the day. But on Sundays, if they are laying, I might have a couple of boiled eggs from our hens instead.

Sunday papers or favourite magazines?

Sunday mornings with the paper are very special- in fact the weekend papers tend to last all week.

Embroidered Floral Cushion

Favourite blogs to read at the weekend?

I love blogs which show off people's obsessions and journeys - at the moment I am enjoying http://www.gonewiththewynns.com the tale of a mega campervan trip and Donnie Mackay's beautiful photo blog of Skye http://hebphoto.blogspot.co.uk/ somewhere we intend to visit this year.

Sunday morning playlist - 3 songs for Sunday brunch?

(At the moment) Edie Brickell Long Lost Friend for dancing round the kitchen

Mary Chapin Carpenter Why Walk when you can Fly as its kind of the family anthem

Victoria Vox &Pat Macdonald Out on the Rails - a recent discovery & love

Favourite local shop or market for weekend shopping?

When I get the chance I love to go into the West End of Glasgow and buy cheese at Ian Mellis cheese shop. 

Find out more about Jane and Snapdragon and to see more products visit -

Website : www.snapdragononline.co.uk

Not On The High Street : www.notonthehighstreet/snapdragon

Thank you Jane, I hope you are enjoying your Sunday morning today.  The Sunday papers last all week in our house too and I love that my older children now sit and read them too.  

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday,

Zoe

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