What makes your inner inspiration child dance?

Sometimes, and by that, I mean at least twice a day, I log onto my Pinterest account and go giddy at all the eye candy. I love that so many creative people have made this site so successful. I love more, however, the sheer volume of images, and that no matter what you type in to the search bar *within reason* you get back a smorgasbord of delight!

So what is inspiring YOU right now!?

For me, I am totally embracing the nautical vibe.

I live by the sea, as you all know, so the nautical influence is a part of daily life.

I have fallen in love for a bird than many love to hate,

the humble sandwich stealing seagull.

*I know someone who bought a pasty in a bakers, came outside, opened the bag to eat the pasty inside, and a seagull flew down and took it out his hands!*

I seriously love them though. Black tipped wings, shrieking at 5am, pasty thieving swines that they are!

Sources of images here

Another HUGE passion of mine, is anchors. If I were to try and explain to you now why I loved them - I would go on for days - I will simply say the following:

Grounding and strong, they represent strength, determination and safety.

"Refuse to sink" is my motto.

sources of images here

Seriously - I love that dress - and one day I will own a sailor dress like it and dance along the prom at sunset eating a pasty and being chased by a flock of seagulls.

In some serious contrast - I am also freaking out over the simplicity of Scandinavian designs:

sources of images here

Till that day - I will try and surround myself in small objects that make me smile and love my home.

Such as....

My son - making mood boards from interior design magazines - what a keeper!

(oh my... pattern clash behind him on the sofa! We are quilt and blanket hoarders!!)

What is on my dresser right now:

A new birthday purchase of a blue mason jar

*swoon*

 Some ~Isak Scandinavian jars

 Other things include:

Wooden light house and seagull, vintage glass jars & bottles, tin glazed jug, robot, wild flowers and a photo of my mum taken in the 60's looking seriously beautiful.

 OOOOO and now this!

A cute Digital DAB radio that has a retro feel to it, with it's rounded cornered walnut shell.

 Ooooh - look! We screen printed our first tea towel!!!

I feel so happy right now

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Moo.com winners

Hello! The winners for the moo card giveaway are as follows:

Sally:

Leanne:

LJT:

I have emailed your details to Moo and you should hear from them soon!
xxxx
Sj

So remember .....

That I posted new and exciting things were afoot?

I am really excited to let you in on my secret - that I have rekindled my love of screen printing - and I will be releasing a line of screen printed designs!

 (the one shown is specific to my town - but there will be many others)

 I am hugely back in love with the process of creating prints from screens. I love the smell, sound and even the stained fingers from the ink. = this epic little studio in Hastings - East Sussex is the most perfect place to spend the day - the people are awesome and the exposure machine and printing beds are perfect for producing prints and I am, as I said, back in love!

I spent the day on Sunday re-learning the technical side, and had a fabulous opportunity to work with Myles Calvert. - who creates quirky and fun prints, and who teaches at the studio.

I came away with a stack of work - including tea towels.

I don't think I could feel happier about this if I tried.

Printing by hand - awesome!

ALSO - DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE MOO GIVEAWAY!

Just leave a comment on the post advertising the giveaway and if you win - I will pass your details over to moo who will set you up with a code for your own cards.

Fun :-)

Moo.com giveaway

Well hey there! How are you all doing now the sun has come out to play?

I am personally relieved to see the light - it has felt a long time coming. 

I live in a terrace house - and on miserable days it can feel very dark in here. 

On a lighter note - I have a cool awesome fabulous giveaway for you!

The epic people at Moo.com got in contact and allowed me to order some postcards, business cards and stickers to see the quality for my own eyes. - I always knew how much I loved their mini moo cards - but was always curious to see how their postcards and stickers would turn out.

I have in the past tried other printers, but when these arrived - I was really really surprised at the thickness, sheen and feel of the postcards. The stickers are clear and wonderfully shiny.

I was already a fan, but now I am a dedicated fan.

AND - Moo would like to offer YOU the chance to see for yourself how fab their business cards are.

I am allowed to give away THREE packs of 50 business cards.

Three winners will get the chance to upload their own designs - or browse the pre-made designs  - You could create cards that advertise your blog, or you could upload a digital design and have a set of bespoke journal cards, or just go traditional and get your business advertised :)

To win a pack of cards - just leave a comment here with details of how to contact you should you win.

Wanna see what I had made?

Oh my - I love them.

That is all.

Oooooo

Exciting EXCITING things are happening in my house right now! New adventure starts here.....

Could this be any more cryptic?

* mwuahahaha*

More soon!

FLASH SALE

Sooooooooo I feel it's time for a FLASH SALE... for the next 10 hours - ALL PRINTS from my shop are BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! This includes personalised prints! 2pm - Midnight, today, 12th May. (GMT) TO ORDER - PLEASE USE THE CONTACT FORM HERE
Make sure you enter the special offer code
- TWOFORONE -

***All orders received after MIDNIGHT GMT will not be included in the special offer - please check your timezones to avoid disappointment*

two posts in one day?

I know I have already posted a blog today - but - I was all inspired by my spring post, and have put together a free spring time printable poster for your personal use.

Print on A4 and lean up against your mantle for a sweet reminder to smile at the beauty all around!

The quote is from Shakespeare's "It was a lover and his lass" poem... but more commonly known from

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when he sits on his bike and sings. It's one of my favourite parts of the film, and I probably sing it to myself every day :)

" In Springtime, the only pretty ring time, birds sing hey ding, a ding a ding sweet lovers love the spring"

Two versions for you - one bordered, one without a border.

To save - click on the picture and then right click and save to your computer.

Print at A4 resolution, on the highest settings, on textured white cardstock for the sweetest results.

If you like it let me know! 

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SPRING IS HERE! and its time to say hello to green and pink things!

Last weekend, I decided enough was enough with a horrid old sandpit of doom that lay resident in our back garden. It was a place of spiders, cat poops, green stuff and a whole colony of mini beasts that nore I or Finlay cared  to befriend.  (see left photo below)

After some much needed attention with top soil, compost and herb & lettuce plants I had me a herb garden!

I painted some rocks bright vivid colours, painted the herb names on and covered in a layer of modgepodge to weather proof them.  I love how it turned out - AND so far, the local cats haven't used it as a poopbox!

Ben also planted up some potato and vegetable growing bags.

I can't wait for the mini heart shaped tomatoes to grow! <3

And in other spring-like-news our cherry tree has bloomed!

It is by far the most beautiful thing in our garden (that and the peony bush) I love its pale pale pink blossoms that are almost translucent in the light. Against the blue summer clouded sky they look almost angelic!

Spring always makes me feel so refreshed. 

I love Autumn and spring. The most transitional seasons always seem to inspire me.

MONTH IN MUSINGS - New release!! * exciting *

I welcome you today - with some fun news :)

Have you heard of the awesome blog series by Julie Kirk over at Notes on Paper - Month In Numbers?

* I will assume at this point you all nodded "yes" ... and I will let those who didn't pretend they did and head on over and get clued up!*

Well............. We have teamed up to provide some official merchandise for the blog series :)

A set of printable cards in various sizes, for those who partake in the series, for those interested in the idea or simply for those who love beautiful crafting stationery!

£3-00 for the set, which can be bought from:

 Me HERE or Julie Kirks Etsy Here

What I love about Julie's blog series is her dedicated passion for remembering the little things (as well as the big things of course) - but the little numbers that we fill our hours, days and weeks with on a monthly basis. How many books you have read, miles you have walked, times you went upstairs and forgot why you were up there, hours spent in the sunshine, cm of rainfall etc etc etc - there really really is no limit to when it comes to counting the figures in your life. 

I love the blog series - in fact I love her blog full stop - I'm sure you will or do too :)

Here are a few of the cards from the kit which I have printed on semi-gloss photo paper.

I adore the colours on these cards, and the uses for them are huge!

I hope you like them - we worked hard creating you a selection of cards which we hope will inspire and compliment not only every day life scrapping, but mini books, holiday albums and Month in numbers.

Enjoy!

SALE #1

I am having a quick stock clear out, and have stumbled across a box of stuff that I am keen to get rid of - if you are interested please EMAIL me with what you would like.

sarahjanedowsett(at)gmail(dot)com

First come first served. I will update if things have sold.

ok - First up I have some pendants:

some are glass tiles, and some are glass cabochons in settings.

For the sake of making space in my cupboard I would like £3 each!

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BRANCH#1

 BRANCH#2

 DAISIES

 BLACK DAMASK

BROWN/AQUA BLOOM

 ROUND AQUA ROSE

 EARLY BIRD BLOOM

 BROWN CREAM DAMASK

 CATH'LIKE 1

 CATH'LIKE2

Next up I have gone through the stamp box, and I have all these spares and duplicates that I would like to sell on, prices by each picture.

 Below - Occasions stamp set - £5

Below - Monster boys #1  £5

 below - Monster boys #2  - £3

 Below - Coffee and kisses Christmas £5

 below - Mixed Occassions £5

 Below - Mixed Christmas set £5 

  Below - Elf Christmas - £5 the set of three.

 Below - Cupcake stamps. I have 10 sets of these, and would like £1.50 a set, some of the sets have yellowed due to sun exposure, but apart from the visual asthetics it makes no difference to the stamp when inked. 

 Below - Space robot set - £4 (some yellowing)

Hope you are all well!