Autumns here . . . . .

Hello, how was your summer? Seems like a long time ago now as we’re in the thick of autumn and the bobble hats are out!!

As you know we spent the beginning of the summer in Portugal which was wonderful. Bramble Bear was at my parents for the ten days and so it was a joy to see him when we returned. As always the grass needed cutting and a good go in the garden that weekend. The spiders in the house had gone crazy whilst we were away! What do they get up to??!!

So after a few days getting lots of washing done, as you do! I delivered a workshop with Squirrel at Wellsborough on tour at Etties Field in Atherstone, Warwickshire. It was a glorious August summers day and the attendees were mostly at the venue for their holiday in their airstream caravan, how amazing is that! The site looked very cool, calm and pretty as I delivered the workshop under a boho gazebo!

Most of August was enjoying time with our daughter who’s over five foot and in size seven shoe, so not so little anymore! Which is why I’m so lucky to be able to be flexable with my job to be there for her and enjoy this time together. So we enjoyed family walks and time in the garden in the glorious sunshine we had. Visited Calk Abbey with our besties, visits to Grandparents too which enabled me to have an arty day in Manchester with our Neice which was on the cards for April but that’s when I had my back injury. Good things come to those that wait as they say and it was. We visited many independant shops Eryn thought I’d like, ate some fab food, wondered the streets of graffitit and visited Manchesters Design and Craft center, always an inspiration.

I was also dreaming of my new studio too at this point and starting to collect items for it, such as this gorgeous wall cupboard. I can’t tell you how much it’s going to mean to me to have my own studio. To be able to access my art equipment, not have to put my work away every day as I work on the kitchen table and to be able to run workshops in my space too. Really looking forward to sharing this part of my journey with you.

Then at the end of August we were invited again to spend a few days in Deven with my friend and her daughter. We had yet another wonderful trip, lots of giggles, new places visited, memories made and great to spend time togehter before our girls went back to their last year of Primary school!

Once back it was about getting in those last few days out which included a new pencil case and school shoes! We enjoyed a trip to Nottingham where I wanted to re visit White Rabbit Teahouse, it’s gorgeous you must go. My husband and Bramble had missed us so it was lovely to see them again too and spend some quality time together.

September is the month of birthdays in my family starting with my husbands, so my daughter and I took ourselves off to David Mellor for some gift shopping! He loves cooking and I new one day I’d like to buy him some super duper knives from David Mellor. Another place to visit if your in Derbyshire, it’s located just outside Bakewell and the tea rooms nice too right by the exhibition cabinates, a great place, did you know he designed the traffic lights??

So September arrived and the first week back to school went well and the first weekend we spent in The Lakes! This was an early birthday weekend away for my husband, we had a great time and the weather was glorious no rain for once! My husband had an off road running event whilst we enjoyed a good walk in Grasmere with Bramble.

I was now back in the swing of things at home, back into the school term routine, launched another wallpaper and designing my next. I had a great meeting with Gemma from Little Wild Flower at the new Chatsworth Kitchen, Rowsley getting our workshop planning ready for next year.

Shortly after our meet up we both started preparing for the workshops we were collaberating on. Preparing examples to add to my new website. Behind the scenes my website was taking shape, having a tidy up & re fresh. With plans for my new studio next year filling my workshops up ready for you to enjoy. Some of these workshops Gemma & I are collaberating and we cant wait and think you’ll love our ideas so take a look as you can book on now.

Amongst the photos we shot ready for the workshops we also had some gorgeous biscuits created by Ali The Beautiful Food Co. Ali has agreed to produce these gorgeous and very scrumptious biscuits for each workshop and some other treats too. They truely are very yummy!

It was feeling very autumnal now, the season definately changing, leaves falling but still quite warm. I ran my last workshop with Squirel at Welsborough on the 13th October with a full house. The attendees were lovely to meet and the blooms provided this time were out of mine and my neighboughs garden plus amazing dalhias from Gemma - Little Wild Flower. They looked stunning in the room and the work produced was fabulous. The confidence too was great to see and all the individual styles.

I was also at this time asked by The White Kitchen Company to collaberate with their social media. They very kindly added my ‘Bumble Hive’ wallpaper to their kitchen image which looks wonderful and has been posted on the gram!!! Its important to support other independant businesses big and small!

Back in Spring I met with Rachel from my village who asked me to design her creative logo for her new business selling creps from her newly renovated horse box. I was thilled with this design which Rachel is proudly showing off with her new business @lady.crepington

October half term arrived and we filled it with lots of fun. Catching up with friends and family, enjoying my favourite season, getting creative at Emma Bridgewater one of our very loved places. Visited Yorkshire Sculpure Park too which is another one of my to go to places to visit. Always love their exhibitions, makes you think, inspires you and it’s such a fabulous place to visit, you must go.

My hsband and I also celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary and enjoyed a gorgeous meal at our villages Greek Resturant. The food and atmophere were great, we’ll deffinately be going back. It was lovely to walk there too as it’s just round the corner from our home, a lovely romantic evening.

Little squashes were carved this year as our little one wanted to design a few scary faces! And a bonus at the start of the new school term an inset day so we enjoyed one last trip out to calk Abbey which isn’t too far from us. It was lovely and quiet, nobody in the veggy garden, we had it all to ourselves. Always a saurce of inspiration plus the dahlias were out and looked stunning. After a nice hot chocolate it was the perfect way to end the school break.

So I’m getting very close now to be able to tell you all my BIG news and show you my new studio. So bare with me, it’s going to be amazing! Untill then speak soon, hugs Emma-Jayne x