...and breathe!
My younger child, Tom (8), goes back to school tomorrow, after the eternity of the summer holidays. It was a good eternity... just seasoned with the occasional burst of shouting and a hefty dose of guilt for trying to work while they're around.
My older one, Charlie (11) also started secondary school this week, which brings its own strange set of weird transitions, anxieties and readjustments.
Anyway, the upshot is that DoodlePippin has taken a bit of a back seat over the past couple of months. BUT that's all about to change!
​I've just expanded my range of heatproof platters, trays, placemats and trivets (see pics). I print them all myself, using my own exclusive millefiori designs.
They make fabulous, hardwearing and unique gifts. £29-£39 depending on size.
I have also added more ceramic wall tiles which are proving really popular with people looking for a unique focal point to a bathroom or kitchen. I heat-print them in my home studio so they're genuinely hand made. Lots more designs coming soon.
£8 -11 each.
Another thing I should have been doing... is letting everyone know about my last couple of polymer workshops this year.
The Woking Hobbycraft session on Sunday 16th September is now fully booked.
BUT there are a couple of spaces left on next Monday's (10th Sept) evening class in Billingshurst. It runs 7-10pm at CCS Emporium, 10 Jengers Mead, in the centre of the village.
During the three-hour / all-materials-included class, you'll choose colours, make two very different canes (the lovely kaleidoscope patterns that millefiori creates in the clay) and then learn how to turn those patterns into jewellery, home accessories and lots more. All with good, like minded company - and a glass of prosecco in your hand!
I don't want to mention (or even contemplate) the C word. But some people have started stockpiling their gifts already.... yes, really!?
There are now more than 130 DoodlePippin pieces on Etsy, so it's a great place to start present hunting.
If you can't find exactly what you want on there (and I'm one of more than a million sellers, so there's no end of choice...) , try The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen's lovely eclectic gallery shop in Milford, Surrey.
I sell a range of my handmade originals through this shop, and I also do regular stewarding (so you may well find me behind the counter, putting clay through my pasta machine and trying not to get bits everywhere...)
3. I've just started stocking Mine Gallery in Carshalton, South London. It's at 30-34 High Street at the lake end of the village. It's open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, it's crammed with amazing handmade stuff, and the owner Andrew is a hoot.
4 I also have a small selection of my handmade pieces and prints at CCS Emporium in Billingshurst - which coincidentally is where Monday's Polymer and Prosecco evening is. Kill two birds with one stone, and learn polymer whilst browsing gorgeous gifts. (Actually three birds - drink prosecco too!).
5. Lastly, you could always talk to me! I'm really happy to take commissions and to explore ideas.