Feeling considerabely better than I did in the first half of this month, I am tackling my sons' bedroom decoration (again - it needs updating from a baby's nursery to a little boy's bedroom). New curtains & pelmets, new bedspread, and a few little bits and pieces to put up on the walls. I'm going to use my Dragon Doorstop as an inspiration, with the dragon himself on the curtains, along with a brave knight, and campaign tents and jousting knights on the pelmets. At least I hope to get around to doing it all! I made some Letter Bunting with Dragon ends for a customer recently, and am still working on a set of pictures and cushions to go with him.













I have made quite a few more of the large letters now, in different colour combinations. I am not sure how to describe all of the colour ways though - the blue/red/yellow for example depends very much on the base fabric I use. If the blue stars that I use for my dragons, then the whole effect is paler than using a blue gingham for example - perhaps 'blue stars' and 'blue gingham'? Let me know if you have any other idea!















Other than that I am looking for a 'proper job' at the moment. We have definitley decided that I need to use my professional qualification to earn us some serious cash, and whilst I have no intention of giving up gettymops, I am in complete agreement that we need to finance our dream-house and see the boys grow a little older before I take the next step and get someone in to help me with the sewing or even outsource it abroad.

I am suffering from the 'tired of January' feeling. I always dislike January, and February as a matter of fact. The excitement and enjoyment of Christmas is over so quickly, and although I still smile every time I think of Christmas Day (my eldest little boy who is nearly three was just at the right age to understand what was going on), I really struggle to get enthused about weeks and weeks of grey/wet/cold weather before Spring starts to set in. There was a little relief when we had a couple of inches of snow, but we seem to be in a bubble down here in Purbeck, and it soon melted and we had no more. I wouldn't wish to have experienced the hardships some have had to suffer with the snowy weather, but it would have been nice to have a few more days of it down here, it's such a mood lifter!

So, time to try to beat the winter blues with some serious creativity. I tried my hand at some more 'grown-up' designs as Christmas presents for family this year, and will put some onto notonthehighstreet.com/gettymops to see what the buyers think. We invested in a new camera just before Christmas and I think these photos show that it was worth it! I love the coffee pot cosy that I made for my Mum, and will make one for myself when I get the time.

I am also cheering myself up by finally getting on with some of the sewing and decorating jobs that we have outstanding around the house; my husband is such a talented chap with a paintbrush too, so he is fully employed in the evenings. I now have a revamped dresser/shelf unit in the kitchen. and he has painted my plain lamp stands beautifully, to match my favourite china.

So I'll get on with January, and ignore the depressing dark weather, and look forward to Spring. Watch this space for more of my new ideas. Oh, and I spent some time sprucing up the website over Christmas, so have a look and let me know what you think! www.gettymops.co.uk

Happy New Year!