spring??

I think I post this exact same question on the exact same day every year....but wtf...please can we have spring now? Cos I bloody hate January. Thanks.

holiday bubble

I'm soooo not ready to re-join the rat race next week. It's been really lovely having some time off and space to do what I want to do. 
And nothing. I've done quite a bit of nothing.

I was so busy at the end of last year, basically churning out picture after picture, moving from one deadline to another without a break. I just turned into a drawing machine and found little joy in most of it.
I'd like to say I'll be better this year but I'm already booked up all through January and into February.
It's a tough one. I'm trying not to moan cos I know loads of people aren't busy and are worried about money...and I've been there myself many times and don't want to ever go back. I'm honestly grateful for having the work.
But surely there must be a happy medium somewhere?

I don't really do the whole New Year's Resolutions thing. But if I did it would be to focus on the work that brings me joy and makes me want to leap out of bed on a morning. 

And if it doesn't then it has to pay shit loads of money ha ha. 

hello 2020

I won't bore you with the usual drivel about how time flies. We all know that it does. This year I plan to use mine wisely.
Hope you do too.
Love you loads x

sunny bunny

The sun is out in Yorkshire. Happy days!

chrimbo limbo

I'm bloody loving the chrimbo limbo this year. I've mostly been eating, drinking and being very merry. 
Also ... sitting on my arse a lot. 
And another full week of it to come. Yay.

merry christmas

Merry Christmas people, hope it's a good one x

the little angel returns

Our little angel came home from uni on Saturday.
I'd say how lovely it is to have her home but we haven't seen much of her.
Since she arrived she's either been in bed, working (she got her old job back for the hols) or out with her mates.
But her room is trashed, she's needed a zillion lifts and she's eaten all the food. So it's lovely to be back to normal.

election rant

I wanted to take the dog with us to vote last night so that I could use the suddenly popular #dogsatpollingstations But by the time the other half arrived home it was cold, dark and chucking it down. So we went in the car. Without the dog.

Anyway I'm glad the damned thing is over now. I'm bloody sick of seeing political rants everywhere. I haven't asked a single person how they voted. I don't care. As long as they're funny, kind and entertaining we can be friends. All those people who think that others, who don't share the same political views, are idiots get on my chuffing nerves. I'm hoping they all shut the fuck up now and go back to moaning about the weather and the amount of dog poo they encountered on the school run.

monday mood

Getting out of bed in winter is a complete ball ache. How is it Monday already?

christmas party round1

I will be leaving my desk this afternoon to go to my work's Christmas do. There will be two of us in attendance. Me...and my favouritest art director. 

If it goes the way it usually does we will have consumed 3 bottles of prosecco before we remember to eat and we'll have to resort to a plate of mushrooms and chips to soak it all up. 

Who needs a fancy eaterie when you're hammered 😬😂

christmas catchup

Taking a nano second break from the busiest December in the history of Dawn Machell to share what I've zapped on instagram in the last couple of days....cos I'm too busy being busy to remember to double post.
It's not an advent. But it's close. (Rejects from my christmas card design which I niftily shoehorned into my schedule)

winter blues

I hate bloody winter.* 
And I hate it when I say yes to too many jobs.
And I'm very grumpy.
And I need a holiday.
That is all.

* Yes I am aware that it's still probably sodding autumn. And no that doesn't make it any better.

weekend visitor

The eldest came home from uni for the weekend. It was so lovely to have her back. And all her washing. And her long shopping list of urgent requirements.
She won't be home till Christmas now.
But it's ok cos we're going to Durham for the night on Saturday and we're gonna hop up to the Toon to take her out for some grub on Sunday 😊

monday

I could call this "Monday morning warm up". 
But really it's just me avoiding the real work list after a fab week away in the Lake District with my sis and two teenage boys. (Our own teenage boys, not two random ones that we picked up en route).
Back to the 673 emails in my inbox now then....

october 19

The October pattern is a little thin on the ground due to me being v busy churning out stuff for other people all month.
It's great to be busy but there's often not that much creativity involved in the jobs I do. Most clients tend to play it safe, terrified of taking a risk and doing something different when big bucks are at stake. I can't complain. It pays the bills. But I need to do my own stuff to keep me sane.