I'm hugely into my history. I do victorian re-enactments and I love vintage styles. Being rather voluputous (yes that would be fat to the layman) I find that the styles of the 40's and 50's suit me far more than the modern 'fashions' of today and so I stick to them where I can.
I have always wanted to get some professional photo's taken of myself and back in April I decided to just go for it. I mean, I'm not getting any thinner, younger or perkier, so I figured it was now or never. I asked my vintage pals for their recommendations and booked a shoot. I booked it for the end of August, just before I went back to school and it seemed eons away. I thought I had loads of time to get my clothes and props together, but as life always does, it crept up on me faster than expected and before I knew it the big day had arrived.
So last wednesday at the ungodly hour of 4.45am, I dragged my half dead ass out of bed and into the shower. By 5.40 I had put petrol in the car and picked up my pal Jo, 30 mins later I had collected my sister and set the SatNav for Southend on Sea. Google maps had estimated a 2 hour travel time, but we managed it in an hour and a half and even had time to pop into Asda for a hot brekkie before arriving at the studio.
Thanks to both the SatNav and good directions from Terry Mendoza (the photographer) we found the studio easily and started unloading the car. By 8.30 am I was perched on my chair being ministered to by the hugely talented Hair & make-up artist I had booked. A mere two and a half hours later, I had completed my transformation from frumpy to fabulous and was ready for my close-up ;)
Now Terry had warned me that he doesn't like to bring friends into the studio itself, as he feels it makes his subjects more self-conscious. Despite this, I arrived with my entourage of my sister and my friend Jo. I needed my sister to help me in and out of my corsets and Jo was interested in having a shoot done herself and had come along to see how it went before making her final decision.
I went into the studio in my first (of about 6 or 7) outfits and Terry grudgingly (which is understandable) said that they could come in for one or two pics. He suggested a few warm-ups shots to loosen me up, but after all the pampering from the make-up artist and with the fabulous forties music playing in the background I was ready to pose for Britain. I danced and whirled and posed and played and within a few short minutes he stopped to ask me had I been practising for weeks as I was doing great. Funnily enough there was no more mention of making the girls leave the studio ;)
It really was the best experience and I urge everyone to give it a go. I came away hugely liberated and full of confidence. I (will) finally have good pictures of myself that I actually like and want to look at, as opposed to the usual 'Dear God, do I look like that?' photo's of the usual night out.
What can I say guys? I finally feel 30 and flirty and fabulous, so what if it's 3 years too late ;)
You can book your own exhilarating experience with Terry or just ogle the gorgeous pics on his website
http://www.retrophotostudio.co.uk/
Saturday 28 August 2010
Knitcamp 2010 - Major organisational fail, but the people made it great.
So it's been a very long time since I posted, but boy has it been a busy summer. I went from one extreme to another. Last year, I did nothing with my summer and it dragged by slowly. This year I definitely planned way too much and it has flown by in a flash.
Many of you will know that I was hugely excited about attending KnitCamp. I started knitting only a year ago and have found it to be a great hobby. I was keen to learn new skills and techniques and when I discovered that there was a 'KnitCamp' to be held near my mate Lith's place, I knew it was fate. I booked 4 classes, and my flight and began my holiday dreaming.
I know I am far from being the only person who got burnt by British Yarn's Knitcamp, and I have tried hard to remain fair about my comments. Thanks to the many cancellations, Tutors being deported and utter lack of communication, by the time my holiday came around I was dreading it.
The british yarn terms and conditions clearly stated that they would contact their customers to notify them of any changes or cancellations. Well despite my giving them 2 different email addresses, I was not notified about any of my 4 cancelled classes. I found out through ravelry, and either other members, or indeed tutors. despite these cancellations, I tried to remain positive and even went so far as to book another class, an excursion and even 3 nights accomadation at the camp itself. The new class I booked also got cancelled, as the tutor was deported for lack of the correct working visa. I purchased a KnitCamp zip-up hoodie which I have yet to receive and despite my contacting the organisers a week ago, I've still heard nothing about either a refund or actually getting my jumper.
Despite the many, many cock-ups and massive organisational fails, KnitCamp was great. The hundreds of fabulous knitters who attended from all over the world made it great. The atmosphere was amazing and I learnt so much that by the end of the week I was fairly sure that my brain was going to explode. There were official classes and then the unofficial (and often drunken) 'oh that's eeeeeasy, I can show you that. Have you got dpn's and spare yarn on you' classes. Naturally the response to that was always 'but of course' ;)
The tutors who did make it to the camp were expected to 'make do and mend', and use their initiative to help their classes run smoothly. To give those men and women their due, they did a corking job. They were (mainly) friendly and helpful, and very down to earth. They were informative in class and out and it was kind of like rubbing shoulders with the rockstars of knitting. I have to say a huge thank you to Joan McGowan Michael who shared her lunch and dinner with me several times and was a free flowing fount of knowledge to this relatively new knitter. She really was kindness itself and if she visits the UK again and needs a bed, she'll always be welcome Chez Tootsie.
As for my final thoughts on KnitCamp, well they are a little mixed. I will never again attend anything organised by Jo Watson's British Yarn company. However, the concept of KnitCamp is a very sound one and I sincerely hope that someone attempts it again in the future. I think it could work as something that is run every 3 or 4 years, which would give people a chance to save their money (cos damn but it was expensive all round) and it also would give people a chance to put the skills they learn to use and practice before learning new ones.
I do think I've tried to be honest and fair here, but I'd love to hear peoples comments on my thoughts
Many of you will know that I was hugely excited about attending KnitCamp. I started knitting only a year ago and have found it to be a great hobby. I was keen to learn new skills and techniques and when I discovered that there was a 'KnitCamp' to be held near my mate Lith's place, I knew it was fate. I booked 4 classes, and my flight and began my holiday dreaming.
I know I am far from being the only person who got burnt by British Yarn's Knitcamp, and I have tried hard to remain fair about my comments. Thanks to the many cancellations, Tutors being deported and utter lack of communication, by the time my holiday came around I was dreading it.
The british yarn terms and conditions clearly stated that they would contact their customers to notify them of any changes or cancellations. Well despite my giving them 2 different email addresses, I was not notified about any of my 4 cancelled classes. I found out through ravelry, and either other members, or indeed tutors. despite these cancellations, I tried to remain positive and even went so far as to book another class, an excursion and even 3 nights accomadation at the camp itself. The new class I booked also got cancelled, as the tutor was deported for lack of the correct working visa. I purchased a KnitCamp zip-up hoodie which I have yet to receive and despite my contacting the organisers a week ago, I've still heard nothing about either a refund or actually getting my jumper.
Despite the many, many cock-ups and massive organisational fails, KnitCamp was great. The hundreds of fabulous knitters who attended from all over the world made it great. The atmosphere was amazing and I learnt so much that by the end of the week I was fairly sure that my brain was going to explode. There were official classes and then the unofficial (and often drunken) 'oh that's eeeeeasy, I can show you that. Have you got dpn's and spare yarn on you' classes. Naturally the response to that was always 'but of course' ;)
The tutors who did make it to the camp were expected to 'make do and mend', and use their initiative to help their classes run smoothly. To give those men and women their due, they did a corking job. They were (mainly) friendly and helpful, and very down to earth. They were informative in class and out and it was kind of like rubbing shoulders with the rockstars of knitting. I have to say a huge thank you to Joan McGowan Michael who shared her lunch and dinner with me several times and was a free flowing fount of knowledge to this relatively new knitter. She really was kindness itself and if she visits the UK again and needs a bed, she'll always be welcome Chez Tootsie.
As for my final thoughts on KnitCamp, well they are a little mixed. I will never again attend anything organised by Jo Watson's British Yarn company. However, the concept of KnitCamp is a very sound one and I sincerely hope that someone attempts it again in the future. I think it could work as something that is run every 3 or 4 years, which would give people a chance to save their money (cos damn but it was expensive all round) and it also would give people a chance to put the skills they learn to use and practice before learning new ones.
I do think I've tried to be honest and fair here, but I'd love to hear peoples comments on my thoughts
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