A Sneaky Ski Weekend

Since I work in a school, and don't fancy going skiing amongst the half term craziness, we have to make do with skiing long weekends - which is actually plenty long enough to get into it and enjoy it.

As it was stupidly cheap to fly, and we thought it would be quiet after the New Year holiday, we went on Thursday for a sneaky ski long weekend. As in previous years, we flew to Geneva, and then got the hour and a bit transfer to Avoriaz, to take advantage of the Portes Du Soleil ski area.

Although this is the 3rd time we've skied in the Portes Du Soleil area, it's so massive that we discovered many new areas and runs this year, all with stunning mountain scenery.

Here are some photos:

From London (and I'm sure most other places in the UK) it's so easy. Flight = 1 hour 20 mins (+1 hour time difference on the way), transfer  = 1 hour 20 mins ish depending on the number of drop offs, lift up to Avoriaz = 5 mins and viola, you're in Avoriaz village. We always rent apartments from Air BnB right in the village, and the whole place is ski in ski out. Plus then you're right in the middle, so it's easy to get to the farthest edges of the ski area. 

I would highly recommend it for a weekend, or a week even!

Happy 2018! Here are some Bears!

Happy 2018! Wow how the time flies....I swear it was only the summer of 2017 last week! Anyway, happy new year! I always love the positive vibes at the start of a new year. Everyone always has such good intentions....so here are mine!

• To build my business even more - I am lucky that it has been growing slightly every year since I started so I need to build that up and have an even more fantastic year than last year
• To travel - I already have trips to France skiing, Barbados and a few other places in the pipe line so I think this one will be an easy one to keep up with
• To gym more - I live across the road so it is easy to go....but equally easy to think I'll just go tomorrow!
• To de-clutter! I have already done a little bit of spring cleaning and although it felt ruthless, it now feels good to have done it, so I'll keep at it to keep our little flat clutter free!
• To get on and make my new ideas more quickly! I so often have ideas in my head for months before I get on and make them - and then when they turn out to be a success I think why didn't I make them sooner?!? (See Unicorn mobiles last year - such a success!

So this brings me straight into a new mobile idea. I have been making small bear mobiles for ages, and they are pretty popular. So I had a few spare bears hanging around, and thought - Oooh why don't I make a large bear mobile?

So here it is (photos taken on my fancy new digital camera, after mine died in Nicaragua in 2016!)

What do you think?

Knights & Castles - Making Fairytale Props for a Baby Boden Shoot

Earlier this year, I was approached to make lots of heraldic props for a Baby Boden shoot, which I was very excited to do!

I also then assisted with the props on the shoot, which was a Winter shoot in London, just so happening to coincide with our heatwave earlier this year. So aside from a few slightly overheated babies in snow gear, it was a great shoot!

Here are some photos of some of the things I made...

A Cinderella Carriage

Some regal shadow puppets

Play Houses

A velvet sword

Velvet Cinderella horses, mouse and carriage

A shadow theatre

A knight teddy bear

Frog Kings

Making mini crowns

Mini throwns

A clay castle, castle crown and some toy soldiers (I didn't make them!)

Temporary regal wallpaper - goes on like a giant sticker, and just peels off after you're done!

Cinderella pieces in action

Wallpapering dragons

Adding some roses!

Turning books into fairy houses!

A castle canopy

Dragon wallpaper, with a reupholstered velvet headboard

Labelling the laundry

Shadow theatre in action

A Mini Break to Newquay

In half term, I went for a much needed mini break to Newquay. I thought about taking some work with me, and in the end decided not to, and to just have a proper break from all work.

We rented a cute little house from Air BnB up on Pentire Head, at one end of Fistral beach and it was fabulous. The view was stunning and it was walking distance down to the beach.

I haven't surfed for years, but we hired boards and spent hours in the sea every day, perfecting our falling!! We had cake for breakfast on the beach, and came back to the house all tingly with cold, in time to go for a walk along the beautiful headland, and sampling a lot of the local cider.

All in all, it was a fabulous mini break, and Cornwall is just so stunning.

Here are some photos:

The view from the house - stunning

My new wetsuit that I bought this summer has been fabulous!! So so cosy!!

Mmmmm cider! Stable restaurant has the fabulous position of being actually on Fistral beach. The food and drinks are amazing, let alone the views!!

I love body boarding with my fabulous Mum (in the middle). She asked for her wetsuit for her 61st birthday present and has worn it so many times. Isn't she awesome??

Recreating our photos from Nicaragua last summer - only this time we're in wetsuits. It's harder to handstand in a wetsuit than it is in a bikini!!!

Look - I can stand up!! Haha, and then fall off straight away!!!

*New Mobile Idea* Hot Air Balloons

So the new mobile designs just keep coming this year!! I keep getting very excited and coming up with new ideas. This latest one - inspired in part by my visit to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta - for the first time in years - features lots of different coloured hot air balloons, some clouds, and a sunshine.

What do you think?