Harry Potter Studios

I never got round to blogging about my trip to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios a couple of months back. Yes, I'm a big nerd, but I was also really curious to see the actual film sets. It was such a great experience and really good to see all the props close up. Some were completely different to how I'd expected them to be.

The tour starts with a look into the Great Hall, and the rest continues very much like a museum with all the props, costumes and artefacts displayed. It was incredible to see the amount of detail and design work that had been put into the spell books and sweets packaging. However I did find out that most of the books found in Dumbledore's office are actually yellow pages and phone directories rebound to look old, ha! We were able to walk down Diagon Alley, Sit on Hagrids motorcycle, and even buy Butter beer!

The tour ends with the extraordinary sculpture of Hogwarts castle. It was built for the first film and used for exterior shots in every film since. The sculpture was incredibly details with lights in the windows and even owls in the owlery. If you are a Harry Potter fan, the studios are definitely well worth a visit. It has also got my intrigued in a career of set design, but we'll see about that.

Winter Wonderland

I got the chance to go to Winter Wonderland again this year. We went at night this time and the atmosphere was so much better! There were so many beautiful lights everywhere and the smell of food and mulled wine was so tempting. the rides seemed to be much bigger and faster too! After one round on the waltzers we all felt it was enough! It was a shame the ice skating was so busy, it would be nice to go back when its not peak time, the rink goes around a big band stand where live music is being played. But I think the best part of the whole day was the churros from Rosie's Donuts and Sweets stall. They were really hot and crispy and covered in melted chocolate. Yum.  I want to go back just for some more.

Longest Halloween Weekend Ever

I made the most of my weekend in Bristol, and went to see my sister Sophie too. This halloween felt like the longest one ever, as celebrations went on over the whole weekend! On the monday night Sophie was promoting an event in Bristol which we all went along to. Again, pretty lame with the outfit on my behalf, last minute devil ears was all I had! Sophie's friends however went to much more effort! My favorite was the Mad Hatter and Avatar!

Halloween Inspiration

Wish I had had time to get a proper halloween outfit sorted this year. Below are a few things I found on the net but I didn't have the time to do. Nail art and face paint would have looked way better, even if they are time consuming. Ah well, there is always next year. 1. Dia de los Muertos, 2. Sugar Skull, 3. Halloween Nail Art, 4. Splatter Nails. 

Dia de los Muertos

For halloween this year, I went down to see my friends from Bristol. Since I have been working lots recently I didn't get much chance to prepare an outfit so I was pretty lame this year and went as a witch. My friend Alice however became the make up artist for the night with her mexican dia de los muertos inspired halloween face paint. Halloween in mexico is a day of remembrance, celebration,  and happiness. We definitely had a lot of fun that night and I think everyone looked really good.

Halloween ideas??

So I have managed to get some time off work to go to Bristol on the weekend of Halloween. I am really excited to see everyone again, and we are going to go all out this year with fancy dress and go out to Motion for the JustJack event. It was all a bit last minute though and now I am stuck with no time to get a halloween outfit! I was thinking of maybe being the Queen of Hearts, or maybe Cruella Deville, but are disney villains scary enough for halloween?? Last year Rachel and I found these funny little children's outfits in tesco, I was a vampire and she was a pumcat.. a pumkin/cat. I guess I could always go as something dead again, with some fake blood.. I need inspiration!

BABE - Bristol Artists Book Event

Yesterday Ellie and I had a little break from work and cycled down to the Arnolfini to have a look at the Bristol artists book fair. There were so many different artists and shops there with a range of work from one-off-books, screen prints to zines and printed books. The event took place in three of the galleries and the auditorium. There were so many lovely things there I wanted them all! I really like the book art on a lot of the stalls and it has inspired me to do more in my projects. I very nearly bought a printed publication based on photography which relates to my self directed study but its probably for the best I didn't. Need to save my pennies for printing as my deadline is in 17 days! I did however pick up lots of different business cards and lovely little postcards.

Royal Wedding

Was such a beautiful ceremony, made me very proud to be British. I was so excited to see what Kate's dress was going to look like and I thought it was stunning, very Grace Kelly esque. The atmosphere looked amazing down at the mall during the procession and the photos of street parties all over the country look so fun! A day to remember.

London 2012 Olympics

Today is the last day to apply for London 2012 tickets! I am so excited about the olympics coming to London, fingers crossed my sister and I will be allocated some tickets for either the opening ceremony or the diving events!! I won't find out until May/June 2010 though. 

If you want to apply its not too late, just click here http://www.tickets.london2012.com/homepage

Really?

This Jelly bean which resembles Kate Middleton's face could be sold for £500! Really?!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/kate-middleton/8450314/Jelly-bean-resembling-Kate-Middleton-to-fetch-500.html