Doing It In Style

Two very, very busy weeks behind me! And I've had an absolute ball...

First off, I joined the fabulous House of Burlesque, for the Kiss Me Deadly catwalk show (so much gorgeous underwear!), at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill. A beautiful venue, and lots of lovely ladies - what more could I ask for?!

Well the following week I was back with them again for their regular show 'Banged Up' at Madame Jojo's in Soho, which I adored; so funny, sexy and such fun!

Mirror Picture! With Gracie Disgrace, Dolly Rose, Fille J'Adore, Tempest Rose, Storm Hooper, Lolo Brow and Trixi Tassels!

 

The inimitable Lolo Brow!

Mirror Picture! From 'Banged Up' with Gracie Disgrace, Lolo Brow, Tempest Rose and Diablo Daniels!

 

Mirror Pictures! From 'Kiss Me Deadly' with Dolly Rose, Fille J'Adore, Gracie Disgrace, Tempest Rose, Delores Deluxe, Lolo Brow and Brett Rosengreen!

Polaroid Photo!!

Aah, this hat brought back memories: Circus Burlesque 2010, Edinburgh Fringe!

I travelled up to Sheffield and back for the Alternative and Burlesque Fair, hosted by Heresy 'N' Heels - it is a great event; stalls, shows, exhibitions - the works! It's just a shame I always seem to go to one of them when I have no money! Although maybe that's a good thing as I'd certainly have no money *left* afterwards - so many beautiful things! It was a fun afternoon and I was very well looked after by Lorraine and Jo, and the rest of the team, which certainly made me feel better after the most nightmarish morning of travel follies!

 

Blurry Mirror Pictures! With Jo, Juniper Crush and Blush Dance!

Afterwards I wound my way back to London to round off the fortnight with a show at Proud Cabaret alongside gorgeous ladies Missy Fatale and Slinky Sparkles, and the equally gorgeous gentleman Michael Standen - unfortunately my phone battery died and I didn't get any mirror pictures, but I did grab a couple of selfies with Joe Morose... who is also gorgeous, obviously...

 

Lovely...

*Much* needed!

I have so much leopard print in my life. #sorrynotsorry

Selfie with the beautiful (and fellow flamingo fanatic) Helen Von Frock!

Alongside shows, I had a fun night out with friends, drinking cocktails and champagne - very glamorous...

 

All the drinks!

I am one sleepy showgirl! Plus I think I caught a bit of a chill from travelling around in the unseasonal cold without sensible shoes or a coat. So it's my own fault really and I'm going to go and console myself with wine...

xx

'Tis The Season...

It's definitely the countdown to Christmas and the seasonal corporates have been out in full force this week at the shows I've been performing at - thankfully I've been surrounded with lovely people which has made the week bearable, and we put up our Christmas decorations so the house looks amazing and cozy!

We win at Christmas!

Actually, to be honest, the office parties aren't always awful: when people have never seen burlesque or cabaret before they either love it and are incredibly excitable, or they hate it and can become, at best, bored; at their worst they become hostile and rude. I've had all sorts this week, and coupled with late finishes and early starts, it's been rather hectic.

Mirror Picture! At Proud Cabaret with Vicious Delicious, Chi Chi Revolver, Taz Zebrowski, Leah Debrincat, Missy Fatale and Friedrich the Snake (though I *always* get the spelling of the name wrong!)!

Mirror Picture! At House of Magic with Chris Harding, David Crofts and Abigail Drake!

 

What's in a showgirls suitcase?

Once again, this week saw an impossibly early start to head to Westfield with Burlesque On Ice - this is definitely becoming a feature of my life at the moment! We were sporting some rather fetching Christmas jumpers and dancing with Arlene Phillips at a record-breaking fundraising event for Save The Children and had a bit of a bonkers morning dancing on ice!

With Arlene Phillips

Loving life!

Whatever Trixie is doing behind me, I'm clearly enjoying it!

With Bonnie Fleur and Trixie Kixx

"..too saucy for Save the Children!" direct quote!

We were on BBC News (blink and you'll miss Sam and I!)

And in the London Evening Standard!

I even found time to start my Christmas shopping! Naturally I had to pick up a few treats for myself as well...

Kiss Me Deadly beauties...

Non Parlo Italiano

I feel like I need a holiday to get over my holiday! It's always the way isn't it?

I had an exceptionally busy week in the run up to heading off: on Sunday I was performing at a lovely little bar; Ain't Nothin' But... near Carnaby Street alongside the lovely Felicity Furore. In a rare lapse of concentration I forgot to take any mirror pictures! However it was a fabulously fun evening, dancing to live bands: quite scary as I was never quite sure what they were going to play, or when they were going to finish, and I definitely didn't take the right costumes for a teeny-tiny little stage but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I was skating almost every day this week, and learned a couple of new moves that I really like. We have a big, exciting project coming up that I can't tell you about just yet but do keep your eyes peeled on Twitter this week to find out all the gossip!

Tigz Rice shoot with fans by Frou Frou Feathers: Burlesque on Ice!

I was back at Proud Cabaret at the weekend for a raucous night headed by Joe Morose

Mirror Picture! With Taz Zebrowski, Leah Debrincat, Teddy Boylesque, Jolie Papillon and Joe Morose!

 

Fucked-Up Family Photos...

Then once the show was over and done, I was officially on holiday for the first time in about five years!!

Off-duty Showgirl!

We flew from Gatwick to Malpensa in Milan to stay with friends for a couple of days near Chiasso, which is just over the border in Switzerland. I loved the fact that we could nip out for dinner in Switzerland or just hop over an international border into Italy: which we did several times!

I ate so much wonderful food; Taz had a photoshoot with Vikings; we played at being tourists in Milan, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and I even managed to fit in a couple of writing sessions for my NaNoNovel!

ALL the food!

 

Gorgeous scenery

 

One of my NaNo writing sessions while Taz was on a photoshoot ** Grotthard Cafe: the most deluxe rock bar in the world!

Zebrowski Photography on location with Vikings

Il Duomo: Milan

Castello Sforzesco: Milan

The weather stayed beautiful every day we were there: even though it was cold it was bright and sunny, and the scenery was just stunning. It was lovely to meet Laura and Dom, who we stayed with and made the whole trip so fabulous. I've also decided that I want to learn Italian as we hope our next holiday will be to Rome, and admittedly we struggled on our own when we went into Milan. 

I just think it's such a useful skill, to be able to speak another language. I'm passable in French but would love to improve, and I adore the musicality of Italian!

Unfortunately on the way home there was an accident that delayed the coach and the flight company wouldn't let us board. We ended up having to pay a massive "fine" and wait for 19 hours for the next available flights!! I was *not* a happy bunny, I can assure you! 

Our patch in the departure lounge: I got a *lot* of writing done here though!

On our arrival back home it was straight back into the fray: I was skating on Friday morning to learn a whole load of choreography and after all my progress over the last couple of weeks I felt like I had taken a huge step backwards. I guess it'll take a good practice or two to find my ice legs again.

 

 

Burlesque On Ice branding! Fleece, Skate Bag (that I customised just a little!) and oyster-card holder!

On Friday night I was performing back at Proud Cabaret and it was a lovely night: the murder mystery story is so well thought out and executed, I love it!

Mirror Picture! With Teddy Boylesque, Mat Ricardo, Taz Zebrowski, Slinky Sparkles (Mister Meredith is hidden behind Slinky's hair, but he's there!) and Betsy Rose!

Then I was out for another full day on Saturday: the gorgeous Kiss Me Deadly were running a special stockings promotion and I spent the day demonstrating burlesque-style stocking removal: and I got to play dress-up as well!

 

Stocking removal and dressing up at Kiss Me Deadly!

And finally, I rounded off a hectic fortnight back at Proud Cabaret for a wonderful Saturday night show:

Mirror Picture! With Leah Debrincat, Mama Rose, Betsy Rose and Freida Rose!

I am the most tired right now, and there's no rest for the wicked as I have another wonderful but busy week ahead of me - Bring. It. On!

xx