Just a quickie!

Somethings gone weird with a link I posted the other day. It's such a nice blog mention, I want to post it here instead! Boo Facebook, BOOOO!

Saturday 18th September - 

I must say I had a fabulous time with Miss. Tiffany Beau and Cherry Stone I'd like to thank them for two fabulous performances, Tiffany's Tiffany Box routine was comical and glamarous it was a treat to watch. I was pleased that my balloon pop went so well and Cherry topped off the night with her brand new Noir routine which couldn't have been more perfect!
I'd also like to thank Celeste Chiffon for being a wonderful maid for the night! As ever she did a lovely job.

www.vonvamp.weebly.com/burly-blog.html

There we go!

Mwah!

Tx

Additional...

I wrote that blog very late last night, and left a few things out I wanted to tell you!

First of all, call off the search party, I found the Lollipop pastie! Thank goodness for that! There it was, sitting quite happily in the bag with the rest of the costume. Errrr, wa? I swear it wasn't there the other day! That's saved a little time and money though, thank you St Anthony!

The lovely Parma Violet and I also took a trip to the rag market on Friday. I spent a fortune on beads, feathers, fastenings, and fabric, amongst other things and I seemed to come home with an Edwardian Lady in a bag! It's all very exciting. That means I've nearly got everything. I think the shoes are the only thing left, and of course, they're the most expensive! I also tested my watering can this morning, my glitter will indeed pour out of the spout! Wooooo!

I also attended 'High Tease' at the glee club last night. I really wanted to attend Darkteaser's night at the Assembly Rooms in Leamington, but just couldn't get there. So off to the Glee it was. I went mainly out of curiosity, it was also my last night of freedom for a few weeks, so I really wanted to go out and quench my Burly thirst! All in all, it was a good night, nowhere near in the same league as the burlesque night we were all comparing it to! (We all love and miss Candy Box!) It was very stark in comparison, it didn't have the same heart. Dusty Limits, the compare was very good, and reminded me of a lot of the guys I work with on a daily basis. He looked like a gothic Boy George, which of course coming from me, is no insult! He sang hilarious songs and had great comic timing. The other performer who caught everyone's eye, was a juggler called Matt Ricardo. He was great; talented and funny. And the only act of the night that made me slightly uncomfortable sitting in the front row! He had sharp things! And not only whipped a table cloth off from under a full tea set, vase of flowers, and four cups and saucers, but whipped it back on aswell! At least I don't think I dreamt it!

I'm sorry I've been very lazy with photos recently. I need to start taking more backstage photos, maybe I will find it easier as I relax more! I know Celeste Chiffon took some at Eddies on Saturday, so we may see those soon.

So until the next instalment, sparkling diamonds!
Tiff x

A Bizarre Burly Weekend!

This weekend has been busy on the Burly front! Saturday was taken up with getting ready to perform at Eddies on Saturday night. It's surprising the time and energy that it takes! Costumes and props have to be first found from where ever they have all ended up..the loft, the washing pile, under the bed... some have to be washed by hand, some ironed, checked or mended.

My hair is always a conundrum for me. It just takes time to do it, which I suppose is normal for any lady. I can only get the look I like for performing from tongs, but tonged curls don't last. So I have to tong a section, and then pin it in position. It looks weird, but it seems to help the curl last longer once I've taken them all out (and normally missed at least one!)

I have taken to setting not only my hair, but as many costumes and props as I can before I get to venue if I can. So this weekend it meant me cutting pieces of tissue, and setting them in the little pockets in my Tiffany Boxes, together with the confetti and polystyrene that goes in too. This time I also tied the ribbons of the outer box ready, so all I had to do was slip it all on! Easy!

None of us knew what to expect from the venue or audience on Saturday. We were all a little nervous. There were three bands, there would be one of us performing after each of them. I was first, which I was thankful for! My routine went really well. I had one slight wobble at one point, my balance can be interesting sometimes! Other than that, I have no complaints at all! The audience were warm and seemed engaged in what we were doing. Apart from one scruffy little teenager who sat with his back to one of our girls, when I told him that he could look if he wanted, she's pretty, he shrugged at me, looked for a second, then went back to his beer. Ignorant little !&*^$!.

After that I was lucky enough to just be able to relax backstage while the bands were playing, chat with the Kik guys when they weren't on stage (what can I say I have a thing for guys who wear eyeliner!) get to know the girls better, have fun, and then go and watch Von Vamp and Cherry Stone do their thang!

It was a milestone gig for me. It was the first time I've driven to a gig alone, and had no-one there to hold my hand. Of course the other girls are lovely and so supportive, and that's all you really need. The pros do it every day, but for a newbie, having someone there of your own can be a massive comfort. This was an opportunity to prove to myself that I could do it. And though it's lovely when friends come to help support, it's not essential, this is a one woman show!

Too many ideas!

We had a wonderful time at Dr. Sketchy's Liverpool last Sunday. Parma, and I braved the M6 and M62 to be there. And even did a few laps of Liverpool to find where we were supposed to be! The lovely man in the car park even gave us a freebie, how nice! The girls were amazing, and the people were lovely! I even won the raffle! What's that about!? A custom-made motorbike helmet of all things! Can't wait for it to come, I think ebay may be getting a visit from me!

I also had my second shoot with Paul Jones this week. An amazing photographer who lives not 10 minutes from my house! I love that, because of where I live, most things are at least 30 minutes drive for me! We did so many 'set ups.' I only took three outfits, but Paul has a wonderful knack for making the most of them, he has many ideas, most of them on the spot. Brilliant. We've had some amazing feedback on them too!

My Three Outfits!

Today my Mom and I tidied all of my Burly costumes and accessories in posh bags, so they're all together, and out of the way! I found in the meantime that I've lost a lollipop pastie. Bum. New pasties for me then!

My new photos also inspired me to start planning a new act. Beau Beau the Clown has never had her own act. It's such a great costume, I should really give her her own place in my repertoire! Looking through my new pictures. I was reminded of a wonderful moment at work a few years ago that I shared with an Opera singer I once dressed called Jason. We were doing Puccini's Pagliacci, I had to go to the stage left wing with him at one point to help him with a jacket. The performer on stage - who I seem to remember - was called Dennis, started singing 'Vesti La Giubba' a very famous, beautiful and sad aria. The character, Pagliacci, who is a clown, has just found out that his wife is having an affair, but he still has to put his make-up on, hold it together and go out and make people laugh. I remember standing there, and as Dennis sang, Jason translated sections of the lyrics for me. I was inspired by the obvious passion he has for his art, the beauty of the lyrics and the fact that he was taking the time to pass it all on to me!

So, let's do a Burlesque routine to an Opera Aria! Maybe even a 'reverse strip' for a sad, broken hearted clown who HAS to paint her face to hide the pain.

Go on stage, while I’m nearly delirious? 
I don’t know what I’m saying or what I’m doing!
And yet, chin up! I’ll try harder. bah, you think you’re a man? 
You’re just a clown! on with the show, man,
And put on your white-face.
The people pay you and you must make them laugh.
And if harlequin should steal your columbine, laugh,
You’re pagliaccio, and the world will clap for you!
Turn into banter all your pain and sorrow,
And with your clowns’ face hide grief and distress...
Laugh loud, pagliaccio, forget all of your troubles,
Laugh off the pain that so empoisons your heart. 

This is just another idea to add to the list that I have spinning around my head! I'm slowly working through them, designing, planning, adapting, saving, buying, making...there's so much to do! 


So, as well as Beau Beau the Clown, there is also lady Tiffany Beaufort-Smithe an Edwardian hostess bored of the constraints of her time, a spangly dark but classic fan dance, and '(We're in the) Moneybox' an on-stage physical discussion as to whether money really does make you happy?


There also may be a very exciting collaboration with the amazing Parma Violet in the pipe-line...all I can say is, I'll watch my bank balance, you watch this space!


Sparkling Diamonds,
Tiff xxx

Back Performing with a bang!

Last night I performed with some amazing ladies at The Showcase at the Victoria pub In Coalville Leicester. It felt great to show off my acts again, and start showing people what I can really do! There was a great variety of acts on offer from the darker side of Burlesque, to cheesecake, to a gorgeous homage to the baby bump.

I thought my luck had run out when I accidentally popped a crucial 'Pastie' ballon seconds before I was due to take to the stage! The running order was quickly changed and the wonderful Parma Violet helped me rectify the problem!

I was also able, for the first time since my debut, to have both of my acts filmed. You can have a look on my Facebook page, let me know what you think!

I'm also off to Dr Sketchy's in Liverpool tomorrow, to support my wonderful Burly friend Parma Violet. Can't wait!

Sparkling Diamonds,
Tiff x

Rockabilly Roll Hair Tutorial

Welcome to my first ever hair tutorial!

I hope you all have a go at getting massive vintage bangs in your hair to go with your amazing Crown and Glory accessories! 

So, to start with, I wash and towel dry my hair. Then put quite a lot of moose through it. My hair isn't thick, but there's a lot of it, so it needs to know who's boss!

I then blow dry it until it's pretty much dry, but still very slightly damp.

So then this is what I have...a mess in need of a cut and colour! My bedroom could do with lil' tidy too methinks! What changes!

I then take quite a large square section at the front of my hair, you can use your fingers to do this, a tail comb is great for getting nice straight lines too.

How embarrassing, you can really see my roots on this one! But as you can see, there's quite a lot of hair there. More than you might think you need. This way it helps support itself.

I then put two or three large velcro rollers in my hair...

I'm not too fussy about the neatness at this stage, although I try to keep the section as much as I can. This is just to 'train' my hair in to going in the direction I want it to. I try and leave these rollers in for as long as I can. All afternoon if I'm going out in the evening if I can. It just makes it so much easier, and can really cut down the time you spend actually forming your roll. Try to leave them until your hair is completely dry.

Now is a great time for a cup of tea!

Or two..!

Anyway! This is also a good time to attend to the rest of your hair. Today I simply finished blow drying it, and straightened it. When I've left my rollers as long as I can, I take them out, and am left with something along these lines...

Attractive! Be careful here to keep your quiff section separate from the rest of your hair, it might want to wander! A couple of clips can help. A bit of backcombing at the roots is good at this stage, just to give the hair some stiffness.

To get a really tight roll, I then tong the section as a whole...

pulling the section as far forward as you can can help here, so that the roll sits forward on your head. Leave as long as you dare, or until you burn your head!

When you come to remove the tong, don't unravel it. Keep it in the same position, unroll it very slightly, and slide the tong out very carefully, keeping the hair in the same position as much as you can. You should end up with something like this...

Then, if you want a simple roll, it's just a case of grabbing it and pinning it where you want it to be. I try not to comb or brush it at this stage, as that fluffs it up too much. This bit can take some practice, but you can always tong it again if it moves. Pin it well, although two or three is usually enough for me. Spray with some hairspray. Lots of hairspray if your off out on the tiles!

Ta Da! One fabulous roll. For a slightly different shape for the pictures That I took for Sophie I didn't pin the roll, I let the curl fall slightly, then just clipped it up my gorgeous butterfly clip. This gave me a really nice big loose roll.

This is a nice shot of my "Mrs. Morten Harket" thong that I have hanging on my shelves, lovely!

You could curl the rest of your hair...

Or if you really want to 'Rockabilly' it up some more, this style looks fab with a a scarf tied around behind it. Just pin it in place.

I hope you've found my tutorial helpful and interesting. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Happy quiffing!

Sparkling Diamonds,

Tiff x

It's been a while!

Hi!

It's definitely been a while since I wrote my last blog. A lot has happened since then! As you probably know already, I still have my day (or evening) job, but I am now also a newbie Burlesque star!

It's been a steep, but amazing learning curve. The biggest obstacle I've found being my own mind! Sounds odd, but it's true. It's all in the mind....and in the spare room!

I've completely loved putting my first two routines together, and performing them, and I'll be doing so again in just over a week on September the 3rd at the 'Teeze' launch party in Burton on Trent. I'm currently polishing and refining them to make them better than ever!

I'm also working on a new routine known as 'Pretty in Pink.' If you haven't read it already here is the blurb to give you a taste:

Coming soon: Edwardian hostess Lady Tiffany Beaufort-Smithe is growing weary of the straight-laced constraints of her time. She has finished her correspondence, completed her piano lesson, taken afternoon tea and walked in the beautiful surroundings of her husbands country estate. Now she's bored. What could Lady Tiffany possibly find to do alone in the hot and humid atmosphere of the greenhouse, now that the gardener has gone home? Surrounded by beautiful pink blooms, isn't she pretty in pink?
Music: Pretty in Pink, Danny Dean and The Homewreckers

I've also stared buying all the bits to get the routine together. A gorgeous Edwardian style parasol, lots of flowers, feathers, ribbon and even flower corsages that will fulfil a rather important duty! Today I found some amazing 'Crystal' flowers, that will look amazing as part of my 'greenhouse' set. They were great value too, so I came away with quite a few! I think they'll look fab in photo shoots and on stage.

Pretty in Pink flowers!

I've also been on the look out for some stools, or plant stands to use in my Tiffany Diamonds routine. They will serve as 'pedestals' to place my expensive purchases on! I was searching everywhere for something suitable, white, pretty, flat topped and stable! Then we remembered our old breakfast bar stools that we still had in the loft. They're very dark at the moment but that's nothing a lick of new paint and a bit of Tiffany Beau sparkle won't cure! I best get down to B&Q!

Sparkling Diamonds,

Tiff xxx