My Top 10 of 2011

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Just thought I'd briefly blog my 10 favourite images of 2011. I have been so honoured to work with so many amazing people, and meet so many people and I have to say Catalyst Latex made my year, they're support of me has boosted my confidence and the work I have done for them has helped me become a better model. I have had many different hair colours, my weight has fluctuated as it always does. I'm going to try and not ramble too much so here we go, in no particular order....

1. This shot was taken by a lovely lady photographer Dawn Gilfillan at Mayfield Studio, she wanted to do some pin up shots of me so I just packed my case up with a massive selection of vintage style undies and got some fab shots. This is one of the best ones and this shot is also at the back of my current set of business cards.


2. This image was actually taken back in January by my friend and one of my favourite photographers, Richard Shepherd at Banana Studio. It was just after I'd dyed my hair blue and I hadn't really got the hang of it yet. The colours pop in this shot though and it was featured on the 'Hot Chicks in Star Wars T-shirts' blog.


3. In my purple haired phase, I did my very first shoot for Catalyst Latex with my partner Nicholas Gray, again at Mayfield Studio. It was all very rushed thanks to City Link who apparently can't read nor co-operate. However I love this shot and I felt really good about myself after these were edited and uploaded. Probably also helped by the fact we used a fabulous MUA, Alex Pretswell


4. This image was only taken last month by another fabulous photographer I have worked with many times Mr Jonathan Keys. It's not actually the most flattering picture of me, but I am enjoying the attitude and it's probably one of my favourite black and white images of myself.


5. I was lucky enough to do a proper bridal shoot with a real faux groom and everything, this was done in York, with wedding photographers Tux and Tales Photography and my husband was Pete Von Stanton, probably the best thing I have ever discovered on Model Mayhem, I don't think I have managed to get any other shoots through that site. The photographer really wanted to create an 'alternative feel' wedding and I think we succeeded. 


6. I finally got to work with a couple of photographers that I have appreciated from afar, well...online, for literally years. The first of these photographers is Sam and Gregg Jamieson of Wicked Heart Photography. They have shot amazing images off all the most well known North East burlesque artists and some of the nicest models. I have shot with them twice and they are such absolutely lovely people, they make me feel good about my posing and how I look and it gives you a high!


7. The second photographer who I hadn't really had a chance to shoot with mostly because our timetables never match up is Chris Harrison of Grime and Glamour. He is good craic, and I feel comfortable talking to him about what I want from images. I haven't yet done any studio shots with him but I would like to some time in the future. Our best images were from our first shoot on location got lots off odd looks from taxi drivers, I also got to meet Anthony Dorman who is a sterling chap and you should check out his photography also.


8. I did a super quick shoot with amazing photographer Brian James (aka Derk German) his images are powerful and he very much has his own style. It was a very enjoyable shoot although it last for about 20-25 mins top. Hopefully I can convince him to work with me again sometime preferably outdoors.


9. I have suddenly cracked out a few shoots with Sam Corban over the last few months, he's a cheeky wee scamp that boy, always singing, always dancing, always swinging a ring flash in your face. He didn't take many modelly shots at our group shoot at Banana Studio however he got this shot of me which I love and it's my main image on my Purestorm account and will remain that way until someone can top it.


10. Lastly but not leastly, I have enjoyed a couple of shoots with Meg of Spellbound Imagery. She is such a lovely gal and her family and pooches are fantabulous too. My favourite shot taken by her of me is probably one from the studio shoot in Banana, it shows off my tattoo really well and it looks like I am totally singing.










Major Discovery : Lime Crime Lipstick

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I have to admit I don't know much about make up, I don't really own a massive lot, I can't generally afford to invest in Mac etc all the time. I was lucky enough to get my grubby mitts on a couple of  Lime Crime lipsticks, if you have heard of this company, you are absolutely missing out. I own 'Airborne Unicorn' (a gorgeous matt lilac colour) and 'Cosmopop' (a nudey peachy colour)

I only wore Cosmopop once in a recent shoot with Sam Corban at Newcastle College, sadly didn't get any pics which show how awesome this lippy are, but the lipstick feels so rich and amazing to wear and the colours remain vivid for ages. I'm a bit gutted that I didn't get 'My Beautiful Rocket' instead which is a bright Neon Orange shade and is probably something I am much more likely to roll with. However that probably would have been a bit too much with my neon green fruity number from Catalyst Latex.


I have worn Airborne Unicorn for a few shoots not but I personally don't think that any of the images really capture what a delightful shade of purple it is. This shot was take at Cambois Camera Club which I was invited to model for a couple of weeks ago. I actually re-used an outfit which I had shot in November with Mr Corban again. This image almost shows off my lipstick.


This last image was taken by Richard Hanley, it was a great shoot, the wind was crazy and it was absolutely freezing, this wasn't one of my favourite images from the shoot either but it does show off the lippy really well. Also wearing a virtually vintage Lip Service dress which is about 3 sizes too large. 


All ladies must give Lime Crime a bosh, especially fantastic for photo shoots where you have mental and kooky outfits. They also have some new glosses in which look like the badgers nadgers. They aren't the easiest to thing to get your hands on in the UK, there are some US Ebay sellers who post very reasonably to the UK. 



Popping my Wicked Heart Cherry

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So recently I got to work with someone I have been dying to work with for years now since I first saw their images of the likes of Madamoiselle Boo, Katy Kamikaze & of course Anna Fur Laxis, who am I talking about? Of course the wonderful and amazing Gregg and Sam of Wicked Heart Photography.

Their work is so clean and colourful, they make every woman look as stunning as each other (I haven't seen any images they have done of blokes but I'd imagine they make them look pretty hot too!). I actually shot with them on the 26th of September but I am getting a bit behind with my blogs. Again this was a shoot where I wasn't asked to bring anything specific just some 'Alt' gear which actually when I looked at the photos I failed to do.



We did this shoot at Mayfield Studio, shot there plenty of times now. By far the best rental studio in the North East. Most central and best owners. No drama. Also at the studio that day, Chris Harrison was shooting, I got to do some images with the lovely Loki Winters and I got to meet Derk German, I blogged my shoot with him last month.

Sam and Gregg pretty much work together, having constant laughs and they compliment you so much you feel virtually super human, I had such an amazing time shooting with them. It was very comfortable and very informal and I think the images pretty much speak for themselves. I am waiting for another set of images from them that are all bendy and latexy and I can't wait! :)







Groupshoot-gasm!

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Got to shoot with some lovely photographers at a shoot I arranged towards the back end of last month. Amazing film photography fanatic Jonathan Keys, all round funny man Sam Corban, stunning lovely lady Meg Franklin of Spellbound Imagery and my boyfriend Nicholas Gray.

We booked a four hour slot, three other models came too (Rosa La Rouge, Bronagh Todd and Princess Pandora). For the most part the mood was fun and upbeat and most people got to work with most people, and I'd like to think it was beneficial for everyone's portfolios.

This is probably my favourite image of the day, from Sam Corban, he was mostly there for the craic rather than to get images, he was very much doing a behind the scenes kind of deal but I am really happy that he got this shot of me, it's probably one of my favourite images from 2011.


I ended up shooting with Jonathan quite a bit too, sadly his film had got all soaked so he ended up shooting a lot of digital which isn't his fave. I like my moody facial expression in this shot it kinda looks like I am saying 'What of it???'.


Meg I have only really shot with once before. Me and Nick popped down to play around with her home studio but we didn't really do many pictures. They had an retro mic at Bananastudio so I decided to give it a bosh, I sang for about 5 seconds before I started to blush.


Lastly, shooting with Nick is always easy, we just bounce of each other. BAM! Got the shot what next. One of the best things of having a boyfriend as a photographer is the honesty, he can tell me if things are unflattering and tell me which way to move to make it better. However Nick wanted to take some corporate style images, I don't believable I look like the slutty bitch of the office. At least I tried.





One Blustery Day....

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A couple of weeks ago I did a brief and blustery shoot with lovely chap and talented photographer Richard Hanley. His work is amazing and I highly recommend that you check him out. Another bonus about shooting with Richard is that we live in the same village in south Northumberland which made this shoot particularly easy for me.

I live literally in the middle of no-where and public transport is rubbish to say the least, it's so out of the way of Newcastle I don't really like to ask for lifts either so it's nice to work with someone who lives just around the corner, and can pick me up and drop me off without me needing to feel guilty.

Again it was a shoot where I didn't really have anything in mind for the shoot, I took a pink latex dress which I had on loan from Catalyst but other than that I wasn't too bothered.


We drove about a mile and a half from the house to an interesting church, with a graveyard and quite a nice view so that was where we decided to shoot.

The weather was overcast and very windy so equipment was a concern and costume changes were cold but I am really pleased with the results also got a good winter coat shot of me which I've been after for a while.


Boudoir Times With Mandy Charlton

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I got to have a little trip to work with Mandy Charlton last week in her brand spanking new studio which you can now 'Like' on Facebook, you can also rent this studio by the hour which is good, I don't think there can be enough of studios like this when there are so many student types in the North East.

She asked me to go and do a boudoir shoot, which is sometimes something a gal can give her man as a gift, possibly for Christmas or just before their wedding, bit of a sneaky peek at what they have to come on their wedding night.

If I'm honest I struggled, I was trying to put myself in the frame of mind of someone who never gets in front of camera, someone who is maybe camera shy but I'm a model and normally I'm requested to model, I leave Dani at the door and I become Dee La Beau. I wear my confidence cloak and stride in to what ever shoot I am required to do. I don't think I performed my best at this shoot, I can only hope that Mandy got what see wanted from this photo shoot. I actually think I would have managed with the faux shyness better if I was doing implied nude, I hate my naked body.

The studio has a black background and a white background which sounds quite basic but the space is huge and the dressing facilities are really nice and there are tonnes of props to play with. Also nice to work in a studio that isn't embroiled in 'Studio Wars'! You're s
afe with The Photography Studio and Mayfield.



If you're looking to treat yourself or your partner to some pics of you looking all sexy and beautiful you should drop Mandy a message, lovely lady, great banter and I assure you she will make you feel comfortable.






College Time With Corban

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Few weeks ago I got to shoot with fabulous Mr Corban again, he's a top bloke, I wasn't on top form for this shoot however, I felt quite poorly and my wisdom tooth had been giving me jip for ages. It was quite nice and laid back though we had the college studio space to ourselves and there were very few people milling around. Gary Barrett hung about for a bit of craic though, which was nice and I'd worked with him a week or so earlier.

I didn't really know what I wanted, I was all bloaty and pre menstrual so I didn't feel to hot actually, I felt like I looked preggers. I did however have some cute panties from a company called Bunny Jump who deffo deserve some facebook likes, I also have a pair of Portal pants from them which I haven't had a chance to wear yet.

I also have this Doctor Who Tardis t-shirt from Threadless which I constantly go on about in my Hide Your Arms blogs, I already got a pic of it in a shoot with my Nicholas, but I enjoyed switching it up and wearing it with a mannequin in a pig mask with Sam Corban. Sadly you can totally see my bra.

My fave images of the day were probably some ones which make me look a little bit like a prostitute but who doesn't love a bit of red and latex.

Get to shoot with Sam again next weekend and I might get to assist him sometime in the week, I always look forward to having a laugh and bouncing about. He also sings and dances which is pretty much look for in a photographer!




That's The Difference Between You and Me and Brian

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Ok so my blog title is a bit bizarre, watch Spaced outtakes, listen to Vulva, then you will get it. I recently did a shoot with someone who is mega warm, approachable and on each occasion I've met him he's made me smile and giggle, these are good qualities for sure. I also feel I can be myself around him, I tend to talk surreal rubbish and filth and I can't get away with it with everyone.

Mr Derk German is working his way through Chris 'Mr Filthingham' Harrison's models in quite succession. He has his own style, and it sets him apart from other photographers I have worked with of late. The simplicity and originality is what I particularly appreciate from his images.

Our shoot was brief and done at the fabulously staffed Mayfield Studio in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In about 20 minutes we were done and I got some cracking images of one of my favourite latex dresses by Catalyst.

It was quite nice to get some direction for a change, I frequently do a kinda Bam, Bam, Bam posing pattern but with Derk it was like he pictured the images in his mind and encouraged me to make the correct shapes and look in a certain direction.

I have to say these are some of my favourite images of 2011 and I really hope that I will get to work with him again, hopefully outdoors!



My Shoots with Shepy!

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Every now and again when modeling quite a lot you meet people who you click with and it's just super awesome. Other than Nick the one other photographer I've felt a working connection with is Richard Shepherd. Every time we work together I get shots that I think are original and amazing and we always have great craic and laughs aplenty.

My most recent shoot with him we hopped in the car and scooted about various locations in Newcastle, it was fast paced but lots of fun, it was one of those shoots that was just arranged the day before too but I particularly enjoyed the shots I got in the pedestrian tyne tunnel, I didn't however enjoy going down the massive amount of steps with some ridiculously epic shoes on.

Our shoot before that we went to a derelict factory/mill something something in the middle of no-where. I was a blondie then and I took craploads of latex, I was actually just going through the set of images a few days ago and I saw loads that I liked that I had completely forgotten about. The location and the clothing just all worked together, this shoot was one of the most satisfying ones that I have done in 2011.

The shoot before that was in Studio 5000 in Sunderland (now scarily renamed Studio of Light which when you type Studio and Light into google it comes up with like a zillion results so you have to type in Sunderland). It was a group shoot, we wound up having 4 models and 2 togs because someone let me down, however me and Shepy kind just got straight down to business and it was comfortable, I don't feel he needs to give me much direction and I'm pretty sure he is used to me posing like a maniac.

My very first cherry popping shoot with Shepy was at allegedly 'World Famous' Bananastudio, it was my first shoot with blue hair and I hadn't really worked it out yet but I got some cute geeky pics with Shepy that were features on the Hot Chicks in Star Wars T-shirts blog. So that was awesome!

I highly recommend working with Shepy, he is a gentleman, he is a funny and recently he has been a great friend to me, providing emotional support for a crazy woman is a very selfless thing to do and I just wanted to tell everyone how class he is!




Shooting with Spellbound

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So I popped down to Sunderland on a pretty miserable day to do a shoot with the lovely Meg of Spellbound Imagery. It was a little bit rushed because I was trying to scootle to Sunders and do a shoot and be back to get the kids at 3pm.

I still think it was worthwhile, thought I got some super funky images. Meg has her own style of shooting and processing. She also has 3 lovely pooches, I don't think the big one was very keen on me. I didn't really have any particular ideas of what I wanted to get from this shoot, it was very much one of those 'go with the flow' type deals.


I kinda took with me a mish mash of stuff, some latex, zombie eye dress, pin up lingerie, zombie bikini but I only got to shoot in a portion of it and it's a shame that we didn't get to go outside. However I get get to play with Meg's daughter's Monster High dolls which filled me up with very immature lady joy! Hope my daughter Vee La Beau doesn't mind getting some for Christmas.







Gully's and Glamourpuss

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So I have been doing some local performing lately, been a bit dry on the blog front so I haven't been talking about them too much.

Firstly my darling friend Mirabelle Blush put on a one off show at The Little Theatre, Gateshead. The stage was really fab and I got to perform alongside a lot of my friends which does make me so very happy, also Nick came along to this event which also made me happy.

I did get a 'first' though, there was an 8 year old girl in the audience. It was more than a smidge strange and the performers all had different opinions on it. I was quite uncomfortable with the idea of getting my boobs out in front of a child. I feel self conscious enough when my children need to use the loo when I am in the bath, never mind getting my jiggle on. There was a good selection of performers or ages, shapes and sizes and I hope at least the little girl took away from the night that it doesn't matter what you look like you can still get an equal amount of applause and respect to women that are completely different to you.

On this night I my 'Janet : Rocky Horror' Act and 'Physical' acts which I both really enjoy doing because they aren't at all prop heavy.

I am also proud to be a Gully's Angel, a group of North East performers who put on monthly burlesque nights near Manors metro station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Attendance has been mixed and it's a shame because it really is always a laugh and the tickets are a mere £4/£5. They are normally themed nights, the Steampunk one has probably been the most popular to date. I did my 'Physical' act at the Electric 80's themed night and my 'Smells like 90's Spirit' act for the recent Frathouse night.

Would really love to see a massive turnout for our Halloween show which is on the 28th of October, hunt down the event on facebook! I am also on the poster for this show which is pretty cool. I shall be debuting my latex clad 'Zombie Gaga' act at this event.







I Love T-shirts

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So the blog which has been stealing me away from my personal blog is one I do twice weekly on a website called Hide Your Arms. I have been a Threadless fan for a long while so when I got the chance to be a Threadless blogger for for Hide Your Arms, I was absolutely delighted. I also get to blog other t-shirt companies too, I have recently done one for R U Reppin and 8teesix

Threadless is a fab website where people can submit designs, they are rated and then some are printed. I've also dragged Nick into the Threadless thing too, he shows interest when I am rating designs and lets me know which he likes from the new tees and the reprints.

Here are some of my favourite tees that I own!

Jam Out With Your Clam Out : I got this one mostly because it was a bargain and the title made me laugh.

Retold with Unicorns : Star Wars + Unicorns + On a T-Shirt! I just needed it, and I love the fact I got it photographed with me holding a massive owl.

TARDamask : I desired this t-shirt for a long while and I decided to nab it when the last $10 sale was on and I have plenty of streetteam points. Gotta love a tardis.

I also really enjoyed doing the R U Reppin shoot, the tees are really nice I have worn them all a few times, lovely fit and also designed by people who contribute to the site, I just love the idea of a community. Here is my favourite image from this shoot behind The Sage, Gateshead.

Why Am I Doing 'Help for Her'?

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So on account of a lot of spamming and panicking and fussing over the last few weeks a lot of people will be aware that I am doing a charity event next week called 'Help for Her'. This variety show is on the 5th of October at As You Like It, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

I just thought I would briefly blog about why I am doing it and why it means so much to me. Last year I volunteered for the Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre, it was a big deal for me, the training aspect was an up and down emotional roller coaster and I really got to learn how emotionally taxing the work done by the volunteers at the charity is. I am currently unable to volunteer because I am kinda split between my kids, maintaining my long distance relationship and my ex's shifts. I hope I can do it again in the future though as I feel it was good for me and seriously aided in my healing process.

The people performing are mostly people who I regard as close friends, people who I have immense respect for and the few people I trust in the burlesque world. I went for a Superhero theme for this event because of the way I had coped with what had happened to me, Nick once referred to me as 'some kind of Superhero' and I was very much touched by this. Here is the superhero-esque poster he designed for the event.

Here is a link to the website to buy tickets : http://www.helpforher.co.uk
And to the event on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=150588291691292

In order to promote my event further I have been flyering here, there and everywhere and also been trying to get in touch with the local press, luckily one reporter at the Sunday Sun was kind enough to do an article about me being a survivor of rape and then going on to do a burlesque event, she was really nice and here is a photograph of the article.

I would really love it to be a success and make plenty of pennies for the charity. I will blog how it went hopefully next week. If you're considering coming along I really think you don't have anything to lose, you can get dressed up (prizes for the best dressed), hang out with some fab people in a lovely venue, get entertained by some excellent acts and on top of that help out an awesome charity!





Catalyst Latex - Take II

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So I got to model for Catalyst Latex again, amazing company with the highest quality latex I have ever worn. It is an honour and pleasure to model for this company and along side the high calibre of models they choose.

This time for our studio shoot we went to a small studio in Doncaster, it was really really cheap so I guess you get what you pay for. There wasn't really a place to get changed so I spent most of my time writhing around on the stairs, which was also next to a window so it was less than ideal.

I really struggled to find an MUA for this shoot and I ended up emailing tonnes finally a lovely lovely girl called Hayleigh Kingston got back to me and she was just amazing on the day, very professional and talented and I would recommend her to anyone looking for an MUA.

The photographer was my boyfriend Nicholas Gray and I was also accompanied by male model Morphine, who is 6ft 4inches of super hunky man stuff and also a close friend of my Nick. Many laughs and all sorts of ridiculousness occurred when we were shooting together.

Here are some of my favourite images from the day

We also did a short video of how the shoot worked out. It was odd seeing how I actually pose and it's almost like I could see what I was thinking at the time. Feel free to go and have a nosey at the video of this shoot on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMIbUhkUSY

My Shoots as a Blondie

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I have been so out of touch with my blog lately, I started doing a T-shirt blog and of course had the kids driving me insane for six weeks of Summer. I am back to brunette now but I did enjoy some time as a blonde and here are some images taken of me whilst I was blonde!

I did two shoots with Jonathan Keys in my time as a blonde, the second shot on 5x4 which MUA assistance of Josephine Birkett

I did a very enjoyable latex shoot with Richard Shephard in a derelict mill place which was superfun and the images really had more of an edge because I was a dirty scruffy looking blonde.
All the latex including my slutty Portal Act jumpsuit is by Catalyst Latex.

I did a few shoots with my boyfriend Nicholas Gray, I already blogged some images from the retro style shoot, here was another one take on that day to show of my NG tattoo, and another image of me wearing a supercute Able Grable sample frock.

I also worked with a new photographer called Darren O'Brien, it was an odd shoot, I didn't feel comfortable nor welcome, I'd been told originally it was going to be a studio shoot, it wasn't, I got flashed on the way there and I felt like he just wanted rid of me in all honest. Taking all that negative stuff into account I did actually like the images.

That's it for my blonde shoots, I actually did more than I thought I did, I actually like how they look but the roots would just drive me utterly crazy.