Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a cute turtle themed 🐢 diamond art 💎🎨 Hope you enjoy!
As you can probably tell, I took these photos at different times during the day, hence the different lighting! 😀
It didn’t take me a massive amount of time to do this diamond art as it is only very small, but I think it’s still rather lovely 💕💕
I have a sneaky feeling some of my Christmas presents from friends this year are some diamond arts! I was naughty trying to feel through the wrapping paper and shaking them, haha! 😀😀 So, I already have a 8000 crystal colourful zebras diamond art to start, but expect many more projects I would guess in the new year!
My next UnicornPostbox blog post will be progression photos of a ‘winter fox’ Christmas themed pub painting I am doing tonight with my good friend Denise! 🎄🎄 I can’t wait, I’m so excited, got my Christmas jumper on ready! 🥰🥰
Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view. Many thanks, Lauren xx
Hi everyone, my latest UnicornPostbox blog post is a travel review of Leeds Christmas market 🎄🎄
On Thursday 5th December, me and my good friend Aaron and Joe got the train from Doncaster to Leeds… oh my goodness, what a day! 😆
It started out bad. First of all we were going up and down in an escalator hoping to get access to the Trinity shopping centre, only to realise the entire building was actually a car park 🙄🤣
When we found Trinity, we had a beaut meal in nandos, and the tree was illuminated gorgeous golds and purple
We struggled to get directions to the market, everyone seemed to point us different ways, and as the market was split in different places across the city (maybe explains it) it was somewhat confusing!
We found a ferris wheel, a fairground carousel 🎠 and what looked like Christmas huts, believing we’d found part of the christmas market, but apparently those stalls were independent! It didn’t stop us however having a Christmas sing-a-long as we ascended and descended up and down, round and round the ferris wheel. Aaron and Joe also sampled some mulled wine 🍷 I don’t think they were highly impressed. I opted for a apple cider 😝 it was nice relaxing around a fire pit, but the flooring was uneven and the tables wobbly!
By this time, it was around half 3ish so we abandoned the idea of trying to make it to the smaller market (consisting of we were told of a few rides and huts) and tried instead to find the main Christmas market…Can you believe it, it was near the train station?!
As soon as we got there, the heavens had opened and it was absolutely chucking it down! We has some miniature pancakes with syrups and sauces, and bananas 🍌 The ginormous Christmas tree was lit up beautifully, and although the market was smaller than I expected, it was still enjoyable wandering around the huts… except for the fact we were by then drenched like drowned rats! I did get a nice photo standing next to a nutcracker with my nutcracker jumper. We escaped the rain initially by getting a pint, as you do, but then headed for cover back in the Trinity shopping centre. We were peckish again at this point so we grabbed Mexican food at the Trinity food court.
We decided to go for the train home around 7ish, and that’s where the nightmare escalated 😫 All the trains were pretty much cancelled due to the adverse weather! There was a replacement bus service in 10 minutes it said on the screen. So Aaron got a digital map out on his phone and off we pelted, proper legging it. The stupid thing took us full circle back to the train station! But on a lower level! We couldn’t even fathom how to get back up, having to ask randomers directions again! By then, of course we had missed the replacement bus. Then the next problem was when we eventually got to the taxi pick up point at the station, everyone was in the same predicament struggling to get home. So everyone was ordering ubers. We waited 20 mins or so, ours never showed. Then a very kind warden took us to the actual replacement bus stop (in the complete opposite direction to which we’d tried to find earlier), but the next replacement bus service was in another few hours time… so soaking wet, cold and down in spirits, we ordered another uber, which was stuck in traffic for half an hour 🙃 .. in the end, it cost us over 60 quid between us for an uber back to Doncaster, to which my dad then picked us up at Doncaster station… omg, what a day! We were so ready to get into out pyjamas and slipper socks!
A very eventful day!
I am going pub painting tomorrow with my friend Denise, we are painting a Christmas ‘winter fox’ so that may be my next UnicornPostbox blog post, I have also just finished a turtle 🐢 diamond art… so watch this space!
Thanks as ever for reading/viewing. Much love, Lauren xx
On Saturday 16th November, me and my lovely Auntie Cath went to Cast in Doncaster to see the incredible Crown Ballet production of The Nutcracker..
I have always wanted to see a ballet. During a conversation about Billy Elliot being one of my auntie’s favourite films, and her having seen Swan Lake in Bradford, which she said was outstanding 👏 , we decided to book up at Cast for what would be a fantastic Christmas ballet show 🥰
Marius Petipa (1818-1910) was a very talented ballet master, influencing, developing and pioneering a high mastery of ballet classical dance – The Nutcracker is considered a model of classical choreography; Petipa the founder of Russian ballet. In all of his ballets there is a specific subject.
In collaboration with Petipa, and working closely together, The Nutcracker was formed by Tchaikovsky, an extremely famous Russian composer. It was first performed 18th December 1892 in St Petersburg, at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Over 120 years past it’s infancy, the ballet remains an integral part of Christmas celebration. Petipa introduced the scenario, based on the Hoffman French adapted tale ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’.
Although outwardly the pair, Petipa and Tchaikovsky worked together in perfect harmony, Petipa’s music was deemed too complicated for stage. Petipa actually drew out of production with ill health, and for several years his assistant Lev Ivanov took over the choreography, although Petipa continued to give strict guidelines!
Tchaikovsky was not actually initially impressed, however the story grew on him, and surpassed previous expectations, eventually loving it beyond all other projects. He had a ‘secret instrument’ from Paris, a tinkling celesta, forever associated with the sugar plum fairy 🧚♂️
The ballet was not an instant success, however it gained popularity, arriving in the West 1934, and now a universal Christmas favourite 🎄🎄
The synopsis of The Nutcracker is as follows (spoiler alert):
Act one, scene one: Christmas eve, and presents are gathered around a beautiful enormous Christmas tree; ballerinas, mouse dolls and a nutcracker, placed there by Marie’s father. A Christmas eve gathering commences, guests arrive and start dancing. A magician 🎩 suddenly appears, and moving toys start dancing too. This awes and fascinates all the children. A house keeper comes with a gigantic cake 🎂 It is revealed the magician is Marie’s dad, he offers out the delicious cake. Marie is too preoccupied however with her favourite nutcracker doll. As the night darkens, the guests say their farewells and the children go to sleep. Marie falls asleep with the nutcracker cosy in her arms.
Act one, scene two: Marie has such an awful dream! The king of mice, horrible and ruthless, tries to capture her beloved nutcracker. Huge ugly grey mice lurk around the room and bombard. Marie is very afraid. Thankfully the nutcracker bravely triumphs and imprisons the king of mice in a mousetrap. The nutcracker has injuries, but miraculously transforms into a handsome prince. Dancing under star-filled skies, the nutcracker invited Marie to a fairy tale realm
Act two: Everyone is joyous of the king of mice’s demise and are full of victorious celebration. The hosts of the magical world ball, the prince of pertussis and the renowned sugar plum fairy, welcome the transformed dolls. The dolls perform various dances from a wide array of countries; Chinese, Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, etc – culminating together in an epic final dance… Unfortunately, it was all but a dream! Marie awakens on Christmas day morning, gently holding her toy nutcracker. What a shame!
The ballet was completely breathtaking, I was so impressed! So elegant, so classy, it swept you away into another world entirely. Poise, skillful mastery and sophistication. Iconic arabesques, powerful Jetes, graceful pirouettes, grand plies, the dolls dancing pas de deux duets. I was most impressed by the Arabian dolls 😍 They were simply superb, with their eastern exotic moves, all kinds of unbelievable poses, so talented!
Overall, I am delighted we decided to go see my first ballet, the Nutcracker. A perfect beginning to the festive period 🥰🥰
(All information obtained by the Crown Ballet souvenir programme)
I have a few things lined up for my next blog posts.. I am on with a small turtle 🐢 diamond art, and another one of two colourful zebras which will take me weeks! 8000 crystals! I also have a ‘winter fox’ Christmas themed pub painting in December, and I shall also do a theatre review in the new year of three festive pantomines: Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland! 💕💕 So watch this space!
As always, thank you so much for supporting me and reading my blog posts. All the best, Lauren xx
Hi everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to write this review, I realise Halloween 🎃 was a good few weeks back, hope you enjoy the review in any case!
On Thursday 24th October 2024, me and my good friends Lou and Aaron went to the highly popular, multi-award winning, and greatly anticipated ‘Fear Factory’ for Halloween celebrations at Thornhurst Manor, Doncaster. 5 year running! It was incredible!
As soon as we arrived, even in the queue, there was a petrifying clown 🤡 chasing people with a chainsaw! And also a creepy woman who looked like the scary woman from ‘The Ring’, with dark hair falling eerily in front of her face.
We had our photo taken with props before entering the manor. In total, there were 5 different scary mazes to experience;
Diabolus: Witches of Salem
The Pogo Club
Crackle Hill: The Summoning
The Chasm
Friargate Foundry (the brand new maze for 2024)
Diabolus: Witches of Salem – The theme of this maze was salem witchcraft. The story; Thomas Parker, the town’s new priest (1962) investigates black magic, his daughter Martha suspected to have the mark of the devil! 😈 The torturous church awaits those brave enough to enter, and come face to face with the malevolent witches 🧙♂️ of Salem! Ready to pounce and terrify!
The Pogo Club – The Pogo Club is an epic nightclub, refurbished last year and under ‘new management’. It’s mint! All around the walls, everywhere, there is fluorescent colourful bright and bold glow paint, it really is immense. Such fun, loads of twists, turns, wrong ways and surprises!
Crackle Hill: The Summoning – The theme of this maze is paranormal investigation. Scientists hold a seance in hopes of summoning Agatha Stone, leader of an occult, and involved with worshipping the devil! 😈 She even sacrifices her own children, their young bodies buried under floorboards! Can you hear their screaming souls? 😱 Is Agatha’s spirit still lurking, waiting for new sacrifices? Beware!
The Chasm – The Chasm is a mine. Workers were sent underground but unfortunately the Chasm started collapsing. All escaped, except one miner. Rescuers were feared trapped and buried, as they did not return. Has something more sinister happened? It is our mission to explore the darkest, deepest crevices, avoid falling debris, beware sharp turns, and apprehensively crawl through confined spaces, in the dreaded darkness, to rescue the missing miner!
Friargate Foundry – Apparently, the scare park, with all it’s rooms, every year for Halloween 🎃 at fear factory, were all meticulously designed by the twisted and sick mind of ‘The Operator’. Thinking of ways to unlock new fears, manufacturing and amplifying your worst nightmarish visions, so hellish, so deranged, so petrifying! He has always been there, in the background, unseen, unheard, conjuring new methods of terror to unleash this Halloween. Past, present, future, there is no escape! Mwah-ha-ha!
I have always wanted to go to a proper official Halloween scarefest. And I was not disappointed!
In every maze there were elements of flashing strobe lights, pools of smoke, pitch black darkness, very disorientating! The actors were fantastic 👏 dressed up in Halloween costumes; jumping out, screaming in your face, pulling your hair, taunting, etc. The whole experience was both terrifying and terrific!
At the venue, there were burger vans and also sweet treats, such as chocolate marshmallows and Belgium waffles. They also had entertainment in the form of contemporary sci-fi inspired dance, and Waltzers. Classic. I observed while Lou and Aaron went on the Waltzers, I was feeling a little queasy by that point, ha! 😆
Overall, a fantastic event. I would definitely go again next year, except I have heard rumours it may close 😢 What would be brilliant next year is to go Halloween at Alton Towers, that’d be amazing!
Hi everyone ☺️ My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Starry Night’ Van Gogh inspired Halloween 🎃 pub painting… hope you like!
First of all, we outlined with watery brown acrylic paint the soon to become pumpkins 🎃 and painted the entire background a deep blue. We then created and built up the white flowing central star swirl, and circular star swirls, in inspiration of Van Gogh’s original dreamlike etheral night sky, stars and moon🌙 We then used neon pain to paint the pumpkins bright neon orange, and neon yellow in the sky / creating detail on the pumpkins 🎃 It was brilliant when we turned the lights off to see the fluorescent colours! We incorporated the black cypress tree, symbolic some say Van Gogh’s mental state (he painted Starry Night in an asylum after he mutilated his left ear) and a little more definition to the pumpkins, white, brown and back subtle strokes, and here is the finished piece:
I really enjoyed this one, I love the effect of the swirling sky in contrast to the bright bold neon pumpkins 🎃
The next pub painting is our Christmas 🎄 ‘Winter fox’ in December. I am also on with a new turtle 🐢 diamond art, and I am going to a few pantomimes in the next couple of months… also, I’m going to see the ‘Nutcracker’ ballet with my auntie 💓 I’m so excited because I have always wanted to see a ballet.. so yes, please keep a look out for future posts…
Many thanks as always for reading/viewing, love Lauren xx
Yesterday I went with one of my best friends Lou and her family to see Steve Steinman’s ‘Anything for Love’ meatloaf tribute show at Cast theatre, Doncaster, it was amazing! 😁
Steinman is a very successful director, producer, actor and singer, with a vast fan base. He has performed all around the world. Notably, ‘Vampires Rock’ is in it’s 20th anniversary tour, a huge success for Steinman, proving massively popular, a blend of classic rock, and tounge-in-cheek hilarity, with incredible musicians. Also, his debut number one album ‘Take a Leap of Faith’, released August 2021, dominated charts. The songwriter John Parr (no I’m not related to him!) listened to Steinman’s album, and felt like it was destined for Steinman to sing one of Meatloaf’s ‘lost’ songs (never released) ‘Eveything They Said was True’. Furthermore, Steinman’s new musical masterpiece ‘Eternal Love’ hits the theatres next year! I am so excited to go as a birthday celebration in March! My cousin told me how amazing ‘Vampires Rock’ is, so I can’t wait to stick my teeth into ‘Eternal Love’ ❤️❤️
I was most familiar with songs 🎵 from the legendary ‘Bat out of Hell’ album, but there were a couple I was unfamiliar with. To add a bit of variety, the girl backing singers sang ‘Holding out for a Hero’ by Bonnie Tyler, and ‘All Coming Back to Me’ by Celine Dion, for example, Trixabelle Bold and Ashley Cavell, they were outstanding singers! Greg Morton however on the piano absolutely blew me away! He was exceptionally talented, along with the other musicians, Johnny Sax on the saxophone, Dan Stevens, James Marsh and Joe Brierley on the guitars/bass guitar 🎸 And not to forget John Evans, a terrific backing vocalist.. The staging was epic, with all the instruments and balls of fire gushing up 🔥
Some of my favourite songs were ‘I Would do Anything for Love (But I Won’t do That’, ‘Two out of Three Ain’t Bad’, ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ ‘Heaven Can Wait’, ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’, ‘You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth’ and of course the magnificent ‘Bat out of Hell’ 🦇🦇 I was swaying and happily singing along 😁😁 It reminded me of when me and my late mum went to see ‘Bat out of Hell’ the musical in London, 2018, before she got too poorly. She was bobbing along merrily too to all the songs then too! 🎵 Me and my sister grew up with Meatloaf, he was one of mum’s favourites 😍 Rather than feeling sad, I actually felt comforted and connected to mum, hoping she was at peace and looking down on me 🥰🥰
So, yes, a fantastic performance 👏 and I will definitely get booked up for ‘Eternal Love’ at Cast next spring. I am also going to the pantomime at Christmas time ,which I believe this year is ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and I will support the little theatre too at their festive ‘Cinderella’ production..
Thank you as ever for taking the time to view/read.. all the best, Lauren xx
Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a mystical glow in the dark mushroom painting 💕💕 hope you enjoy! 🍄🍄
We started off colouring the entire background a dark blue, then lightly painting the mushroom outlines in white, building up the stem with more white to create depth. Green and neon yellow for the grassy area, then painting the caps a deep red. The next step was to add a little sparkle to the sky, and a crescent moon🌙 It was amazing the neon colours when we turned the lights off! Glowing fluorescently, especially the white/neon yellow spots. I added more neon, but also outlined the entire subjects with black, and highlighted more with white…and this is the finished product:
I really enjoyed this one! I realise I am not the best painter in the world but I thoroughly enjoy it so that’s all that matters 💕💕 Usually my friend Denise comes with me to pub painting, but this was an extra session at potteric Carr nature reserve Denise couldn’t make. I have never actually been before but it’s beautiful 😍 I bought a little mushroom snow globe from their gift shop to support them. We also got a free hot drink and cake! So it was really nice..
We have booked up for the Halloween 🎃 and Christmas 🎄 pub paintings. I also have a turtle 🐢 diamond art to start, and I am thinking of doing another celebrity pencil portrait, maybe Keane Reeves. I have a lot of respect for him he is a wonderful person 🥰🥰…
Thank you as always for taking the time to read/view. Lots of love, Lauren xx
Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a diamond art peacock 💎🎨 🦚 Hope you enjoy! 😊
It took me absolute weeks to complete this diamond art! It takes so long but is incredibly therapeutic. I am in love with the finished piece, with it’s gorgeous bright colours 🌈 and charming sophistication 😁
My next diamond art is a cute turtle 🐢 and the next pub painting is a Halloween themed Van Gogh starry night, but with pumpkins! 🎃 🎃
So keep a look out 😜😜
Thank you as ever for reading/viewing! Many thanks, Lauren xx
Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of two bumble bees in a meadow…hope you like! 😀
The first element we focused on was the lightly brushed orange to green faded background, washed with white. Next, the green flower stalks/leaves with white shading. We then circled with brown where the stamen of the flower would be, with dots of white, and a yellow blob above it which would become the first bee. Painting the petals was my favourite part; gorgeous purple, white and blue shimmer. After this, we concentrated on the bee. Defined orange and black stripes, white wings with a dash of blue shimmer, and tiny black features. I then decided my bee looked a little bit lonely and so I painted him a friend 😄😄🐝🐝
And here is the finished piece! I think this one was one of the easiest pub paintings, still enjoyable though. The next Halloween theme one I’m super excited about, I can’t wait! 🎃 It’s inspired by Van Gogh’s starry night, but with pumpkins 🎃 I am also on with a very time consuming peacock diamond art lol, so watch this space 😜😜
Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view. Very much appreciated, Lauren xx
On Wednesday 14th August, me and my good friend Lou went to Skegness for the day. Usually I go annually with my gran on a local bus trip but unfortunately she took ill. It was nice in a way though to do something different with my friend, as me and gran usually do the same thing each time..here is an account of our day…
Unfortunately the bus was running late so we didn’t get into Skegness until late morning. I had a vegetarian pizza 🍕 (I’m a veggie) then we leisurely strolled around Ingoldmells market. I purchased a beautiful off the shoulder elephant 🐘 bag (I adore elephants!) and a new funky bumbag.. It was easy travelling back to Skegness central..
It was incredible at the Natureland seal sanctuary! The seals 🦭 were beautiful! There was a reptile exhibit which I enjoyed the least to be honest as I’m petrified of snakes! 🐍 But a brown butterfly landed on Lou’s bag in the tropical butterflies area. There was a pet’s corner too with goats and alpacas! They’re such funny animals! The penguins were gorgeous too, I love penguins 🐧 The aquarium was cool too. I purchased a seal teddy to add to my extensive teddy collection lol 😆..
We finished off the day by going on fair ground rides! We went on the pirate ☠️ ship, waltzers and ghost 👻 train!
Aww, it was such a fantastic day and a much needed break, had a wonderful time 💕💕
For my next UnicornPostbox blog post, I am on with a peacock 🦚 diamond art 💎 🎨 and there is also a new pub painting coming up in September..
Thank you as always for taking the time to read/view, many thanks, Lauren xx
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