Last weekend marked the beginning of the festival season in my diary and kicking it off was Strawberries and Creem festival at Haggis Farm, Cambridge.
With the festival only being three years old it is one of the smaller ones on the scene but as they say size isn't everything and it certainly packed a punch. With three main stages playing absolute bangers, the atmosphere was electric and emotions were high.
I met up with some of my local blogging pals Pippa from Clashing Time, Sian of Style with Friends and Becca from Rebecca Warboys. Together we all danced like tits and donned plenty of glitter on our faces, ready to party.
We were fortunate enough to have VIP tickets, giving us access to our very own bar area, deck chairs, toilets and more. It was also the perfect spot positioned to see the main stage acts but still have space to boogie.
The weather was gleaming on the day, in fact actually it was a bit sweaty Betty which meant we were forever heading to the bar for drinks. My only complaint about this was I don't think the festival anticipated the volume of punters so queues were pretty long. I however took to buying bottles of prosecco...to myself...yup! But this meant I didn't have to queue albeit my drinks were a tad warm by the fourth glass and bubbles dissipated. With the drinking comes needing the loo and I'll be honest when I say that the toilets left a lot to be desired... again the queues were long even in the VIP. If there's anything I would change I'd say increase the amount of porta loos and bars at the venue to keep the crowds flowing and the party going.
Headlining the festival was the original Mr Lover Lover Shaggy which was pretty awesome. I'd forgotten how many songs he's released and his stage presence resonated really well with the crowd. It did make me laugh when he shouted "anyone here born in the 70s!?" *silence* "80s!?" *small rumble in the crowd* "90s!?" *crowd goes mad*. Watching him perform on a balmy summers evening as the sun went down was pretty perfect. Other great acts such as Wiley, Mike Skinner and Gentlemen's Dub Club were also performing throughout the festival too. Admittedly not all the music was something I would actively listen to in my day to day but it was perfect for the setting and gave good vibes to the crowd.
Overall I had a blast at this festival. The location is spot on, the atmosphere is brilliant and it's the perfect way to kick off the summer. I'm seriously pumped for Secret Garden Party next month now and I'll definitely be blogging/vlogging that too!
You know when you find an outfit that you just love and want to wear all the time? This is one of those outfits for me but unfortunately I don't have many upcoming occasions where this would be suitable! Nevertheless it was perfect for the Secret Garden Party teamed with a hella load of glitter and sequins on my face.
I've had this embellished smock dress for a while and love the flowy sleeves for a bohemian festival vibe. Teamed with some leather tan boots, bag and jewellery, you're good to go as the dress does the rest. It's effortlessly stylish and super comfy which is what you want if you're a little curvier and aren't so confident about baring flesh at a festival.
Have you been embracing festival fashion this year?
Shall I let you into the worst kept secret of Cambridgeshire? Every July on the outskirts of Huntingdon, there's a four day party like no other... That party is of course The Secret Garden Party.
If you're a long time reader you'll know this isn't my first year in the garden, in fact this year marked my 8th consecutive year of attending which just goes to show how marvellous this place is. You can never get bored of this festival with its ever changing themes and frolicking.
The theme for 2016 was TheGardeners Guide to the Galaxy, bringing Sci Fi art and expression to the festival which a lot of gardeners embraced wholeheartedly with silver costumes, psychedelic head dresses and much much more. The festival is a spectacle of gloriously adorned human beings who have come to the garden to escape the realities of the rat race and everyday life.
If you're new to the garden or haven't had time to get some glad rags, fear not as the festival has many a garment you can purchase to bring out you inner gardener. A particular favourite of mine is Rosa Bloom. The sequins entice my inner magpie.
You can also have festival face paint and make-up done whilst you're here by the talented artists like It's In Your Dreams and the like or you adorn your own face with glitter. The choice is yours.
The music at SGP is an eclectic mix ranging from Drum n Bass, Soul, Dance, Indie, Acoustic, Cheese and much much more. Acts such as Air, Temper Trap, Maribou State, Stanton Warriors and Caribou were just some of the artists to grace the various stages of the garden. I was particularly stoked to see Box of Light performing at the Where the Wild Things Are stage on the Friday with Helen looking dreamy as ever and belting out some awesome tunes with the band.
There's not just bands at this festival, oh no. There's beautiful dancers, mobile discos and sing a longs for everyone to get involved with and remember - you're not here as a spectator, you're here to get involved no matter how weird and wonderful it may be... As well as music there are craft areas, mazes, races, paint fights, yoga, spa sanctuaries, talks.... I could go on but every year it changes. There's lots of hidden places around the festival so keep your eyes peeled for the mysteries and enchanted areas.
Where else will you find a field of people on space hoppers jumping around to House of Pain? Expect the unexpected in the garden and be prepared to unleash your inner child. This is one of the main reasons I love the garden. It takes you away for the rig-moral of normal life and reminds you not to stress so much. It's a place to unwind and let off some well earnt steam.
Everyone is super friendly and ready to party. Having bumped into fellow gardeners from previous years, it's like greeting and old friend that you'll inevitably have a dance and a warm beer with. You'll easily make friends with your dancing neighbour or next to the couple in the crowd at the front. Don't be afraid to say hello to strangers. We don't bite!
Another aspect of the festival I love is the food. I think about food at the best of times but when you're surrounded by tents, campers and stalls selling such delicious grub, you can't help but be mesmerised - there is just SO MUCH CHOICE! From afternoon tea to Mac n Cheese, burgers to desserts there are so many taste sensations. This year I indulged with ostrich burger, pulled pork and of course pie and mash. All the carbs! The cocktails are pretty sweet too, as well as highly alcoholic. A couple of them blew my socks off and that's saying a lot coming from a seasoned drinker.
The atmosphere in the garden is something really special. Having attended a variety of festivals in my time from Glastonbury to V Festival, there's none quite like the Secret Garden Party. The vibe is a friendly and welcoming one with plenty of silliness to make you laugh. Sitting in amongst the crowd watching acts on the main stage, you can easily get lost in watching other gardeners with their bizarre attire, amusing props and daft dancing.
I love this festival and I've not even touched the tip of the iceberg with what you can do here. I for one have partaken in naked knitting, mud wrestling, sonic yoga and much more over the years but that is another story... To experience SGP you need to go for yourself and even then your experience won't be the same as anyone else's which I think is pretty special. What I can guarantee you though is a sense of euphoria over the four days and the feeling of freedom - something that nowadays as adults I don't think we get to experience as much as we should. You will come away from this magical place feeling revived and mentally cleansed. Exhausted? Yes - but worth it? F*ck yeah!
Calling all makeaholics, crafters and DIYers. It's that time of year again to grab your tickets for Kirstie Allsopp's The Handmade Fair!
This year Kirstie will be getting creative with the likes of Patrick Grant, Annie Sloan and many more fellow experts and creatives so sharpen your craft knife and get your paintbrush at the
ready for whats set to be another amazing year.
The fair will be returning to The Green at Hampton Court Palace from Friday 16th - Sunday 18th September and gives you the opportunity to try your hand at everything from gilding to lino-cutting, shopping for unique, hand crafted items as well as craft materials, and of course fabulous food and drink.
You can feed your creative cravings in areas such as the Super Theatre, Skills
Workshops, and Grand Makes, which are packed with names and brands like Fiona
Cairns, DMC, Rosy Nicholas – and of course, Kirstie Allsopp who will all be imparting
their wisdom and creativity. Plus there’s the chance to try something new –
from mug painting to block printing, willow weaving to needle felting, it’s all
covered! Then there are the shopping villages, packed with beautiful gifts,
ingenious ideas and quirky wares, and all the delicious food and drink you can manage
– it’s everything you need for a fun day out with family, friends or both.
Your exclusive ticket
offer – save £5!
Yup, you heard right. As a reader of Laydey Katabella, I’ve got an exclusive offer for
you!
Full Experience tickets – including
entry, 1 x Super Theatre session, 1 x Skills Workshop and 1 x Grand Make –
usually cost £32, but you can get yours for just £27 – saving £5 per person.
Simply quote LAYDEY27
when booking at www.thehandmadefair.com
or via the ticket hotline on 0871 230 7153.
*Calls cost
10p per minute plus network extras. Booking fees apply. Offer ends 23.59 on Wednesday
31st August 2016 or when sold out.
I really hope you all enjoy the fair as much as I do this year and be sure to check out my previous posts on the fair to get a feel of what you're in store for.
If you're attending and see me mid-make, eating cake or with glue in my hair, please come and say hello! See you there?
