Storytelling Sunday....................A Royal rendevous.

Yesterday I was chatting with Sian and telling her my idea for today's post, and she said ''Go with it''. So here goes.

So 2 days a go we were all either watching or avoiding the Royal wedding and about 30 years ago I was watching the wedding of William's mother to HRH Prince Charles. It was such an amazing day and the country were so into Diana, Princess of Wales that they decided to do a tour of her gown.

 The wedding gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel.

My family, me, Rachel, the mother, the father and my mum's parents had all gone down for a holiday near Looe in Cornwall. We were staying in a pre-Centre Parcs type outdoor log cabin park with views over the lake. It was beautiful. Anyway one day we planned a trip to Truro especially to see Diana's dress. My mum, me, Rachel and my nan queued for several hours outside the exhibit. We entertained ourselves until we got in, I dont know how cos it did seem like forever. But eventually we got to the front of the queue. My poor nan didnt go in in the end cos she was so sore and uncomfy from standing, she'd only recently had hip troubles, so just me, mum and Rachel went in. All the bridesmaids and pageboy outfits were on display in glass cases along with the piece de resisdence that frock. It was amazing to actually get close enough to see all the tiny details on the dresses. The extra special bows, and embellishments which the TV and magazines couldn't show you. We oohed and arhged as we went around. We then had to go back and tell my nan all the details.

The dress, bridesmaid's dress and shoes etc.

Several years later, my girlfriends and I had the opportunity to visit Kensington Palace on my friend's hen weekend to see a similar display of the Queen's and other Royal dignitary's wedding gowns. If I remember rightly we saw the Queen Mother's, Queen Victoria's and I think Princess Margaret's dresses.

I remember we were all really impressed again by the detail and workmanship which had gone into these beautiful pieces. Evene though they were such personal dresses to the bride, they were also a mark of British work and craft history. Just like Kate Middleton's dress on Friday there were elements of national and personal significance.  To be able to see those dresses up close was n exciting opportunity to feel like a part of history. If you ever get the chance to see any of the Royal exhibition where dresses are central, give it a go, you'll be impressed I can assure you.

It was a really great way to start a hen weekend as well. We then went to see ''Mamma Mia'' which is always worth a return visit. Happy Sunday.

Kiss, kiss, kiss,

............................so they did.....................

One wedding and a birthday.

One of the great films of the 90s was 4 wedding and a funeral and in honour of that film's title I decided to use it for my own purposes. Today I would like to tell you 2 stories.............a sort of early storytelling Sunday if you like. Today is special for 2 key reasons and the first is a special birthday.

Debs over at Purple Turtle is a fabulous scrapbooker and blogger and today she is celebrating with her mom whose birthday it is. Along with her family, Deb's blog family are all celebrating her mum Marti's birthday as well. Why, well because Marti was diagnosed with cancer. Deb and her family have been sharing this story by the use of special teal wristbands and her blog family are celebrating today by becoming Team Teal. There are some wonderful messages and stories across the blogosphere in celebration of fights against cancer and also Marti's bday. You can read Deb's story here   and today's birthday messages are linked from this post today. 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTI.

The second story is of course the wedding of HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton today in London. I remember William's parent's wedding back in the 1980s. We had the day off school and I remember being awake really early and waiting patiently with my family for the celebrations to begin. There had been a huge party and fireworks the night before which we had all watched. The weather was beautiful and the wedding when it arrived was spectacular. Big meringue dresses, flowers, music and carriage rides followed by big Royal excitement and kisses on balconies. Today of course has been spectacular but I feel it is more understated. The dress was kept mega secret until it was seen through the car. The designer a Brit from the home of McQueen who we so sadly lost last year. So now after all the excitement so far a few pictures to keep you going until that balcony scene and an RAF flypast.

Today I am excited about.........................

These things are making me excited today.................

• The commencement of Beyond blogging for scrapbookers with the fabulous Shimelle Laine. If you have done Shimelle's earlier blog class or have had a blog for a while and want to revamp/explore how to improve it then why havent you signed up. It's only a little bit of money so get over there and join us Shimelle stalkers fans on Monday over on the forums.
• This design call for Scrapbooking from the Inside out because I love their kits and their design teams are always so innovative, go on give it a shot.
• That it's Friday tomorrow and that means it's the WEEKEND!
• Scrapbooking friends who worry what might be going on when you say you cried yesterday....................I've sent you an email and big kisses for asking. I'm feeling much better today thank you.
• It's only a month to Scrapamia in Hampshire where I get to scrap all weekend with 4 amazing designers from across the globe.
• And finally it's 2 weeks to the Royal Wedding. Do you remember these ones? My fave was Princess Anne's she had such a lovely frock.