Face Painting for Children in Need at BBC Bristol & meeting Anthony Head

Friday 20th November was BBC Children in Need and the Cats Whiskers team supported the event in two different venues. Half of us were entertaining the wonderful volunteers who answer the phones and take the donations and the other half of us were invited to the canteen at BBC Bristol where the regional portion of the BBC Children in Need broadcast was taking place.

BBC Points West presenter Alex Lovell and actor Anthony Head were this years presenters. Great fun was had by everyone visiting as well as the whole of the Cats Whiskers team. Becky, a HUGE Wallace & Gromit fan, was allowed to hold the real Gromit! In her own wors, it was like her own personal Jim'll Fix It!! The team also had their photo's taken with Pudsey and Anthony Head and I was lucky enough to paint a Pudsey on his cheek and have a little moment on the TV with the presenters. :)

Here are some pictures from the evening from the BBC website and here are some of ours:



Helen
http://www.catswhiskers.biz/

Body Painting & Get Technical in Illusion Magazine Issue 10

The eagerly anticipate issue 10 of Illusion magazine (www.illusionmagazine.co.uk) has finally arrived on my doorstep!

In this edition Snazaroo (www.snazaroo.com) have once again chosen one of my body paintings to advertise their wonderful brand of paint, which we at Cats Whiskers use for all our face and body painting work. The editing team have done an amazing job translating my technical page from the random scribbles I send them into a beautifully polished and professional piece of work. My thanks to them!!

Now to grab a cup of tea and sit back to read the rest of the magazine. :)

Helen
www.catswhiskers.biz

Balloon Modelling fun at the Patricia Bunnell lecture

Last week I went to meet Patricia Bunnell from the US who was in the UK teaching us some of her fantastic Balloon modelling ideas. I learnt a lot from her including some ideas to organise my balloons which have already helped.



We learnt some fantastic Christmas balloons. Here is a brilliant Father Christmas balloon mask modelled by Dave Hickory (www.davehickory.co.uk), one of our entertainer friends.


And my personal favourite was Eeyore :)



I'm looking forward to the Christmas season so that I can use the new designs!!

Helen
Www.catswhiskers.biz

Our photos from Halloween

The October Half Term was a busy assortment of work. We worked under marquees in beautiful gardens, did special requests for individuals, entertained at parties for children and adults and did a big promotional event for our local shop - where we were mobbed! LOL!

But firstly we started off with a training night to refresh our memories of some of the Halloween designs that only get dusted off once a year.

This was the view from the marquee at Westenbirt Heritage Gardens:


And here are some of the people we met and painted there:


Sharon joined the UWE students for their Halloween Party:


I did some special one off designs for people having parties -
For a James Bond party:


A unicorn (before the finishing touches of the costume, fake eyelashes and lipstick)


and a Vampire:


Then on Halloween itself, Sharon and I worked in my local NISA store to entertain our friends in Frampton Cotterell:


Hope to see you soon!

Helen
www.catswhiskers.biz

Music with Mummy - Guest Blog

I was first introduced to Anne-marie when I moved back to Bristol seven years ago and I was looking for a Music Group to join with my nearly 2 year old son. We went to Music with Mummy with Anne-marie and really enjoyed it . Both of my children followed the Music with Mummy & Three Four Time programme until they started school (they're now 7 &9!).

The sessions were always great fun but we also made friendships in our group that have lasted to this day, even though some people have moved all over the country! I would highly recommend Music with Mummy so, below is some more information about what the groups are about and even a bit about becoming a Franchisee! Please say "Hi" to Anne-marie from me if you give her a call.

Helen
http://www.catswhiskers.biz/



The MUSIC with MUMMY programme will take your child on a musical journey from birth until they go to school. The structured weekly music classes are designed to encourage many things, including listening and social skills, so essential not only in music but in all other areas of learning. They will also develop a sense of rhythm, that will help with learning and speech development. The fabulous music and songs are a mixture of traditional tunes and songs that are unique to our programme. Watch your child grow in confidence as they come each week and take part in our small, friendly classes.

JOLLY BABIES– Your baby’s first musical experience. We sing with them, we dance with them, we rock them, we bounce them, we tickle them and stimulate them. A wonderful opportunity to bond with your baby, to make new friends and to have FUN! Age birth to approx 14 months.

MUSIC with MUMMY - the fun continues as the children progress into this next age group. Each term there will be a new theme such as Colours, Transport, Spring and Good Manners. Musical objectives are gently introduced through our fun songs and games, for example rhythm, pitch, and tempo. Age approx 14 months to 3yrs.

THREE-FOUR TIME - the icing on the cake! When the children are ready, normally around 3 yrs, they start to come without mum. We sing, dance and play amazing percussion and always have enormous fun! The themes are mainly based on stories or classical pieces of music such as Peter and The Wolf, Sleeping Beauty and Noah’s Ark. The last week of each theme you are welcome to come and sit in our last class. Watch your child grow in confidence week by week until they are ready to go to school (the only sad part of our journey together).

Classes are held each weekday at Iron Acton Parish Hall, Iron Acton, Nr Yate, Bristol
5 minutes from Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Frampton Cotterell and Winterbourne.

For details please call Anne-marie on 01454 773267 or email annemariecollier@yahoo.co.uk visit my website www.musicwithannemarie.co.uk for class timetable.

Franchise opportunities are available all over the country. If you are interested in running your own business, to fit in with the demands of your life, please read on! Becoming a Music with Mummy franchisee does not involve vast amounts of money, or royalty fees or commissions - just an initial training fee and then an ongoing low monthly fee.

You don’t need to have formal music qualifications, but obviously a great love of music and children is essential. You will also need, in enormous quantities:

Energy & enthusiasm
Patience
Determination

Full training will be given and there is on-going support from your Regional Coordinator.