Today I went to Fairytale Land...

Today, me, my sister and my nephew went to Margam Park to visit 'Fairytale Land.' It's an area in the park dedicated to old children's stories, such as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and The old woman who lived in the shoe. It was so cool, there's these minature houses just big enough for a person to get into, and inside is decorated with the theme of the particular fairytale. Obviously the place was crawling with children but I'm not gonna lie I had a ball! haha. It's OK, I just pretended I was going for my 6 year old nephews sake. 'Can't believe he's dragging me around here" *rolls eyes* (secretly having a whale of a time.)

How many of you can honestly say you've visited the old woman in the shoe?! I have!

I think my favourite was probably going to Snow White's cottage! We walked in and there was a distinct woody, dusty smell which was just great in creating a sense of reality. Using all our five senses (or six?) to experience this 'fantasy world.' Seeing little beds engraved with Dopey and Sneezy was just.. ahhh! much love!

Check out the embossed seating! The colours alone are so whimsical, tea party anyone?

I also felt a strong feeling of nostalgia looking at these fairytales 10 years on and this is also a feeling that I could interpret into my design work.

As well as the whole fantasy, child-like, almost vulnerable aspect of the images, I find the colours inspiring. At a glance, I like the image with the red draped curtains against the dark room with the misty light struggling to shine through a window full of curious finger prints. I think that was part of Sleeping Beauty's house? maybe? Can't remember now but as we recall happy memories with these disney films, there seems to be something a little darker within the photographs and their stories.

Anyway, I'm such a daydreamer and am always in my own world. That's recently inspired me to take this piece of my persona and put it visually into this project 'Fashion Re-defined' that I am currently under taking in uni. Inspired, as always by Dali, I've been looking at Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and as well as this being visually stimmulating I'm overwhelmed by the secret fantasy world that everyone can visit if they just open their minds.

So this day trip to fairytale land has really inspired me. I took lots of photo's to keep on record that I've just uploaded and I think right after I go and have a shower, I'll print them out and play around with print ideas to put onto dresses, blouses and jackets...? I can just see a shirt emblazoned with with mushrooms!

(All these photo's are my own. If you'd like to use them for your own personal use, contact me - out of respect don't copy and paste, I will hunt you down!)