IDM blog..

So friends, the Doire Dress Designs Design a Dress Competition marches on, with each post bringing forth a sparkly stream of exquisite drawings. The barrel of entries is by my foot; I tap it from time to time for reassurance.
There are now THREE WEEKS LEFT to get entries in (closing date 30th September), so for those of you who are waiting for the opportune moment to submit your designs, this is your sign! For those of you submitting entries from the US, you are now able to submit your entries to our US office (same closing date).

UK Address:

Design a Dress Competition
Unit 2.4 Paintworks
Arnos Vale
Bristol
BS4 3EN

US Address:

Design a Dress Competition
110 E. Schiller Street,
Suite 206
Elmhurst,
IL 60126

OR:

Scan and email entries to:
Tallulah@irishdancing.com

COMPETITION RULES:

1. Closing Date September 30th.
2. There is a pdf template available on the irishdancing.com homepage (right hand side), which is either to be used by the artist, or as an approximate size guide. The template is also available in IDM.
3. The top 25 designs will be published online on irishdancing.com in October, and the top 15, as voted by ID.com members, will be sent to Doire Dress Designs, who will make the final decision as to the winner.
4. All entries must include your name, age, address and telephone number.
5. You are allowed to submit as many designs as you wish.
6. IDM/ Doire Dress Designs decision as to the overall winner is final.

Hi all!

So then, the blue skies are out and we’re all in a feel-good good-time way here at IDM towers, which is why I thought it was high time we awarded another Most Interesting Post-er!

And the winner of this noble title… it’s only Reelgoodhornpiper for her ‘Who Needs Competitive Motivation?’ post in Peak Performance! I am ECSTATIC about this post, as I think it is exactly the sort of thing we should have on ID.com – I love the idea that the forum is being used to make us better dancers!

I hope the girls get on well, and keep us updated with how they do with the challenge!

As always it's all go go go at IDM Towers, which is tough for me because I am so tired from all my amazing birthday celebrations! A big THANK YOU to everyone who messaged me happy birthday, I was chuffed to bits!

I am thrilled to tell you all that we have a NEW COC badge holder – Selftaughtdancer16, aka Becky! Becky has proven that she is a valuable and vigilant member of the ID.com community and I think she is the perfect choice to be our new COC member!

Congratulations Becky!

Hi Guys!
I was just thinking this morning that summer’s nearly gone, and as I know that IDMers are the most creative gang out there, I thought I’d entreat you all to send in some summer fun ID pictures for the next issue of IDM. Irish dancing in the rain, mix ‘n’ matching your solo dress with a witches hat and welly boots, baking ID shaped gingerbread cookies… if you’ve got something fun to show, we want to see it! Maybe we’ll even get some up on our facebook fan page! So send in your happy snaps and we’ll see what we can do!

Quite aside from the mag, it’s my birthday tomorrow, which is making it hard to focus on anything else! I’m having a ‘kids style’ birthday, with pass the parcel and musical chairs and musical statues – I can’t wait!

Chat soon! x

So much is going on at the moment, I’m dizzy with Irish dance! First off, I had a chat with Breandan De Gallai on Saturday, who is up to all kinds of interesting things! And what a fascinating guy! Is anyone going to his masterclass at the Celtic Irish Dance Festival is Disneyland Paris?
Also, I’ve had the new Liffey Rivers submission in and it’s another masterpiece! But always with the cliffhangers… I just can’t handle the suspense!

Now, what I really want to talk to you guys about is our awesome Design a Dress Competition! What’ve you got to lose – send in a picture to us or scan and email it across, and you could WIN an Irish dance dress from the amazing dressmakers down at Doire Dress Designs! We’re over halfway through the competition now, so if anyone is sitting there, with their pen in the air and a moment to spare, draw draw draw! I don’t want to spill the beans just yet on the creativity and inventiveness we’ve had submitted, but I do want to say a huge THANK YOU to each and every person who has entered! Opening the post is now the very best part of my day, and I show all the best ones to my friends round the office – it makes me so happy to know I’m writing for such a bunch of creative IDMers!

Chat soon! x

Followers of this blog might have realised by now that I am a highly excitable young lady, so you can imagine that after I’d chatted to Guy McCoig-Lees, secretary and event manager for the 2010 Great Britain Championships yesterday afternoon, I was ready to EXPLODE TO DEATH with excitement! Guy told us all about the event and all the new things planned, and let us in on all the amazing action for the event, a little of which I’ll now reveal… For the rest, you’ll have to wait for our Great Britain Championships Preview in October IDM!
There are about 1200 dancers attending the event, and if you’re going but you haven’t booked accommodation – hurry hurry hurry! Guy says that the Ocean hotel and the Shoreline hotel are now both fully booked, although there is still space on-resort in both catering and non-catering accommodation. If you’re in the Ocean hotel – lucky you! Apparently there’s a luxurious spa, (for which appointments are filling up fast), which features – among other things – a hydrospa, heated loungers and a “snow cave”! (???)
During our chat, it also transpired that Butlins in Bognor Regis are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, which means they are running some amazing competitions throughout the event. I’m not going to give it away, but I will give you a clue: think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… Oh no - I’ve said too much!
There are also some big changes to the judging panel, which is being increased from three to five, and some amazing new events, which I’m not going to give away just yet. I fear if I tell you, every second will become an agony of anticipation like mine has!
I can’t wait to see everyone there! x

Hey guys!

I am SO looking forward to the October issue of IDM – our special feature is ‘the History of Irish Dance’, which is brilliant as it means I’m learning all about our wonderful art form! We’ve also got an amazing new competition launching, which will be totally awesome, the latest Liffey Rivers, the British Nationals results, and a NEW feature which I’m really excited about!! Icantwaiticantwaiticantwait!

But you know the one thing we don’t have? A red-faced CRINGE CORNER entry! So if you’ve got a story that’s left you as red-faced as the red-faced warbler in this picture, go on – send it in and let us all share your pain!

Tallulah xx

Good news everyone!

After much chatting on the forums, it has been decided to reinstate two of our old badges: Most Interesting Post, and Tam’s Emerald, for creativity on the site! Woohoo!

Although Tam is no longer at IDM, I thought it might be nice to keep it in her name as a legacy of her time with us. Maybe I should come up with my own gemstone for something… any ideas?

So, this means that the IDM team will be keeping a close eye on posts in the forum, and the one we judge to be the most interesting – whether that’s a fascinating fact, a funny Irish dance joke, an intriguing story or just something of burning interest – will be awarded Most Interesting Post. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!

As for Tam’s emerald, to advise would be to strip you of your creativity – I can’t WAIT to see what you guys come up with!

Bye for now,

Tallulah x

It can get SO lonely sometimes as the editor of the best magazine in the history of the world... thats why I LOVE hearing from you guys so much!!

Got something to say? What do you think about the latest trends? What do you reckon is the best feis or who is your ID hero!?!

Email tallulah@irishdancing.com with all your comments and I will put the best ones in the magazine!!

Tallulah xx

Hi guys!!

September’s IDM has gone to press – I can’t wait to see my first issue in print! It’s got loads of great coverage from the NANs including a free poster, Ask The Experts offering their advice, and craft corner is BACK with a brilliant new creation for you all!

But we’re not a bunch who sit around on our laurels – we’re too excited about the next issue to do that! And you know what that means…

We’re looking for OCTOBER BORN IDMers to feature in the next issue – so if you want your beautiful face broadcast to the world of Irish dancers, now’s your chance! Just send one or two high-resolution pictures, along with your date of birth and a couple of interesting facts about you to tallulah@irishdancing.com and watch yourself become FAMOUS overnight (sort of)!

I can’t wait to hear from you!!

Tallulah x

Ps - How cute is this cat!?!