Having helped my husband and stepchildren (then aged 5 and 8, to prepare and head onto the slopes I know it’s no mean feat to get non-skiers up and skiing, A fun, safe start in the sport, as a foundation for them to build on is what I hoped for. All this and over 40 years of skiing fed into the writing and illustrations of Ski A to Z
Ski A to Z is like an all knowing ski friend, it’s packed with information, advice and tips to save time, money and effort in your family’s skiing, more information and links to get your copy are here.
Ski A to Z is published by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK).
There’s enough time to order, sew and gift in time for the holidays/ Christmas. What would you make for that snowsports lover in your life?
Inspired by the conversations during my recent appearance on High Falutin Ski Bum Podcast I have mocked up shirts using my fabric designs.
Firstly two formal designs, great with jeans for home-working or days in the office.
This one with my Ski Tracks and Trees fabric, with inside collar on the Corduroy Snow stripe, Ski Goggle Reflections cuffs and snowflake buttons. The pocket is the Skiers from Above fabric design.
This second one was Brian’s suggestion (from the podcast), using the Ski Gondolas fabric, again with Corduroy Snow stripe inside the collar and cuffs, and Ski Tracks and Trees cuffs.
And for kicking back and fun times in the evenings and weekends there is this mock-up of a Hawaiian style shirt using the Ski Fun fabric design. Mocked up here with Contrado.
There’s enough time to order, sew and gift in time for the holidays/ Christmas. What would you make for that snowsports lover in your life?
I like the idea of the Goggle Reflections design for a T-shirt. Here’s a mock-up of how I envisage that will be.
I have 20+ ski, snowsports, winter designs in my Spoonflower shop bit.ly/3JRwG9R
Choose what type of fabric, from sheer to upholstery fabric, voiles to velvets, select the design and the quantity needed for your project (from 8 inch sample to yards or metres) and Spoonflower print the fabric on demand and ship it to you (from the US).
Note: Spoonflower presently have 30% off fabrics (at the time of publishing this post). Check the website for details of offers when you are reading this).
Brian and Mario are hosting a stage at Snowbound Expo in Boston next month. That will be great to see. You can listen to our 2022 conversation here and our 2021 podcast episode here. Thanks to Brian and Mario for the good chats on your show.
Please share pics of what you make, I’d love to see. Thanks so much.
Media coverage is great for raising awareness and helping people know about something that may resonate with them, so thank you Where to Ski and Snowboard.
26 April 2022 – Author and illustrator of Ski A to Z Kimberley Kay has launched a range of 18 fabrics and wallpapers on ski, snowsports and mountain themes.
The range of fabrics echoes the bright, fun illustrations created for Ski A to Z and conveys a love of skiing, sport and the mountain environment. The designs are available for licensing (at the time of writing), they can also be ordered as print on demand by the metre or in a range of ready-made household furnishings.
Hotel room mock-up with Inspire by Kim snowsports themed fabrics.
From snowflakes, to ski equipment, ski lifts to mountain peaks the fabric and wallpaper designs are ideal for keeping the ski season alive. Perfect for chalet, ski apartment, ski condo or a snowsports themed room, the designs are in Kimberley’s bright upbeat style. The designs are available at Kimberley’s ‘Inspire by Kim’ Spoonflower shop.
Inspire by Kim Spoonflower Shop Screen Grab
Kimberley said, “Much ski themed home decor is a nostalgic style with imagery and icons from the early days of leisure skiing. My designs bring in modern icons, imagery and equipment, to provide the opportunity to furnish in a more modern alpine style.”
Mock-up using the Corduroy Snow wallpaper, Ski Tracks and Trees fabric and Skiers from Above motif.
The designs are available to be printed on demand on a range of fabrics from sheer chiffons, through a range of cottons, right through to upholstery linens and cosy velvets. The designs can also be bought on rolls of wallpaper, pre-pasted, or self adhesive through to grasscloth wallpapers. Kim has mocked up a number of scenes to show how she envisages the designs may be used.
Lounge mock-up with Ski Goggle Reflections wallpaper, Ski Snowflakes on blue fabric and Gondolas fabric.
“Whilst working on Ski A to Z I decided that once the book was published I wanted to use surface design techniques to develop a home decor range which would portray the fun and joy of skiing. I hope that skiers will also be inspired to use the fabrics for accessories and clothing.” Kimberley continued.
Ski A to Z is a practical introduction to skiing, in hard back format with over 100 full colour illustrations. Ski A to Z is published by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK). More information about the book is at www.skiatoz.com
Mid-century rocking chair in a range of fabrics.
The fabric collection is hosted by print on demand company Spoonflower in the Inspire by Kim shop. Spoonflower is offering 20% off site wide until Sunday 1st May, see the website for more details.
Yorkshire Life magazine feature. Aghast to see this double page spread in the April edition of the magazine.
The magazine is out now with questions and answers all about my life in Yorkshire. Thank you to my publisher Meyer and Meyer Sport for setting up this feature.
Thank you to Yorkshire Life magazine, great to be reminded of what was definitely our run of the season.
The article uses the picture Tim took with the frozen waterfall when we skied the Lagazuoi hidden valley in Italy in January.
To quote the Lagazuoi website,”The 8,5 km long Armentarola is without doubt the most famous slope in the Dolomites and one of the most beautiful ski runs in the world… an enchanting fairy-tale valley surrounded by craggy mountain faces and steep frozen waterfalls.“
In a charming end to the experience horse drawn sleighs await to pull skiers over the snow along the final, flatter stretch of the route.
Thanks to my husband Tim for all of his support while I’ve been working on Ski A to Z including his great photography.
The information about Ski A to Z, sample spread from the book, and testimonials, are here
What is your run of the season?
Thanks for being here. These latest posts may be of interest…
It was wonderful to take ‘Ski A to Z‘ to where my ski story began at Ski Rossendale, in Lancashire for a book signing event on Saturday.
Kimberley Kay with Dave Fuller, manager of Ski Rossendale
At a book signing event on Saturday it was great to meet skiers and youngsters starting their own ski journeys. Thank you to everyone who came along to the book signing and to all the team at Ski Rossendale.
I hope everyone enjoys the books, and the bookmarks and ‘colour in’ check ‘lists’ created for the event. Thanks to Killaprint for printing them.
This is the press release that was issued about the book signing…
Ski Book Author/ Illustrator Brings Ski Book Home for Signing
The author and illustrator of new ski book Ski A to Z will be returning to her ski roots to sign books at Ski Rossendale.
Kimberley Kay, debut author and illustrator of Ski A to Z will be signing books at Ski Rossendale, the artificial ski slope where her skiing career began, on Saturday 9th April between 9 am and 12 noon.
Kimberley spent much of her childhood and teenage years skiing and working at Ski Rossendale. Ski Rossendale is now part of the The Hill outdoor entertainment venue.
Kimberley said, “I’m excited to be going back to my ski roots to sign books where it all started. Having skied, raced and worked at Ski Rossendale it will be great to be there with the book to chat about skiing. It is a chance for people to buy a signed copy of Ski A to Z, or to bring their copy of the book along for signing.”
Kimberley Kay as a youngster at racing at Ski Rossendale
New book Ski A to Z is a practical, fully illustrated introduction to Alpine skiing, intended to answer all the questions new skiers may have and to help prepare them for mountain experiences.
Dave Fuller, manager of Ski Rossendale, said, “Many new people are introduced to skiing through artificial ski slopes such as Ski Rossendale. Kim’s book Ski A to Z complements the instruction we offer at Ski Rossendale, through group and private lessons, so we are delighted that Kim has created this book that can help people with the information they need to get into the sport. The book’s story started here and is now helping skiers across the globe.”
Published by Europe’s leading sports publisher, Meyer & Meyer Sport, Ski A to Z provides information, tips and insights to help novice skiers of all ages grasp the sport. The accompanying illustrations are intended to resonate with avid skiers as well as new, demonstrating the exhilaration and joy of skiing.
Kimberley Kay said, “Ski A to Z is helping to make the sport increasingly accessible to a more diverse audience by helping people to feel that they have adequate information to give skiing a try. Many people may be put off beginning the sport as they simply haven’t a clue where to start, what questions to ask – or even the confidence to ask those questions. Ski A to Z removes that barrier, giving all new skiers access to the information they need to venture into the sport and opens the door to experiencing the wonder of skiing.”
Kimberley Kay with Ski A to Z in Val Thorens March 2022
Since starting skiing aged five Kimberley has over forty years of ski experience including racing, teaching, and heli-skiing, as well as ski holiday promotion during a 20 year career in travel PR, which included running the press offices for Going Places and TUI UK.
In full colour hardback format and ebook, Ski A to Z is available to buy now on all online book retailers and through bookshops. More information about the book can be found at www.skiatoz.com
ENDS
The author is available for interview, comment, and has broadcast experience. Review copies, book extracts and some editorial illustrations can be provided.
ISBN: 9781782552338
For further information about Ski A to Z click here
“While the title immediately made me think this would be a kids’ book, it is not. Instead, author and illustrator Kay has created a surprisingly comprehensive guide to the basics of skiing in just 80 pages. Full of defintitions, pro-tips, and the basics all beginners need to know, it’s a reference volume for any family discovering the joy of snowsports.” Brave Ski Mom
Have you read Ski A to Z. Please share your review where you purchased the book or on Google Books. Reviews help more people to find the book and benefit from its info and tips.
Inspire by Kim 