Vanmorgen hebben we geslapen tot na 10 uur. Heerlijk en daarna hebben we nog lang op bed liggen internetten en met de iPhone gespeeld. Heerlijk even relaxen naar een paar lange dagen.

In de middag zijn we dan op pad gegaan naar Animal Kingdom waar we met heel veel characters op de foto zijn gegaan in Camp Mickey daar stonden namelijk Mickey, Minnie, Goofy en Donald en de Character Trails. Ook hebben we nog even bij the Good Time Gathering Spot gekeken naar Thumper (Stampertje) en zijn vriendinnetje maar daar mocht niemand mee op de foto, beetje vreemd liep dat daar wel. Iedereen met camera werd weg gehouden van de characters.

Na de fotosessies zijn we pizza en caeser salad gaan eten bij Pizzafari. Het was weer eens wat anders als een bacon cheeseburger menu en het was erg lekker. We bezoeken dan It’s Tohough to be a Bug een leuke 3D belevenis. Hierna was het tijd voor de Jammin’ Jungle Parade de hoofdreden om naar Animal Kingdom te gaan. We baalden een beetje van vanaf vrijdag als wij op het vliegveld staan is de kerstversie van deze parade er officieel. Maar al snel bleek dat de parade nu al was omgetoverd. Misschien niet helemaal compleet maar dat is voor ons lastig beoordelen het zag er in ieder geval kerst uit.

Na de parade zijn we nog naar Rafiki’s Planet Watch gegaan met de trein voor een foto met Rafiki en Jiminy Cricket. Wel jammer dat hier geen PhotoPass fotografen zijn. Hierna zijn we naar de auto gegaan om naar Epcot te vertrekken want dit is een van de laatste avonden dat we tijd hebben om Illuminations: Reflections of earth te zien. Als we bij de auto aankomen begint het te regenen en bij Epcot aangekomen regent het flink door. Na even wachten wagen we het erop en we komen vrij droog bij de ingang aan.

We stappen gelijk Spaceship Earth binnen waar geen wachtrij was en in Project Tomorrow sturen we het zelf gemaakte filmpje nog even via de mail op. Dan is het droog en lopen we naar de Character Spot maar daar staat een lange rij dus dat doen we later nog wel. We besluiten dan een rondje World Showcase te doen en onderweg gaan we op de foto met Pooh en Tiger en eten we een Chocolate Chip Cookie in Amerika, drinken we een Spaten Oktoberfest Bier in Duitsland (met Pretzel) en nemen we een Eggrol (Loempia) un China. Dan lopen we door naar Character Spot waar het nog steeds druk is hiervoor komen we een andere keer wel terug.

Dan maken we nog een filmpje van de Fountain of Nations die elke 15 minuten een show heeft op het ritme van de muziek, hier hebben we al een paar keer naar staan kijken. Na dit filmpje is het tijd om een plekje op te zoeken om Illuminations te bekijken. We vinden een plekje op een brug voor Italie waar ik de camera met het Gorillapod statief heel mooi kan wegzetten om een niet te shakerig te filmen. De wind hebben we in de rug en dit is echt de allermooiste plek om de show te zien. Echt een prachtige plek.

Hierna vertrekken we in de richting van een Publix om wat rond te kijken en nog wat dingen zoals pure M&M’s, Rootbeer (niet zo lekker), meloen, apple pie, chocolade melk en orange juice te kopen. En we hebben gelijk onze dorstige terreinwagen weer te drinken gegeven.

Danielle is inmiddels in slaap gevallen het is inmiddels ook al bijna 12 uur.

What an awesome view (for free)!

The Embarcadero Center started be illuminated a couple of days ago. It looks really fantastic, doesn’t it? I guess this would last during thanksgiving holidays that ends next weekend. This reminded me the night view at Tokyo Disney Land in the night. (If you want to see comparison with this view without illuminations, this article posted last week might be useful.

Moving Pictures
A Symposium on Illustration and Motion
presented by the Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design

NOVEMBER 11, 2009, 7:00–10:00 P.M.
Free and Open to the Public

2 WEST 13TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10011
The New School Jazz Performance Space
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY

LAUREN REDNISS reveals a history of blind spots.
JODY ROSEN unveils The Knowledge of London taxi drivers.
JOEL SMITH maps the mind of Saul Steinberg.
RICHARD MCGUIRE screens Fears of the Dark and more.

Moderated by Lauren Redniss, assistant professor, Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
RICHARD McGUIRE is an artist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times, McSweeney’s, Le Monde, and other publications. He is the founder and bass player of the punk-funk band Liquid Liquid. Currently a fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, McGuire is working on an illustrated book entitled HERE. His most recent animated film, Peurs du Noir, will be released on DVD this fall.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
LAUREN REDNISS is an artist and writer who recently joined the full-time faculty at Parsons The New School for Design. She is the author of Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies. Redniss was a 2008–2009 fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers. Her new book, Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie & Other Stories of Love and Fallout will be published in fall 2010.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JODY ROSEN is the music critic for Slate and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, The Nation, and other publications. He is the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song and the compiler of Jewface, an acclaimed anthology of early-20th-century Jewish vaudeville recordings. Rosen is working on a new book, The Knowledge, about London, cartography, and taxi drivers.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JOEL SMITH is the author of Steinberg at The New Yorker (2005) and Saul Steinberg: Illuminations, the catalog of a traveling retrospective of the artist that opened at the Morgan Library & Museum in 2006. Smith is the curator of photography at the Princeton University Art Museum, where he is working on exhibitions about architecture and memory, pictures of pictures, and the history of photographs of nothing.

This symposium is presented with support from…

Moving Pictures

A Symposium on Illustration and Motion
presented by the Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design

NOVEMBER 11, 2009, 7:00–10:00 P.M.
Free and Open to the Public

2 WEST 13TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10011
The New School Jazz Performance Space
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY

LAUREN REDNISS reveals a history of blind spots.
JODY ROSEN unveils The Knowledge of London taxi drivers.
JOEL SMITH maps the mind of Saul Steinberg.
RICHARD MCGUIRE screens Fears of the Dark and more.

Moderated by Lauren Redniss, assistant professor, Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
RICHARD McGUIRE is an artist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times, McSweeney’s, Le Monde, and other publications. He is the founder and bass player of the punk-funk band Liquid Liquid. Currently a fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, McGuire is working on an illustrated book entitled HERE. His most recent animated film, Peurs du Noir, will be released on DVD this fall.

To give you a taste of what Richard is all about, here is a collection of links and visuals.

• Here is a short animated film Richard created called Micro Loup–it is about a microscopic wolf!

• Richard’s homepage: http://www.richard-mcguire.com

• A film excerpt: http://www.richard-mcguire.com/fears.html

• Other work, posters, NYer covers, etc: http://www.primalinea.com/mcguire/

• Interview with Steven Heller: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/whos-afraid-of-noir-an-interview-with-richard-mcguire

• Toys: http://daddytypes.com/2006/12/29/the_toys_of_artist_richard_mcguire_a_dt_interview.php

• Liquid Liquid clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70wxKJMCRHQ&feature=related

[Image from: Peur(s) du noir, a film by : Blutch, C. Burns, M. Caillou, P. di Sciullo, L. Mattotti, R. McGuire // Production: Prima Linea Productions]

This symposium is presented with support from…

Moving Pictures
A Symposium on Illustration and Motion
presented by the Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design

NOVEMBER 11, 2009, 7:00–10:00 P.M.
Free and Open to the Public

2 WEST 13TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10011
The New School Jazz Performance Space
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY

LAUREN REDNISS reveals a history of blind spots.
JODY ROSEN unveils The Knowledge of London taxi drivers.
JOEL SMITH maps the mind of Saul Steinberg.
RICHARD MCGUIRE screens Fears of the Dark and more.

Moderated by Lauren Redniss, assistant professor, Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JODY ROSEN is the music critic for Slate and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, The Nation, and other publications. He is the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song and the compiler of Jewface, an acclaimed anthology of early-20th-century Jewish vaudeville recordings. Rosen is working on a new book, The Knowledge, about London, cartography, and taxi drivers.  Here is a passel of links to more writings by Jody so you can brush on his work.

• Slate archive: http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=3944&qt=jody+rosen
• A recent Slate article on Michael Jackson: http://www.slate.com/id/2221482/
• A front page article in the NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/ygr8b5x
• Jody on twitter: http://twitter.com/jodyrosen
• Jody’s writings for NPR: http://tinyurl.com/ygbzey7

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JOEL SMITH is the author of Steinberg at The New Yorker (2005) and Saul Steinberg: Illuminations, the catalog of a traveling retrospective of the artist that opened at the Morgan Library & Museum in 2006. Smith is the curator of photography at the Princeton University Art Museum, where he is working on exhibitions about architecture and memory, pictures of pictures, and the history of photographs of nothing.  Here is an image of the Steinberg book, along with a few links to more information.

• http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=0300115865
• http://www.saulsteinbergfoundation.org/news.html
• http://artmuseum.princeton.edu/about/staff-directory/joel-smith/

This symposium is presented with support from…

Moving Pictures
A Symposium on Illustration and Motion
presented by the Illustration Program at Parsons The New School for Design

NOVEMBER 11, 2009, 7:00–10:00 P.M.
Free and Open to the Public

2 WEST 13TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10011
The New School Jazz Performance Space
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY

LAUREN REDNISS reveals a history of blind spots.
JODY ROSEN unveils The Knowledge of London taxi drivers.
JOEL SMITH maps the mind of Saul Steinberg.
RICHARD MCGUIRE screens Fears of the Dark and more.

Moderated by Lauren Redniss, assistant professor, Illustration Program, Parsons The New School for Design

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
RICHARD McGUIRE is an artist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times, McSweeney’s, Le Monde, and other publications. He is the founder and bass player of the punk-funk band Liquid Liquid. Currently a fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, McGuire is working on an illustrated book entitled HERE. His most recent animated film, Peurs du Noir, will be released on DVD this fall.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
LAUREN REDNISS is an artist and writer who recently joined the full-time faculty at Parsons The New School for Design. She is the author of Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies. Redniss was a 2008–2009 fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers. Her new book, Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie & Other Stories of Love and Fallout will be published in fall 2010.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JODY ROSEN is the music critic for Slate and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, The Nation, and other publications. He is the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song and the compiler of Jewface, an acclaimed anthology of early-20th-century Jewish vaudeville recordings. Rosen is working on a new book, The Knowledge, about London, cartography, and taxi drivers.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
JOEL SMITH is the author of Steinberg at The New Yorker (2005) and Saul Steinberg: Illuminations, the catalog of a traveling retrospective of the artist that opened at the Morgan Library & Museum in 2006. Smith is the curator of photography at the Princeton University Art Museum, where he is working on exhibitions about architecture and memory, pictures of pictures, and the history of photographs of nothing.

This symposium is presented with support from…

Hier soir, je me baladais sur l’avenue les bras ouverts à l’inconnu… ou pas… Je me baladais tout simplement dans ce beau Paris que j’aime tant. En sortant d’un cocktail Rue de la Paix (et oui, très chère, elle fait du chemin la petite) je décide de prendre le temps d’admirer cette magnifique capitale de la création.Je commence par la place Vendôme et ses boutiques toutes plus chics et prestigieuses les unes que les autres encadrant le Ritz éclairé de mille feux.

Sur le chemin je m’émerveille une fois de plus sur la place de la Concorde, avec son obélisque et sa pointe dorée, l’hôtel de Crillon et ses chasseurs guettant à l’extérieur l’arrivée de clients dans de luxueuses automobiles. Le pavillon français vaillamment dressé sur le dôme du Grand palais, l’Assemblée nationale qui resplendissent dans la nuit…

Et puis là horreur, malheur, stupéfaction !

Mon regard se tourne vers le champ de Mars au bout duquel scintille une espèce de chose mauve, rose et bleu qui clignote à l’image d’un vieux sapin de noël des années 80. Une pique vers le ciel qui se ridiculise un peu plus à chaque jet de lumière qu’elle émet. Mais qu’avez-vous donc fait à votre tour Eiffel !? Ce joyau d’ingéniosité, ce symbole âgé de 120 années est maintenant éclairé à la manière d’un jouet Mattel ou plutôt d’une décoration de noël à la américaine.

Amis français, je vous le demande, quelle mouche vous a piqué pour faire de votre emblème, un pic dénaturé ? Illuminée oui, ridiculisée non ! Ce qui est certain c’est que ça m’a fait sourire : non, le kitsch n’est pas mort ! Et c’est la capitale de la mode et du glamour qui nous le prouve avec son emblème national, c’est fort, j’adore.

Aaaaaaaaaah Panam’ tu m’étonneras toujours, so kitsch ! ;-)

Been quite busy recently and not had much time to get out with the camera. below are some random snaps that have been taken over the last couple of weeks.

The recently refurbished 'Wild West Train Style' illuminated tram

blackpool Tower from the end of the North Pier

Walt Disney World Resort will host a fantastic lineup of fun-filled activities to help bring in the New Year 2010! Mark your calendar for the following Disney World events:

Bay Lake & Seven Seas Lagoon
The Electrical Water Pagaent (9 PM; plays to Magic Kingdom entrance area at 10:25 PM)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (3:45 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve (9 AM-7 PM)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Fantasmic! nighttime musical special effects extravaganza (6:30 PM)
Live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” back-to-back with a DJ at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat (Mulch, Sweat and Shears sets are 8, 9, 10 and 11 PM; DJ starts at 63;) PM)
A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show starring Mulch, Sweat and Shears (11:55 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 AM-midnight

Disney’s Magic Kingdom
“Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!” parade and street party (11 AM, 12:30 PM and 5:40 PM)
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (12 PM and 3:30 PM)
SpectroMagic parade of lights and music (7 PM and 10:30 PM)
Holiday Wishes fireworks (8:30 PM)
Fantasy in the Sky fireworks (11:50 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 AM-1 AM

Epcot
Special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” (7:30 PM and 11:40 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve (9 AM-1 AM)

Enjoy great deals on comfortable accommodations that provide convenient access to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks at Westgate Resorts. For more information, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

Chenara Butterfly Illustration (All Rights Reserved - CaryCharles.com)

Well it has taken a good while to sort out, but the therapeutic half of my website now benefits from some of my artistic skill!

Take a look if you are interested in hypnotherapy or insight sessions such as Inner Child or Higher Self. Or have a peek if you want to enjoy some nice imagery . . .

Much of my work hinges on a sense that consciousness is hot-wired to evolve, and this ‘Chenara Butterfly’ artwork beautifully captures that . . .

Enjoy!

Hi everyone,

 Well Keesh has given us some beautiful colours to play with again for this weeks challenge, Inkspirations Colour Challenge #14 …Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White.  I love this delicious colour combination, it says romance to me. So to play I chose to go with the Cherish stamp from Illuminations and the Polka Dot background stamp, 3 flowers with black vintage brad centres and black ribbon. All the dots and the Cherish tag have been clear embossed and mounted on the Pretty in Pink base card that has been stamped with the En Francais background stamp on the top and with the dotty stamp from Big Bold Birthday set on the bottom in Pretty in Pink ink just to add a little more softness. All products used on my card are from Stampin’Up. It may have taken me a while to put this one together but I am really happy with how it has turned out. If you pop over to Keesh’s site you will be inspired with all the great  entries already there. They are gorgeous. Thanks Keesh for another wonderful challenge. Hope you all have a great week!

Sally x

Earthquake has come and been unleashed. I have to say, this is by far my favorite song by Little Boots. Seeing the video now brings this song to a whole new level. I forsee this song and video climbing into the Pop charts. This by far is the most commercial song she has. Not in a bad way.

One day I will see her live. I know I say that and it has yet to come to fruition. But I swear one day it will happen. For now I will continue to support her and buy her music. I suggest you do the same!

Ok, so not a real earthquake…just Little Boots next single…Earthquake. It is the next single to be released on Novemeber 16th off of the album, Illuminations. Little Boots is one of the many rising stars that I have been obsessing over since I first heard her sing Meddle.

She has already swept through the US with her release New in Town. The video was shot in downtown Los Angeles. Who knew you can break out into song and dance with LA bums. It’s fantastic-al! But what did you expect…Little Boots is all about the show! Plus, she is GREAT live. Youtube some of the videos if you like, and while you are at it download the album from Itunes or where ever you get your music from!

Oh yeah and if you don’t know what that thing is, that little box she is always playing with…take that how you want…it is called a Tenorion. I want one! It does pretty much everything to create music…all in one great little square.

Here is the song, Earthquake, remixed by Gold Panda.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that the fam isn’t really interested in wedding stuff so I’m just going to post here and my journal on the  DIS.  We’re doing this for us as it’s something I think we’ll both love and that’s what is important.  I also think it’s important for the kids, especially since they weren’t included in their mother’s wedding.  My overly negative long-time friend is grating on my last nerve too and now we’re not discussing it at all.  I just don’t get people sometimes but whatever.  I’m not going to continue to be affected by their negativity.  We’re going with a red/yellow/black theme…a la Disney.  I think it’ll be fun. 

I sent in the contract today for the lunch reception, that was exciting and a quick $300 gone.   Tomorrow we’re sending off the contract & deposit for the ceremony at the Swan so that will secure that as well.  The “Save the Date/Invitation” lady from Etsy is finishing the proof so hopefully they’ll be finished in the next couple weeks to be sent out even though I don’t have a list ready yet.  I’m not even sure who to invite anymore.

The room blocks for discounted rates are ready through WDW, we picked the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside and Pop Century as the three discounted resorts.  American Airlines & Airtran are also set up for discounts on their lowest fare with the assigned promo code.  I hope this helps some for those interested in coming for the weekend.  Here’s the tentative plan so far…

Friday evening, July 30th
Private Wishes viewing party at the Grand Floridian Marina

Saturday, July 31st
Private transportation to pick everyone up at the three resorts…
Morning…Ceremony at the Swan Resort
Early Afternoon…Lunch Reception at Fulton’s at Downtown Disney
Private transportation back to guest’s resorts, afternoon break to do whatever
Evening…Private Dessert & Illuminations Viewing Party at Epcot

It should be a good time, especially for us WDW nerds.

Here is my other fave lady out there, Little Boots. If you didn’t know, she had a show out in Los Angeles along with Dim Mak. Yeah I missed it and what? Someone needs to give me tickets so I can attend all these events! Retail can not pay for everything.

Anyhow, Little Boots is awesome. She has been touring and promoting her new single Remedy. Here is a live version of it!!

Also, check out Symmetry.

If you haven’t yet, then I encourage you to buy the EP.