Monday, January 31, 2011

Nunchuks and Such

These photographs were taken in the China area of Epcot, in Walt Disney World!  Danny and I are both big fans of Chinese culture.  Well, we can kind of claim that.  We've never been there.  We don't have any really close friends who are Chinese.  But, we do hang out in Chinatown a lot.  We both love dumplings and could probably survive off of just them and stir-fried vegetables.  Danny does martial arts and likes Bruce Lee.  However, we've never been there, so I don't really know much about the culture.  I do love what I know, though!

I know that I like pandas.  They are cute, vicious, endangered, and not actually bears.  They also look absolutely adorable on umbrellas.  It started raining the day that we visited Epcot, and there is a part of me that is still having shoppers remorse for not having bought this gem of an accessory.  But, in New York, I probably would have just been labeled as a teenage Harajuku girl wannabe.  Honestly, I do want to be that, but I'm generally more discreet than a giant panda umbrella.


I also know that the movie "Mulan," is set in China.  It is based off of... a Chinese legend?  I think?  I'm pretty sure she wasn't completely real.  Though, I might be wrong.  In any case, I seriously doubt that she had a talking dragon.  And, as funny as he is, I know he didn't sound like Eddie Murphy.  First off, he would have spoken Chinese.  Don't think Eddie Murphy speaks Chinese.  


Check out how beautiful that Mulan is!  She was lovely.  Talked in quotes from the movie and everything.  She was also very gracious to everyone who came up to her in a way that wasn't totally fake- a lot of the character actors around the park were extremely facetious, and overly spunky.  It made them slightly unpleasant at times. 

OK then, back to China.  Nunchuks.  I associate China with nunchucks.  Like these dandy little foam ones:


So fun!  Grr, I'm about to whack the crap out of those puppets... no not really.  I have no idea how to use nunchuks.  I'd just swing them around a lot and make angry noises.  I'm obviously super effective.

You know, it's weird.  I feel better about how I look in the nunchuck photograph than the one of Mulan and me.  It took me a while to figure out exactly why that is, but I think I've nailed it.  In the nunchuk pose, I'm not trying to be pretty or attractive.  I'm attempting to be quite the opposite, in fact.  Thus, there is no pressure to look particularly good.  I can be goofy and have face dimples and eye creases, and it doesn't matter because I'm pulling a Tina Fey and ignoring the fact that I could be potentially pretty for the sake of humor.  Not that I think I'm as pretty as Tina Fey, but you get my message.

Oh!  And now, for two more things I associate with China, quickly, as this post has gotten a big lengthy.

Gorgeous patterns with red and gold in them.  Those seem Chinese to me.


Also, the clay soldiers.  Those ones are Chinese, for certain.  I know I'm right on with this one.


As a closer- I hope I didn't offend anyone with my assumptions about what is Chinese.  Really, I tailored this to the photographs I happened to take while in Disney World.  I know quite a bit about Chinese history and culture from books and such... but I haven't experienced it.  If you feel like I have to, I would not be opposed to a trip there.  Especially if it was paid for.  

Anyone want to pay for me to go?  Anyone?

... alright then.  :)

Walt Disney World, Florida, USA


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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Watch Out for those Gators!

Especially neon pink ones.  They tend to be particularly terrifying. 
Mostly because they are unexpected.


Think about it.  Are you expecting to encounter a neon pink alligator?  


...Didn't think so.

Miami, Florida, USA
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El Béisbol con un Plátano (The Baseball and the Banana)



Miami had excellent murals.  You saw one in a previous post, Sunny Skies and Marvelous Murals, and now I want to share some other ones!  This one, with a detail shown above, was one of my favourites.  It was on the outer wall of a preschool, and showed a bunch of children with fruit for bodies playing baseball.  This great scene overlooked their little parking lot, complete with a tiny outdoor playset.  Adorable!  I wish I had taken a photograph of the entire scene so that I could share it with you, I was very enchanted.

On the street side of the building were more murals, showing a butterfly and trees. This serene little scene was paired with their sign advertising Judo classes!  I looked at something later, and it turns out that this place also ran a day care for older children, and part of the daycare was that they have to take a Judo class.  How awesome is that?  Hey kids, you have to go here after school because mummy and daddy are still at work, but it's okay because, you know what?  You get to fight stuff.  
But my favourite was the mural painted on the glass door- of a little girl with mended faerie wings.


The whole thing was just so darn cute and full of childish imagination.  I wish I could remember the name of the place, but I don't.  In any case, it made me happy, and I hope that these photographs make you happy too.


Miami, Florida, USA
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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Marie



My little sister loves The Aristocats, and Marie was always her favourite.  It kind of makes sense, she's a bit like Marie in a lot of ways- the pretty girly girl who still has a love and willingness for adventure.  I mean, she's not really little any more, she's seventeen, but she's younger than I am so I can still call her my little sister.


When I saw Marie, I didn't especially want a photograph with her, but I wanted to be able to show Julianna.  So, I asked her to wave at the camera for me.  With the lovely poster background, I was quite pleased with how adorable the shots were.  Not grand photographs by any means, but they serve their purpose well, which is all that I could ask for.

Walt Disney World, Florida, USA

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Fantastic Friday Store Update

I'm so excited.  I keep adding new things.
I hope you like them!  There are only limited numbers of all of these available, so pick them up before they go away!  



Framed 4x6 Print of "Overhead Antique," Original Photograph of Paris Skyline
Framed 4x6 Print of "Overhead Antique," Original Photograph of Paris Skyline Framed 4x6 Print of "Overhead Antique," Original Photograph of Paris Skyline Framed 4x6 Print of "Overhead Antique," Original Photograph of Paris Skyline Framed 4x6 Print of "Overhead Antique," Original Photograph of Paris Skyline
$8.00 
This is an original photograph of a bird flying over the Paris skyline, edited to look like an older film photograph. It was taken in front of the Sacre Couer in Montmartre, and you can see many famous Paris locations in the background. I titled the photograph "Overhead," because the bird is at least thirty feet above all of the people on the ground, and with the camera angle, it looks like an even greater distance. This order is for one 4"x6" print of the photograph in the lovely frame shown. It will be shipped in a box.

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4x6 Magnet of "Beach Ninja," Original Photograph of Our Sandy Superhero taken on the Jersey Shore
4x6 Magnet of "Beach Ninja," Original Photograph of Our Sandy Superhero taken on the Jersey Shore 4x6 Magnet of "Beach Ninja," Original Photograph of Our Sandy Superhero taken on the Jersey Shore
 $4.00
Beach Ninja is out to serve justice in righteous and sandy kind of way. Join him in this fun print as he sneaks around a park bench to defeat the mighty seagull Gulcor and his malicious minion T-ruck the truck. He must save New Jersey from their evil schemes!

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all. Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!

A little note: the little word magnets are not included in this order, they are just for display in the photograph.

  $4.00
This is my original photograph "My Art Is Many Pieces Put Together," which shows a detail from a stunning mural by Austin artist Stefanie DiStefano. This fun piece of art is hiding underneath a bridge in South Austin. I had to climb down a bit of the hill to get it! I just imagine that at night these fun-loving skeletons come out to do some groovy dances under the moon.

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all. Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!

A little note: the little word magnets are not included in this order, they are just for display in the photograph.
$4.00
This is my original photograph "Window Shopping". If you have never been to Brussels, take home a taste of it with this awesome magnet! Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a beautiful city with amazing architecture and people. One of the best parts about the city center is the prevalence of arcades. Arcades are kind of indoor-outdoor malls with many stores lining a covered street, and it was in one of these that I took this photograph! This shows a beautiful window display in a closed shop, complete with a beautiful heart and many items in French, that wonderful language of love.

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all. Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!

A little note: the little word magnets are not included in this order, they are just for display in the photograph.

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4x6 Magnet of "Three Sisters," Original Photograph of Flowers in Central Park, New York City
4x6 Magnet of "Three Sisters," Original Photograph of Flowers in Central Park, New York City 4x6 Magnet of "Three Sisters," Original Photograph of Flowers in Central Park, New York City
$4.00
This is "Three Sisters," an original photograph of a beautiful set of flowers growing in the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park. I love Central Park in spring and summer, the flowers overtake it with beauty. When I originally posted this photograph on my blog, http://travelandtoile.blogspot.com, I had multiple people assume that it must have been taken in a botanical garden of some sort. Not so! These three beauties were out in the free air for all to see.

I named the photograph "Three Sisters" after the Chekhov play of the same name, to give a nod to their theatrical heritage, being from the Shakespeare Garden.

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all. Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!

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4x6 Magnet of "And the Living Is Easy," Original Photograph of Flowers in London
4x6 Magnet of "And the Living Is Easy," Original Photograph of Flowers in London 4x6 Magnet of "And the Living Is Easy," Original Photograph of Flowers in London
$4.00
This is an original photograph,"And the Living Is Easy," which depicts some lovely flowers nestled into the grass in Gordon Square, London. I lived in London for a semester during college, and attended school right by this small, lovely park. In spring, the place exploded with flowers that filled the yard. I had to get down on my hands and knees in order to capture the small beauty that was before me. This photograph was originally seen on my blog, http://travelandtoile.blogspot.com.

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all. Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!

A little note: the little word magnets are not included in this order, they are just for display in the photograph. 
$4.00
This is an original photograph of a bird flying over the Paris skyline. It was taken in front of the Sacre Couer in Montmartre, and you can see many famous Paris locations in the background. I titled the photograph "Overhead," because the bird is at least thirty feet above all of the people on the ground, and with the camera angle, it looks like an even greater distance.

Paris is a beautiful city, the City of Love, and having a piece of it in your home or office can brighten up your day with dreams of travel. This photograph was originally seen on my blog, http://travelandtoile.blogspot.com.

This order is for one 4"x6" magnet of the photograph. The front of the magnet shows the photograph, and the back is entirely covered in super strong magnet- there are no strips or anything. The magnet is fairly sturdy and clings to magnetic surfaces tightly, so it won't fall off easily at all.

Your item shall be shipped in a padded envelope if ordered alone, or with other magnets or prints. If ordered with other items, such as cards, snowglobes or mugs, it will be shipped in a box. Just a reminder- second items only cost $1.00 for shipping!
Creepy Carnival 5x7 Fine Art Photography Print

$4.00
This is one 5"x7" print of the photograph "Creepy Carnival." It portrays a fairground ride on the island of Djurgarden seen from a boat cutting through an icy fjord in Stockholm, Sweden in February 2010.  I had an amazing vacation to Sweden at that time, and I hope I can share some of the mystery and majesty of that country with you through this photograph.
This print comes unframed, and will be shipped in a padded envelope if sold alone or with other prints, and in a box if shipped with other items as well. The print will be signed on the back.
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Tagged 5x7 Fine Art Photography Print
$4.00
This is one 5"x7" print of the photograph "Tagged," which portrays beautiful white flowers at Longwood Gardens, the former estate and conservatory of an aristocratic French family in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA. It was originally seen on my blog, http://travelandtoile.blogspot.com.
This print comes unframed, and will be shipped in a padded envelope if sold alone or with other prints, and in a box if shipped with other items as well. The print will be signed on the back.
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A Rose Might Smell as Sweet 5x7 Fine Art Photography Print
$4.00
This is one 5"x7" print of the photograph "A Rose Might Smell as Sweet," which shows a blossoming pink rose. It was taken in the Shakespeare Garden of Central Park, New York City, New York, USA in summer 2010, and was originally seen on my blog, http://travelandtoile.blogspot.com.
This print comes unframed, and will be shipped in a padded envelope if sold alone or with other prints, and in a box if shipped with other items as well. The print will be signed on the back.

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Inspiration Fridays: Aqua

I've been thinking a lot in colors recently.  Mostly I have been doing this to get my mind off of the grey and white snow that is surrounding me.  It's gloomy here.  The snow looks pretty, but I'm thinking about spring flowers already.  When it comes to happy colors, I think of aqua, the color that the ocean was in Miami.  The color of swimsuits and other summer clothing. All of these images have aqua, or some color close to it.  Because, I like to share what I'm thinking about.

Almond Blossum - Vincent Van Gogh

 Les Fleurs Animées, 1906

 

 林静-Hayashi Seiichi

 Unknown, but really lovely


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