The video for my travels is here...
http://www.the-doll-works.com/media/Video_revised.wmv
It may or may not load for you. It is huge so you will probably have to wait a while for it to load.
If it loads I hope you enjoy it, if it doesn't I am sorry, but I have updated my blog with pictures for you too so everyone can have a look.....
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Los Angeles!!!
6:00AM I set off for the airport. Check in was really easy everything going to plan. The flight left at 10:15 and arrived in JFK New York 8 hours later.
I had a brief 40 minute stop where I managed to glimpse the New York skyline in the distance - very exciting!
However it is somewhat soul destroying having to get back on board for another 6 hour flight when all I wanted to do was “be there”!!
I arrived after a 20 hour journey, at the hotel in Los Angeles, faced with some bright and cheery receptionist who seemed to think it was mid afternoon, when I knew very well it was actually the dead of night!
Toured Venice (not QUITE as good as the REAL Venice but still very pretty!)
Of course we did the “Walk of Fame”!!
…and the Chinese Theatre.
Then we went up to the Griffiths Observatory for a better look.
The tour took in many more places but I have far too many pictures that would bore you to death. However on the evening of the 15th we took a trip to the City Walk at Universal Studios. We booked cars to take us and collect us later.
This water feature was great fun, you could sit here for hours and watch. The water squirted up from between the flagstones in dancing sequences but the whole thing only comes to life when the kids play in it - I am yet to be convinced that there isn't someone somewhere controlling this to torment the kids!
I had a brief 40 minute stop where I managed to glimpse the New York skyline in the distance - very exciting!
However it is somewhat soul destroying having to get back on board for another 6 hour flight when all I wanted to do was “be there”!!
I arrived after a 20 hour journey, at the hotel in Los Angeles, faced with some bright and cheery receptionist who seemed to think it was mid afternoon, when I knew very well it was actually the dead of night!
I flew out with my daughter and her friend, they would be spending their birthdays (12th &13th June) out here in Los Angeles and we decided we wanted to see as much as we could of Los Angeles today, as it would be the only full day I would spend with the girls, so we took a bus tour of all the places to see. I would highly recommend doing this as it gives you a great intro to LA.
We stopped first at Venice Beach - or Baywatch Beach if you like. The sea was too inviting to resist and yes, the water was warm!
We did actually consider swimming out to sea to see if the lifeguards actually worked, but there was a bus waiting!
We stopped first at Venice Beach - or Baywatch Beach if you like. The sea was too inviting to resist and yes, the water was warm!
We did actually consider swimming out to sea to see if the lifeguards actually worked, but there was a bus waiting!
Toured Venice (not QUITE as good as the REAL Venice but still very pretty!)
Then we went on to Rodeo Drive - how impressive is that??
This was Stella McCartneys shop, for all us Brits who were wondering where she has gone!
This was Stella McCartneys shop, for all us Brits who were wondering where she has gone!
Of course we did the “Walk of Fame”!!
…and the Chinese Theatre.
Then we went up to the Griffiths Observatory for a better look.
Very hot up here!
I would have to say that as we stood looking over Los Angeles, the thing that struck us the most was that as far as you could see in any direction was…Los Angeles! …and I am talking miles and miles and miles!
Then on to the Walt Disney Concert Hall...
Then on to the Walt Disney Concert Hall...
The tour took in many more places but I have far too many pictures that would bore you to death. However on the evening of the 15th we took a trip to the City Walk at Universal Studios. We booked cars to take us and collect us later.
Every shop front screams out for attention with neon lights everywhere and huge signs. This restaurant had a full size wagon and horses galloping across the front!
This water feature was great fun, you could sit here for hours and watch. The water squirted up from between the flagstones in dancing sequences but the whole thing only comes to life when the kids play in it - I am yet to be convinced that there isn't someone somewhere controlling this to torment the kids!
At night the place comes to life - more life! There is a really relaxed family atmosphere here, I would definitely recommend a visit!
Bubba Gump's Shrimp shop is fun!
This is the Hard Rock Cafe, full of memorabilia as you can imagine.
With a 78 foot neon Fender Stratocaster guitar at the entrance - just so you don't to miss it!
When it came time to leave, there had been a mix up with the cars and the only available car came to collect us. It was a HUGE black stretch limousine. Blimey, there we were with our shopping wearing jeans and sandals in a car like that - you should have seen the looks we got!
When it came time to leave, there had been a mix up with the cars and the only available car came to collect us. It was a HUGE black stretch limousine. Blimey, there we were with our shopping wearing jeans and sandals in a car like that - you should have seen the looks we got!
Monday, 7 July 2008
Red Carpet Glamour Event - Ontario California
Time to leave Los Angeles for now and travel to Ontario California for Doris Mixon's Red Carpet Glamour Event held in the Marriott Hotel, a lovely place and a perfect setting.
I didn't take pictures during the weekend so the following are courtesy of Cherylette - Thank you very much!!
The event started off with a buffet lunch, we all had to make and wear hats for the lunch which made an hilarious ice breaker. Brian, Cheryl and I soon became firm friends as we shared out hat making adventures!
Doris gave a presentation...
...and introduced guest speakers including a representative from Tonner who updated us with all the latest news from the company.
We had several workshops throughout the weekend, painting, re rooting and dressing the Christina dolls.
There was plenty of advice to be had from the many talented artists in attendance and VIP guests.
Great to meet up with Kimberley Hartvigsen also from Project Dollway. Finally we got to share our experiences and heartaches.
All our meals were provided and plenty of gifts and fun during every meal.
Doris was a fabulous host at the event and incredibly generous, everyone walked away with armfuls of dolls outfits and accessories as well as many new friends and memories of a really fun weekend.
Doris had her dolls out on display throughout the event - here they are dressed to kill for the Friday 13th Goth Night party!
I didn't take pictures during the weekend so the following are courtesy of Cherylette - Thank you very much!!
The event started off with a buffet lunch, we all had to make and wear hats for the lunch which made an hilarious ice breaker. Brian, Cheryl and I soon became firm friends as we shared out hat making adventures!
Doris gave a presentation...
...and introduced guest speakers including a representative from Tonner who updated us with all the latest news from the company.
We had several workshops throughout the weekend, painting, re rooting and dressing the Christina dolls.
There was plenty of advice to be had from the many talented artists in attendance and VIP guests.
Great to meet up with Kimberley Hartvigsen also from Project Dollway. Finally we got to share our experiences and heartaches.
All our meals were provided and plenty of gifts and fun during every meal.
Doris was a fabulous host at the event and incredibly generous, everyone walked away with armfuls of dolls outfits and accessories as well as many new friends and memories of a really fun weekend.
Doris had her dolls out on display throughout the event - here they are dressed to kill for the Friday 13th Goth Night party!
Everyone wore their best Goth outfits for the night!
The Red Carpet Glamour banquet dinner was held on the Saturday night with more guest speakers including Doug James who gave a talk on the CED dolls. We had a live auction which was hilarious as the bidding became heated and the purses emptied!
Sunday we said our farewells over breakfast and then headed home, or in my case back to Los Angeles.
Happily Ever After in Philadelphia
This is the FABULOUS shop Happily Ever After and is owned by Ed and Glenn. If you haven't been yet, you have got to go! ...and if you can't go visit them on line!! http://www.happily.com/
This is the ultimate toy shop for me, LOADS of dolls! Also most of them I have never seen in the flesh - not having access to shops like this in the UK!
We visited Philly on a beautiful sunny day. Ed treated Ted and I to lunch in a lovely little restaurant - as usual the menu had to be translated, the food is similar to the English fare but so very different, as anyone who has visited form the UK will know!
This is the ultimate toy shop for me, LOADS of dolls! Also most of them I have never seen in the flesh - not having access to shops like this in the UK!
We visited Philly on a beautiful sunny day. Ed treated Ted and I to lunch in a lovely little restaurant - as usual the menu had to be translated, the food is similar to the English fare but so very different, as anyone who has visited form the UK will know!
Ed and Glenn had arranged for us to do a Project Dollway presentation for the Philadelphia Centre City Doll Club.
From the left we have Micheal, Ted, Me and Bryan. Micheal and Bryan are from Metro Dolls.
And here we are again with Centre City Doll Club President Robbin Atwell.
And here we are again with Centre City Doll Club President Robbin Atwell.
Our dolls on display...
Philadelphia is beautiful, I am so impressed - I NEED to buy one of these houses and live here!
The Railway station is awesome! It is huge, vast and beautiful!
We had a really great evening, it was really nice to meet everyone and share our experiences on Dollway. The Centre City Doll Club is a really nice crowd and when I sell up and move to Philadelphia my membership will be in the post to them.
Philadelphia is beautiful, I am so impressed - I NEED to buy one of these houses and live here!
The Railway station is awesome! It is huge, vast and beautiful!
The station houses the Pennsylvania Railroad War Memorial which is a statue of the archangel Michael lifting the body of a dead soldier out of the flames of war, and was sculpted by Walker Hancock in 1950.
You may recognise it as it has been featured in many films including Blow Out, Trading Places, Witness and Unbreakable.
New York!
I arrived in New York during stormy weather, the flights were all expected to be delayed by at least 3 hours. Fortunately my flight was only half an hour late and when I arrived at the hotel I was told I had a complimentary upgrade!! So I wouldn't be staying in a little room in the basement - I now had a suite all to myself!!
My hotel (The Tudor) was on 42nd street and loomed over by the Chrysler Building...
This is Ted's (Producer of Project Dollway) place, hardly a cottage in the country!LOL!
...and his rather grand gardens, with one heck of a view!!
Looking out over Tudor City. This was the brain child of H. Douglas Ives and was built by Fred F French. Building started in 1925 and was completed in 1928. For those of us who are more used to seeing REAL historic buildings, this does look rather odd, in England we like our stately homes to be on the ground!
Ted has a great view of the Chrysler building...
...and the Empire State Building.
So, on to the shopping!! Ted and I had many days of shopping trips. The shops here are out of this world. Fabric shops where the rolls of fabric just go on and on and on. I have no idea how you could ever choose fabric in them. You would have to go in knowing EXACTLY what you want and keep your eyes closed at all times!!
Looking out over Tudor City. This was the brain child of H. Douglas Ives and was built by Fred F French. Building started in 1925 and was completed in 1928. For those of us who are more used to seeing REAL historic buildings, this does look rather odd, in England we like our stately homes to be on the ground!
Ted has a great view of the Chrysler building...
...and the Empire State Building.
So, on to the shopping!! Ted and I had many days of shopping trips. The shops here are out of this world. Fabric shops where the rolls of fabric just go on and on and on. I have no idea how you could ever choose fabric in them. You would have to go in knowing EXACTLY what you want and keep your eyes closed at all times!!
Then there are shops that just sell buttons - millions of them! Shops that just do ribbon - in every possible way you can imagine!
I may never be the same again!
As for toy shops!! I love the action figure shops and there were plenty to keep me happy but I just HAD to see this one!!
...and inside!
Then there is 5th Avenue and all it has to offer...
This was Tiffany's after I had stood looking at it, then got into a taxi. At which point I remembered my camera!!
Then!!! Parsons, home of Project Runway!
Look at this, this is the Fashion District information office. They say everything is bigger in the States and it is not always a good thing - look at the size of the sewing needles!...and who's going to need a button that big??
...and inside!
Then there is 5th Avenue and all it has to offer...
This was Tiffany's after I had stood looking at it, then got into a taxi. At which point I remembered my camera!!
Then!!! Parsons, home of Project Runway!
Look at this, this is the Fashion District information office. They say everything is bigger in the States and it is not always a good thing - look at the size of the sewing needles!...and who's going to need a button that big??
Then there are the streets of New York, they take some getting used to!
Some of the vehicles are enormous! Strange but I never saw one single Smart car! Petrol prices will soon change that!
Marcia Friend's BBQ in New Jersey
Marcia Friend very kindly invited Ted and I to her annual BBQ, we took the train out to Matawan, New Jersey. No ordinary train either - a double-decker would you believe! We could never have anything like it in the UK, our bridges are too small and British Rail would never get enough passengers wanting to use the train!!
Anyway, Marcia opened her home to the crowds of marauding doll lovers, her collections are awesome and I am so proud to say my Peacock Blue Erte is now part of that collection!
The following photographs are all Marcia's - Thank you Marcia for letting me use them.
Marcia set up sales areas in the basement, lots of lovely things to buy!
Then the mad dash for the free tables. Everything here is free for the taking...if you are brave enough! I found watching from the sidelines vastly entertaining!
...and various guests out on the patio...
Anyway, Marcia opened her home to the crowds of marauding doll lovers, her collections are awesome and I am so proud to say my Peacock Blue Erte is now part of that collection!
The following photographs are all Marcia's - Thank you Marcia for letting me use them.
Marcia set up sales areas in the basement, lots of lovely things to buy!
and Micheal of Metro Dolls http://www.metrodolls.com/
All great guys, and all of whom I am now working for!
Then the mad dash for the free tables. Everything here is free for the taking...if you are brave enough! I found watching from the sidelines vastly entertaining!
Here are some of the repaints on display in Marcia's dining room...
...and various guests out on the patio...
...and in the living room.
Then it was time to get back on the train and head back into New York, tired, HOT and happy!
Sunday, 27 January 2008
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