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Showing posts with label Disney World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney World. Show all posts

August 31, 2016

Cinderella Castle's Magnificent Mosaics




Next time you're in Disney World's Magic Kingdom and you want to go
from Main Street to Fantasyland, don't walk around the castle, go through it.
It's a fun stroll through the castle's breezeway with the added bonus 
of viewing the often-overlooked, magnificent Cinderella mosaics.




Measuring 10' x 5' each,5 panels depict different scenes from the classic tale.
Dorothea Redmond designed the murals and Hanns Scharff did the mosaic work.
The mosaics are comprised of over a million pieces of glass, 
with some made of sterling silver or 14K gold for extra glitz.








You can see the ethereal transparency of the Fairy Godmother's dress,
plus the "magic" from her wand transferring to Cinderella's new ball gown.



Oh, how detailed! Just one example is the choice of this 
patterned tile floor when a solid color would've sufficed.



The designs of the gowns are stunning!






The placement of each tiny tile is so intricate!


Cinderella's mice-friends watch as she tries on the glass slipper.






Note the deliberate shading of the stepsisters' complexions;
one is green with envy and the other is red in anger.
They're none too pleased that the shoe fits Cinderella perfectly!
(Also, check out that grouchy cat Lucifer.)



These mosaics were later reproduced 
tile-by-tile for Tokyo Disneyland's Cinderella Castle.



Love always wins!



Fascinating facts about the artists:

 Dorothea Holt Redmond worked as an Imagineer for Disney 
during the time she created the Cinderella murals.
Before that, she was a production designer for Gone With the Wind, 
The Ten Commandments, and 7 Alfred Hitchcock films, among many others.

 Prior to his career as a mosaic artist, Hanns Scharff earned a reputation as
World War II's most successful German interrogator, particularly of captured US pilots.
Rather than by violent means, Scharff used kindness and respect 
to successfully retrieve information from the prisoners.
Because of his non-violent tactics, he was not tried for war crimes.
Subsequently, he was asked by the US military to instruct them on his methods.
He later immigrated to the United States to pursue his career in art.

Great stuff, right?



Photos don't do these mosaics justice!
Promise me that you'll stop in and take a long look
to fully appreciate their beauty and craftsmanship! 
Want to read more of my Disney posts?


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August 23, 2016

Snapshots of Disney World's Hollywood Studios



Tons of fun to be had at Hollywood Studios in Disney World.
I was especially proud of myself for riding the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
not once, but twice. Screamed the entire time. Twice.
Also went on the Tower of Terror and left my stomach at the top.


Before we continue, I must tell you that I celebrated my birthday
in Hollywood Studios this year! I was given a special button
to wear and was wished a Happy Birthday by Disney
cast members all day long! Now, that was fun!



Part of our gang breakfasting at the Caribbean Beach Resort's food court.
Fueling up to take on another Disney day!



Hubby & I arrive and pose with the Chinese Theater behind us.















The 50's Prime Time Cafe -fun decor & fantastic milkshakes!






Here's our family group of 15 enjoying our Disney World week together!





Disney Sweethearts



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August 17, 2016

African Zulu Telephone Wire Baskets at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge


After dining at the Animal Kingdom Lodge's Boma restaurant,
 these colorful woven baskets caught my eye.
A testimony to Disney's devotion to all-encompassing resort theming,
this display was surrounding, of all things, a restroom sign.
Of course I had to take both a closer look...and some photos.
These very cool baskets were made of telephone wire by 
talented South African Zulu artisans. Such craftsmanship! 









 Now, I have a story to tell of my own telephone wire artistry!
When I saw these baskets, I immediately had a warm and fuzzy flashback 
to my childhood days, of times spent with my best buds Shelley and Sue.
Their dad had worked at Bell Telephone and gifted them with the
"treasure" of a spool of multi-colored telephone wire.
Being the crafty kids that we were, we spent hours
cutting, twisting and twirling the wire into kooky, curlicued rings.
Tiffany's had nothing on us.

 I was curious to see what I could find online that resembled our rings.
This pic from Pinterest, showing the first stage of the ring, 
was the only thing I could find. Our next step was to
tightly curl each of the wires into a cluster and voila!

Just one of the tons of good times we girls had back in the day. 
Before video games & cell phones, naturally.

 And yes, one can definitely see the beginnings of 
my artistic creativity that eventually led to my 
handcrafted jewelry shop, Paisley Beading! 
(Shameless plug. Ha!)



If you love Disney World, check out more of my Disney blog posts:
Snapshots of Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle's Magnificent Mosaics
Snapshots of Disney World's Hollywood Studios
Snapshots of Disney World's EPCOT
Snapshots of Disney World's Animal Kingdom
All About Disney's Animal Kingdom Tree of Life
All About Animal Kingdom Lodge's African Ijele Mask


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August 12, 2016

All About Disney's Animal Kingdom Tree of Life



Disney World's Animal Kingdom has an easily-recognizable icon: its Tree of Life.
Because it's the centerpiece of the park, it's convenient to use 
as the central landmark around which we can always get our bearings.
(Especially for directionally-challenged ME.)

From afar, the tree looks real, but it's actually man-made,
yet another wonder created by those amazing Disney artists & imagineers.
It's strong enough and flexible enough to handle Florida's hurricane seasons.
It's an imposing monstrosity of a structure; let's hear some stats.
Height: 145'
Span of Branches: 165' 
Width of Trunk: 50'
Number of Leaves: Over 100,000

Yes, we're impressed. But this is only half of the story.
"Carved" into the trunk, branches and roots of the tree are over 300 birds & animals.
Look closely and you'll see how they're entwined with one another.
They're not meant to be to scale; they're artistically designed as part of the tree.
Included are a peacock, a meerkat, a hippo, and a bison.
A lion, an owl, an iguana and a chimpanzee.
It's fun to try to spot and identify as many as possible!
Take your time, walk all around, and take it all in.

One thing is for sure: no photograph I've seen does justice to this tree.
The majesty of it never seems to be captured.
The depth and details of the animals just can't be fully appreciated.
Alas, I've given it a try. Here are a few of my attempts.














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August 10, 2016

Snapshots of Disney World's Magic Kingdom



Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!
For me, there is something magical about it.
Somehow, it's OK to be a kid again. In fact, it's expected.
To think, laugh and act like a kid. No holds barred.
Allowing ourselves to be fully delighted and enchanted.
To be wowed by the beauty and artistry that is the Magic Kingdom.
That transformation in us is where the magic lies.




Balloon vendors offer a festive welcome!



Oh, the charm of Main Street, USA!



Mickey & Minnie are the stars of every Disney parade!



Cousins ready to conquer the Kingdom!



One of the gorgeous mosaics in the pass-through of Cinderella's Castle.






Don Quixote & Sancho battle the windmill at It's a Small World.



A beautiful tile mosaic of Beauty & the Beast in the lobby of
 the Be Our Guest Restaurant...


...and here's that heavenly ceiling of the ballroom, just like in the movie! Sigh.



I always feel extra-patriotic after visiting The Hall of Presidents;
that's especially so during this 2016 election year.



The stately Liberty Belle riverboat.



The tale of Br'er Rabbit comes alive in Splash Mountain!
(More to come on that...)



Here's a portion of the 90' high mosaic in the 
Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary Resort.
It was designed by Mary Blair, who also was art director for It's a Small World.
You can see the similarities in her child-like characters and style.



To Tiki, or not to Tiki?



This visit was the first time I'd tried a Dole Whip.
After one bite, I cried, "Where have you been all my life?"
Ugggh. I've been missing out all these years.



Always a favorite, one of the classics.
The sun sets on another memorable day in Disney World!

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