The next best thing to attending the 40th Anniversary festivities at the Magic Kingdom on October 1st or attending WDWCelebrations Project XL has to be watching this Martin smith video. All of the day’s special activities are featured, so sit back and enjoy a look back at a very special day in Walt Disney World history:
From Erin Glover the Disney Parks Blog:
When Buena Vista Street opens at Disney California Adventure park next year, guests will be transported back in time to Los Angeles of the 1920s and ‘30s. This trip to the past would not be complete without one of the most beloved symbols of Los Angeles history, the Pacific Electric Red Cars. The Red Car Trolley, making its debut along with the rest of Buena Vista Street, will be inspired by this landmark transportation system.
At its peak in the mid-1920s, the Pacific Electric Railway was the largest electric railway in the world, connecting Los Angeles and the surrounding Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and Riverside counties. Established in 1901, the Pacific Electric Railway carried passengers throughout the Southern California area for the next 60 years.
As you can see in the map above, the Red Car Trolley will carry guests from Buena Vista Street to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and back with “Comfort – Speed – Safety” – not to mention style.
Exterior paint schemes like those detailed above will reflect the various Red Cars that appeared during different periods in the Pacific Electric Railway’s history, while the interior design (seen in the rendering below) employs some of the very design elements featured in the original cars.
For more on the Red Car Trolley and Buena Vista Street, be sure to visit Blue Sky Cellar at Disney California Adventure park – and keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for updates and looks behind the scenes.
 DV: Hi and welcome to Destination Vinylmation. I meet you at the Florida Project when I saw all these people crowded around you looking at the necklace you had on. Before we get into that specifically, let’s talk about you. Who are you and what kinda of artistic background do you have?SB: Well, my name is Shauna Blatherwick. I am originally from New Jersey. I grew coming to Disney almost every year, so when it was finally time to leave the nest, I decided the only other place on earth I would want to live would be right next to Disney World. I grew up in a dance studio, and started taking my first art lessons at age 9. I went onto the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where I studied metalsmithing, glass blowing, jewelry design, fine arts and dance. I majored with a BFA and a concentration in Jewelry design. Since college, I have started my own line of jewelry, which I try to reinvent on a regular basis. |
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| DV: Do you collect Disney Vinylmation? If so, which is your favorite? SB: Yes, I do collect Vinylmation! My favorite Vinylmation so far are the Bakery Series cupcakes. I have a feeling the new Alice set will soon become my new favorite. |
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| DV: Where did you come up with the idea for this necklace? SB: I started making my own 3 inch Vinylmations back in June, and had a blast doing it. Since my background is in jewelry design, it wasn’t too far fetched of an idea to start creating Vinylmations I could wear. DV: Were there any particular challenges with making this? What part was the hardest? DV: Since there are no Design Your Own Jrs, you make your own? |
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| DV: How long does it take? SB: Most of the pieces take me an average of about 2-3 days to complete from beginning to end. Close to 12-15 hours per piece because they are hand molded, then sanded, then hand painted. I paint 2-4 layers of paint, then sand it down, then add another 2-4 layers of paint and re-sand. I keep doing this until I get the look I want. Once I have a good base coat, then I just start to doodle on the piece with paint until I see a design or pattern I like. Once the paint is dry, the crystals are added and the piece is sealed with a glaze. |
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| DV: Have you do any designing with vinylmation other then the Jrs necklaces? If so, which other ones are you favorite? SB: I have designed several 3 inch Vinylmations. All of which I use Swarovski crystals on them. I modeled them after my after line as well. I have also made 2 9 inch vinyls. My favorite so far has to be my newest 3 inch vinyl of Rapunzel. She is not fully completed but is about 95% done. My second favorite is a Scrump Doll (from Lilo and Stitch) which I made over the summer. |
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| DV: If someone would like to know more about your pieces or get one for themselves, where can they go to find out more? SB: I have listed some of my vinyl jewelry on my website. To get a custom piece made you can email me at Glassdezignz at aol.com. If you would like to purchase or see more of my designs that I currently have, you can visit my website at Glassdezignz.etsy.com. My information website is currently being revamped and is down for construction at this time. DV: After a quick look at your site I know exactly why you like the Bakery Series. Lots of awesome food inspired pieces in your line. Thanks for dropping by, and good luck with Vinylmation! |
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Ep. 043 Glass Half Full
This episode is packed with chaser goodness… but we hold that until after the ending for a spoiler free main show. This week we review Park Starz, talk about Villains 2 and look ahead to Park 7. We also break down the nominations for the Dee Vee Awards. And of course, we read your comments and answer your questions in the Mystery Mail Bag.
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Wait, I mean, Win some Villains. The Buzz blog has a contest starting today to win a whole tray of Villains 2 3″ vinylmation. All you have to do is go to this article on the Buzz and fill out a comment with the answers to the following questions…
There are two questions:
1. Which Vinylmation Artist designed the Big Bad Wolf from Villains 2?
2. Which character is the villain in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland?
I hope you enjoy this chance to win a great gift!
(To clarify.. a lot of people have been leaving comments on OUR page as entries. We love your comments everyone, but the contest if thru the official Disney Store blog at the Buzz. So if you missed the link at the top, click here, then fill out the comments there 🙂 Thank you)
Festival of the Masters in the Downtown Disney Area
November 11 – 13, 2011
The 36th Festival of the Masters is a vibrant open-air art festival in the Downtown Disney area. Featuring nearly 150 award-winning artists, discover why this world-renowned show is a much-anticipated annual event for Guests, artists, collectors and art lovers.
Throughout Festival of the Masters, Guests will have the opportunity to meet Disney Artists from Yellow Shoes and Disney Design Group such as Festival of the Masters Signature Artist, Joe Kaminski, Arnel Platon, Will Gay, Bil Shannon, Sharon Michel, Greg Trombo, Darren Wilson, Randy Noble, Costa Alavezos and Don “Ducky” Williams.
Disney Artists from Yellow Shoes and Disney Design Group will be appearing throughout Festival Masters weekend at the following locations:
Art of Disney, Downtown Disney Marketplace
Our flagship store at the Marketplace full of art from the Disney Masters! Artist appearance will be scheduled throughout the weekend.
D Street, Downtown Disney West Side
Custom Vinylmation Showcase and Artist Meet & Greet on the West Side.
Disney Artist Village, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
Visit the Merchandise tent on the West Side where you can purchase Festival Art and meet Festival of the Masters Signature Artist, Joe Kaminski who will be available for signings.
Disney Festival Artist Tent, Downtown Disney West Side
Visit the Merchandise tent on the West Side where you can purchase Festival Merchandise and meet our Signature Art Creator Joe Kaminski who will be available for signings.
Festival of the Masters Signature Artwork
By Yellow Shoes Artist, Joe Kaminski
Laughing Mickey
By Yellow Shoes Artist, Greg Trumbo
Mickey’s Joy Ride
By Yellow Shoes Artist, Will Gay
The Prophecy Fulfilled
By Disney Artist, Don “Ducky” Williams
Doc
By Disney Design Group Artist, Randy Noble
Festival of the Masters 2011 Logo Pin
Just a report on what we’ve gathered about the release of the Villains 2 9″/3″ combo. It was released today in several stores and actually showed up at the Disney Store. We saw them available at about 10 AM online, but as of now the store is sold out. A note: They only seemed to be letting people put one in their carts online.
We were at the store in Orlando today and they had received about 9. But they were quickly sold out, as about 10 people were in line at store open. They were allowed to buy two.
Vinyl79 reported: “Biggest mall in America with brand new store and no 9″ Genie/Jafar available?”
Did you pick one of these up? Which store did you get it at? Let us know…
Park 7 was put out on the shelves a week early at Villains in Vogue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now we have one variant confirmed. A reader sent this picture of a Figment in a yellow spacesuit to Vinylmation Kingdom.
Hello everyone!
Villains 2 Vinylmation were released a few days early today at the Disney Store at South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa, CA in honor of an artist signing event!
I don’t know if you guys know this but, yours truly recently got a job working at the Disney Store in South Coast Plaza (if you are in the area come visit!) I was asked to work this event since I have such extensive Vinylmation knowledge! I obviously said YES! I can’t wait to tell you guys about my day!
I got into work around 9 am and there was a huge line of eager and familiar Vinylmation fans waiting to get their hands on the early release of the Villains 2 blind boxes as well as the LE 9 Inch Combo of Jafar and Genie! Many guests told me they got in line around 7 AM, and actually got to sleep in! (Which we all know is rare with limited releases!) We started ringing customers around 9:30 and got everyone queued up for our event starting at 10:30!
The artists that were on hand at the event today were, Jim Valeri, Gerald Mendez, Enrique Pita and Kyle Jensen! All artists worked on series such as, Villains 1, Villains 2, Robots, and Certain city specific Vinylmation as well as Lion King.
Guests were so excited to meet the artists and get their Vinylmation signed! Sadly around 10:45 we sold out of all Villains 2 Vinylmation, but luckily we had plenty of Lion King and Robots to go around!
The artists seemed to be having such a blast with the fans! I worked line control so I was interacting with each guest before they would enter the signing area! Everyone seemed eager and really excited about the series!
While chatting with guests before the signing began we found out that so far there is, one variant in Villains 2, which is Shere Khan from Jungle Book. The regular Shere Khan has green ears and the variant Shere Khan has flames in his ears! I love this variant. I think that Kyle did an awesome job on these two!
I noticed that Jim took the time to draw little sketches on some guest’s items. On one guests tray he drew Goofy! so on some down time I asked him to draw me something!
I asked him to draw anything he wanted and he chose Tigger! I love it – he is so talented and funny! Thank you for being so great Jim!
After the signing came to an end, Radio Disney who was on hand for the event gave away, one full tray of Vinylmation Villains 2 as well as the LE Jafar & Genie. The lucky winner was a young boy and his brother who were SO excited about the set!
The artists were so excited they even got down on the floor with the winner and helped him open up his blind boxes! How cool is that!
After everyone starting clearing out when the event was over the artists all gathered on the stage to take a photo!
(Okay so I’m obviously not a Vinylmation artist BUT who knows maybe I could point them in the right direction of a Princess set? Just a thought!)
You guys can obviously see that today was a lot of fun and I’m so glad that we had such a great turn out! Fans were excited, the artists were happy and the set turned out AMAZING! Looks even better in person I promise! I can’t wait to go pick some up on Monday October 24th when they are released at the Disney Store!
Don’t forget if you guys couldn’t make it to the event, the Villains 2 series as well as the 9 inch combo will be online starting Monday October 24th!
-Zoe
The normal Shere Khan has green jungle leaves in his ears. This variant is amazing. Shere Khan is on fire. Flames light up his ears and he has an unpleasant look in his eyes.
