Sunday, August 14, 2011

3D TV is amazing!

Result! Hubby just drove out to the Comet superstore we got our LG 3D TV from. At the time we negotiated a deal for a package that included an extra 2 pairs of the special 3D glasses - that was last November and as of this morning we were still waiting for them! Just rung to tell me he's now got his hands on one pair and they are going to search 12 stores for a second pair, which is great news. Means we have spares for the future as well as being able to have more than 2 viewing at the same time. I love 3D TV, just ordered the new Pirates of the Caribbean film which is out in September in 3D! I've also got pre-orders on at Amazon for 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader', 'Rio' & 'Ice Age 3D' when they come out in the next couple of months.



Also looking forward to receiving 'Ocean Wonderland' this week, which is a documentary film on coral reefs and gets great reviews for its depth and 'pop-out' 3D effects. Already have 'Legend of the Guardians' & 'Tangled' in 3D, both of which are amazing. I've got my daughter & grandson coming to stay for the bank holiday weekend so really looking forward to us all being able to watch together, as they haven't seen anything in 3D. Can't wait to see my Grandson's face!

Monday, May 02, 2011

New Zazzle sale to Brazil: Friends Forever Dog Art Button

Just sold one of my Dog Art Buttons to a customer in Brazil. These feature my own dogs, Pepsi & Max, a west highland white terrier and a Scottish terrier. This is my third sale in Brazil and this is why Zazzle is so great for getting a world wide audience for one's designs. Now just waiting for a Japanese customer! This design is available on lots of different products like mugs, t-shirts, magnets etc.

Talking of the boys, we've just had them back from the groomers after one of their quarterly clips and they look lovely. But I'm not happy with the job they've done, Pepsi particularly doesn't seem particularly clean and I'd have to say has not been bathed, despite them assuring hubby they would be when he dropped them off. Last time we took them to this groomers we thought Pepsi had been clipped a little too severely, particularly round his neck, and again this time it's happened, only even worse. I also noticed that neither dog was keen on going up the stairs to the grooming salon when we arrived, which is not like them. So I think we can fairly safely say we won't be using this particular groomer again

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Paris Fashion Houses of 1910 Video

This is my latest Vintage Fashion Video for my YouTube channel CHARMAINEZOE. It is a collection of original photographs showing the Salons of eminent designers of the Belle Epoque period in Paris, including Paquin, Worth, Doucet, Callot Sisters etc. There are many shots of the various salons themselves as well as the fashions of the period, but also a large number of behind the scenes shots showing the actual design and construction of the gowns including sewing rooms, cutting rooms, embroiderers rooms etc, which are a wonderful insight into the life of these famous Salons.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Watch the Complete Royal Wedding Ceremony Video


I've spent the entire day watching coverage of the Royal Wedding and it's been one of the nicest days of TV I've seen in a long time. The crowds were huge, having such fun and so good humored, and when we finally got to see William and Katherine they both looked stunning! Kate's dress was really beautiful and very elegant. Her sister Philippa (Pippa) looked stunning in her very elegant sheath dress as well, and she did a great job as Maid of Honour. The little Bridesmaids and Pageboys looked terrific and behaved beautifully.

I thought the ceremony was beautiful and of course the setting of the ancient Westminster Abbey, which is over 1,000 years old was sublime. I spent some time watching the celebrity guests and foreign Royalty arriving and spotted a very handsome looking David Beckham, with Victoria wearing a very pretty little pillbox type hat. Also spotted Elton John and David Furnish looking very dapper.

Here is the complete ceremony for you to enjoy if you missed it.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Having Fractal Fun!

I've been playing around and having some fun with some fractal images I created in Sterling 2 a while back. Below is my original work that I call 'The Chalice', and below that is a neon effect version in stunning scarlet. BTW a detail of the original 'Chalice' is available as a card from 'Kaleidoscope Kreations' my store on Zazzle.com
The Chalice
The Chalice

Happy Easter everyone!

Easter Greetings to all my readers, I hope you enjoy these lovely graphics.

Easter Comments, Graphics for Facebook, MySpace
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Happy Easter gif Pictures, Images and Photos

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Amazing Spring Weather in an English Garden!

Can't get over the amazing weather we're having at the moment, so was wandering around the garden this evening with the camera as everything is about 2 weeks early, and made this slideshow just for the crack!

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I discover some great Travis Banton illustrations

I was trawling through some vintage copies of the Theatre Magazine from the Twenties the other day, when I came across a couple of very nice illustrations. I wondered who they were by as many of these old mags are illustrated by people who, while not famous at the time subsequently achieve fame in later years. The signature was not easy to read but after Googling several variations on what I thought it might be, together with the words 1920’s and artist or illustrator I eventually came up with the possible name of Travis Banton.

On checking the previous months edition of the same magazine I discovered another two, in a slightly different style, but this time unmistakebly signed T. Banton. On confirmation of my discovery I got very excited as I realized just who Travis Banton was, and that these illustrations of 1921 had obviously been done at a very early stage of his career. Travis Banton was to become the chief designer at Paramount Pictures, as well as designing for Twentieth Century Fox and Universal He is considered one of the most important Hollywood costume designers of the 1930s & 40s, and consequently clothed many of the most famous film stars of all time.


He was born in Waco, Texas. And moved to New York City at the age of two. Later on he was educated at Columbia University and at the Art Students League where he studied art and fashion design.

An early apprenticeship with high-society couturier Madame Francis in New York allowed him to make a name for himself when in 1919 Mary Pickford selected one of his designer gowns for her secret marriage to Douglas Fairbanks, after which his reputation was established.


He opened his own dressmaking salon in New York City, and soon was asked to create costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1924, he moved to Hollywood when Paramount contracted with him to create costumes for his first film, 'The Dressmaker From Paris'.

Beginning with Norma Talmadge in "Poppy," Banton designed clothing for Pola Negri and Clara Bow (It) in the 1920s. Florence Vidor, who had seen herself as a plain Jane type, was enchanted with the lavish gowns Banton gave her for 'The Grand Duchess and the Waiter. (1926). In the '30s and '40s he designed for such stars as Kay Francis, Lilyan Tashman, Sylvia Sidney, Gail Patrick, Helen Vinson, and Claudette Colbert. Ultimately, Travis Banton may be best remembered for forging the style of such Hollywood icons as Carole Lombard, Marlene Dietrich, and the inimitable Mae West.


Glamour, understated elegance, and exquisite fabrics endeared Travis Banton to the most celebrated of Hollywood's beauties and made him one of the most sought-after costume designers of his era. As a viewing of such films as The Gilded Lily (1935) and Desire (1936)reveals, his clothes were marked by simple but stylish cuts (often on the bias), rich fabrics (such as satin and lame), and extravagant decoration (beads, fur, and feathers).

When Designer Howard Greer left Paramount, Banton was promoted to Head Designer and was responsible for dressing the studio's most illustrious stars. Because of his alcoholism and reputedly also at the instigation of his subordinate Edith Head, Banton was forced to leave Paramount. He started his own business and also designed for Twentieth Century-Fox from 1939-1941 and Universal from 1945-1948.