Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a famous tourist attraction because of the large population of fireflies that live in caves. Fireflies, or Arachnocampa luminosa - tiny bioluminescent creatures that produce blue and green light live exclusively in New Zealand.
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Anonymous asked:
Hello! I've been a fan of your style for a long time, and totally love seeing all the amazing events and places you get to go on your blog! I'm going to Southern CA in a couple weeks and wondered if you have any suggestions for cute/fun/interesting places to go? I go down there quite a bit, but this is the first time I've gone down for reasons other than Disneyland lol, so not sure what to do! We're staying in long beach on the queen mary, but distance isn't an issue. Thanks for any tips! <3
Aww, thank you for enjoying my style+blog :D
I’m not sure what your budget is or what you’re interested in, so I’m just gonna name everything I can think of haha.
Melrose has quite a few noteworthy stores, depending on what you’re into. Necromance, Japan LA, Monster-a-go-go, Joyrich, Wildstyle LA, Tokidoki, Tarina Tarantino, Vivienne Westwood.
Little Tokyo is nice! SO many different restaurants and snacks!! And lots of cool shops to buy alternative clothing, such as Fairytale Boutique, Q Pop, and KOOLS. There’s quite a few places to buy Japanese make goods, if you’re into that. And anime stores of course haha! There’s some cute stuff at Popkiller too.
Sawtelle Blvd has good stores and restaurants too! Giant Robot and ANAP pop out. But there are other good stores too if you walk around. Big list: http://www.sawtelleblvd.com/
I’ve never been before, but I always hear Venice Beach is a must: http://venicebeach.com/featured/venice-beach-boardwalk/
If you go to Hollywood x Highland, there’s the typical tourist-y things to visit [like the stars on the ground, Chinese Theater, wax museum]. I most def recommend visiting the Disney Soda Fountain if you’re a Disney fan, which it sounds like :) If they’re playing a movie you enjoy, I suggest going to see it too! http://hollywoodandhighland.com/
Buena Park has things to check out too, such as Knott’s Berry Farm [not as epic as Disney, but fun coasters] and Medieval Times [which is cheesy, but awesome haha]. https://www.knotts.com/ and http://www.medievaltimes.com/buenapark.aspx
Universal Studios Hollywood is another theme park! But even if you don’t visit the theme park, the CityWalk has lots of interesting stores to see too [It’s a free, outdoor shopping area]. http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/ and http://www.citywalkhollywood.com/
Well since you go all the time to Disneyland, I’m sure I don’t have to recommend Downtown Disney, do I? :P Although Earl of Sandwich just opened up, and depending on where you live there aren’t too many locations to try them out: http://www.earlofsandwichusa.com/ I super recommend it! Affordable and oh-so delicious.
And here are my random restaurant recs!
Toi on Sunset. Yummy and affordable Thai food, and the interior is just AMAZING! http://www.toirockinthaifood.com/ and http://www.yelp.com/biz/toi-on-sunset-los-angeles
Father’s Office in Santa Monica. I haven’t tried their other location yet, but I’m sure it’s the same maybe? Their burgers are pretty good, but omg this is the place where I fell in love with brusselsprouts, no joke. I’m not sure if they’re in season though.. They’re a bit more pricey, but it’s good quality stuff here! Plus if you’re into booze, they have a biggggg selection. http://www.fathersoffice.com/ and http://www.yelp.com/biz/fathers-office-santa-monica
Holy fuck you gotta try these blueberry donuts at M & M Donuts in Anaheim. Late hours, and you’ll be in a hella long line if you don’t come early enough. But one bite, and you’ll know why. I haven’t tried their other donuts, but I heard they’re just okay. But they make the blueberry ones fresh, and they are amazzzziinnnggg! http://www.yelp.com/biz/m-and-m-donuts-anaheim
Joe’s Italian Ice is near Disneyland too. Hard to find Italian ice besides the East Coast, I hear: http://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-italian-ice-garden-grove
I love Umami Burger! So many yumz. The Anaheim [close to Dland!] and Costa Mesa are the closest to ya: http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/
If you visit Costa Mesa, there’s a couple of stops I tend to make. South Coast Plaza [shopping mall with weird mix of high end and cheap stuff: http://www.southcoastplaza.com/], and down the street is a hipster shopping area called The Lab [http://thelab.com/] and across from that is The Camp [http://thecampsite.com/ One of the Umami Burger locations is here!]. And in between that is Mitsuwa, a Japanese supermarket that also has Japanese beauty goods, great food court, bookstore, and random goods store [http://www.mitsuwa.com/tenpo/cost/eindex.html and http://www.yelp.com/biz/mitsuwa-marketplace-costa-mesa].
Omg if you go to Melrose, you most def have to visit Milk, which is a couple of streets away! AMAZING DESSERTSSS!! Just think with me.. Macaron ice cream sandwiches. Sold, right? Blue velvet cake, so many kinds of shakes and malts.. They have reg food here too, but their desserts are the best! http://www.themilkshop.com/ and http://www.yelp.com/biz/milk-los-angeles-5
I’m not sure what days you’re coming, but I post all upcoming events on Eclectic Cutie’s Facebook info page. Maybe there’s something you might enjoy: https://www.facebook.com/EclecticCutie/info
Also, I’d be down to meet up with you and show you these places if you want! [Depending on my dough situation and schedule though of course x]] Feel free to email me aliendollfromouterspace @ gmail . com to arrange a hang-out or something. Although I understand if you’re too shy haha.
This goes for anybody else visiting too! I love meeting+making new friends :3
I hope that helped! I’m not sure if I’m missing anything.. but at least it’s a start x]
Michele Caragher
Embroidered details in Game of Thrones
‘Michele Carragher is a London-based Hand Embroiderer and Illustrator who has been working in costume on film and television productions for over 15 years. She studied Fashion Design at The London College of Fashion, where the course incorporated design, pattern cutting, garment construction, embroidery, millinery and illustration. At the same time she attended a three year evening course in Saddlery at Cordwainers College learning skills in leatherwork.
After leaving college Michele worked in Textile Conservation, repairing and restoring historical textiles for private collectors and museums, specialising in hand embroidery. She then moved into a career in costume for film and television, initially working as a Costume Assistant/Maker on productions such as the BBC’s Our Mutual Friend, ITV’s David Copperfield and Mansfield Park. She soon gravitated towards the decoration and embellishment of costumes, using skills in hand embroidery and surface decoration, taking inspiration from the many historical textiles she had encountered working as a Textile Conservator.
The first production that saw her undertake the role of a Principal Costume Embroiderer was for HBO’s 2005 Emmy Costume award-winning production of Elizabeth 1. Her most recent work has been on HBO’s 2012 Costume award-winning television series Game of Thrones, working on all three seasons.
As a Costume Embroiderer Michele specialises in hand embroidery and surface embellishment, using traditional hand embroidery techniques, smocking, beading and surface decoration. She works directly onto the completed garment or starts with motifs and textures on silk crepeline/organza, which are applied to the costume and then worked into once on the actual garment. She also works on existing machine embroidery designs that are not too dense, adding some hand stitching and beading to give a more authentic, hand-finished look.
Michele finds hand embroidery has more flexibility and diversity than that of embroidery created by machine, as there is a greater variety of thread choice and colours to use. It is also possible to work more easily on garments that are already constructed. However, machine embroidery in combination with hand work can be very useful when completing many repeats by creating light outlines or a less dense machine stitch, work can then be completed by hand and again can be carried out on a finished garment.
Michele is a highly creative Costume Embroiderer, producing original designs as well as working closely to a costume designer’s brief to create their desired look.’
Text and images from http://www.michelecarragherembroidery.com
