Dollism

This International BJD convention established the timing for this trip. One of the highlights of any BJD convention is the photo backdrop area where you can pose your dolls and photograph them in the settings and props provided.

Here Jon and Shayla pose in the woodland setting.

Like in the Sasha Festival there is a costuming contest. BJD costumes tend to be more extreme than Sasha costumes.

Lots of dolls for sale. BJDs are all about customization. Wigs change, eyes change and when you purchase one new you have choices of skin color, body type and if you buy it blank you can have a custom face up… Dollmore was showing these two Alexias. This is exactly the same doll. Different wigs.

Tomorrow Dollism winds up and we’ll be off to the Adirondacks Monday morning.

Tom

Randolph

Many of the small towns locally seem to be holding their own at best. Randolph, for whatever reason, be it enthusiastic local boosters or… seems somewhat prosperous. There is a decaying downtown business block but Bob says that there are presently plans to renovate it when funding becomes available. The little inn we’re staying at is in the old fire house, completely renovated. Being in the heart of Amish country makes it a desirable travel destination.

This  is “Vern’s Place” a restaurant across the street from the inn that serves breakfast and lunch. We had breakfast here every day of our visit.

Randolph Presbyterian Church

In a little downtown pocket park we found this nice mural.

Today concludes our visit here. We’ll be going on to Buffalo which is only 1 1/2 hours from here. The next blog post, or two, will be from Dollism. 

Tom

Barn Quilt Project

A couple of years ago the local tourism board promoted the “Barn Quilt Project” Local businesses were invited to take a 4’x4’ backing board and paint a representation of a quilting square on it. They made up a map showing all the locations where the quilt squares were posted. Carol and I set out to find as many as we could. Many are now gone. Some of the businesses have closed and some of those which remain have removed or repurposed the board. Still, enough remain to make for an interesting hunt.

Tom

Western NY–Amish country

When I lived here there were several Amish families in the area but they have multiplied since. This is beautiful country; rolling hills with farms interspersed with woodland. The trees are just barely beginning to show the colors which will paint these hills orange and red in a very few weeks.

Amish do not use automobiles so horse drawn buggies are commonly seen on the rural roadways.

Neither do they use tractors or self powered equipment of any sort. This is farming the way my grandfather did it back in the 20s.

As it happens we were out on our drive when the schools let out. Note the footwear on these Amish kids.

Tom

Burton, OH

OK, so technically we’re actually in Randolph at this point. Last night we had a very nice supper with my uncle and aunt and two cousins. We’ve not seen them in 4 years, since my dad died, so it was marvelous to see them all again.

Today’s photos were taken Sunday while we were still with Carol’s aunt. Unlike others I’ve posted, these have been run through some of my favorite PhotoShop filters to enhance contrast and saturation. Gives a more dramatic look….

Burton Fire Hall

Congregational Church

Hill Hardware

Hopefully tomorrow some local images….

Tom

Shayla

This trip was planned around Dollism, an Asian BJD conference held in the US for the very first time. The primary sponsors are Mint on Card, a BJD company, Dollheart, a supplier of dolls, clothing, shoes and accessories, and Den of Angels. DoA is the largest online community of BJD collectors. Since we will be attending a BJD convention I brought one of my BJDs along.

Shayla is a Fairyland MiniFee girl. MiniFee is Fairyland’s 1/4 size dolls. 1/4 size dolls are ~17” tall. In this photo Shayla is admiring Horsetail Falls.

The second day we followed US Rt 12 along the Clearwater River. Here Shayla watches the river go by.

Carol’s aunt has an antique love seat with three teddy bears posed on it. I thought I’d take a photo of Shayla with them but Carol and her aunt both thought that I needed a Goldilocls. With a quick change of wigs Shayla could oblige.

Here is a closer shot of Shayla in her new hairdo.

Tom

Day-08-Into Indiana

Well, the good news is that tomorrow we ought to arrive at Carol’s aunt’s house in Ohio. The bad news is that she doesn’t have any sort of wifi or other internet access so while we’re staying with her these updates will be catch as catch can.

In planning each day’s drive drive I use Google Maps directions tool and our GPS unit as well. I have been surprised to find that Google Maps give different options when called on different days. I finally got Google Maps to route me correctly and was then able to translate that to our GPS. Tomorrow we’ll try it again… 

I love old commercial buildings with advertising messages painted on them. This beautiful example was in Chenoa, IL.

This marvelous old Victorian Home is also in Chenoa.

Further along, In Forrest, IN they are renovating the old railroad depot.

This has been a great drive. We’ll be with Carol’s aunt for 4 days and then with my relatives in Western NY. Then on to Buffalo for Dollism…

Tom