Semi-Anno Steampunk Progress Report

I've been absent from the blog for quite a while; not that anybody will have noticed yet. I understand that it takes a LONG time for a blog to end up on any reading lists... that's okay. Really, I'm using it as a classic web-log for myself in my year-long (or more) immersion in all things Steampunk.

So where have I been and WTH have I been doing? Reading and working. I'm a full-time seller on eBay, work consists of shopping, listing & shipping. I like what I do but it's a giant time suck.

Were does Steampunk fit into that? I LOVE Victorian & Edwardian clothing and am thrilled when I find it. I don't get to keep it but savor it until it sells. I'll post a photo of the 1850s Victorian dress I sold in June when I get a chance.

I attended GearCon in Portland in July. That was fun even though I felt so under-dressed in street clothes. I've got to get started on my wardrobe before the next Con. Oh yeah, Abney Park was AWESOME!!

The other thing is this... I used to be an avid reader and missed it. Starting this past January, I started reading steampunk lit- classics & new stuff. Here's what I've read so far-

• Morlock Nights & Infernal Devices- both by K. W. Jeter
• Whitechapel Gods- S. M. Peters
• Court of the Air- Stephen Hunt
• Anno Dracula- Kim Newman
• The Difference Engine- William Gibson & Bruce Sterling
• Dreadnaught- Cherie Priest

I'm in the middle of reading Anubis Gates by Tim Powers- really enjoying the book! What's next on my list? I picked up 2 of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series last week at a garage sale so they'll probably be next. But I think I'm going to take a jump back in time and read The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

And if there's anybody out there, I'd appreciate your recommendations.

Steampunk Victorian Silk Top Hat- Collapsible With Carry Case

This is one of my favorite steampunk finds lately- a Victorian silk top hat with a flat hatbox... cause the hat is collapsible! In very good condition,I think it's from around the end of the Victorian era, late 1890s or 1900.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit me or I'd keep it for myself. I measured carefully around the inside of the hat, it has a 21 1/2" circumference. According to a chart I found, that puts it between sizes 6 3/4 and 6 7/8 US. I have it listed in my eBay store right now. Gotta figure out the link thing, but my selling ID is Retromonde.

It's Friday- off to search for treasures. You never know what you'll find if you keep your eyes open, right? Back again- found a nice Edwardian slip and embroidered apron that need a good soak. I'll do that, with before and after pictures, in a few days.

Not-Quite Steampunk Crocheted Mask

This past week I've been busy working on my online store (on eBay), and  reading "Infernal Devices", ignoring my promise to provide a mask for my sister to wear to the Vampire Ball in Portland this coming weekend. I, as usual, let time get away from me, and realized that "OMG, I've got less than a week to finish the crocheted mask!!" I'm almost finished, then I have a wrist band to make for her. Now that I've made the mask, I might want the band to match it in some vague way. I'm not sure yet but will work on it later tonight and see where I end up.

As an avid DIY'er, I volunteered to make her mask, thinking there would be tons of instructions available online. Wrong! I bought a e-pattern, then realized that while it was not-beyond my skills, it was too bothersome to learn the new technique they used for a basic stitch. That's when I decided to design my own mask.

Here's where I am so far. After I get the "bugs" worked out, I'll write up instructions and share them here. It's not overtly Steampunk but I just now saw a new possibility...  I'll experiment with that later.

Aft

Anno Steampunk Bits & Pieces

My posts have been spotty at best, but I'm still continuing my year of steampunk immersion. I've been reading "Whitechapel Gods" by S. M. Peters, and am having a difficult time getting into it; it being very dense. Or maybe I'm the dense one... no matter. I'll give it a couple more chapters tonight. Perhaps that's my problem... reading it in bed, Maybe being tired and less alert is making the story's setting & situation more obscure to me. I'll bring the book to the breakfast table and see if that makes a difference. If not, I'll return the book to my niece and try it again later.

Confession- I already downloaded the e-book "Infernal Devices" by K. W. Jeeter. I read the sample and am already hooked. Did I mention how much I'm enjoying reading books on my phone? Never thought I'd say that!

Other spare time has been spent exploring my wardrobe possibilities, especially vests. Why vests are considered Steampunk attire for women isn't clear to me; as a rule Victorian ladies didn't wearing them. Maybe I'm wrong and will look at my ladies magazine collection from the era. But I LOVE vests and have a long history (decades, ok?) of making velvet & satin crazy quilt vest fronts with hand-stitched embellishments. I've been collecting silk ties to create a special vest for myself, though I already have more than enough fabric already stashed for my needs. 

Here's a picture of the Victorian skirt and jacket with a Steampunk vibe that I picked up while shopping for inventory for my eBay store, "RetroMonde". The outfit fits my mannequin like a modern size 8. Unfortunately, the silk is disintegrating, or "shattering" which is the proper way to describe the damage. When I'm finished admiring it, I'll sell it in my eBay store as a study piece. It would be great to use for drafting a pattern; I should do that myself. Hmmm.... another project.

"Around The World In 80 Days" - in 4 days

Well, I finished reading the Jules Verne book, "Around The World In 80 Days" today, and LOVED it! Maybe it's not technically a steampunk book, but it's by Verne and set in the Victorian era; that's close enough. I was pleasantly surprised about how good the book was because I was rather lukewarm on Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," which is supposed to be a pillar of the steampunk trope. To each his/her own, I guess.

I'm not going to give a synopsis of the plot here- most people have a general idea what it's about. The plot moved along at a fast clip, just like Fogg en route to San Francisco from Japan. He wrote lots of geographical description but it didn't go over-long or over my head (like Verne's descriptions of the undersea wonders in 20,000 Leagues did). I do wish he'd developed his main characters more, even just a bit. Fogg is a stereotypical Victorian British gentleman but we know nothing about him. Passepartout (his valet) is colorful & fun. Aouda (the lead female) is a blank canvas that wanted developing. But that's typical of reading Victorian novels with a 21st century sensibility.

I read it as an e-book on my iPhone. That's a very convenient way to read books from another era; no need for an annotated copy of the book when the internet is at my fingertips. Now I want to find a copy of the film on DVD or VHS so I can see where Phineas Fogg & company used the hot air balloon they depict in the movie ad; it's the one mode of transportation they didn't use in the book.

Next on my Steampunk reading list? I'm undecided; not sure whether I'm going to stay with 19th century writers or read a modern author. I was thinking about buying "Infernal Devices" as an e-book, but "Morlock Nights" was absolutely rotten with typos... it was a very distracting and distressing read for an amateur editor. I'll have to think about it.

Wells & Verne... Neo-Victorian Bliss

Saturday is my day to wander... usually going to estate & garage sales, etc. in search of product to sell. My sister Leslie is my usual sidekick, which is great. In fact, we've been doing the estate sales route off & on for 30+ years! Good times. So when we finished working we got to play.

We're both infatuated with steampunk... books, films & especially the style. So we were super excited to discover a store in Portland's Sellwood area that sells Steampunk & Gothic clothing & accessories. Named Wells & Verne, we found it at the south end of  SE 13th Avenue, south of Tacoma St. (It's right next door to a crazy antique store replete with taxidermy specimens and the biggest crystal chandelier I've ever seen. Dead animals on the wall are not my cuppa, but whatever.) But back to W & V.

They have a nice selection of clothing that walks the fine line between Goth & Victorian-style... perfect for Steampunk. Hats, jewelry- lots of things I'd love to own, all priced very reasonably. But what I really wanted was one of the sidearms... glorious faux weapons made of repurposed bits & pieces. Once I put together a wardrobe maybe I'll indulge.

I didn't leave empty handed and neither did Les. She picked up her ticket to the Vampire Ball since they were selling them. And I bought myself a pair of earrings- a large gear with a propeller that twirls. I'm really looking forward to going back, and highly recommend the store to others in the Portland area.   

Just finished The Time Machine

Well, I've had a mild case of the flu for several days. Since I feel lousy, I've been reading and missed "steampunk Sunday". I'll make up for it later this week, or next weekend for sure.

My last post said what my reading plans were, but I changed my mind. Instead I downloaded and read H.G. Wells', The Time Machine. It wasn't at all what I expected but I really liked it. The notion of time travel must have been a real stretch of the imagination for the Victorian readers. Really, I can hardly grasp the concept either. Oh well- my next book, naturally, is Morlock Night.

Oh yeah- guess I need to dust off my html skills or all my paragraphs run together into one large blob. Oops!