When real things happen to imaginary people

Remember the velvet military-style jacket from Newport News from a few years ago* that almost everyone had? Black velvet, princess seamed, lots of silver buttons? Yeah, guess what I'm idly looking for on eBay. Not that I'm going to buy it if I find one in my size, because I don't NEED it, and because the Infamous BlueJay is making me something very similar in wool, anyway. But yeah, that's what I'm currently browsing for.

A random aside/observation: clothing that is vaguely Victorian-looking, worn with a hat? Will cause people to ask you if you're "one of those steampunk types?". DEAR STEAMPUNK, THE NEO-ROMANTIC VICTORIAN GOTHS WANT OUR LONG SKIRTS, FROCK COATS, JABOTS, AND TOP HATS BACK, THANKS. But I'm consoling myself with the notion that the steampunk peeps probably get asked if they're Christmas carolers, too.


*Okay, I guess "a few years ago" is closer to five or more years ago. The passage of time once again freaks me out.

What I wore:



Yes, I recently made a bat chiffon overskirt. The back panel of the skirt is covered with tiers of bat chiffon ruffles.

What I blew all my spending money on (spending money that was not set aside for the tattoo!):



A necklace made by Professor Maelstromme! (clicky-link!) Antique lace, a hand-painted image, and an antique straight razor. I've wanted something from Professor Maelstromme for AGES, and was delighted to finally meet her in the Steamcon vendors' room.

Alas, there is no trip to Steamcon for me today: the past week was ridiculously busy, and I am still not very good at pacing myself. The Lyme disease and gift-with-purchase maladies have made it clear that I am STAYING HOME today. Ugh. But I had fun on Friday and Saturday!

The correct answer, of course, is that you are going to the University Bookstore at 7pm for the signing party for the Steampunk Bible! Libby Bulloff, Cherie Priest, and Jay Lake will be there, being fabulous. You really want to go. Trust me.

Tonight I am a guest on Altered Realities Radio! 10:30PM EST (which is 7:30 for us West Coast types). www.alteredrealitiesradio.com


Tomorrow I will be vending at the Steampunk Swapmeet! Clothes, boots, bags, and the exciting and mysterious Surprise Bags! C'mon by!

September 18th
Noon – 6:00 PM
All Pilgrim’s Church
500 Broadway (lower level)
Seattle, WA

The Seattle Steampunk Swapmeet is happening on September 18th, noon to 6PM.

At All Pilgrims Christian Church
500 Broadway East (lower level)

Guess what? I'm going to have a table there. Yes, a local version of the Closet Culling Sale! Plus I'll be selling mystery grab-bags of crafting goodies. So mark your calendars and show up!

So it seems that Tuesdays are going to be the days where I feel very very tired. Send tea, cupcakes, and pretty boys in eyeliner.

I did not get any writing done last night. No, instead I went to the release for the sepiachord companion CD at the Seattle Steamvent meet-up. (I don't really consider myself steampunk, but I have friends who are, and a lot of "steampunk" clothing works for my wardrobe once you change the color scheme. Brown, ugh.)

Anyhoodle, yes, Sepiachord companion CD! The Sepiachord crew are all people I am terribly fond of (and don't get to spend nearly enough time with), and I am very excited about the first compilation CD they've put together.

Writing after going out didn't happen because the Infamous BlueJay came over for a bit of socializing. She handed me a stripy blazer (yay!) and a buttonhole machine for my vintage Elna sewing machine. Which she taught me how to use. Now the mysteries of well-made buttonholes are mine, mine! Muah-ha-hah-ha! The Infamous BlueJay also has stated that she is going to teach me how to make waistcoats and jacket-y things, because my fear of sewing princess seams is just silly. I raise a dubious eyebrow at this, but am willing to give it a try.

I am particularly amused by my outfit today. From the waist up, it is very similar to what my avatar in Rock Band is wearing; she's wearing a black blouse with pink tie, but otherwise the same. However, she wears much shorter skirts than me. I have not worn a mid-thigh length mini skirt since I was about 22, and rather Deathrock-ish.

In conclusion, again: send tea, cupcakes, and pretty boys in eyeliner. I need to wake up.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Today, in addition to stuff like oh, job hunting (and making food and doing laundry), I need to write the first draft of the next installment of my story for Steampunk Tales, and finish writing up my clothing sale document. Which means I need to make my damn mind up about if I'm letting one particular jacket go. It's heavily customized, not just in terms of tailoring (I cropped it to make it waist-length), but also in terms of decoration: I gave it stripy buttons, a stripy heart appliqued to one sleeve, and I modified the lapels. Note To Self: try on the jacket, get The Husband's opinion about selling it.

IF I get enough writing done today, I am going to reward myself with writing an LJ post about comfort food and comfort books. It's been rattling around my head for a few days, partially spurred by the fact that I have a huge, enticing stack of new books to be read, but I keep finding myself picking up old favorites that I've read a bazillion times.

Clicky-links of coveting! My friend requieminblack is a talented designer, and has been making all sorts of pretty pretty things for her Etsy store. If I had the spending money, I would be hitting the shiny Add To Cart button for the black on black striped shrug, and talking to her about getting a Dia de los Muertos bolero made in my size. (clicky-links you should go look at!) In my fantasy closet, I would wear the Dia de los Muertos bolero with a black lace blouse, a black underbust corset, a knee-length black ruffly skirt (perhaps with bustle-y details), b&w stripy tights, and those Dr. Marten "Skelly" boots that I covet. Yes, I like clothing with skeletal details, why do you ask?

Okay. Must go sort laundry, then start writing the next installment of the steampunk story. Must stop window-shopping.

Tonight I am attending the Clockwork Heart event!

(a benefit for the Sepiachord Comp)

Featuring performances by:
Nathaniel Johnstone
(from Abney Park)
Toy-Box Trio
Blackbird Orchestra

2/13 9PM SHARP!
Jules Maes Saloon
5919 Airport Way South, in Georgetown (seattle)
21+
$5 in finery or costume, $7 if not

Cohosts for this event:
Sepiachord
Steam Con
Unhallowed Metropolis
Morbid Anatomy

I hope to see some of you there tonight. Now I just have to finish deciding on what outfit I'm wearing ...

Today is the last day of working from home for this week. The extra sleep has been lovely. The being able to spend time with the Stroppy One and the kitties has been wonderful. In other words, going back to normal office hours next week is going to be a rude shock.

There are times when I realize I am waaaaay too susceptible for my own good. After looking at some posts on steamfashion, I am filled with longing for a ray gun.

No, a ray gun wouldn't go with my preferred aesthetic. Really, I know that. And yes, I know that a black and pink ray gun would look silly, and not in a fun, brimful of whimsy sort of way.

But but but! Ray guns! (Clicky link goes to the Weta Workshops infomercial for their line of Infallible Aether Oscillators.)