Steampunkerie

Disney goes Steampunk thanks to MecaniqueFairy

2011-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

Deviant Art Artist MecaniqueFairy has created these fun steamy reworkings of Disney characters:

You know who's steampunk now? Justin Bieber.

2011-12-11T15:21:00.001-08:00

"Noooo! BLASPHEMY!!" I hear you cry.

Well, sometimes seeing is believing. Click with trepidation, cogsters.

Oh, the horror. Of course the "steampunk" is purely in the set dressing and costumes. The music is an unimaginative rendering of a tired old carol.

Just glue some gears on it, and call it Steampunk!

2011-12-07T02:30:00.001-08:00

Fellow Viators, let me dazzle your eyes and ears with this delightful piece of song and dance titled "Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk)" by Sir Reginald Pikedevant, Esquire.

Bravo, bravo, bravo!

I say good day to you, Sir. Good Day!

2011-09-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Its glory flashed before my eyes, and i hesitated. I hesitated and it was gone ....

"what, pray tell?" you ask...

behold:The Big Daddy Nerf mod

as a passionate enthusiast of the foamed-petrochemical polymer dart throwers, so beloved of costumers and cavaliers alike, I am frequently dismayed at my lack of -real- talent at cosmetic modding, but am always happy to support those who are. (Functional modding, I feel myself capable of, however).

When this aforementioned Etsy item was mentioned on Giz i hesitated in purchasing, only because of some recent financial ... excesses ... on my part.

Kudos to the Maker, and also, the intrepid purchaser.

Your own lifesize Steampunk Playset for 800K?

2011-07-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

Above is a picture of the town of Scenic, in South Dakota, and it's for sale.. there's a train depot, two jails, a museum, a dancehall, saloon and a bunkhouse..

It's 46 acres in total -- 12 acres in town and 34 acres around it -- located about 50 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota.

The property is posted on buyscenicsd.com, which offers video tours of various locations. Cow skulls adorn the sign for the Longhorn Saloon, which advertises tobacco, lunch and dancing -- in that order.

Since its heyday, Scenic has seen its population dwindle to less than 10 people. Nearly everyone in town is related to Twila Merril, Olsen said.

Since Merill was diagnosed with cancer, the upkeep on Scenic has become too much for the family, he said.

"It's really an interesting place and there's so much history," Olsen said about the town. "All it needs is a little population -- and ingenuity."

So.. what would you do if you owned Scenic, South Dakota?

Lovely Uniform from 1918

2011-07-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this spectacular woman from 1918..

She's Mrs Leola N. King, who was Washington DC's first female traffic cop. Her uniform is just spectacular, right down to the boots, and I wish it was hanging in my wardrobe right now. Click to enbiggen!

From the paper of the day:

First of Women Traffic Officers

Mrs. L.N. King Takes up Duty at Seventh and K St. N.W.

Mrs. Leola N. King, wife of Capt. E. H. King, United States medical corps, became Washington's first woman traffic officer yesterday, and assumed her duties at the corner of Seventh and K streets northwest. Washington is the first city in the United states to have a woman traffic officer. There are many policewomen in the District, but most of them are employed to look after the welfare of children and young girls.

Not only is Mrs. King the first woman traffic officer, but she is also the first woman to be assigned to a precinct. Yesterday morning she was transferred from police headquarters to Capt. Flather, of the first precinct. Maj. Pullman says that Mrs. King has been placed on the traffic squad as an experiment. The superintendent wants to determine whether it is feasible to have women to replace several male members of the force who have entered the military service.

Needs more Tesla's!

2011-07-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen and other Mad Scientists of alternate salutations, behold the newest and greatest of electromagnetic creations, a magnet so powerful that it requires a containment vessel lest it explode with raw etheric fury!

BEHOLD!

with thanks to the Gizmodo crew

The Three Musketeers goes Steampunk?

2011-06-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

This is interesting.. looks like the latest incarnation of "The Three Musketeers" has gone decidedly steamy..

Look!! Airships!! Looks like it will be a fun romp, historical accuracy be damned! May well be worth seeing for Orlando Bloom's hairdo alone. We shall see..

Alexander McQueen - Unintentional Steam?

2011-06-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

The latest "resort" collection from the late great Alexander McQueen's fashion house looks decidedly steamy to me:

The Edwardian lines, the brass embellishments, the thick buckle-corset-belts.. what's not to like?

Have a look at the rest of the collection here, the leather dresses are to die for.

Of course this is well out of the budget of most people, and even if I did have the cash these sorts of establishments do not cater to someone of my generous stature.. but a girl can dream!

I am very much looking forward to these design elements filtering down to the cheaper stores.

One thing I really want to know is.. what sort of resort would these outfits be suitable "resort wear" for? Gorgeous as they are I can't exactly see someone lounging by the pool in these getups.. what do you think?

Steampunk Sounds: Byronic Twist

2011-05-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

Emergent artist Sasha Cuha, aka "ByronicTwist" brings us his bohemian music and spoken word based debut album, "Past the Sparrow Flight Hour". An animated taste here:

This sumptuous and decadent soundscape is just the perfect thing for one's darker moods, the poetry is contemplative and rich in imagery and the music is a lovely accompaniment. While lounging beside your absinthe fountain or nestled up with your favourite companion and poetry volume you could scarce have a better acoustic accompaniment.

In addition to writing all the poetry, all the instruments on the album are played by the same extraordinarily talented neovictorian gentlemen.

The album is being released by the artist though reverbnation and is available here: http://www.reverbnation.com/store/view_item_album/artist_1020584?item_id=831602

If you are looking for something original and different that speaks to your bohemian soul, you're definitely going to want to give this a listen.

Designer to Watch: Eymmeric Francois

2011-04-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Not exactly steampunk, but there is loads of inspiration here. I could see a lot of these elements being incorporated into a spectacular steampunk outfit. Go to his website for even more amazingness.

Stunning A/W 2011 collection by Eymmeric Francois.

Steampunk story on BBC America World News

2011-03-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

A lovely little piece about steampunk for the American BBC World News..

STEAMPUNKS 2011 from Andy Gallacher on Vimeo.

Melbourne: Circus Oz - SteamPowered! Sat 2nd July

2011-03-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

Circus Oz is going steampunk this June/July with their new shoe "Steam Powered"

Come along in your finest Steampunk attire and step into a time where romance meets technology and everything is hand-made and steam-powered. It’s a time for restoring wonder, for reclaiming technology, re-imagining our modern world and rewiring your wit. Come dressed as the Aviator, the Mechanic, the Inventor, the Mad Musician, Victoriana’s Strongest Woman or a little of all of them mixed together. Bring along your bright shiny gadgets and get ready to let off some STEAM!

For this show only we have 25% off Adults A reserve tickets from March 21 – April 21 when booking with code word GADGETS at ticketmaster.com.au or 131600

FB event details for the special discount here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202682669759746&ref=nf

In added goodness the night they've selected for our special night (Sat 2nd July) is also one of their Auslan shows.

The Conservatory - Friday 25th March @ Abode

2011-03-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

Ladies, Gentlemen and Androgynies… ABODE Level One will once again open its doors to all those of Steampunk affiliation and their associates.

These sumptuous surrounds will continue to play host to The Conservatory where we look forward to another evening of conversation and congeniality. Lounge and converse or engage in more vigorous pursuits as enticing music flows through the room. Your ears will again delight to the Phonon works of Phonographers… Omega and Josh.

Last month we were indulged with impromptu polka lessons, live sketching and an outbreak of deductive alchemy as our patrons tried to divine the principal ingredients of the mysterious and delicious "Tesla" cocktail, dicing, duelling with much frivolity... who can say what's in store this month, but one thing is certain - in order to experience such delights one must attend!

Adorn yourself in your Steampunk finery and grace our space… cross the threshold before the midnight hour and receive a complimentary $8 drink card for your personal liquefied indulgence.

Décor & Lighting by:
Tracy G

Produced by:
BluAfterGlow & Steampunkerie

Hosted by:
ABODE

Open:
10pm – 3am (4am if we’re all still indulging)

Entry:
$20 (entry before 12midnight includes a drink card up to the value of $8)

Dress:
Steampunk – Period – Alternative – Eccentric etc…
(minimum neat smart/dressy - strictly NO blue denim or casual wear)

We invite all invokers/creators of visual stimulation to participate.
If you wish to display/perform a visual installation, feel free to contact us to discuss the mechanics… talent@BluAfterGlow.com

NOTE:
ABODE is a kink-friendly and queer-friendly venue, so you too should feel comfortable at this event.

ABODE Level One is a private Members Club. Please remember that we have been invited to share the space and we are primarily guests in their home.

For those shackled to the Tome of Visages, the event listing is here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=195330347156045&ref=ts

Shaun Tan's "The Lost Thing"..

2011-03-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

So it's not really, strictly speaking, steampunk... but it does have cogs. and tentacles. and steam. and it is delightful.

And it was made right here in Melbourne by the extremely talented Shaun Tan, and it won an Oscar.

So, watch, and enjoy...

"The Lost Thing" by Shaun Tan from kareandr on Vimeo.

Inception.. Steampunk Style..

2011-03-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Here's "Inception" reimagined as a victorian woodcut animation... niice..

Are you a 'civilized' person, suited to the Victorian period?

2011-03-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a bit of fun from the McCord Museum of Canadian History in Quebec,

It's a role-playing game in which you're invited to choose suitable outfits and behaviour for various social occasions. I was doing very well indeed... right up untill I mistook a fancy-dress costume for a travelling coat. Despite this mistake the quiz pronounced me "very polite indeed!". Find it here: http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/keys/games/17

While you're there, enjoy their extensive image gallery and get some great outfit ideas, and if you're feeling generous, make a small donation as well..

Eros in the Age of Steam!

2011-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

We have had the good fortune of being in communication with the VERY fine Organiser of the Pleasure Salon Melbourne
who in her wisdom felt that we, and you, good reader, needed to know about a recent publication dealing with the very slap and tickle of what went on "behind the curtains" for our Victorian forbearers, well, now is the time to take a peak!

Victorian Eroticism

Friday 25th Feburary - The Conservatory

2011-02-04T02:32:00.000-08:00

BluAfterGlow and Steampunkerie are pleased to present Melbourne's only regular steampunk nightclub, "The Conservatory". Join us for a night of conversation, shenanigans and revelry as we take over the neo-victorian library lounge of ABODE's first level. Dress to impress in your steampunk finery and connect with your steampunk community! Relax and socialise in the lounge area or dance the night away on our dancefloor. Enjoy our "Tesla" cocktail or other imbibements with a complimentary $8 drink card if you arrive before the midnight hour. ABODE is a kink-friendly and queer-friendly venue, so you should be too to feel comfortable at this event.

More details can be found at www.BluAfterGlow.com

Steampunk World Fair - San Francisco

2011-02-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Here's 6 or so minutes of awesome from the Edwardian World Fair held recently in San Francisco.. fantastic outfits and looks like everyone had a great time.. reminds me of Euchronia!

Steampunk @ Sinthethic this Saturday Night..

2010-11-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

For the first time Omega is bringing some Steampunk Stylings to one of Melbourne's best alternative clubs, Sinthetic. Come along in your finery for a walk on the dark side..

http://www.bluafterglow.com/happenings_full.asp?happeningsID=1169

Take a ThirdView on the past.

2010-09-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

I came across this delightful collection of time traveling images and felt it simply must be shared with all our viewers.

The lovely people at ThirdView have taken photographs of the American "Wild West" and with meticulous research, attention to detail, and record keeping have been able to photograph the same vistas, from the same locations, same seasonal periods and conditions, in order to give us a timeline of the landscape.

See the changes to the environment, the coming and going of the tides of humanity and the effects that each have on the other. The photos are from the 1870's, the 1970's and around 2000.

Perhaps there is something in this for us all, retrograde photography projects, with some fancy PhotoShoppe jiggery-pokery you could blend sepia-tones with HD colour imagrey, of yourself standing beside "yourself" in regalia.

Just don't murder your own youthful-proto-grandparents ...

Do you consider Steampunk a strict fashion/lifestyle or are you pleased to see it blended with other fashions to create something new (not in the Regretsy 'stick clock gears to baseball hats', more along the lines of steampunk lolitas etc)?

2010-09-08T18:55:00.001-07:00

I think one of the best things about Steampunk is the fact that is ISN'T a "strict lifestyle". I have my opinions about what is, and isn't steampunk along with everyone else - but the whole point of it is self-expression and creativity.

Steampunk Lolita would seem a pretty obvious iteration - the EGL look has always had roots in victorianesque fashion, same as steampunk, so this hardly seems like a big leap to me.

It's when you look at things that have now become really common tropes in steampunk fashion, you realise just how versatile the genre is. I mean really, what is "steampunk" about Star Wars? And yet "steampunk starwars" has almost become a cliche, it's seen so often....

There's definitely a place for creativity and innovation - go too far and you'll wind up with something that none of your peers think is steampunk.... but I would always favour someone giving it a go, rather than someone trying to turn our emergent subculture into a "strict fashion or lifestyle".

Ask me anything

Flickr's Treasure Trove

2010-08-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

Flickr is a great place to see some really magnificent steampunk event posters and other artworks. Here's just a taste:

Cirque Acirca’s Priestess by ettadiem

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Dr. Engelberts Von Hoebanger’s Cynical Love Machine by philipharpr

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Business Card by Otto the Confused

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Cirque Acirca’s Siamese by ettadiem

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Commission for SolArk Publishing by Peter Bowen

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Der Dampfmensch by DoubleM2

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Gala Poster by BethMOlson

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Le Limonaire by Aurelian Police

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Poor Belgium by Otto the Confused

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Retrofuturistic Poster by House of Secrets Incorporated

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Retrofuturistic New Orleans by House of Secrets Incorporated

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Steampunk Art by Catherinette Rings Steampunk

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Steampunk Bass by pompadorian27

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Steampunk Bizarre by Doctor Grymm

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The Hands of Progress by Nathaniel Hebert

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The Sun by Nathaniel Hebert

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Vagabond Opera by Placebo #4

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Virade Cultural by Conselho SteamPunk

taptaptap Is this thing on??! Feedback Competition!

2010-08-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

Hello there!

We get a lot of people reading our blog, which is lovely.. but no one ever comments! While it's easy to rest on our laurels, assured that "no news is good news", we'd really rather hear from you..

Here's some of the things we'd love to know...

What would you like to see on this blog, that you aren't already?
Do you prefer content from Australia, or do you like seeing interesting things from all over the place?
What do you like best - news about events (even if they're far away? only if they're not far away?) Shiny things? Art? Music? Movies?
Who do you think we should ask to be a guest author, or interview?
What do you think we should feature that you haven't already seen here?
What else would you like to tell us?

To encourage you lovely lot to speak up, I'm even prepared to offer a prize! That's right, one lucky commenter each month from now on will get a prize from the Steampunkerie team. This month it's a set of soaps from Steampunkerie Soapworks..

Let's hear from you!

Regretsy - (You Shouldn't Have) D-I-Y

2010-08-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Of course D-I-Y is a big part of steampunk ,unfortunately some people instead create items of (YSH)D-I-Y - You Shouldn't Have Done It Yourself... the result is things that are Not Remotely Steampunk:
Some of the best (or should we say worst) examples of this are shown off at "Regretsy" under their "Not Remotely Steampunk" tag. Faced with these hilarious mishaps of design, there is nothing left to do but bask in the Schadenfreude..

It's pretty clear most of this stuff isn't being made by people who are part of the steampunk community. Rather, it's just people whacking on a "steampunk" tag to get some extra traffic to their listing. Let such imposters face the slings, arrows and snark of the steampunks, I say!

Lady Clankington's Cabinet of Carnal Curiosities

2010-08-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Well now, weary travelers, do I have a treat for you.
Fresh from the flesh-pots and workshops of Harrisburg, PA Lady Clankington brings us her range of ... very exciting and entertaining devices inspired by the Silver Age of science-fiction. Step aside Eroscillator, back off Orgasmatron, for cutting edge Steampunk design in your bed-chamber, have a look at at what's coming from this delightful Lady's workshops.
I'm giving serious consideration to my next purchases ... I already have a holster ... now I just need an event and a test subject ... oh look ... Her ladyship ... Catch you all later ...

Steamy Headphones

2010-08-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

Yet another piece of evidence to demonstrate that Steampunk is **SO IN RIGHT NOW** .... Skullcandy have always done cool and funky headphones, but their latest edition will be of particular interest to steampunks.

www.skullcandy.com/shop/ti-brown-gold.ht

www.skullcandy.com/shop/holua-gold.html
www.skullcandy.com/shop/holua-silver.htm

Movie to Watch: Sucker Punch

2010-07-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Showing an unusual level of insight into their audience, Warner Bros decided to preview their new movie Sucker Punch at Comic-Con..

The plot reads like a game story arc rather than a movie - Set in the 1950's, Sucker Punch follows Baby Doll (Emily Browning) who is confined to a mental institution by her stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternative reality to hide her from the pain, and begins planning her escape, needing to steal five objects to help get her out before she is deflowered by a vile man.

Sucker Punch stars Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn and Oscar Isaac.

The trailer certainly does look interesting:

Watch the first official trailer for Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch:

You can also watch the first Sucker Punch footage/trailer in High Definition on Apple

Warner Brothers is bringing Sucker Punch to theaters on March 25th, 2011 next year. Thoughts?

Steampunk Disney Princessess

2010-07-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Deviantart user HelleeTitch has created this fun Steampunk take on the Disney Princesses:

According to her she'd never heard of the Steampunk genre before making this picture, I'd say she's a pretty fast learner.. the princesses never looked better!

Steampunk Monopoly Board

2010-07-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun mod from Instructables, a Steampunk Monopoly Board:

The level of detail that's gone into this is really amazing:

I'm sure these lights are powered by steam...

Check out Instructables for the step-by-step on how to make one yourself!

Heartless - The Story of the Tin Man

2010-07-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent short film by Brandon McCormick. Based on the backstory of one of the most beloved childrenʼs novels of all time comes the extraordinary love story between a simple woodsman and a beautiful maiden. Not having many possessions but wanting to marry his maiden, the woodsman sets his heart to build a large and beautiful cabin.

L. Frank Baum wrote the back story to the Tin Woodsman in his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man is Whitestone Motion Pictures retelling this little known story of the tragic arc of a beloved character who was once human, made of flesh and blood that turned into tin.

Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

Steampunkerie on the Radio..

2010-07-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

For those who missed it, I recently did an "Introduction to Steampunk" on Joy FM here in Melbourne and I have just managed to get my hands on the recording..

It's a huge file (110MG) so you can either stream it or download it..

Streaming here:

Go To FileFactory.com

Download link here: http://www.filefactory.com/file/b27fea3/n/Dj_Omega_with_Steampunkerie_on_Joy_FM.mp3

My playlist (more or less) was the following:

Coin-Operated Boy The Dresden Dolls

Stand and Deliver Adam Ant

Whore The Tiger Lillies

Ball Craig Armstrong from Plunkett & McLeane

Boogeyman Johnny Hollow

Digging Deep Jakalope

Transylvanian Concubine [The Marilyn Manson Mix] Rasputina

Winky In C Minor. Inspector Gadget Doctor Steel

Back and Forth Doctor Steel

The Industrial Revolution (and how it ruined my life) Voltaire

Empty Era Nocturna

Stigmata Martyr Abney Park

The Art of Suicide Emilie Autumn

The Lady Of The House The Tenth Stage

Sleep Isabella Abney Park

Mr. Soot's Black Book • Unextraordinary Gentlemen •

Behold the Machine Vernian Process

GOGGLES The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing

The Doctors Wife The Clockwork Quartet

More fun with Dry Ice

2010-06-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

When you are finished in the Lab or foundry after a hard days splicing and crafting, one hardly wants to spend more arduous time at your salt-and-ice chilled hand cranked ice-cream maker.

Especially if you have a little one, be they strapped to you or not. What you want is to be able to end your labours with a flourish, with SCIENCE!

And so, gentle readers, I give to you:
"Instant" Cryogenic Dry-Ice-Cream:

We have been lucky enough to have this, at Squire Walker's and it was both a delight to watch, and to consume. The slight effervescence was an added bonus to the dish, and the spectacle was second to none in the cold-confection field.

Steampunkerie Events: Exhibit Expeditions - 30th May (Titanic) & 27th June (Burton)

2010-05-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I propose two " Exhibit Expeditions"... there are a number of exhibits coming to Melbourne in the next couple of months that may well be of interest to those of a Steampunk Persuasion..

First up, The "Titanic Artefacts Exhibition" happening at Melbourne museum:

On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. Almost 100 years later, Melbourne Museum will pay tribute to the tragedy in Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, which showcases more than 280 artefacts retrieved from Titanic’s debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at this legendary Ship and its passengers and crew.

The Exhibition has been created with a focus on Titanic’s compelling human stories, told through authentic artefacts and exacting re-creations of the Ship’s interior. Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the elite White Star Line, even a piece of the hull of Titanic - these and many other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to lives abruptly ended or forever changed by one of the world’s greatest maritime disasters.

As they enter the Exhibition, each visitor is presented with a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger, drawing them back in time to 1912 and the Ship’s fateful maiden voyage. Then begins a journey through the life of Titanic, from construction and life on board, to its ill-fated voyage, tragic sinking and the amazing efforts to recover artefacts. Along the way visitors will marvel at the full-size recreation of the Ship’s Grand Staircase, learn countless stories of heroism and humanity and even press their palms against an “iceberg”.

The Exhibition also tells Titanic’s Australian stories, and how its sinking strongly resonated with communities here. In the “Memorial Gallery”, guests will be able to take their boarding pass to the Memorial Wall and discover whether their passenger and travelling companions survived or perished.

Over the past 19 years, more than 22 million people have seen this powerful Exhibition in major museums worldwide - from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London. RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to Titanic rescuing more than 5,500 artefacts.

You can see all the details here: http://titanicmelbourne.com/

I propose an expedition to the expedition on Sunday 30th May - meeting at the museum at 11am.

Facebook Event Page is here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126048017412255

Shortly thereafter, we are to enjoy the "Tim Burton" exhibition happening at ACMI. I though Sunday 27th June might be a good day to see this:

From the website:

Explore the creative genius behind Edward Scissorhands, Batman and Alice in Wonderland.

From June to October 2010, ACMI hosts a unique exhibition direct from The Museum of Modern Art, New York. An Australian exclusive, Tim Burton: The Exhibition is a landmark retrospective charting Tim Burton's creative vision and process from his earliest work to the spectacular Alice in Wonderland.

Curated in direct collaboration with Burton, the exhibition brings together over 700 works, including paintings, drawings, puppets, costumes, storyboards and film. Discover the elements of gothic fantasy, dark humour and motifs that characterise Burton's work as director, concept artist, illustrator and photographer.

Curated by Ron Magliozzi, Assistant Curator, and Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, The
Museum of Modern Art, New York.

More details here: http://www.acmi.net.au/timburton.aspx

Facebook Event for the second Expedition: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114323225275552

For both these Exhibit Expeditions, we advise those interested to purchase their own tickets, and if you wish to dress up for the occasion (any excuse, right?) you're certainly encouraged (though not obliged) to do so.. I thought it might also be nice to share a meal together afterwards.

Adam Wallacavage's Octopus Chandeliers

2010-05-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

The talented Adam Wallacavage makes, amongst other things, fantastic octopus chandeliers that would look good in any steampunk home:

The rest of his wonderful creations can be seen here:

http://www.adamwallacavage.com/octo/index.html

Tim Engel - Steampunk Bodypaint Photography

2010-04-17T02:48:00.000-07:00

Here's something really spectacular to feast your eyes on.. the body painting photography of Tim Engel. Check out his website here: http://englephoto.com/

Talented!!!

: There will be blood

The Internet Circa 1900..

2010-03-26T20:25:00.001-07:00

This provided many chuckles...

World's first mechanical cellphone

2010-03-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

If you have a spare 300K greenbacks burning a hole in your pocket you might want to pick up one of these - a mechanical cellphone...

ELSIUS X VII II Mechanical Tourbillion Cellphone – Remontage Papillon Mechanism

Claims to be first mechanical cellphone in the world, CELSIUS X VII II mechanical tourbillion cellphone’s design is inspired by the high-end Swiss watches, combining the patented Remontage Papillon mechanism that mimics butterfly’s movement into the watch.

The remontage Papillon mechanism is activated once the wings are unfolded. This is the mechanical motion you could also find on a high-end watch.
CELSIUS X VII II cellphone is made of 547 mechanical parts, and it features a tourbillon in its hinge. Another applause is on the phone energy source, CELSIUS X VII II mechanical tourbillion cellphone mainly powered through human’s kinetic energy.
It will be exhibited at the upcoming Basel World watch fair in Switzerland.
Price: approx. USD275,000.

Their website is here: http://www.celsius-x-vi-ii.com/

Oldest Australian film found and restored

2010-03-18T17:22:00.001-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this, I did - I love that our oldest film is of a rude rollerskating man..

Oldest Australian film found and restored

By Siobhan Heanue

Updated Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:25pm AEDT

Patineur Grotesque is Australia's oldest comic film. (National Film and Sound Archive)

The earliest known surviving film to be shot in Australia, featuring a rollerskater performing on a street in Melbourne, has been found and restored.

In true Australian style, it is irreverent and unapologetic.
In fact, it was seen as too risque for Australian audiences although it proved popular in European cinemas.
It was produced in 1896 by French filmmaker Marius Sestier, who was dispatched to Australia by a French film company in a bid to introduce cinema to the colony.
A pharmacist by trade, Sestier took well to his adventurous new career, setting up Australia's first public cinema in Sydney's Pitt Street.

Special message

The comic sequence, Patineur Grotesque (Humorous Rollerskater), follows a rollerskater performing in a Melbourne street.
The newly-restored film contains the 19th century equivalent of a well-known gesture of contempt, as the rollerskater lifts up his coat to show the camera the imprint of a white palm on his posterior.
It's a cinematic 'up yours', turn-of-the-century style.
Sally Jackson from the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) in Canberra says the rude message was probably aimed at the filmmaker's business rival.
"The rollerskater when he skates around he turns around flips up his coat tails on several occasions," she said.
"On the back you can see a big white hand and there's one particular finger that's a little bit higher than all the rest.
"Really what he was doing was he was giving his competitor the finger."

Film heritage

The film was shown for the first time on Australian soil at a special ceremony at the NFSA in Canberra, where it's been painstakingly restored using special equipment.
Sestier's great granddaughter Marie-Dominique Petitbois flew from France to attend the screening.
"It has been a big surprise for us," she said.
"We didn't realise he did so much in Australia."
She was able to provide the NFSA with notebooks and press clippings Marius Sestier kept from his trip to the Antipodes.
Sestier's short movies are forerunners to the 1906 film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, which is regarded as the world's first feature film.
Australia embraced the filmmaking revolution early on.
All this at a time when Hollywood was nothing more than a paddock.
The National Film and Sound Archive wants to hear from anyone who may have information about the man in the film, or the location.

"The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele le Blanc-Sec"

2010-03-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Ooh! there's a french film coming out that looks like a "must see" for steampunk fans...

Check out the trailer!

Pith helmets and rayguns and pterodactyls, OH MY!!

It's called "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Le Blanc-Sec" and it is directed by none other than Luc Besson.. a good sign!

A brief summary of what's in store:

"The year is 1912. An intrepid young reporter will go to any lengths to achieve her aims, even sailing to Egypt to tackle mummies of all shapes and sizes.

Meanwhile, in Paris, It's panic stations! A 136-million-year-old pterodactyl egg on a shelf in the natural history museum has mysteriously hatched, and the bird subjects the city to a reign of terror from the skies.

But nothing fazes Adele le Blanc-Sec, whose adventures reveal many more extraordinary surprises..."

The movie is based on the graphic novel series by Jaques Tardi, which are well worth checking out if you haven't already.. some information about the author is here: http://lambiek.net/artists/t/tardi.htm

More information can be found on the film's website here (which thankfully has an english language version: http://www.adeleblancsec-lefilm.com

It's putting me in mind of a NeoVictorian Indiana Jones... really looking forward to seeing this.

Designer to watch: Stephane Halleux

2010-03-11T03:55:00.000-08:00

Stephane Halleux is the creator of these breathtaking steampunk inspiredsculptures that are crafted from a wide variety of materials. The detail is amazing and his often surreal characters are filled with personality.

As the artist mentions: “I've always liked crazy mix of science, technology, with the romance vintage machinery”.

formspring.me

2010-02-15T11:47:00.001-08:00

Where would you suggest a newcomer to Steampunk look around Melbourne & surrounds for suitable apparel?

I'm not sure whether we should be thankful or sad that there are no one-stop-steampunk-shops. I remember when the same could be said of the goth scene, not any more!

The very best thing to do I think is to immerse yourself in victorian fashion unroll the shapes and contours of it are really clear to you, and then hit the mainstream shops. They are chock full of neo Victorian inflenced pieces right now (long may it reign!)

For some extra special pieces and advice from some fellow steampunks, Wildilocks is well worth checking out .. And for " oooh! Aaaaaah!" value alone check out the wunderkammer.

Remember that op shops are your friend! So are friends who can teach you to sew! (you might want to check out the Melbourne alternative crafters meetip if this is of interest.

I hope that's given you some ideas, great question!

Who else has a question for me?

Ask me anything

Pirates at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival 20/21 February

2010-02-02T19:16:00.001-08:00

Greetings ladies and gentlemen..

I have a bit of a left-of-field request from one of my historical re-enactment contacts .. I have been offered a gig at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival, happening at Docklands on 20/21st February... they are wanting a crew of pirates to come along and provide some colour as roving entertainment..

It would consist of dressing up like a pirate and roaming around the festival and making merry with the punters.. all you need is a piratical outfit and a good attitude..

There might even be a little bit of a pocket-money reward in the offering..

If you're interested in participating please email me at steampunkerie AT gmail DOT com as soon as possible, need to move fast on this one!

Looking into the Past

2010-01-30T02:51:00.000-08:00

I found these tonight, and I just love them.. I think this is what steampunks are trying to do, in a way.. bring some of the past back into the present.. in a fantastical way, anyway..

Photographers are imposing an old picture on a new one of the exact same place.. the effect is quite eerie and wonderful!

There's a flickr group of this style of image here: Looking into the Past Flickr Pool. Fascinating stuff!

Wierd and Wonderful Gadgets of the Victorian Era

2010-01-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

The 1920s satnav ... and other weird and wonderful gadgets that never quite took off

It was the invention of the future - a tiny machine complete with its own map that would tell motorists which way to go.

But this was no satnav - after all, the communications satellites that help modern cars locate themselves were still decades away.

Instead, the route-finder for the well-equipped 1920s driver was a wristwatch-style device equipped with minuscule maps.

Lost in time: The 1920s route-finder that never took off

Miniature scrolls bearing the directions were loaded onto the watch and revolved as the wearer continued his journey.

The 1920s TomTom never took off - perhaps because there were too few motorists to buy them.

It is one of the labour and face-saving devices to go on display from a private collection of weird and wonderful gadgets from the past.

Maurice Collins, a retired businessman from Muswell Hill, London, has cherry-picked 50 must-have items from his collection of 1,400 historic gadgets to show off at the British Library Business and Intellectual Property Centre.

Mr Morris said his collection was a celebration of 'ingenious products that attempted to solve human difficulty'.

Other crazy Heath Robinson contraptions in the show include...

BURGLAR ALARM

The clockwork mechanism on this 1870s burglar alarm was wound up and the upright lever set, before the device was placed at the foot of a door and a spike pushed into the floor. If an intruder tried to enter, the lever would be pushed down and set off the surprisingly loud and effective bell.

PISTOL PURSE

Highwaymen were a real danger in the late 19th century and this cunning design might just have saved your honour, property and even life. A dainty weapon was concealed in a secret compartment of this seemingly normal ladies' purse. The barrel could hold only one bullet - so you had to make your shot count.

ELECTRO MASSAGER

During the 1930s, body massage was not seen as a luxury or part of being pampered but was, correctly, regarded as important for maintaining healthy skin and good circulation. However this functional-looking dynamo massager appears neither pleasurable nor safety conscious, as it gave tiny electric shocks to the user.

TOE SOCKS

These pre-shrunk 'To Sox' were designed to act as toe protectors. Produced during World War II, it was claimed that they could reduce hosiery costs by up to 80 per cent. They were designed to be worn over the big toes, to protect socks from wear.

THE ENVELOPE SEALER

This invention, by Reynolds of Chicago, was a byword for gravitas and efficiency. When the lever is cranked, a roller forces an open envelope to undergo a dampening process, before a second roller presses it closed.

PEEP SHOW

Hand-cranked 'What the butler saw' machines were a staple of British amusement arcades for much of the 20th century. Some featured supposedly erotic slideshows - like this one, pictured above left, - while others offered comedies and dramas. All were available for a penny and were seen through a metal socket on the screen.

CIGARETTE HOLDER

This double holder, pictured above right, is thought to have been inspired by a fictional cigarette case belonging to Bulldog Drummond - hero of Sapper's bestselling crime novels of the day - which 'held Turkish on one side and Virginian on the other'.

LIGHT SPECTACLES

Invented in the U.S. in the 1930s, these specs were adorned with two small, battery-powered lights, with a long wire trailing beneath. The experience was marred only by the likelihood of electrocution when it rained.

EYE MASSAGER

Apparently it was not enough to have a gadget for massaging the body.
By the 1920s, it was also deemed necessary to devise a mechanism to massage the eyeballs. This convoluted gadget was pressed to the face.
The user would then operate the small lever to compress the rubber bellows which would in turn emit cool puffs of air directly onto the eyeballs.

MOUSTACHE PROTECTOR

Having a bushy moustache has always been something of an obstacle to refined dining - particularly when it came to mulligatawny soup. The answer was to use a moustache protector, spoon or cup - designed with a hole for the mustachioed man to sip through.

FOOD PROCESSOR

The modern food processor is something we take for granted - just fill the bowl and push the switch. More satisfying - and quieter - was this Victorian food chopper. Turning the handle pushes the cutting arm up and down and rotates the bowl at the same time.

FINGER STRETCHER FOR PIANISTS

Developed in America in 1910 to help pianists hit the sprawling notes demanded by the likes of Stravinsky and Debussy. Careful use was required: it is thought the composer Schumann destroyed his hands using an early version.

PAGE TURNER

Designed for musicians this dates from 1905. Sheet music could be prepared for turning by fixing the top of each metal rod on to the desired page. When ready, a catch was pulled free and the page flipped over.

CLOCKWORK TEASMADE

Patented in Birmingham in 1902, this brass and copper tea maker was the first Teasmade. The alarm clock triggered a switch and a match was then struck against moving sandpaper, lighting the spirit stove under the kettle. Once the water boiled, the steam pressure lifted a hinged flap and the kettle would tilt, filling the teapot beneath. Finally, a plate would swing over the stove, extinguishing its flames.

AN EARLY LAVATORY

In the 19th century, the cost of using a public convenience, such as this, was one penny - hence the phrase 'to spend a penny'. This decorative 1870s water closet was manufactured by Mr Jennings - a plumber who made his name installing such WCs at the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851.

formspring.me

2010-01-19T20:34:00.001-08:00

Ignoring sewing skills/ cash flow issues/ laws of physics... describe your dream ballgown.

Ooooh.. good question!

It would have to be red, no question..

If money and time and sewing skill were no object, I would probably go all out and get an exquisitely re-created 18th french ball gown, no expense spared, silk damask, embroidered to within an inch of it's life.. with all the underpinnings, shoes, clocked stockings - and of course an appropriately over the top wig - one of those nice little numbers with a ship sailing on a sea of curls or something.. Of course just as ladies did back then, I would need several matching bodices for different times of day, and if I was really going all out, I'd get some matching skirts too - say a natural form bustle and a caged bustle with the respective underpinnings...

It would be a versatile and extravagant ensemble! :)

Ask me anything

Croc Jacket 'O Awesome for the more-money-than-sense steampunk

2010-01-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what FIFTY SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS worth of jacket looks like?

Well, I didn't either until now, but here it is:

You have to admit, it is pretty snazzy and would certainly suit a steampunk ensemble.

If you happen to have the spare cash lying around, you can buy one here. Heck, why don't you buy two and send one my way?

formspring.me

2010-01-16T16:41:00.001-08:00

What's one thing you'd change about the steampunk community?

Hmmm. How about giving us a nice solid line of government funding so we could do some really amazing stuff?

There's a small, mean part of me that prays for a world-wide shortage of clock parts so people stop gluing it randomly to everything in an effort to make it look more steampunk.

In every subculture there are those who seek to elevate themselves by telling everyone else how they ought to be "doing it". Steampunk seems to be fairly resistant to these people, which is good.

Ask me anything

formspring.me

2010-01-16T16:37:00.001-08:00

How was it like running Dr Sketchys Brisbane? Have you been to the relaunched Dr Sketchys?

Running Dr Sketchys was a lot of fun..heaps of work but I always had a great time.. I haven't been back in Brisbane since it relaunched, but I hope it's doing really well!

Ask me anything

The Fartiste

2010-01-15T23:27:00.000-08:00

We like to think of the Victorian Era as a prim and proper time, but it seems they enjoyed juvenille humour just as much as people do today. I stumbled across this article about the most highly paid artist ever to perform at the Moulin Rouge - The "Fartiste" - The Great Pujol..

Joseph Pujol, a man of singular talent, was born in Marseilles, France in 1857. In his early youth it became clear that he was a natural entertainer, singing, dancing, and performing for his parents’ house guests. He had a love for music, and over the years he became handy with a trombone, but it was a different wind instrument that led to his eventual fame and fortune.
Young Joseph became alarmed one day when he was swimming in the sea, and took a deep breath before submerging. As he inhaled, he felt icy cold water entering through his rear end. He immediately returned to shore, and was astonished to see a great deal of seawater pouring from his backside. A doctor assured him that this was nothing to be concerned about, and it seems that Joseph took this advice to heart, exploring his strange new ability with a healthy curiosity.
He soon found that with a little abdominal control, he could deliberately suck water in through his anus, and project it back out with impressive force, creating a spout of several meters. Further experimentation led him to discover that he could also suck in large amounts of air if he contorted himself properly, which he could let out at will. He was also able to use varying pressures to produce distinct notes, allowing him to reproduce simple tunes. Needless to say, he became very popular at school as a result. But little did he know that this unique talent would one day make him the most well-known and most highly paid entertainer in all of France.

While Joseph was in the army he amused his fellow soldiers with his lowbrow tricks, and they gave him the nickname “Le Pétomane,” which translates roughly to “fartiste.” When he left the service he opened a bakery in Marseilles which was reputed to bake some of the finest bran muffins in the south of France, but he started a foray into show business when he began to feel restless. At first he resisted using his unique physiology in his stage comedy act, instead trying the “yokel with the trombone” routine, but the fartiste within him could not be contained.
In 1887 at age 30, “Le Pétomane” first took the stage in Marseilles. The initial attempt was met with some skepticism, since “petomanie” (or “fartistry”) was something of a novelty for the French. But he quickly won the audience over, and was a big success. He developed his act locally for about five years, then went on to Paris to try for the infamous Moulin Rouge. He succeeded.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to present a session of Petomanie.” Such was his introduction at the famous vanity theater on his first night. He was very finely dressed in a red coat and black satin breeches, with a pair of white gloves held in his hands. He looked quite sophisticated as he explained to the audience that the emissions he was about to produce were completely odorless, since he irrigated his colon daily. The audience was completely unprepared for what lay ahead. And so he began.
He started off with a series of fart impressions… a new bride’s timid toot; her noisy, flapping emissions a week later; the solid, booming fart of a miller; and a majestic ten-second-long helping of flatulence to wrap up his introduction. He did impressions of famous people, he played songs, and he blew out candles. He did imitations of cannon fire, and reenacted a thunderstorm. And that was just the first portion of the show.
At first, the audience was astonished at the bizarre spectacle. But when the first uncontrollable laughter erupted from the crowd, it quickly spread throughout the theater. Soon the men and women were completely paralyzed with laughter, with tears streaming down their cheeks. A number of women passed out, unable to breathe in their tightly bound corsets, and had to be escorted from the theater by nurses.
For the second part of his act, he stepped offstage and inserted a rubber tube into his orifice, which dangled out of a hole in the back of his trousers. His used the tube to smoke two cigarettes at once, one from each end; to blow out the flames of stage lights; and as a grand finale, he attached an ocarina to the end of the hose, and played popular tunes while inviting the audience to sing along.
Overnight, Le Pétomane was a huge success. He used his unique physiology to entertain in this way for years, eventually becoming the highest paid entertainer in all of France, and perhaps the world. He parted ways with the Moulin Rouge in 1895 when the owner of the theater sued him for breach of contract after he fart-serenaded a few people in public, but he was quickly replaced by a female, bellows-powered fraud… La Femme-Pétomane.
Joseph opened a theater of his own and enjoyed many more years of success, until two of his sons were disabled in World War 1 in 1914. At that point he gave up the stage and went back to baking, and let his rectum content itself with more conventional pursuits. He died, aged 88 years, in 1945. When a medical school in Paris requested the privilege of examining the late Le Pétomane’s famous anus, the family declined, stating, “there are some things in this life which simply must be treated with reverence.”
Though Le Pétomane was perhaps the most famous fartiste, he was not the first to ply the farting trade… professional flatulism has a long and rich history throughout the world. In the De Civitate Dei, written about halfway through the first century A.D., Saint Augustine mentions some performers who possessed “such command of their bowels, that they can break wind continuously at will, so as to produce the effect of singing.” As other examples, medieval Ireland had professional farters called “braigetori,” and the Japanese Kamakura period (1185–1333) had professional performers of fart dances called Oribe.
A contemporary flatulist, perhaps the only representative of his trade today, is Mr. Methane. He clearly lacks Le Pétomane’s class, but he can certainly break a wind. Dressing in a cape and mask, he has the appearance of a superhero (or supervillain), though whether the force of his farts is sufficient to allow him flight is doubtful. But be warned, if you spend much time reading his website, your world will turn pink.
Further reading:
Wikipedia article on Le Pétomane
The Mr. Methane home page
Interview with Mr. Methane
Flatulence on demand (requires flash)

formspring.me

2010-01-14T16:04:00.001-08:00

When did you discover steampunk?

I have been into Victorian aesthetics for a long time - many years in historical re-enactment is probably a factor. A few years ago I heard of people who were into the "neo-victorian" thing.. it wasn't until I moved to Melbourne that I really got involved in the steampunk subculture though.

Ask me anything

Steampunk Soaps now on Sale

2010-01-14T04:14:00.000-08:00

Brand spanking new in the Steampunkerie Etsy and MadeIt stores - Steampunk Soaps!

I had a lot of fun making these, I hope others enjoy them too..

The soaps are available in four types:

Essence of Cog:

At the heart of every manic contraption is a cunning clockwork (and if there is not, by Jove, there ought to be!) Gears mesh against one another in perfect synchronicity, whirring and clicking against one another in a symphony of creation.

In the Steampunkerie laboratory our scientists have been hard at work harnessing the essence of this miraculous device and after much experimentation have succeeded in distilling the very essence of cog. In doing so they have also succeeded in answering a question that has plagued us all for far too long:

What do you get the steampunk who has everything?

Makes them devilishly hard to buy a gift for.. if they see a need for something, off they go to their laboratory, workshop or underground lair and emerge a mere few hours or days later with an awe inspiring contraption!

If they are the type who does not let small niceties such as regular ablutions get in the way of SCIENCE! Then this thoughtful gift may be just the ticket – it will prove to be a welcome gift to both recipient and bestower. The delightful perfume of this soap is sure to make the evidence of those sweaty hours melt away like the first snows of winter.

Essence of Cog soap will remove grease, grime, experimental detritus, dust, powder flares, oil spills, and the soot of explosions from your personage. More stubborn marks may require several applications and the most tenacious stains may require the addition of Elbow Grease (coming soon from Steampunkeire Soapworks in a convenient 12 gallon tub).

Essence of Goggle:

Don’t let this unforgivable gaffe happen to you. Out you go arrayed in your finery, ready to dabble in some conviviality with your fellow steampunks.. and you find yourself stopped at the door!

“Excuse me, Sir... I am dreadfully sorry, Madam... but...”

“YOU APPEAR TO HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR GOGGLES.”

Inexorably you feel the crimson tinge of deep embarrassment creep across your dermis until you resemble a ripe tomato.

Never let this happen again! By using this soap in your bathing routine, your personage will become imbued with the subtle and immutable scent of goggles. Why, you won’t even need to be wearing a pair – the very essence of goggle will intimate itself in your immediate surroundings.

Thus armed, you may go forth amongst the populace secure in the knowledge that wherever your wanderings may lead you, you will always have the “Essence of Goggle” exuding from you!

Essence of Bustle: Never has there been an item of clothing that has inspired so many poets, artists and other servants of the muse as the bustle. Taking the natural contours of the feminine form and using the arcane mysteries of needle and thread to accentuate and enhance these natural blessings, the bustle is the very pinnacle of the seamstresses’ art.

Never before have the mavens of science attempted to harness so potent an object! After many trials and no few mishaps of an explosive nature we are delighted to announce that the secret has been unlocked – we can now offer the general populace the very “Essence of Bustle” in an elegant bar of soap!

Upon application the wearer will surround themselves with a scent reminiscent of frills and ruffles, a heady intimation of sashaying hips and silken pleats decked with lace wafts through the ether in an enticing haze.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO WARN YOU! Essence of Bustle may have unexpected aphrodisiac effects on the opposite or indeed, the same gender! Steampunkerie Soapworks can accept NO RESPONSIBILITY for awkward outpourings of affection, embarrassing declarations of undying adorations, inconvenient proposals of marriage and gifts of an elaborate nature that the wearer may find themselves surrounded with after using this soap.

Essence of Zepplin:The soaring heights of hygienic perfection can be yours by the simple application of this fine soap. The aroma will waft about your person majestically, bringing all who catch the scent the unmistakable image of a fine airship soaring above the clouds.

Carefully crafted by the genius scientists of Steampunkerie Soapworks, they have used their (patent pending) process to distil the very essence of zeppelin and imprison it within the elegant confines of this luxurious soap. Mad, they called us, when we first attempted the process! But who is laughing now?

NO DIRIGIBLES HAVE BEEN HARMED (BEYOND REPAIR) IN THE MAKING OF THIS SOAP.

Soaps from Steampunkerie Soapworks come wrapped delightfully in a page from a GENUINE VICTORIAN work of NONFICTION (the original book was damaged beyond any other purpose and rescued from destruction by the laboratory’s technicians, and is now being put to a decorative use). Currently in use is the 1874 edition of “The Smaller British Birds”. This is not a copy, but an actual page carefully extracted from the antique book.

(Please note any mention of tits, boobies or snarks refers to smaller British bird breeds and Steampunkerie Soapworks cannot be held responsible for any fainting that may occur upon a too-hasty perusal of the texts provided. To the pure – all is pure.)

Listen not to the foolish fellows who claim that this particular bar of soap smells remarkably as though it has been perfumed with Essential Oil of Rose – such individuals suffer from a small minded lack of imagination and can safely be ignored.

Steampunkerie soaps are crafted using a hot process with such ingredients as Sodium palmate, Sodium palm kernalate, Aqua, fragrance, Vegetable Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, HEDP, EDTA, Organic Colour Pigments, Titanium Dioxide.

Each bar weighs 100 grams, and lathers beautifully.

Through cunning modification of the soapmaking process these essences can be altered to put one in mind of other less exotic flavours if preferred. If the recipient is enamoured of any of the following scents, they are advised to start a conversation with us so that a custom order may be produced. Scents currently available are: Lime Blossom, Mango Butter, Rose Petal, White Gardenia, Orange Crush, Honeysuckle, Passionfruit, Freesia and Lemongrass. (Other scents available on request, if you have something specific in mind, please do ask.)

Likewise if larger quantities or specific combinations are required, we encourage you to contact our laboratory for a personal consultation.

Wedding Cake Whimsy for Steampunks..

2010-01-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

If you're lucky enough to live close to Essex in the UK you might want to check out Venus Cakes (http://www.venuscakes.com/) - Look at this eye-poppingly gorgeous wedding cake done in steampunk style. I love the bright colours and the sense of whimsy about it.

From her blog:

This was one of the cakes I created for The Great Cake Bake produced by Wedding TV.

The category for this one was Steampunk and so far I have only come across one lady (after a comment on my blog) who knows what steampunk is.

Steampunk is a genre of fantasy which came into prominence in the 1980’s/90’s.

It incorporates elements of the Victorian era such as steam power but also encompasses Victorian clothing such as corsets.

Lindsay (the lady who left the comment), as you are familiar with this genre you may be able to give a better explanation than I have so please feel free to leave a comment.

If you are familiar with stories/ideas by Jules Verne or have seen The Extraordinary League of Gentleman (huge submarine) you will get an idea of the style.

It is quite whimsical and it possible to give pretty much anything the Steampunk treatment.

The bride to be for this cake is planning on a wedding with a show feel and the cake needed to be a real show stopper.

I wanted to make this cake really extravagant with a kind of fairground feel to it. I also wanted to include a corset tier as the bride to be had said that she wanted to include some feminity for her female guests.

Another design feature of the cake which I have used all over is cogs as these reflect the industrial/steam power element of steam punk.

The main colours on the cake were rich purple, red and pale blue.

The purple and red are rich colours which look fab with the copper and brass on the cake. The pale blue is a good contrast to the red.

The bottom tier is decorated with gold bands around the top an bottom which have imprinted details on them to give them a look of steel bands.

On the front of this tier are various sized hearts in different shades of gold and copper.

These are raised up from the surface of the cake.

On top of the hearts are different sized cogs linking the hearts together - this is the romantic part of the cake!

The next tier is the corset part of the cake. This is my favourite part of the cake - I love the shape of it. It has blue and red stripes all with a stitching detail.

The front of the corset has a section covered with more cogs and the back has a section with laces and tiny metal look flowers.

The corset is finished with gold swags and gold and copper flowers.

I used lustrous dusting powder to achieve a metal finish on the flowers and gold parts of the cake.

I added tassels around the bottom of the corset just because I really like them and if I was going to wear a corset I would want some tassels on it.

The centres of many of the flowers on the cake are filled with coloured piping gel.

Piping gel is a clear edible gel which can be coloured and piped onto a cake.

It has a high shine and is perfect for creating effects such as water or gemstones. It is not as firm to pipe as royal icing so needs a frame of some sort.

The next tier up is the train part of the cake and represents the steam power element again. The bride to be had said that she would like to see some machinery in the cake.

Train wheels work very well on a round cake. I laid them over purple sugar paste which meant they stood out. I then wanted to make the rods that go between the centre of the wheels.

I am sure that steam train enthusiasts would tell me that rods is not the right name but they will all be busy reading steam train blogs.

I had to make these separately so that they could set hard before putting them onto the wheels.

I used a 5″ dummy to lay them onto so that they would set with a curve which would fit neatly around the side of the tier. There are more cogs in the centre of the wheels.

Next up from this is the carriage part of the train which has pale blue windows and gold doors.

The cake is topped with a gold and cooper dome which has an old fashioned pier look. This dome also has tassels on it.

I think I’ve captured steampunk in this cake but also love the decadence and whimsy of it.

Eclectic shelves for your steampunk wunderkammer

2010-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Fantastic fashion blogger Outsapop (http://www.outsapop.com/) shares these great shelving ideas.
I'd love to cover some walls with this sort of eclectic arrangement, I can see it becoming a wunderkammer:

Steampunk Film: The Marionette Unit

2010-01-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, this looks like it's going to be fantastic!

An independent film called "The Marionette Unit".

Teaser trailer is here:

The Marionette Unit - Inception Trailer from Fun Size Studios on Vimeo.

Suddenly I am thinking about Billy Idol.. "With a rebel yell, she cried more, more MORE!!" - can't wait to see the finished product.

Here's what they have to say about the film on their website, go check out the concept art and other goodies:

An excerpt:

Synopsis

This film is set in an alternate Victorian England, a world where steam-punk technology has developed rapidly and in a world where all creativity, art and individual expression is state-controlled. The Marionette Unit is a theatre show where machine and human have been fused together. A musical machine that resembles a twisted tortured church organ, run with valves, steam and electricity, is connected by a mass of electrical cables to three ballet dancers, who have the wires fused into their bodies. The dancers are controlled by the machine much to the amazement of the Victorian audience.

We follow the story of Smith, an enigmatic character connected to an underground society of artists, hunted by the police. He has come to watch the prize ballet dancer, Georgette try and escape the wired clutches of The Marionette Unit. Will she be able to wrestle free and escape with Smith, or will she succumb to the powerful forces that hold her captive? What follows is a stunning and imaginative display of the human spirit fighting to be set free.

Director's Vision

This is an ambitious film with cinematic aspirations. For a while now I've wanted to make a film whose scale - in terms of ideas, design and execution - belies its budget. With this in mind, I set about writing a film that would move away from the typical gritty, urban landscape of British filmmaking and into a world that has always interested me: science-fiction and fantasy. Within this genre, I will be exploring steam-punk. The story will be set in an alternative Victorian England, where steam power is still widely used, but with prominent elements of science fiction.

At the centre is a powerful story of the human spirit breaking free from oppressive forces and in turn we see the expression of self and creativity with no barriers. This film allows me the space to tell an effective story with this theme and allow audiences to connect emotionally to the characters as they would in any drama. Co-written by myself and Paul B. Adams, we feel that the narrative captures these fundamental human desires but places them in an inventive and fantastic setting.

As you can see from the extraordinary concept artwork, there is also a huge emphasis on the look of the film. The film will have a distinctive visual style, with a great attention to detail in all aspects of the look. The visual side coupled with a strong story and nuanced performances will make this film stand out on the festival circuit.
Azhur Saleem.

Music for Steampunks and NeoVictorians..

2010-01-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

This came up on my radar today.. it's a cute little expose of some up-and-coming neovictorian bands/artists.. it gives you a bit of an idea what they sound like by playing snippets of a few songs. There's some lovely imagrey ganked from the video clips..

Everyone's favourite Rasputina is there, and some lesser known female vocalists - Hannah Fury and Morgan Grace..

Part two has Emilie Autumn:

Both of these are a great way to determine whether or not you like this style of music. I adore it with the fire of a thousand suns, but others find it akin to fingernails on a blackboard.

Have a listen and let us know what you think in the comments..

NeoVictorian and a little bit naughty.. Loucher's

2010-01-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

I have a very stylish friend called Erica, who is one of the only things I miss about Brisbane... (I think the others are all people too..)

Anyway, she recently put me on to this site, and I love it - I know she'd wear these pieces with far more aplomb and panache than I could muster but I just had to share them.. for some casual steampunkish daywear it would be hard to go past these..

Check out Locher's at http://www.lochers.com/

Lots of feminine, gorgeous items with Victorian style embroidery and some very sassy motifs..

I love them... stay tuned for details of an Australian stockist...

Steam Power to the Rescue!

2009-12-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

I love this story, it made me smile..

Steam train's snow rescue 'glory'

Darlington-built Tornado was unaffected by the freezing conditions

Passengers were rescued by a steam locomotive after modern rail services were brought to a halt by the snowy conditions in south-east England.

Trains between Ashford and Dover were suspended on Monday when cold weather disabled the electric rail.
Some commuters at London Victoria faced lengthy delays until Tornado - Britain's first mainline steam engine in 50 years - offered them a lift.
They were taken home "in style", said the Darlington-built engine's owners.
Train services in Kent were hit hard by the freezing conditions at the start of the week.

If any operators want to modernise their services by using steam trains, I would be happy to give them a quote

Mark Allatt, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

The weather-related disruption included three days of cancellations for Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel.
Tornado, a £3m Peppercorn class A1 Pacific based at the National Railway Museum in York, was in the South East for one day, offering "Christmas meal" trips from London to Dover.
Its "Cathedrals Express" service, the last mainline journey in its first year of operations, was about to depart when staff heard about the stranded passengers.
About 100 people were offered free seats, according to Mark Allatt, chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust - the charity which built Tornado.
'All credit'
He said: "It was a nice way to finish for Christmas, though I think some of the rescued passengers didn't realise they'd even been travelling on a steam train until they got off."

Mr Allatt, who was on the service at the time, said he only saw a handful of other trains between London and Dover throughout Monday.
He added: "If any of the train operators want to modernise their services by using steam trains, I would be happy to give them a quote."
A spokesman for Southeastern Trains congratulated Mr Allatt on his "moment of glory".
He said: "I'm sure those passengers were saved from a lengthy wait, all credit to him."

Make your own steam engine

2009-12-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Over at www.vintageprojects.com there are all sorts of resources for the intrepid maker. Here's a great set of instuctions to make your very own steam engine..

Build a Hobby Sized Steam Engine

These plans are for a mini table top steam engine.
Although it is not a scale reproduction of any particular engine, it has the same general appearance and eye-taking appeal of the picturesque old-timers so hard at work about the turn of the century.
The model is equipped with the linkmotion reverse gear perfected by George Stevenson for his famous locomotive, The Rocket, in the 1830s. This valve action, which also provides a variable steam cutoff, has played a historic role in steam-power development.
The engine is a double-acting noncondensing one that exhausts directly into the air with the familiar puff-pup of a donkey engine or steam shovel.
With its 1 3/4" cylinder bore and 1" piston stroke, and with 75 or 80 Ib. of steam in its boiler, the little engine will turn over at 1,500 r.p.m. Actual power will depend much on the boiler used and on the workmanship in the engine itself.
The design is for heavy duty, however, with main bearings and other working parts larger than scale, and the engine will stand up well under hard, continuous runs at full working load, developing enough power to drive a quite large model boat, a small dynamo, an air fan, or other light equipment of Fractional-horsepower rating.
How to Build a Small Steam Engine Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

The Steam Man

2009-12-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Paul Guinan shares with us some facinating information about "The Steam Man" at his website:

Left to right: Mickey McSquille, "Baldy" Bicknell (a.k.a. the Huge Hunter),
Ethan Hopkins, Johnny Brainerd, Steam Man.

When Professor Campion unveiled Boilerplate in 1893, the concept of a mechanical man was not a new one. Edward S. Ellis, in 1865, wrote about a prodigy that constructed a nonsentient automaton called the Steam Man. At the time, it was considered to be nothing more than an elaborate novelty item, like Boilerplate. Stories of its feats were relegated to the tabloids and "Edisonades." In the account entitled Steam Man of the Prairies (the first of several such publications), Johnny Brainerd, a teenage dwarf, invented "a man that shall go by steam." Here is how it was described: "It was about ten feet in height, measuring to the top of the 'stove-pipe hat,' which was fashioned after the common order of felt coverings, with a broad brim, all painted a shiny black. The face was made of iron, painted a black color, with a pair of fearful eyes, and a tremendous grinning mouth. A whistle-like contrivance was made to answer for the nose. The steam chest proper and boiler, were where the chest in a human being is generally supposed to be, extending also into a large knapsack arrangement over the shoulders and back. A pair of arms, like projections, held the shafts, and the broad flat feet were covered with sharp spikes, as though he were the monarch of baseball players. The legs were quite long, and the step was natural, except when running, at which time, the bolt uprightness in the figure showed differed from a human being.

"In the knapsack were the valves, buy which the steam or water was examined. In front was a painted imitation of a vest, in which a door opened to receive the fuel, which, together with the water, was carried in the wagon, a pipe running along the shaft and connecting with the boiler.

"The lines which the driver held controlled the course of the steam man; thus, by pulling the strap on the right, a deflection was caused which turned it in that direction, and the same acted on the other side. A small rod, which ran along the right shaft, let out or shut off the steam, as was desired, while a cord, running along the left, controlled the whistle at the nose.

"The legs of this extraordinary mechanism were fully a yard apart, so as to avoid the danger of its upsetting, and at the same time, there was given more room for the play of the delicate machinery within. Long, sharp, spike-like projections adorned the soles of the immense foot, so that there was little danger of its slipping, while the length of the legs showed that, under favorable circumstances, the steam man must be capable of very great speed."

The Steam Man's first published account appeared in Irwin's American Novels #45 in 1865. Above is a retitled 1882 edition, which misled some into thinking the Steam Man was also called the Huge Hunter. The nickname actually belonged to Baldy Bicknell, a hunter who befriended Johnny Brainerd.

After the origin of the Steam Man was reprinted several times, new stories were demanded by the public. The above cover from 1876 depicts the first of three sequels written by Harry Enton, in which the famous inventor Frank Reade builds an updated version of the Steam Man.

When Johnny Brainerd retired, the adventurer/inventor family the Reades picked up where the young genius left off. Frank Reade Sr. produced the Steam Man Mark II and his son Frank Jr. followed with the Steam Man Mark III.

Visit with the Reade family of inventors/explorers, who constructed their own Steam Men and other remarkable inventions .

"The Steam Man of the Prairies"
was written by Edward Sylvester Ellis.
Ellis was born April 11, 1840 in Geneva, Ohio.
He began his professional life as a school principal and later became school superintendent in Trenton, New Jersey. In 1860, he published his most successful book, "Seth Jones," which was subtitled "Captives of the Frontier." Its huge success caused him to abandon teaching in order to pursue his writing career.
Although his most serious piece was a biography of Thomas Jefferson, which stood as the definitive work on the subject for decades, Ellis specialized in adventure stories and histories aimed at younger readers.
He was a major author during the era of the "dime novel." Because Ellis wrote under dozens of pseudonyms, as well as under his own name, it is nearly impossible to know exactly how many books he penned.
Ellis claimed to be a nephew of renowned Western frontiersman James Capen ("Grizzly") Adams, and in this guise he published a series of adventure novels. One of his most popular and groundbreaking characters in these books was Deerfoot, a native American who was among the earliest "minority" heroes in U.S. fiction.
Edward Ellis died at Cliff Island, Maine in 1916 at the age of 76.

To fully apreciate Edward Ellis' contribution,
here is an historical context: 1818 Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
1827 Joseph Atterly, A Voyage to the Moon
1863 Jules Verne, A Journey to the Center of the Earth
1865 Edward S. Ellis, The Steam Man of the Prairies
1870 Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1895 H.G. Wells, The Time Machine
1920 Karel Capek, R.U.R. (first use of the word "robot")

Ellis' The Steam Man of the Prairies is not only the first American science-fiction novel, but the first example in literature of a mechanical man. Why isn't it better known?

NYE Party Melbourne..

2009-12-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

So - New Years' Eve.

Euchronia is not happening, as you know, and a few of us have been working hard to organise something else..

But we have a problem (huston).

We have been unable to secure a venue. We have lost hope. All is dark.

But perhaps, just perhaps.. all is not lost.

Can you help? At this stage all I really want to do is have a party to go to for NYE. Even if it's a BYO affair - if there is a pub, club, hall, backyard, tent, shack.. (you see where I am going here).. It needs to be in Melbourne and it needs to be accessible.

If you have a venue available. If your great uncle has a venue available.. please do let me know. I can do the organising and bring the music.. but we need a place to gather in.

I would hate to see NYE pass without steampunks gathered. Can you help me make it happen?

(Please note - suggestions of "Have you tried XXX" are unlikely to be helpful at this stage, because, beleive me, we have. I am more looking for offers of a venue you know you have access to.)

Here's a picture of a tesla coil Xmas tree to lift your spirits:

food, now with SCIENCE!

2009-12-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

In the interests of expanding our horizons as to the Steamyness of our tables, let me offer the following link to entertain and educate:

Cooking for Engineers

I first encountered this whilst looking for a recipe for Gravlax but they also have loads of bountiful and intriguing articles such as comparing different Chef's knives properties.

Back to the gravlax for a moment: salt and sugar cured salmon, typically of Scandinavian origins, quite delightful, and so easy to achieve. No elaborate smoking system required, just two of the most basic, and essential ingredients, a herb or two for flavour, and fresh fish.

The science comes in like this: both salt and sugar are dehydrators, they act to draw water out of the fish, essentially by an osmotic gradient, and the salt and sugar enter the fish by the same method. The high concentrations of salt and sugar in the resulting slurry are not conducive to bacterial growth, and once "cured" the salmon flesh will remain good to eat for quite some time. Please follow good aseptic technique and the guidelines for storage and keeping. If you take a bloody flux, i don’t want to know, or be held responsible!

That said, i have made gravlax and kept it, in the compressed gas cyclic chiller box, for several weeks, carving off portions as needed. For a more exotic (as if you can get more exotic than delectable orange fish-candy!) flavour, one could substitute the regular dill flavours for wasabi (with thanks to the ever delicious and oh-so saucy Nigella.)

How one serves their transmogrified salmon delights is up to the gentle reader, but upon cracker, abed rice or simple eaten daintily as-is, having taken a slab of fish, sodium chloride, and simple carbohydrates, alone with some basic herbal accompaniments, you can create a magnificent addition to any Neo-Victorian table!

Steamy Dita

2009-11-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

You know you've hit the maintstream when...

Dita goes steampunk.

Victorian Image Collection

2009-11-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

Now here is a useful resource for steampunks - I am of the belief that to be steampunk you really ought to start with a victorian influence.. and this is a treasure-trove for those looking for inspiration..

The Victorian Image Collection.

I especially enjoyed looking at the Victorian Costumes section.. seeing various historical eras re-imagined with the Victorian Eye results in some really interesting stuff:

From their "About Us" page:

The Collection

The Victorian Image Collection consists of over 200,000 cartes de visite, cabinet cards and large format photographs from the Victorian era and has been built up over many years.

The majority of the photographs are portraits taken in the studio and, occasionally, outdoors and they provide a UNIQUE RESOURCE – they are not available anywhere else.

The images illustrate a fascinating view of Victorian life and fashion – people in their best clothes, their working clothes, their uniforms, their traditional clothes, clothes for specific events in life and clothes designed for a wide range of leisure activities. With the clothes are all sorts of interesting accessories used for fashion, work or pleasure. Also included are wonderful images of ladies hairstyles and magnificent moustaches and beards of the gentlemen from a bygone era. All categorised for easy retrieval.

Some of the images in the collection were originally made for sale to the general public and therefore are not unique but are, nevertheless, rarely available for reproduction. These include photographs of famous people and of topographical views which, incidentally, pre-date picture postcards by up to 40 years.

Many of the more interesting images have been made available on this website so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by a wider audience and, also, to help defray to cost of maintaining the archive.

Research

We are always interested in co-operating on projects of all sorts either on a paid basis or a voluntary basis as appropriate. Payment will depend on the nature of the project and whether it is commercial, low profit making or non-profit making. You can find further information here: Research Services.

Family History Research

We also have a sister site which is designed specifically for family history researchers. It is packed with information on Victorian photographers, their customers, their studios, their addresses and the dates that they were in business. The site is particularly helpful for people trying to DATE their family photographs – something which helps them to discover who the photograph is of. You can find the site at www.cartedevisite.co.uk

Hand tooled Handtools. Lovely!

2009-11-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

I think these gorgeous hand-tooled handtools from DesignMarkus.com epitomise the bespoke astheic of steampunk. They are gorgeous and I want them.

Tooling up: belts and bags in sensual leather

2009-11-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

The Red Lady, Omega, and I were out hunting more power tools for Steampunkerie Glassworks' workshop at Bunnings, of the weekend, we passed the belts, pouches and work wear section, and Omega reminded me that there were some very Steamy items to check out. The deep brown of oil-tanned leather spoke to me, and I thought it would me smashing to bring this knowledge on to you:

Irwin Tools

Let me first pass on these gems of definition from Irwin Tools' catalogue:

Oil-Tanned Leather

"A premium, full-grain cowhide leather treated with a special blend of oils and waxes to last longer in all weather conditions. Oil-tanned products have a high resistance to cracking, tearing and punctures."

Full Grain Leather

"Buffed on the grain side so it is soft and supple - this leather moulds to your body and tools. The other side is sueded for maximum flexibility. This type of leather provides superior strength and durability."

Saddle Leather

"Stiff top grain leather purpose moulded for tool holders."

Suede Leather

"Soft and flexible sueded leather offers high performance at excellent value. Sueded on
both sides for maximum flexibility and comfort, yet it is sturdy and practical enough for the jobsite. Suede leather is thicker and more durable than split leather."

Split Leather

"Lighter duty sueded split leather Suitable for the handyman."

Cotton

"Lightweight, soft material moulds to the body. More porous than leather, cotton breathes - staying cool in warm conditions."

The heavier and more processed the gear, the more its expense, but in my opinion, it adds to the beauty as well. However; suede, saddle and full grain leathers can easily enough be worked, coloured and seasoned to meet with your own Steampunk designs.

and here are the three items that caught my eye, charming in both aesthetic and practicality.

"Constructed from premium oil tanned leather for the toughest working conditions"

10 Pocket Oil Tanned Leather Tool Apron

(CC-747-603 / 019374107475)

2 large flared pockets,
2 medium front pockets,
6 small tool holders,
tape measure pocket,
50mm leather belt with durable metal buckle
2 steel hammer-loops and steel utility tool holder

10 Pocket Oil Tanned Leather Nail & Tool Bag

(CC-825 / 019374608255)

Large main pockets,
1 back pocket,
1 front pocket,
6 small pockets
2 steel hammer-loops

Oil Tanned Leather Drill Holster

(CC-411 / 019374834111)

Drill Holder
Fits most large cordless drills
Angled for quick access
3 bit pockets

Imagine each of these not filled with tape measure and carpenters hammers, but the gentleman explorer’s compass and tinderbox, or the lady engineers setsquare and callipers. All manner of accoutrement and accessory can be carried with ease and aplomb!

The full belt for a whole out-fit changing piece in one hit, the tool bag for a major upgrade in ready-made format, or the drill-holster, for all your ray-gun and positron blaster needs!

Riece the Series

2009-11-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

Bravo to the creators of the webseries, Riece. They're releasing the episodes over the next few months, it's definately worth checking out. Me, I was sold as soon as I saw the "girl + lupine takes on the world" thing but there's a lot more substance and quality to explore.

The story synopsis:
Riese is a world of moral ambiguity and political intrigue.
A decimated land populated by characters from dreams and nightmares. Loyalties are ever in question, suspicion in the minds of all. The realm, however, was not always so cruel. Everything began with a peaceful nation called Eleysia.

The Kingdom of the Wolf, Eleysia was once prosperous due largely to the influence of Empress Kara and Emperor Ulric. This all changed when a coup d’etat, orchestrated from the shadows by a religious cult,
brought about a total regime change.

Taking the throne was Amara, the Empress’s cousin.
A power-hungry tyrant, Amara immediately utilized Eleysia’s wealth and power to begin colonizing the world, crushing nation after nation in order to unite the people under one banner. Even as she assaulted the world, an ominous, enigmatic group clearly wielded power over her. Called The Sect, they purported themselves to be the official religion of Eleysia, and began to spread alongside Eleysia’s borders.

Since the coup, the land has begun to die, resources are dwindling and compassion is fading. Humanity itself is seen as impure. People have grown restless, almost feral. Rituals and mythology have resurged, and the darker side of mankind has begun to reveal itself.

The true horror of the world is not in how it ends, but what will become of mankind as it fractures.And yet, despite the impending doom, a single beacon of light shines in Riese. A mysterious wanderer, she travels with her wolf Fenrir across this barren land. Branded as heretics by The Sect, Riese and Fenrir will pause to aid those in need as they travel, but they must evade capture at all costs. As she flees, she’ll piece together her past and her destiny, in a conflict that will hold the fate of this world in the balance - and the once peaceful kingdom of Eleysia will be the battlefield.

This is the world of Riese.

Go and watch it here. (choose the flash site for awesome cogs and ambient sound.. choose html for quick loading functionality)

Croquet Cancelled for this Afternoon

2009-11-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Hello everyone,

Due to the inclement weather I am going to have to cancel High Tea and Croquet this afternoon. Dreadfully sorry, I know we do need the rain, but it is dashed inconvienent sometimes!

I will be rescheduling for early December and will announce the new date shortly.

In the meantime, a little information on the history of croquet for you to ponder:

The game of hitting balls through hoops can be traced back to 14th century France. There, peasants fashioned hoops from willow branches and used shepherds crooks to hit the balls. It showed up again in 17th century Ireland where a British sports equipment maker, John Jaques first saw it. As their company history tells the story, he then took the idea home, equipment was produced and it quickly became the sport of the elite class. A governing body was established around 1870 in England. By mid the 1880's, its luster was tarnished by gambling and other social concerns of the Victorian era. Even the first known club The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, at Wimbledon, ejected the sport and dropped its context from the club's name. Croquet's survival was in the immense popularity as a backyard game. With the influence of the British Empire, croquet found its way to most of the Commonwealth countries.

The English players, not to be banished to their gardens forever, formed the Croquet Association (CA) in 1897. On the other side of the Atlantic, croquet's popularity grew in the 1930's and 40's. It was taken to especially by the rich and famous of the United States. Many of Hollywood stars found croquet the sport to be playing. This short resurgence in the United States plateaued until the mid-sixties when a group of players on Long Island and another in Florida started playing again. From these beginnings, the USCA was formed, and along with it, formal rules and regulations governing play, American-style.

17 amazing Steampunk synthesizer mods

2009-11-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

Brass, wood and bleeps: synths for Victorians

Music Radar present an amazing collection of steampunk synths - some are modified commercially available synthesizers and others are made from scratch. Amazing stuff.

Steampunk Wallpapers

2009-11-20T02:57:00.000-08:00

If you haven't yet checked out Steampunk Wallpapers, you should - it makes me wish I had more monitors just so I could display more of these pieces...

Lots more at the site, go check it out!

Designer Watch: Patrick Veillet

2009-11-19T04:08:00.000-08:00

Some unusual inspiration for you - bones create medieval headdresses and accessories. Amazing stuff

Check out more from Patrick Veillet here (I hope you can read French!)

Flickr's Steampunk Goldmine

2009-11-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

If you ever find yourself with a little spare time, and want to see a series of eye-bogglingly inspirational steampunk goodies.. here's a couple of flickr groups you really ought to check out.

Steampunk Gear:

The Etsy Steam Team feed is also great, but could be dangerous for your wallet..

Steampunkerie

Disney goes Steampunk thanks to MecaniqueFairy

You know who's steampunk now? Justin Bieber.

Just glue some gears on it, and call it Steampunk!

Bravo, bravo, bravo!

I say good day to you, Sir. Good Day!

Your own lifesize Steampunk Playset for 800K?

Lovely Uniform from 1918

Have a look at this spectacular woman from 1918..

From the paper of the day:

First of Women Traffic Officers

Mrs. L.N. King Takes up Duty at Seventh and K St. N.W.

Needs more Tesla's!

The Three Musketeers goes Steampunk?

Alexander McQueen - Unintentional Steam?

Steampunk Sounds: Byronic Twist

Designer to Watch: Eymmeric Francois

Not exactly steampunk, but there is loads of inspiration here. I could see a lot of these elements being incorporated into a spectacular steampunk outfit. Go to his website for even more amazingness.

Steampunk story on BBC America World News

Melbourne: Circus Oz - SteamPowered! Sat 2nd July

The Conservatory - Friday 25th March @ Abode

Shaun Tan's "The Lost Thing"..

Inception.. Steampunk Style..

Are you a 'civilized' person, suited to the Victorian period?

Eros in the Age of Steam!

Friday 25th Feburary - The Conservatory

Steampunk World Fair - San Francisco

Steampunk @ Sinthethic this Saturday Night..

Take a ThirdView on the past.

Do you consider Steampunk a strict fashion/lifestyle or are you pleased to see it blended with other fashions to create something new (not in the Regretsy 'stick clock gears to baseball hats', more along the lines of steampunk lolitas etc)?

Flickr's Treasure Trove

Dr. Engelberts Von Hoebanger’s Cynical Love Machine by philipharpr

Business Card by Otto the Confused

Cirque Acirca’s Siamese by ettadiem

Commission for SolArk Publishing by Peter Bowen

Der Dampfmensch by DoubleM2

Gala Poster by BethMOlson

Le Limonaire by Aurelian Police

Poor Belgium by Otto the Confused

Retrofuturistic Poster by House of Secrets Incorporated

Retrofuturistic New Orleans by House of Secrets Incorporated

Steampunk Art by Catherinette Rings Steampunk

Steampunk Bass by pompadorian27

Steampunk Bizarre by Doctor Grymm

The Hands of Progress by Nathaniel Hebert

The Sun by Nathaniel Hebert

Vagabond Opera by Placebo #4

Virade Cultural by Conselho SteamPunk

*tap**tap**tap* Is this thing on??! Feedback Competition!

Regretsy - (You Shouldn't Have) D-I-Y

Lady Clankington's Cabinet of Carnal Curiosities

Steamy Headphones

Movie to Watch: Sucker Punch

Steampunk Disney Princessess

Steampunk Monopoly Board

Heartless - The Story of the Tin Man

Steampunkerie on the Radio..

More fun with Dry Ice

Steampunkerie Events: Exhibit Expeditions - 30th May (Titanic) & 27th June (Burton)

Adam Wallacavage's Octopus Chandeliers

Tim Engel - Steampunk Bodypaint Photography

The Internet Circa 1900..

World's first mechanical cellphone

If you have a spare 300K greenbacks burning a hole in your pocket you might want to pick up one of these - a mechanical cellphone...

ELSIUS X VII II Mechanical Tourbillion Cellphone – Remontage Papillon Mechanism

Oldest Australian film found and restored

Thought you might enjoy this, I did - I love that our oldest film is of a rude rollerskating man.. Oldest Australian film found and restored

Special message

Film heritage

"The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele le Blanc-Sec"

Designer to watch: Stephane Halleux

formspring.me

Pirates at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival 20/21 February

Looking into the Past

Wierd and Wonderful Gadgets of the Victorian Era

The 1920s satnav ... and other weird and wonderful gadgets that never quite took off

formspring.me

Croc Jacket 'O Awesome for the more-money-than-sense steampunk

formspring.me

formspring.me

taptaptap Is this thing on??! Feedback Competition!

Thought you might enjoy this, I did - I love that our oldest film is of a rude rollerskating man..

Oldest Australian film found and restored

Fantastic fashion blogger Outsapop (http://www.outsapop.com/) shares these great shelving ideas.
I'd love to cover some walls with this sort of eclectic arrangement, I can see it becoming a wunderkammer: