It’s been one of my personal ambitions to attend a masquerade ball, so when I learned there was going to be one in Seattle, I twisted a friend’s arm, and we went! It’s called “Venice is Sinking” and supports a charity, so it’s definitely a win.
For several reasons (including the fact that it goes on until 2am) we decided to stay over in Seattle one night. I booked us a room at the lovely Warwick Hotel, and we had lots of time to get dressed and primp before the ball.
My friend Sara borrowed my 18th century pocket hoops and built herself a gown to fit over them. The pocket hoops ended up being very practical, as we smuggled in our own drinks and snacks inside them!
She decided to use this youtube tutorial for her hair. It’s a good thing I re-familiarized myself with the tutorial before we left, because it turned out to be too difficult to do the hair ratting and pinning by herself, so Sara recruited me. It turned out marvelously, and held up through the entire evening!
I wore my sixteenth century “Dangerous Beauty” inspired Courtesan outfit.
It was fun ball, although the entertainment was not as non-stop as we’d been lead to believe, and the costume contest was a total bust. I’d been assured it was a judged event, and since the prize was a $1500 couture gown, I’d decided to try for it. However, all the ‘judging’ meant was that a person walked around and handed out five golden necklaces to the ‘best costumes’. No offense to the winners, but they weren’t the best costumes. I saw many ladies in attendance whose outfits were far better. One of the necklace winners was simply wearing a simple white evening dress with a wig – not at all in the same category as a lady wearing a full (and very gorgeous) 18th century costume who did NOT get one. I didn’t get one either, sigh…but it wouldn’t have mattered since after you got a necklace, it turned into a popularity contest after all. The winner won based on how many friends she had screaming in the audience. 😦
The entertainment was excellent, with roving performers such as contortionists, stilt-walkers, jugglers, and acrobats.
Periodically, they had stage performers as well, from Burlesque (and those ladies had gorgeous outfits!):
to circus-style silks and hoops:
My favorite costume I saw was this guy. He had a moon mask with an actual hanging light.
It was so awesome, I had to get a video…and then of course, I held the camera wrong and ended up with a sideways picture. 😦
Then we had fun with the ballroom lighting:
And Sara very artistically fixed her skirt:
The next morning before we came home, we spent the day in Seattle. We discovered the Sculpture Park isn’t worth seeing, and the best pizza comes from a little hole-in-the-wall place with boardgames and quirky artwork. We also visited the Great Gum Wall at Pike’s Place Market.
I went to my first Steamcon last weekend, and I already know it won’t be my last! It was so much fun; the panels, guests, and people-watching were top-notch.
Here are a few of my adventures, along with a few photos.
First off, I was severely sleep-deprived when we arrived on Friday because I’d been up until about 3am the night before attending the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows midnight premiere. (I’ll do a separate blog about that night later on.) We get to the Hilton in Seattle and get checked *just* in time for the first panel I really wanted to see. I’m a huge League of Steam fan, and was delighted to hear a few of the members had flown up to Seattle. Their first panel was pretty much an introduction to who they are and what they do. If you haven’t watched any of their short films, you need to check them out on youtube. They are seriously the definition of everything cool about steampunk! Their gear is absolutely amazing. Everything ‘works’, from the baby eel shock-prong, to the net gun, to the plunger-canon!
They also have amazing costumes:
This is their zombie expert, Baron Von Fogel. His most awesome bit of equipment is his hand-crank chainsaw.
Ghostbuster Crackitus Potts (shown here holding his baby eel shock prod – which actually does deliver shocks, as testified by brave members of the audience):
LadyAmeliorette Potts, his wife, also came, but by the second day was strangely absent, and in her place was one of the female ghosts who haunt the League of Steam:
Her costume was absolutely to-die for, with so much incredible detail. I took many close-up pics, and will post them on my costume blog, Dragonfly Designs by Alisa. In the background, you can see the fourth member of the League, Zedediah. He is a domesticated zombie, and very well-behaved. If anyone was attacked, the evidence must have been cleared away quickly, because I saw no sign of mayhem whatsoever.
This guy was really amazing. He staying in character the entire day, complete with eyes rolled back and drool.
On one of their other panels (shared by a genuine ghost-investigator), Potts took the opportunity to demonstrate his ghostbusting skills:
Friday evening was the Singalong with Abney Park. Unfortunately, Abney Park was “unable to make it”, so they dredged up a last minute replacement band: Ranch Hand Robbie and his Wranglers! It was hilarious to watch them attempt to stay in character as they “covered” their own songs.
I wore my Zombie Hunter outfit:
The second day (Saturday) I wore my Steampunk Geisha costume, which proved to be the most popular costume I’ve ever made!
It was difficult to walk more than a few feet without being asked to stop for a photo, and once I was stopped by one person, it quickly turned into a mob scene – I was instantly surrounded by cameras! I truly felt like a celebrity in this dress! I was even given an award ribbon by the Rose City Steampunks for “thinking outside the box” and “wearing a color other than brown”. 😀
One guy said there had actually been a panel earlier in which they had discussed what a ‘steampunk geisha’ costume might look like. How funny if I’d managed to attend it in this outfit!
One of Saturday’s outstanding panels was the one with Abney Park. Despite it being “early morning” (1pm!) they were awesome. They told so many great tales, like Dan’s accidental arrest for convenience store armed robbery…
I was too busy laughing to take video, but someone else did:
They were having so much fun they went over their time, and I had to walk out before it was quite over in order to meet my friend Mike for the High Tea and Fashion Show at 2pm.
The High Tea setting was gorgeous, with white linen and candles. They served ham and salmon tea sandwiches, mini quiches, and for dessert, mini petit fours, cream puffs, and mini eclairs. The menu and schedule they handed out was gorgeous too:
We chose seats right up against the catwalk, and by chance the lady who took the seat next to mine was the wife of writer James Blaylock, the Steamcon guest of honor! She and her husband were wonderful tea companions; during the fashion show, she kept leaning over to whisper: “Could I commission you to make THAT for me???” 😀 Too bad I don’t actually take costuming commissions, or I’d have had work for months – she had a serious case of costume-envy, after seeing all the great steampunk outfits all day!
Unfortunately, they didn’t allow any photography inside the tea room, but the fashion show was great fun. Especially the designs from Lastwear. They had their models act out little skits as they walked the runway! I did find this photographer’s page with photos of the fashion show. If you go about 1/3 of the way down the page, you’ll find a guy wearing a black cap with goggles, a black jacket, and a red kerchief around his neck. He was particular fun for me, since he stopped right at our table, crouched down, made very intense eye contact with me, and proceeded to silently flirt. When he left, Mrs Blaylock leaned over to comment that he had ‘wonderful eyes’. Yes. Yes he did! *blush*
Saturday evening was the big concert. None of us thought very much of the opening band (Bakelite 78) but the second band, Ghoultown, was very good. I think I’ll get one of their CDs. The headliner was Abney Park, and they were excellent as always, even though they were plagued with technical difficulties with Kristina’s keyboard. (Like one of the fans shouted, it isn’t a real AP concert unless something breaks….)
Sunday I wore my Saloon Girl outfit.
I posed for more photo-ops, and had girls chase me down so they could pet my shoulder martin. Also, I was reminded of an occurrence that happens only at costume-type cons: mutual butt fondling! Yep, get two or more ladies wearing bustles together, and pretty soon it becomes a free-for-all, as everyone wants to examine the construction of everyone else’s bustle! 😀
Late afternoon it started to SNOW, and the con cleared out fast, as all the panels were pretty much over, as no one wanted to get stuck in Seattle! This is also when I discovered that semi-skimpy saloon girl outfits don’t do well in snow – gads, that was a cold walk to our car!
My favorite panels ended up being:
Steampunk Ghost Hunting (funny AND informative!)
Eureka it Works! (that fabulous League of Steam & their equipment)
Victorian Undergarments (they had actual extant corsets, bustles, and petticoats to pass around for the audience to examine)
The Abney Park panel (well, of course!)
The Art and Science of Fencing (Knives, swords, and live dueling, what’s not to love?)
Perhaps the best part of any con is the people-watching. Next, I give you some of the most awesome and fun costumes that other people were wearing:
This guy’s costume was flippin’ amazing. I wish it showed in the pic, but inside the cage was a fairy. And she moved, flying up and down in the most lifelike manner. I don’t know how he did it, but it was GREAT.
Best wings ever. They actually extended and retracted!
This guy’s hat lighted up in several amazing ways. And besides that, he was just one of those really nice people that are such a pleasure to meet at cons. We took pictures of each other, and then (since I was in my geisha outfit) a crowd gathered and we ended up posing together for several minutes worth of pictures.
I have a love for mechanical arms. This guy had one of the best.
Mechanical arms aren’t amazing enough for you? How about a mechanical ostrich???
Another pair of wings, and a guy whose costume is just generally cool. Back view:
And front view:
A mechanical dog that moves, lights up, and barks. It reminds me of the Doctor’s K9.
How can you not love a guy with an octopus on his shoulder? It’s so elegant!
Here’s another one that the picture doesn’t do it justice. At all. This is an articulated dragon, with “fire” in all its joints and under its scales. So cool!
I don’t quite know who/what this girl was, but anyone who carries a glowing green brain around on their back is seriously cool!
Great fun was had, and I’m going back next year for sure – I already have costume ideas flooding my own (hopefully non green and glowing) brain!
Also, we are SO GLAD the con ended when it did, because today (Monday) Seattle is an absolute mess because of the snow. If the snow had begun day or two earlier, it would probably have been canceled!
Steampunk is addicting, and it spreads like a virus. Witness what happens when ONE librarian girl (me) is infected with steampunk love.
Yes, it starts spreading through the library! All but one of those people looking at you is a librarian girl or guy (excepting the guy in the blue jacket – I have no idea who he is, but he seems to want to join our group!). Two of these newbies put together their steampunk outfits on their own, and are already talking about future steampunk outfits. Here we’re waiting in line to get into Studio 7 in Seattle, where Abney Park is going to put on their second Circus at the End of the World.
When we get inside, we fail to snag my preferred standing area – right up against the stage on Nathaniel’s side. I have a deep weakness for kilted, violin-playing men!
Nathaniel
But, we are not too late to be up against the stage on bass guitarist Daniel’s side. This is also cool, though the bass plays havoc with my camera’s video recording capabilities, as you’ll hear when we get to the video portion of this blog….
Being so close to Daniel gave me an opportunity to study out his costume, though, and now I’m definitely inspired to sculpt him as a penguin. (I’ve already done Captain Robert – who can resist a penguin in leather with spiked hair?)
Captain Robert
Also we were closer on this side to the new back-up singer, Jody Ellen, who is AWESOME.
As with any Abney Park show many, many things went wrong. The lights went out on stage during “Airship Pirates”, Robert forgot a few more lyrics, and he totally demolished his new mic. You know, the ‘sturdy’ one he built to withstand stage performance? 🙂 I hope he can fix it, because this mic was Made of Win. It wouldn’t be an Abney Park show if these small disasters didn’t strike!
We also were treated to several ‘circus’ acts, including a gorgeous fire dancer.
After the show, we met Nathaniel and Daniel outside, and they posed for pictures with me. Also completely par the course when I meet these guys, I had a camera malfunction – this time I forgot I’d turned my flash off, so the pictures turned out very….grim.
They both liked my ‘zombie hunter’ outfit, and Daniel even bragged to Nathaniel that I was ‘his fan’ because I’d stood at his side of the stage (awesome that he saw and remembered me!). Nathaniel said I’d have to be on his side for the next show! And then my friend Bonnie was rewarded with one of Nathaniel’s ‘epic hugs’ for taking the picture of us!
Below is video of “Building Steam”. At the very beginning, you’ll see that the mic manages to get in one good swing at Robert before Robert demolishes it!
Here are two videos of the fire dancers/eaters. Pretty awesome – wish I could do this! During one of these performances, Robert’s lyric cheat sheet was nearly burned. That would have made for an interesting second half to the show….
There was also a lovely lady in a hoop. I was so very envious of her boots….
And as one of the final performances (and according to Daniel performed this one time only!) Robert sang his April Fool’s Joke. (He had told the fans on April Fools that he was done with Abney Park and steampunk, and was going solo as a post-apocalyptic country-western singer named ‘Ranch Hand Robbie”. Best April Fool’s ever.)
Here is Ranch Hand Robbie (at the beginning he’s trying to repair his broken mic with a tool borrowed from a fan):
If you are on the web, you have probably already seen this. If not, take 3 minutes out of your life and watch it: pure awesomeness.
*note: It apparently took 60 takes to get this video filmed. And each take required the machine to be reset, which took about an hour. Each time. That’s dedication, people!
As I’ve mentioned before, I went to FaerieWorld’s Winter Celebration this January. It was held in Eugene OR, which is a loooong drive from where I live. So long, in fact, that we decided to take the train. Amtrak was late arriving (as bloody usual) making us about two hours late getting in to Eugene. It was 7:30 when our hotel shuttle picked us up at the station, and guess what? The Good Faeries Ball began at 7:30. Not good. The shuttle guy offered to drop us at the theater and take our luggage back to the hotel, but we were starved, exhausted, and not in costume. So since none of the performers at the Good Faeries Ball were especially exciting to us (we were mostly going for the Bad Faeries Ball), we decided to skip it.
The next day, we hit the daytime Faeriewords events, which were slightly underwhelming, but I did have the whole ‘celebrity experience’ – everyone gathering around me like I was famous and wanting to take my picture, so it wasn’t a total loss! 🙂 This steampunk outfit I put together is definitely one of my most popular ever – and people adored the wings.
I call it the “Mistress of Time” aka the Time Faerie, because it has all sorts of time-y details: watches, bottles of the ‘sands of time’ and all sorts of other awesome things. For more pictures, and a making-of, you can check out my other blog: Dragonfly Designs by Alisa. This costume is on the page called “Black and White Steampunk”.
My brother Jon, who came with me, also had his costume. I made the half mask and the goggles. The goggles are ‘Captain Robert’ approved; when I met him after the show, he complimented Jon on the goggles! I’ll be putting the half mask up for sale; if anyone who’s reading this is interested, leave me a comment!
The second evening went much better; in fact it was pure fabulous fun! The ‘Bad Faeries Ball’ was the real reason we’d gone to Eugene in the first place. There were two bands that performed. The second, Beats Antique, was awesome. I didn’t take this video (Jon forgot to bring his video camera!) but here’s the sound:
Dancing to their music was Tribal Belly Dancer, Zoe Jakes, who was awesome. I love the tribal style, and Zoe was as good as any of the big names, like Sharon Kihara or Rachel Brice. And since I was right up against the stage (I could not have gotten any closer) she was right there. When she danced with a huge pair of feather fans, she touched my face! Again, this is not my video, but here she is dancing:
But before Beats Antique, there was….Abney Park. I could not love this band any more than I do. Their sound is so unusual, and the member themselves are so creative. The lead singer, “Captain Robert” not only makes all the band’s awesome steampunk’d instruments, but he also made his own striped pants with tape and spray paint! What costumer couldn’t love a guy like that??? 🙂
I met Daniel’s daughter, Lilli, before the show. She’s so cute, and she loved my wings. During the song where the guitarist/violinist Nathaniel needs someone to hold his violin (he trades back and forth rapidly between the two instruments) Robert pulled Lilli up onto the stage.
She (not surprisingly) was more interested in watching her dad than in watching for Nathaniel’s cues!
Afterward, she danced with Robert’s wife (keyboardist Kristina) while Robert looked on and smiled.
Then the two guitarists had a battle (Nathaniel and Daniel)….
And I think Nathaniel thinks he won….
Robert became jealous of Nathaniel’s coolness and tried a bit of air/mike guitar:
This was the first show I’d seen since their fabulous dancer/backup singer quit, so I was slightly nervous about how I’d like the new girl, Jody Ellen. I shouldn’t have worried. She was perfect for them, so full of energy and fun.
Robert and his family had only just returned from several weeks’ vacation, and I think he still had a bit of ‘vacation brain’ happening, because he brought along a cheat sheet of lyrics for ‘Aether Shanty’ – which has, in his words, “really long words”! Really long words didn’t explain why he also forgot the lyrics to “Airship Pirates”. He stopped midsong, laughing, and asked for a volunteer from the audience to help him out. Turns out, that the volunteer (though very excited to be on stage) didn’t know the lyrics either! Not my video, but here’s the song as it turned out:
After the show, I met the band, got a CD signed for my friend Bonnie, and introduced myself to Robert as the fan who sculpted him in miniature. His “action figure” as he called it! He remembered me, said he LOVED it, and grabbed the rest of the band to tell them that “This is her! She’s the one who made it!”
So I got a picture with him (which unfortunately didn’t turn out well – but hey, that’s only an excuse to snuggle up with him next time, right???)
I was checking out a fellow costumer’s blog, when I came across a fabulous steampunk coat she’d created for this fellow’s wedding. From there, I clicked on the fellow’s site, to see more pics (because this was a marvelous wedding, folks, filled with tall ships, bustles, and rayguns!).
But what really filled me with awe was the wedding cake:
Wow. Just wow. And from there I went to the cake designer’s site, and you have got to go look! From the gallery menu, don’t miss the purse and shoe cakes in the “haute couture” section or the children’s “pop-up book” in the children’s cake section. Unbelievable. And the prices seem reasonable, too, considering that if I bought a cake like that I’d never be able to cut it up and eat it – I’d want to put it behind glass and stare at it like the piece of art it is!
I’ve long been a friendly internet stalker of Aimee Major Steinberger. I love her various blogs, her art, her costume-making skills, and I adore her book on Japan. I didn’t think anything would make me want to go to Japan, but this book did! Plus, she’s a gardener, anime/cosplay fan, and a Dr Who fanatic.
Recently on her blog, she offered copies of her sketchbook for $4 – and, if you ordered one, she would do a sketch of your choice in the back. Yes!
Here’s my copy:
And here’s a copy of the sketch she did for me personally:
Yes, you know it….of course I asked her to sketch the 10th Doctor!
And speaking of the Doctor, don’t forget that tonight is the US premiere of The Waters of Mars on BBC America. I’ve seen it, and it’s marvelous.
Out of Eden 