Steampunkery

A Fall "Halloween" fundraiser is held every year in my historic hometown of Milton, NC. I try to go whenever I can, and always have fun dressing up for the costume "contest". I've been Ellie May Clampett, a "dark vampire countess", and a swashbuckling pirate princess.

This year I indulged my growing fascination with Steampunk style, and went neo-Victorian.

And I spent a total of $25.50 on this whole costume. 

When I decided to create a neo Vicrotian Steampunk costume this year, I first went to the costume boxes I have inherited from mom and keep in storage in my house.

I found this black skirt with a wide ruffle on the bottom, about two sizes too big for me, but with a drawstring waist! When I get it on and cinch up the drawstring, the excess fabric in the back creates a "bustle" effect. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of that.

I borrowed this ruffle fronted shirt from my pirate princess costume from a few years back.

Skirt and top: FREE. 

Next, I decided I needed something extra so I started on Plan A - and decided to alter a man's black velvet waistcoat I found in the costume box into an "underbust" vest, but soon gave up, as I was running out of time and my sewing skills are limited to the most basic you can imagine.

Plan B -I went on line and decided to buy a corset to wear on the outside of my costume, as many Steampunk fanciers do. Corsets are expensive, and I also decided it was just a bit too "sexy" for a family event. So I scratched the corset plan, and went to plan C.    

Plan C was a corset style wide buckle belt, and I found one for $16 + free shipping on eBay and bought it.

Then I decided I needed a nifty hat. So again, I turned to eBay where I bought, for $7 + free shipping, a basic cheap black top hat. Then I added all the frills and fancies, including ribbon, veiling, and a large button among my craft stash. I purchased a package of feathers at Hobby Lobby for $2.50 and used those as well. I loved how the hat turned out!

I tried in vain to find some Victorian style high heeled boots to buy, but Goodwill failed me and eBay was pretty steep for my costume budget. So I wore lacey tights I had on hand and a pair of black oxford style t-strap heels from my shoe hoard.

The finishing touch was my Great Grandmother's gold watch that I lifted from my Mom's house. She is away in Illinois visiting my oldest brother and his family, so I was able to get it out from the glass display thing she keeps the family's heirloom antique watches in. Mouhahahahaha. I sewed this little black velvet bow pin for it, even though you can see it is meant to be hung from a fob upside down, so the wearer could see it easily.

The watch is engraved with my Great Grandmother's Name: "Nellie F. (Field) Bird".

 Isn't the inside cool looking?

Viola. Steampunkery.

I was a bit bummed, because I forgot my "prop": my vintage Victorian style umbrella with the fancy engraved Mother of Pearl handle that my sister gave me. Oh well.  

I am loving neo Victorian style and have several other outfits in the making; to include my WW1 jodphurs. :)

Anyone else dressing up this "costume season"?

The Last Flowers Of Summer

 

I can't believe it is October already. I am kind of relieved - because this summer has been brutal and I am glad for cooler weather, and the Holidays. And pumpkin desserts, cozy clothes, toasty fires, hot tea, boots......... yeah. 

My flowers are still going strong, especially the zinnias. I am enjoying them while I can. 

Yep, that's Brutus, lounging inside yet another one of my furniture rescue projects which I will post about soon. 

Speaking of cats, this sweater is currently the most popular item in my Etsy shop, with more views and "hearts" than anything else I have posted of late. It's so kitschy I almost didn't buy it/list it but it was so "out there" I knew I had to!

Happy October, everyone. :)

A Quick Trip

(The house photos above are just of some random, ramshakle house near where Kevin was working in the afternoon that I thought had great character.)

(The pier above was destroyed during one of the last hurricanes - I think it was Irene? - last summer.)

I went on an impromptu trip with my husband this weekend, a little work (for him) and a little play. We headed over to the coast of North Carolina where we stayed at the vacation home of a work colleague of his, on the Albermarle sound, just a short drive to the Outer Banks. The OBX, as they're sometimes referred to, are barrier islands that make up the coast of North Carolina. The Sounds within the barrier islands are like lagoons.
Lucky for us, we live just under 4 hrs. from the OBX, and Kevin goes there, often, for work. We just don't always stay.
I've been to the OBX many times before; straying in Nag's Head mostly. I love and adore the North Carolina Outer Banks, almost as much as I love and adore Florida beaches. 

The wire box in the last photo is a crab tap. You stick bait in the middle and toss it in the water for several hours. The crabs climb in but can't get out. I've gone crabbing before, but never with traps; when I went crabbing it was with family in Louisiana; and we used lines and nets. You bait your hook and line, and toss it in the water; crabs flock to it and you pull them out with the net and toss them in a bucket. Except when I went crabbing, the alligators were vying for the bait along side the crabs. Once you have an alligator jump out of the water and bite off your line that you're holding in your hand, it kinda makes you want to never go crabbing again.

I find the trap method much nicer. And you get to keep your hands. That's a plus.

These are blue softshell crabs, which means these crabs have lost their hard outer shell and are still pretty soft. They're only in season from April - Sept. When I took the photos of the ones above, I was quite a distance off (pretty nice zoom on my camera) and they were eating the algae off the rocks.

A gorgeous storm rolled in across the sound, with stunning clouds. I didn't get enough photos to do it justice....





We got back home today and it's back to the ol' grindstone of working and ... well, working. And working and working.....

*sigh*


PS.... OMG. I Just realized, this is my 501th post on this blog. Wow.

:)

Blackberry Season

It's Summer. And summer means blackberries (among other things). This year they're really abundant! I can't remember when I have seen so many. And they're fat and juicy; not puny and tart like most years.

So this calls for black berry pie! I made one for our Father's Day picnic last weekend.  Yum!

Wild Blackberry Pie

4 cups fresh blackberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 pie crusts

2 Tbsp. milk

2 Tbsp. sugar

Add the flour and sugar to 3 1/2 cups blackberries. Place in pie pan lined with one pie crust.  Place remaining 1/2 cup berries over the top. Top with second pie crust, crimp edges, and make a few slits in the top. Brush the crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar. 

Bake 15 min. at  425 degrees; then reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 20 - 25 min. more.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Tip: always use glass pie pans. The crusts turn out so much better than with metal ones. Also, use the refrigerated pie crusts or make your own; the crusts that come in the freezer section of the grocery store are really gross. A nice home made filling deserves a good crust(s). 

Here are a couple more pics of our picnic....... I made some flower arrangements with flowers in my yard and in the fields on the farm.

Work Perk

The people I work for have a hedge of blueberry bushes in their back yard; and I am allowed to pick all I want and take them home.

Organic, lovely blueberries with no pesticides or chemicals of any kind sprayed on them.

Free. 

Yum.

By the way, my third generation zinnias are thriving. I got a bag of dried flower heads from my friend Jackie two years ago; last year I planted them and cut off all the heads as they dried up and saved them, planting them again this year - and they're just as healthy as can be. I think zinnias are essential to any cottage style garden and I am thrilled I can continue harvesting my own flower seeds.

The Road

The Road goes ever on and on
    Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
    And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
    Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
    And whither then? I cannot say.

- J.R.R. Tolkien

Hick Chick.

My sister and I had a bit  of  fun in the hayfield after we returned from a baby shower to help the rest of the family pick up hay bales on the farm.

Yes, that is one of my husband's collection of International Harvester tractors.

And yes, I have driven it.

The back tires are taller than I am, and it intimidates the heck out of me, and I don't drive it very often - but a farm girl's gotta do what a farm girl's gotta do.


Dress: Marshalls. Purchased for my Grandmother's funeral three years ago. I cannot put on this dress and not think of that day. 
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Jessica Simpson, thrifted. 
Necklace: Vintage. Milk glass beads. 
Ring: Vintage 60s, Etsy

Morning On The Farm

A mid week day off from work = strawberry jam, gathering eggs, smelling the flowers...... and trying to relax a huge headache away.

Weekend Fun

My peonies are blooming.  And the irises. And the honey suckle.... when there is a breeze you can smell the honeysuckle on the air. One of the many joys of living in the country.


My seldom photographed cat, Cosette. She is grumpy.


An old, hand dug well on our property. It is very dangerous, as children, pets, and even an adult - could fall into it. And it's 25 feet down to the bottom.


So Kevin filled it in.


Can you spot the yellow doggie playing hide and seek in the oat field???




Peanut butter cup cupcakes. With mini cupcakes on top.... hee hee


I had a yard sale in the front yard..... not very well attended, but I shall try again.


My station for the yard sale - a roomy wicker chair, a glass of sweet iced tea, and a book.