Smoke gets in your eyes

Clementine and I have spent most of the last week-and-a-half sunbathing in Momma's brother's back yard. 

Momma scrubbed us down ("Don't forget to wash behind your ears!") and carefully hand-washed the Doctor Who outfits we wore to Phoenix Comicon 16 on Saturday before the fire. Other than one or two minor soot stains on our cloth bodies and Tardis bag, we're practically good as new!

Momma says I need to be restrung, but that can wait until she assembles the necessary materials again. 

Meanwhile, Clementine and I plan to write a Strongly Worded letter of praise to the manufacturer of our Tardis backpack. I hate to think what our appearance would be without it. 

Shindig

fox.com

Heaven help me.

pixiefaire.com

Clementine has decided what she wants to wear when she meets Captain Malcolm Reynolds, I mean Nathan Fillion, at Phoenix Comicon.

She wants Momma to make her a Firefly-inspired dress from Melody Valerie Couture's Ardith pattern.

Captain Reynolds hurt Kaylee's feelings in the Firefly episode "Shindig." To apologize, he bought her a fancy pink dress she wanted and took her to a party.

And now Clementine wants her own version.

Shiny.

So Long, It's Been Good to Know You

Smithsonian Folkways

I tip my tiny top hat today in memory of an American legend who died late last night, Pete Seeger.

Growing up in the late '60s and early '70s in Appalachian Ohio gave Momma an appreciation for folk music. In fact, my darling Clementine is named after his rendition of the old ballad, Clementine.
 
Seeger, who was 94 when he died, was an American folk singer. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s but was blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, he re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture and environmental causes.

If you have never truly listened to this musical genius, Momma and I highly recommend Seeger's American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 1 by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Paper caper

Printable Doll Clothes

One size fits all.

Snort.

If there is one marketing gimmick that makes Momma laugh, it is that.

Printable Doll Clothes

She is 6 feet 3 inches tall (or was in her youth) and claims clothes are even harder to find for herself than they are for Me and my Steam Team.

So we were both surprised when we discovered printable doll clothes thanks to Char at Doll Diaries.

Yes, printable. As in your computer printer.

Did you know paper clothing, in the form of women's dresses and other clothes made from disposable cellulose fabric, was a short-lived fashion novelty item in the 1960s United States?
Historically, paper and papier-mâché clothes and accessories (especially masquerade costumes) were used as early as the 19th century, but mass-produced paper fashion was invented by the American Scott Paper Company in 1966 as a marketing stunt. Customers could send in a coupon and $1.25 to receive a dress made of "Dura-Weve," a cellulose material patented in 1958.

But as the novelty appeal of paper clothes wore off, their downsides became more apparent: they were generally ill-fitting and uncomfortable to wear, their garish colors could rub off, they were often flammable and, of course, they ended up as trash. By 1968, paper clothing had disappeared from the market^.

We had to go see for ourselves after hearing about Printable Doll Clothes. Momma and I both had to laugh when we saw this:

"My dolls never seem to understand the concept of 'size' when they want to borrow each others dresses. Luckily my printable doll clothes are very accommodating to different doll sizes."

Sounds like me, Clementine, Robecca, the Wilde bunch, and now Ana Ming.

Inspired by Jules Verne books with a dash of Steampunk, Julia is perfect for an adventure into the realms of imagination.

Each outfit set comes with mix and match tops, skirts, sleeves, and accessories which can be combined to create many different outfits.

This collection includes five outfit sets (four color, one B&W), each of which is a four-page PDF file and contains three tops, a straight skirt, flared skirt, circle skirt, one small circle, and two belt and strap sets.

Elizabeth has kindly shared the Julia pattern with me, so expect a more in-depth review and fashion shoot in the near future!

In the meantime, if you would like more information on Printable Doll Clothes and how they are made, you can visit her website, PrintableDollClothes.com. Her designs are available as printable PDF files at her Etsy Store, https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintableDollClothes.

Ana Ming dynasty

I'm sorry I haven't blogged as much recently as I had hoped, but Momma (and I!) have been swamped with her new job at Toys Я Us.

However, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new friend, Ana Ming, straight from Char at Doll Diaries!

Char needed to make room in her dolly world for another doll, so Ana Ming is coming to live with us.

According to the Carpatina website:

Ana Ming
The vitality and glory of the ancient Orient-home of her mother's ancestors-fascinate Ana Ming.

Lively intelligence glows in her rich brown eyes. With gleaming waist-length black hair, glowing cheeks, and rose-touched lips, she has a timeless beauty.

A0000 ~ Ana Ming Doll

• Collectible, 18" slim all vinyl body, Kanekolan wig, closing eyes
• Golden Brocade Dress with Mandarin collar and delicate frog closures, Underwear & Matching Shoes
• Blue Presentation Box and tag with care instructions

Momma has promised to get her the Camden Station Outfit as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile, Clementine and I are camped outside waiting for the Pony Express to arrive....


 

News for nerds

Thankfully the internet cooperated today (I think it ran out of steam yesterday) so here (finally!) are the photos of our adventures at Phoenix Comicon 13.

Phoebe, Clementine, and I had a blast. We hope you can join us next year!

I'll post more this week about various experiences, but for now enjoy the photos and feel free to ask questions.

https://plus.google.com/photos/112240988257177027782/albums/5882735746861350577

Cup of brown joy

Sadly, we are not attending Wild Wild West Con II this weekend due to inclimate weather and Momma's weak lungs.

To cheer us up Momma got us our very own cookies bisquits so Clementine and I could participate in the honourable sport of tea duelling.

However, Momma didn't read the Articles of the Honourable Association of Tea Duellists before purchasing them for us and didn't realize these frosted beauties (inspired by Clementine's cameo!) are not permitted.

Unfortunately those honourable snacks, bisquits brown and bisquits fruit are forbidden for use in Tea Duelling under Queen's regulations. 

We also have too many, since only six are permitted for the duelists.

Oh well, we shall still enjoy our "cuppa and nom."

Fearsome critters

Clementine insisted it was her turn to have an adventure with Molly so we went looking for that elusive creature: the jackalope.

I had heard of these supposedly mythical creatures, but Clementine said they were real and could be seen at most roadside attractions in Arizona.

For those who don't know, a jackalope is a jackrabbit with antlers. The word "jackalope" is a combination of "jackrabbit" and "antalope," an old-fashioned spelling of "antelope." It is also known as Lepus temperamentalus.

We found this gentle specimen outside of town. Molly was alarmed by Clementine's rifle* and raised her flag in surrender, but we assured her the rifle was saved for real varmints - not jackalopes.


*No jackalopes were harmed in the making of this adventure.

The wildest, wickedest night spot

Raven with some cigar store statues. Photo by Super Inky.

My buddy Inky was back in Arizona for a recent visit but we weren't able to get together ... again.

As Inky would say, "Argh!"

While she was here she and my other friend Raven visited Clementine's old home: Tombstone, Ariz.

Without us.

Clementine and I both had a good laugh when Inky wrote:

Here's Raven with some cigar store statues. We definitely learned that Tombstone, in its heyday, was not a good place for kids. It was full of saloons, cowboys, and dancing ladies. There were even gunfights. Yikes! 

Gee, you think? 

Tombstone was founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. Its population grew from 100 to around 14,000 in less than seven years. In 1881, it became the county seat of the new Cochise County.

Far distant from any other metropolitan city, by mid-1881 Tombstone boasted a bowling alley, four churches, an ice house, a school, two banks, three newspapers, and an ice cream parlor, as well as 110 saloons, 14 gambling halls, and numerous dance halls and brothels. All of these were situated among and on top of a large number of dirty, hardscrabble mines.

The gentlemen and ladies of Tombstone attended operas presented by visiting acting troupes at the Schieffelin Hall opera house, while the miners and cowboys saw shows at the Bird Cage Theatre, "the wildest, wickedest night spot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast" according to The New York Times in 1882.

Clementine certainly had her hands full keeping peace in the streets of Tombstone.

Ever hear of the Gunfight at O.K. Corral? That's how we met.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

CSBSEWS

I am so excited.

I wanted this Steampunk Ensemble by CSBSEWS back in May but someone beat Momma to it.

Now it's been offered again on the resale market and Momma snagged it!

Originally it came with dress, hat, boots, tights, vest, jacket, necklace and key chains.

It's now missing the hat but I've got plenty.

I think I'll give it to Clementine.

Don't you think it looks like her?

Cameo appearance

When Clementine arrived I couldn't help but notice the delicate cameo around her neck.

When I asked her about it, Clementine said she'd had it for as long as she could remember and that she loved cameos.

I promptly gave her (with Momma's permission, of course) the cameo locket Momma got for me at Comicon.

It seemed appropriate to me since it continues Clementine's skeletal gunslinger theme and the locket and chain are copper - Arizona's largest mining industry. (Arizona’s early economy relied on the "five C's": copper, cotton, cattle, citrus, and climate (tourism).)

Cameo is a method of carving an object such as an engraved gem, item of jewelery or vessel made in this manner. It nearly always features a raised (positive) relief image with a contrasting (negative) base.

Today the term may be used very loosely for objects with no colour contrast, and other, metaphorical, terms have developed, such as cameo appearance. Another generalized meaning is an image of a head in an oval frame in any medium, such as a photograph.

Momma has promised to put photos of us in Clementine's locket so we shall always be together.

 

The future is worth fighting for

Clementine and I have been having a lot of fun getting to know one another and share our stories.
 
As you know, Clementine is from 1881 Tombstone, Ariz., but she's also an avid time and space traveler.

Specifically, she's a proud member of the Firefly-class spaceship, Serenity.

Five hundred years in the future there's a whole new frontier, and the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity is eager to stake a claim on the action. They'll take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. But things get a bit more complicated after they take on a passenger wanted by the new totalitarian Alliance regime. Now they find themselves on the run, desperate to steer clear of Alliance ships and the flesh-eating Reavers who live on the fringes of space.

Firefly premiered in the United States on Sept. 20, 2002, but was canceled after 11 episodes. Despite the series' relatively short life span, it received strong sales when it was released on DVD and has large fan support campaigns.

The post-airing success of the show led to a 2005 film, Serenity, based on the series. The Firefly franchise expanded from the series and film to other media including comics and a role-playing game.

Personally, I think Clementine looks like a young Zoe Alleyne Washburne—second-in-command of the Serenity.

Howdy pardner!

Today was quite the exciting day for me.

Momma told me that my darling Clementine was finally coming to live with us after she did some fancy horse trading.

As you might recall, I started dreaming of her in June. But Momma said times were tough and I'd just have to be patient.

I hate being patient.

I mean, I've had Clementine's Welcome Home outfit ready for months!

But today that patience finally paid off.

Isn't she gorgeous?!

We've already promised to be life long best friends.

Oh, the places we'll go.... 
 

To boldly wait

outfit by Sew Fun Doll Clothes

Well, My Darling Clementine's outfit is here ... but who knows when Clementine herself will arrive.

I feel like I'm stuck waiting in the original 1968 Star Trek episode, Spectre of the Gun.

As punishment for trespassing on their planet, the inhabitants condemn Captain Kirk and his landing party as the losing side of a surreal recreation of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone.

The setting for Tombstone is drawn from Kirk's memory, but the illusion has a surreal incompleteness to it – buildings are obvious facades, windows and pictures appear to float in mid-air, a floating clock, doors open to nowhere, etc.

The landing party also sees their equipment is changed; phasers turned into six-shooters, communicators and tricorders are missing, and there is no longer a way to make contact with the Enterprise.

And time is ticking away for Kirk ... and Me.

Clockwork couture

Cher of Sew Fun Doll Clothes is busy creating a fun new outfit for my darling Clementine.

The outfit starts with a lace up bolero jacket in golden tan twill lined with gold shantung. It features a Steampunk Gunslinger embroidery design from Urban Threads on the back; pistols border embroidery (also from Urban Threads) on the lower sleeves; a gear with brown suede bow above the peplum ruffle in the back; and brass eyelets laced with brown suede cord in the front opening.

A doll can get pretty hot fighting crime in the Wild West, so Cher's doll is wearing a sleeveless camisole of black muslin under her coat. It has feminine ruffles around the neckline and waist; and it buttons in the front with four small black buttons (no velcro to snag your doll's hair!).

Finishing the outfit will be a rust riding skirt - linen trousers covered with an embroidered skirt front (because adventurous girls don't do their time traveling side saddle!). This skirt also features an Urban Threads embroidery design - a pocketwatch in gold, cream, and antique brass embroidered on the left front side; the right front skirt panel is held in place with brass fasteners attached to three sets of brass eyelets. The narrow front waistband is flat; the back waistband has encased elastic.

Clementine and I shall be sooo fashionable at the second Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention in March1

In my dreams she still doth haunt me

I'm still dreaming about my darling Clementine. I'm so excited about her that I shall give her this outfit off my back if and when she arrives.

But you ask, why the name Clementine?

In John Ford's 1946 classic My Darling Clementine, the Earp brothers are driving cattle to California when they are told of a nearby town, Tombstone.

The older brothers ride in, leaving the youngest brother James to watch over the cattle. The Earps quickly find Tombstone a lawless town. When they return to their camp, they find the cattle rustled and James dead.

Seeking vengeance, Wyatt Earp returns to Tombstone and takes the job of town marshall to find out who was responsible.

In the meantime, a young woman from Boston named Clementine Carter arrives in town....

(Loosely based on the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the film's plot deviates significantly from history.)

The title derives from the American western folk ballad Oh My Darling, Clementine, which is the theme song of the movie.

The song Oh My Darling, Clementine was written in 1883 or 1884 about a bereaved lover mourning the daughter of an 1849 California Gold Rush miner. He loses her in a drowning accident, although he consoles himself at the end of the song with Clementine's "little sister."

(The verse about the little sister was often left out of song books intended for children because it was morally, um, questionable.)

Oh my darling, Clementine!

While Momma's busy geeking out over Julie's Car Wash Set (yup, $350!) I'm eyeing this new cutie.

I think it's time I got a new sister to adventure with, don't you?

What do you think of the name Clementine?

And who wants to bet on who gets her first, me or my Big Sister?