It's about time!

Wilde Imagination

Momma and I have been in mourning ever since Wilde Imagination announced in December 2012 that it was discontinuing its Imperium Park steampunk line.

It took a year, but photos of the newest Ellowyne Wilde were released today in all her steampunk glory.

Introducing, Just in Time!

Pru insisted we take a walk by the bay
But I didn't want to come out to play.
It's much too early, I rightly say.
But she talked me into it, Hip Hip Hooray.
I had to scurry, I had to race
to make it before the sun bared her bright face.
A stroke of luck!
I'm JUST IN TIME.
I get to see the sun rise,Isn't it sublime?

Just in Time Ellowyne features a hip steampunk-inspired ensemble and arrives bearing shiny hazel inset eyes behind thick lashes and a full rooted mane of mink. Including a cream bodysuit with elaborate collar, rich burgundy wool jacket with golden buttons and cameo detail, burgundy stripe skirt with fashion chain and bow detail and ribbed cotton tights, even Jules Verne himself would be proud! Our fashionable time traveler's ensemble is complete with sassy period button-up booties, a burgundy top hat with ribbon and chain deco, and of course, goggles. I dare say, the game is afoot! 

A limited edition of 1,000 dolls is scheduled to be available in April.

How shall I wait until then? Thank heavens my birthday is April 9!

Running out of steam

Mortimer Mort

"What was that sound?" you ask? That was my Steam Team wailing in collective anguish.

Alas, while I was rejoicing in the arrival of my darling Clementine, members of my Steam Team have been mourning Wilde Imagination's announcement that there are no plans (at this time) to continue the Imperium Park line.

I guess we shall have to get creative ourselves.

According to the Imperium Park website: 

Theodora and Phineas live with their Uncle, Professor Kingsley Avery Knightsblood. A brilliant scientist, Professor Knightsblood took in his niece and nephew after their parents were killed in a skirmish with a Beastealiax patrol when the children were six and eight. Both Theodora and Phineas adore their uncle.

Albus Dumbledore

Personally, I think that Mortimer Mort from Wilde Imagination's Evangeline Ghastly line will make a fabulous Professor Kingsley Avery Knightsblood.

I don't know who Albus Dumbledore will be yet, but I'm sure we can figure something out. 

Tee time

San Marcos Golf Course in 1913.

Golf is so not my thing, but Phin was ecstatic to discover he was in Arizona and immediately set off to find a green.


Golfers have long flocked to Arizona and its sunny skies.  

Perhaps the first golf course was built in 1899 Arizona by a group that later would become the Phoenix Country Club. Their course was a nine-hole layout of dirt fairways and sand "greens" located near what is now Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street.

(Coincidentally, Trinity Episcopal Church needed larger facilities and purchased a parcel of land on Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street. The new site was so far north of Phoenix's business section that it was called "The Episcopal Folly." Building for what is now Trinity Episcopal Cathedral began in 1915. Arizona bishops always had a free Country Club membership until it was refused by Bishop Joseph Harte in 1962 because the Club would not admit African Americans.)

When the San Marcos Hotel opened in 1913 in present-day Chandler it also opened the nine-hole San Marcos Golf Course. One year later nine more holes were added. 

The original course was made of oiled sand with cottonseed meal greens. In 1914, the entire course was planted to rye grass, giving it the distinction of being the first turf course in the entire state of Arizona.

Arizona now has at least 421 golf courses to choose from, so Phin will have plenty of choices.

Once he gets some clubs.

Steampunk gone Wilde

Theodora

Phineas

Alas, my half-dime was not enough to get me into the first Wilde Weekend in Louisville, Kent.

Not only is it all Wilde all weekend, but tonight they had a steampunk event!

Table gift

Join Wilde Imagination as we open our first-ever Wilde Weekend with a glimpse into the genre known as Steampunk. Our hosts will be our very own Theodora Curiosity Bennett, along with her brother Phineas Jules. Be prepared for a Steampunk-inspired table gift, an informative program, and the opportunity to purchase an amazing centerpiece. You’ll indulge in savory desserts and finger foods while getting to know your fellow Wilde Weekenders. A costume contest will be held during the event – so if you choose to, dress in your most imaginative Steampunk fashions and gear up for some fun prizes!

Sob!

 

Hat in hand

I forgot to mention that a male joined my Steam Team last week while I was out pirating.

Introducing Stryder Mortensen. I hope to someday get him the Imperium Park Clockwork Hypothesis outfit.

This impressive outfit includes a white shirt, cravat, pinstripe pants, lined jacket with golden decorations, pleather vest with buckles, matching armbands, belt, and pouch, gloves, socks, boots with grommets and lacings, goggles, and matching hat.

For now, he wears nothing but a hat.

And a smile.

For she's a a jolly good fellow

Today is Momma's birthday and she is eagerly awaiting Imperium Park's Apothecary Case from Grandmomma. (My Big Sister got her Robecca Steam!)

A must-have set in the city of New Britain! This set features a pleather case with a golden flocking interior and an antique golden clasp, and four glass apothecary bottles.

According to the photo it contains Thistle, Red Vine, Spikewort, and Dark Ichor.

I know that medieval writers thought Thistle could return hair to bald heads and in the early modern period it was believed to be a remedy for headaches, plague, canker sores, vertigo, and jaundice.

Red Vine leaves are sold in the United Kingdom as a dietary supplement for the maintenance of healthy leg-vein circulation, in particular to avoid tired, heavy and aching legs that result from long periods of standing or sitting.

But what the heck are Spikewort and Dark Ichor for?

Rutter does not my heart flutter

Sometimes there's no accounting for taste.

Take my dear friend Ellowyne Wilde's friend Rufus Rutter.

A friend of Ellowyne’s since seventh grade, Rufus is the handyman at the Victorian house where Ellowyne lives with her grandmother.

Always cheerful and a little shy, Rufus harbors an unrequited love for Ellowyne. Will he ever have the courage to confess?

Bleh.

Even Steampunked (from the 2010 Tonner Con) I think he looks like an accident victim. 

Rufus is definitely back and with a new, Steampunk look! Light brown hair, inset brown eyes. Rufus comes dressed in his own unique steampunk style outfit including tweed pants, shirt, vest, long coat with a gear applique, shoes, shin guards, cap, and steampunk-style goggles.

I think he looks much better with his face covered by his goggles, don't you?

Ellowyne's Imperium Park friend Phineas Jules Bennett is a vast improvement, in my not so humble opinion.

The Steampunk Letters

Momma's in the midst of (mentally) creating a new steampunk friend for me!

I don't know when she might actually appear in our lives, but introducing Abcynthia Wormwood!*

She's a combination of Wilde Imagination's Ellowyne Wilde line: the sold out Wicked Witch of the West and Imperium Park's Military Theory outfit.

Abcynthia has raven hair with dark brown eyes, and green vinyl skin. 

The Military Theory outfit "features a bodysuit with lace trim and collar decoration, textured pleather jacket with golden studs, textured pleather corset with golden buckles, rings, and stud decorations, crinkled chiffon skirt, pants, hat, matching pleather gloves and leg strap, daggers, and matching boots with golden buckles."

*In case you are wondering, absinthe is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium (a.k.a. "grand wormwood"), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Absinthe traditionally has a natural green colour but may also be colorless. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as "la fée verte" (the green fairy).

Wilde about steampunk

I was complaining to Momma last night about the new Imperium Park line by Wilde Imagination and wondered why they hadn't given those lovely steampunk items to my dear friend Lizette Dionne.

Air Ship Escape

So Momma got busy with Photoshop.

Isn't Lizette stunning in her new outfits?

Military Theory

Now Momma says I have to get busy and earn the money myself to buy Steampunk Lizette and her costumes.

Sheesh.

Don't you think Lizette would make a fine traveling companion for me?

Where fashion collides with technology

I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Welcome to Imperium Park.

www.imperiumpark.com

When a world clash between science and exploitation ensues, it's up to Theodora Curiosity Bennett and her brother Phineas Jules to rely on their training and ingenuity to save the automaton Treasure before she is destroyed. Direct from Wilde Imagination and the creative mind of Robert Tonner is a new line of 16" dolls, clothing, and accessories unlike anything you've ever seen before - a world where fashion collides with technology - and where the doll world will never be the same...

"Where fashion collides with technology - and where the doll world will never be the same."

Hey, I thought that was my job description!

Oh well, we all know that there is only one Steampunk Addie.

But I'll be watching you Theo and Phin Bennett.