Elle marche dans la beauté comme la nuit

wildeimagination.com

Whew, what a day for dolls!

First was the long awaited release of BeForever.

Secondly, a Dear Friend found a Coffin Bean Robecca for Me!
 
Third, and finally, my beloved Wilde Imagination released a new character doll in their wildly popular Evangeline Ghastly line!

Meet Angelique de la Nuit - a childhood friend of Parnilla's! Angelique was born in Hoboken, New Jersey as Gladys Hope Goldfarb. Soon after, she moved to Paris....

At a mere $225, I better start saving my half-dimes.

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!

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.

Tangled to the Maximus

I reported back in January that Momma was working on the newest members of my Steam Team: Rapunzel and Maximus from Disney's Tangled.

Maximus arrived recently after months of patience.

Doesn't Rapunzel look happy to see her equine friend?

Now that Maximus is here, Momma feels she can start serious work on steampunking Rapunzel.

So far Rapunzel has boots (which she may, or may not, wear), goggles, hose clamps, and a hair stick with golden lanterns. 

She also has a purple top hat that Maximus occasionally wears, too.

Next on the agenda is Rapunzel's outfit. Momma has the pattern and fabric - she just needs to get sewing!

Stay tuned!

 

Taking adventure to new lengths

I just wanted to give you a couple of teasers on the newest member of my Steam Team that Momma is working on.

Inspired by some steampunk Disney princesses found on Deviant Art, Momma decided to try her hand at creating a steampunk princess.

She chose Tonner Doll Company's Tangled since she has the Ellowyne Wilde body that Momma likes. She removed the flowers from her hair, added a hose clamp, and gave her goggles. Momma plans to give Rapunzel hair flowers made of gears!

Momma also has this awesome pattern by MHD Designs and fabric in the same shades the dress Rapunzel came in. Stay tuned as that gets created!

And very steampunk princess needs a nobel steed, of course!

This should be interesting

Introducing Parnilla Ghastly - a strikingly beautiful girl with strong features and a fabulous fashion sense, straight from Paris, France! She's traveled back to her childhood home town of Ipswich to seek out her first childhood crush, a boy named Mortimer, and her long-lost cousin Evangeline - unfortunately, Evangeline has no idea she even has a cousin Parnilla. This should be interesting...

Parnilla stands 18-1/2 inches tall and is crafted of the finest vinyl and hard plastic, with green inset eyes, applied lashes, a red wig made of the highest quality fibers, and 15 points of articulation for unlimited posing possibilities. She comes dressed in her finest Parisian fashion which includes a two-piece gown of crinkled lame and net. She has golden shoes and a cloche hat with feather decoration. She is also wearing "The Blood Moon Amulet" which was her great-great-grandmother's.

A tangled web

Wilde Imagination

The weather on the night of Evangeline's birth was as expected,
The wind was howling, the moon was full, and the doctor was unavailable.

"I was born in the attic of Barkely Manor and it's where I continue to live today. I do live alone, well, actually Mouette, my pet skunk, lives with me, too, and now my new friend Bella - I found her hanging out in the attic rafters. Barkley Manor is the ancestral home of the Ghastly family; an ancient family whose roots date back to the early 1500s. Well, that's what the woman at the Ipswich library told me. She's one of the few people in town that speaks to me, so I'm taking her word for it. I have a wonderful collection of rocks, spiders, and dust ... I'd love to show it off someday. If you're still interested in my story, I'll continue..."

A Tangled Web, this vinyl Evangeline has inset aqua eyes with applied lashes, and black wigged hair. Approximately 17 inches tall and completely ball jointed, with delicate hand painted features, she comes dressed in a sage and black matching skirt and jacket, lace-up corset, bodysuit, cape, stockings, lace-up boots, designer hat and jewelry. A new outfit for work...but will anyone notice?

Isn't she deliciously steampunky?

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.

The right to arm bears

Look who unexpectedly joined my Steam Team yesterday!

Phin stands approximately 17" tall and is crafted of hard plastic and vinyl. He comes with a raven wig (non-removable), blue painted eyes, and hand painted details. Phin comes dressed in a shirt with arm bands, tie, matching pants with black trim, vest with golden buttons and black trim, socks, tie shoes, and arm gauntlets. A faux gun, holster and belt, and matching hat completes the outfit.

Much to Momma's amusement Grandpoppa thinks all dolls should carry guns (I concur!) and admired Phin's latest model.

According to Grandpoppa, Phin's weapon looks like a Gabbet-Fairfax Mars Automatic Pistol from the turn-of-the-last century. He said its muzzle velocity was unmatched until the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935. The Mars had a very heavy recoil.

A British captain said in 1902, "No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again." Shooting the Mars pistol was described as "singularly unpleasant and alarming."

Don't worry Grandpoppa, Phin can handle it.

And if he can't,  I certainly can.

Tea for two or more

As some of you might know, Momma and I are voracious drinkers of tea ("Tea. Oolong. Hot.") and of course the members of my Steam Team are also since they hail from New Britain.

Theodora spotted these cups and saucers in my cabinet and asked if she could use them.

Since they fit her, and are a bit small for me, I gladly gave my consent.

With Momma's approval, of course.

You see, this antique metal tea set originally belonged to Momma's great-grandmother who was born in 1868. Her tea set consists of a teapot, lidded sugar bowl, four cups and six saucers.

(Momma said she saw the same saucers in an antique shop about 25 years ago and they wanted $35 per saucer!)

I think they suit Theodora admirably, don't you?

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!

 

Happy International Steampunk Day!

H.G. Wells would be proud.

The Victorian author of science fiction pieces such as The Time Machine was born on June 14, 1866 and so steampunk lovers around the world chose this date to celebrate everything steampunk!

My Dear Friend Theodora is celebrating with a new limited edition outfit.

Isn't it divine?

The End of Time? outfit for Theodora includes a chiffon top, gauze skirt with lace trim, pleather loop, textured pleather corset with ruffles and ring decorations, corset belt buckle, tie, velvet jacket with sleeve cuffs and shoulder decoration, decorated hat with lace trim, stockings, and designer boots.

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).

Steamrolled

I look at Ellowyne and what do I see? 
A girl that wishes she were more like Me;
So accomplished and pretty, and well spoken, I'm told
Poor Ellowyne doesn't even notice when she's being STEAMROLLED

Steampunk Gone Wilde - Letting Off Steam! A 2010 Tonner Convention Exclusive. Introducing Amber Stanhope - Ellowyne's childhood nemisis and friend? Dark red hair with inset blue eyes and applied lashes. Outfit includes long, layered skirt, aviator-style jacket, arm gauntlets, stockings, boots, aviator hat, and steampunk-style goggles. Mean-girl attitude implied. Designer saddle stand also included. LE 150

Estimated Ship Date: Sold Out

Debut Date: May 2010 Tonner Convention Exclusive - Steampunk Gone Wilde Event.

Letting off steam

Dr. Bantam says let loose - don't hold feelings in
Tell the world how you feel - let them know your chagrin;
I guess that she's right, though I'm not sure what she means...
Could it be for once in my life I should try LETTING OFF STEAM?

Steampunk Gone Wilde - Letting Off Steam! A 2010 Tonner Convention Exclusive. Blonde hair Ellowyne with inset blue eyes and applied lashes. Outfit includes steampunk-style dress, arm gauntlets, stockings, matching short lace-up boots, decorated steampunk-style hat, and designer jewelry. Designer saddle stand also included. LE 350

Estimated Ship Date: Sold Out

Debut Date: May 2010 Tonner Convention Exclusive - Steampunk Gone Wilde Event.

This is sewious!

When I started blogging last May (my, how time does fly - even for a time traveler!) most people didn't seem to know what steampunk was.

Now it seems to be everywhere!

Pullip has long had steampunk inspired dolls.

Then came Ashton Drake's dealer-exclusive Delilah Noir steampunk doll.

I just announced the new steampunk line by Wilde Imagination on Monday.

And now I find out Monster High is releasing a steampunk doll next fall!

Introducing Robecca Steam!

Age: 116

Killer Style: I would have described my style as rather old fashioned in this current time although I have been recently informed that it was totally "steam-punk" and quite "cutting-edge." This is a relief as no monster wishes to be thought of as dull.

Freaky Flaw: My internal clock does not properly function and I seem to always arrive late. It seems not to matter how many alarms I set or watches I wear; nothing helps. Good thing I have a permanent mechanics excuse in the Headmistress' office.

Pet: Captain Penny is my mechanical penguin. Working wings are unnecessary when one is equipped with a rocket pack.

Favorite Activity: I am quite the scaredevil and I delight in using my rocket boots to do stunts and tricks that make other monsters stop what they are doing to watch me perform.

Biggest Pet Peeve: Rain.

Favorite School Subject: Metal shop

Least Favorite Subject: Home Ick. I am skilled, however, in the boiling of water.

Favorite Color: Copper.

Favorite Food: Even though I do not require traditional food, I am fond of ginger tea.

Catch phrase: "A riveting personality"

Is it just me, or does Captain Penny look like Ming-Ming on Wonder Pets?

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.