The wearing of the green

Momma has been looking for fabric to make me an Epic Outfit worthy of a Work of Art for LepreCon, and she found this:
Victorian Dream Gears by Collier-Morales Studio for Quilting Treasures.

The world of Steampunk through the eyes of Roberta Morales. Now the gears are turning. Is it Victorian or is it Science Fiction or maybe a combination of both?

Perfect for both St. Patrick's Day and LepreCon.

St. Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17 named after St. Patrick, the most popular patron saint of Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th Century and commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as Irish heritage and culture. Celebrations include parades and festivals, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Many Christians also attend church services, and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day.

Green beer? No, thank you. I'll stick to absinthe.

 

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

I was surprised this week to receive a gift of six miniature absinthe bottles. Each has its own different label and has a tiny butterfly or dragonfly charm dangling from the seal.

Momma said I can not have any until I am of legal age, but she forgot I'm a time traveler.

I'll simply scoot ahead a few years and....

The Green Fairy

Momma is continuing to dream about Abcynthia Wormwood* and her story.

Abcynthia is actually a Green Fairy who lost her wings when she left the Fae. Thankfully, a talented metalsmith created new wings for her.

Abcynthia's outfit includes "a blue dress with an attached petticoat and a decorated bodice with metal buttons, faux leather trim, thigh-high stockings, tall boots, and decorated arm gauntlets."

*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 French literature as "la fée verte" (the green fairy).

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).

Close, but no cigar

I have decided what to do with the lovely cigar box the Artificer of my Dreams packed my goggles and brass rose in.

It will become my writing desk.

My Dear Friend Betsy Ray stores her stories in a cigar box at the beginning of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace.

"The perch in the maple tree was Betsy's private office. Here she thought out stories and poems and wrote them down. Here she kept what she had written in the cigar box that her mother had given her and Tacy had helped her nail to its present place."

She later uses her uncle's theatrical trunk for her desk, but she never forgets her humble cigar box.

I figure if Betsy can create stories with a cigar box and a theatrical trunk, I can do no less with my cigar box. After all, it's Illuminati which is the plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened."

(Plus, it's a handy place for this Perfectly Awful Girl to store my pipe, cuspidor, rum and absinthe.)

Steaming up the kitchen

Winner: http://www.thecakemamas.com

Momma and I got to see an exciting episode of the Food Network's Cupcake Wars this week where four cupcake bakers battled for a place at the Los Angeles opening of the hit Broadway musical "Wicked."

I, of course, loved this episode with its use of green, absinthe, and even some gears! 

So that started me on a search for steampunk-related food items and I found two winners.

First of all, these Copper Steampunk Cookie Cutters from Frenzy Universe.They're so cute it makes me wish they were either in my scale or I was large enough to eat the cookies made from these.

(Hmm, I wonder if Momma could make me a cake from them?)

Secondly, these gear-shaped organic chocolates from Andie 's Specialty Sweets on Etsy.

Gosh. These goodies make me wish I could open my vinyl mouth and eat. 

I guess I'll have to remain satisfied with Pippaloo's award-winning creations for dolls.

For now....

Absinthe of presenthe

Bathing dress

Momma is still at camp with Big Sister. Don't tell, but I'm starting to miss them.  So, I snuck on Momma's friend Jennifer's computer.

I'm having fun staying with Jennifer...I have lots of new outfits, and I can even give you a preview of some of the Absinthe Accessories she is making for Me, including a new Pirate Hat! The next time I travel to the Caribbean, I will blend right in with the rest of Captain Jack Sparrow's crew.

Purple dres

But, new clothes aren't everything.

Since I promised Momma I wouldn't worry her friend by disappearing to another time, I'll show you some of My new things. There's a bathing costume, a dress in Momma's favorite Color Purple, and a silly sort of outfit Jennifer says her daughter wore in 1987. I'm not sure I believe her ... see for yourself!

Anti-gravity belt

I thought this purple dress was going to be too heavy, until Jennifer made Me an anti-gravity belt to help hold it up! It might come in handy during my travels too.

I hope Momma and Big Sister are having fun, but I will be very happy to see them tomorrow!

Silly outfit

La fée verte*

Hmm, it just occurred to me that Momma's friend Jennifer likes a Certain Green Fairy known as Tinker Bell.

Coincidence?

I think not.

We shall find out...

... maybe while Momma's at Camp.

*the "green fairy" in French

A tip of the Tiny Top Hat

My dearest Steampunk Jess,

(Or Claire, depending on what you are calling yourself today.)

I take pen in hand (Thanks for the lovely Quick-Quotes Quill!) as I gaze upon your picture. And wear your Dress.

Mere words cannot Describe how I feel about this Dress. Momma and I have discovered  it is Hot in Arizona. Really Hot. Really, really Hot! 

Thankfully your Dress arrived before I Melted. 

Ahh, silk. Nothing beats the lovely feel of that deliciously cool Silk Skirt. And the sleeveless Cotton Shirtwaist! (Momma is a bit Scandalized but I have assured her it is Just the Thing.)

The lined jacket will feel Lovely in the evenings since I have been told that it gets Quite Chilly here at Night. It will also Protect my arms from the Nasty bugs buzzing around - mosquitos and a Really Ugly Beetle that keeps Annoying Me.
 

Do you like the Boots I found to go with it? I know you said the lining of the jacket was a Poison Green (and the Manufacturer called it Spinach!) but I think of it as Absinthe.

Sadly, I do have to Tell You that the Tiny Top Hat Suffered a Little in the Heat while in transit. I Know you will Recognize this quote, being a Fellow Time Traveler and all:

... And it blew the lovely, cream-colored ostrich feathers off Laura's hat.

She caught them with the very tips of her fingers as they were being whirled away. "Oh! Oh!" she exclaimed in vexation. "It must be they were not sewed on well."

"Miss Bell hasn't been in the west long enough yet," Almanzo said. "She is not used to prairie winds. Better let me put those feathers in my pocket before you lose them."

 

Do not despair though. I am respectably Hatted while Momma repairs the lovely Hat Your Momma made. 

Meanwhile, I remain yours,

Faithfully,

Steampunk Addie

P.S. I am Scouting for Places to Take You when you Arrive in the Cooler Fall Weather.