Why do you bother?

...to close out the year in which I joined my first online chat group (bentolunch of course!) and I've had a ball and learned a bunch.
Here are some leftovers from last night's dinner...



Tortilla wrap with pork, mayo and banana peppers... radishes, carrots with ranch, pistachios and the last of the Christmas peanut butter fudge. Happy New Year everyone!

I dug back and didn't see that anyone mentioned this particular jacket, and if someone has I apologize. But this was to good a find at Target on clearance to pass up!

( Warm Jacket/Coat )

I'm planning on adding some copper trim to it in order to make it more 'me.' And I fully intend on wearing it to see Sherlock Holmes this weekend. It's deliciously warm, and I'm always cold so that's something very impressive!

My friend elisem makes all manner of pretty shinies guaranteed to please your Inner Magpie.

Take a look here at what she's currently offering!

Greetings, Clockwork Community~!

I, being quite unaccustomed to writing on the topic of myself for much more than a few sentences, will attempt to share my excitement concerning the upcoming week-or-so. Three items I thus relate:

I have been invited to attend a Book Club meeting held by one of my friends and, since the work is none other than Jane Eyre, I've seen it fit to give myself a few belated Christmas presents to take advantage of the only chance I've had in a long while to dress up. I have the boots and an assortment of accessories that pique my excessively large vanity, but I still need to find a decent jacket. I just hope I have time to finish the knitting I want.

A different friend recently brought my attention to an upcoming book series, which I consider delightfully steampunk: http://www.theinfernaldevices.com/
I refer you to the character page, at which point you may want to turn on your speakers and clap your hands with joy. At least I did.

Last but hopefully not least, I've finished the latest draft of my own book, entitled The Storytellers. It's been a work long in the making, and it's given me new life knowing that it's so near completion. I couldn't quite call it a steampunk fantasy, but it's definitely influenced by my interest in Victorian fashions and the written word. I would call it more bookpunk--abilities and machines, mechanical or otherwise, are driven by the energy expended on creating works of fiction.

Have a nice day.

Hello wonderful steampunk friends!

I'm a long time follower and lover of this community and all the wonderful creative people here and I was hoping to mine you all as a resource.

I'm in the beginning stages of writing a YAF steampunk novel set (at least partially) in Chicago. I know we have a strong Chicago group on here, so I was hoping some of you might know of some books that have a good history of Chicago. Especially any books that might have pictures and descriptions of the downtown and/or lakeside area.

Any suggestions would be super appreciated!

Thanks so muc!

I've been using my Ms. Bento a lot because lately I don't get a lunch break at work (call the police!!!)  I'm in love that I can open up my hot lunch at my desk instead of eating a room temperature sandwich.

Love it, Love it!

Fortunately, I got a new job!!!  I start on Monday and boy, am I thrilled!  I will miss my old company and my old co-workers dearly, but I think it is time I moved on.  There is stability in my future.

Besides the awesomity of a hot lunch with no time for the microwave...

How many of you like Filipino food?  I tried making my own pork guisantes (what? i don't need to buy it?!) and it turned out wonderful.

I got the recipe from www.foodnetwork.com:

Pork Guisantes (Filipino Pork and Peas):
Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 lb lean pork, sliced in small pieces
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp patis
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 oz. tomato paste
• 1 pkg (6 oz) frozen peas
• 1 can (3-4 oz) pimientos, sliced
• Salt to taste

Directions

Heat oil in large skillet. Saute garlic, onions and pork until browned. Add soy sauce, patis, water and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until pork is tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add tomato paste, peas and pimientos. Simmer for 5 more minutes. Salt to taste.

I didn't know it was so easy. My Mom would be so proud!  Here are the left overs in my bento:


(click for larger image)

Rice; pork guisantes; cucumber, fried eggplant, orange bell peppers, pickled cucumbers.

Congratulations to me for my new job and my new ability to cook Filipino food!
 

Hi.
I'm new to this community, this is my first post here.
I've always wondered if this is the song that inspired L. A. Meyer?

hey folks, first post here.

im going to be in the business of make-up in the coming year, and i'd like to get a headstart on some practice. if your interested in being so kind as to let me practice and refine my make-up technique, and are in the atlanta/peachtree city area, please send a post, note, email, carrier pigeon, etc my way!

i've been in the costume making hobby for about 3 years, though i have yet to jump into the steampunk world. im very excited to experiment in some looks that will lend themselves well to steampunk costumes, so if you have a photoshoot, or upcoming event, i would like to be a part of it. :)

at this time i dont have any decent photos of my costume make-up ive done in the past, and im sorry for that. but you can help change that! contact me if you'd like to set something up. thanks!

Hi everyone! Photographer Lex Machina here. I posted a few months back about visiting the SoCal area and was lucky enough to be aimed toward the League of S.T.E.A.M. by quite a few of you fabulous ladies and gents. I really can't thank you enough.
Not only are they an incredibly talented band of costumers and performers, but they are just incredibly lovely people. My only regret is that I did not have an opportunity to work with the entire team. Hopefully, we can remedy that soon.

Until then, without further ado, the photos:


(  This way for lots more >> )

hello, first post here though i lurk quite frequently. :P
as well as being completely obsessed with steampunk fashion, i adore all kinds, especially haute couture,
and i just came across something AMAZING that i don't think has been posted here that i think you all might appreciate:


high-heels from Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 runway collection... i pretty much died when i saw them and had to fawn over them somewhere. they are incredible.

kinda disappointed that the rest of the collection doesn't have a very Victorian feel, but the sci-fi aspect is definitely there and the fashion is still amazing if anyone is interested in more:
http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/2010/spring/main/europe/womendetails/alexandermcqueen/

hope to post more finds and such. :D

Just a reminder that anyone who doesn't have plans for New Years is invited to our Steampunk Tea Party in San Jose. We'll have tea, china, baked goods both sweet and savory, parlor games and no end to the fun.

All the info Here.

Everyone is welcome, Last minute additions included!

AND, an offer to other retailers....

Okay, first off, what did you scurvy bilge rats score in terms of plunder? Spill it!

Secondly, I realize I offered the League of Steam help with promotions as far as putting flyers in our Southern California parcels to promote their appearances, but I thought that I would offer that to the general steam public and do the same for any of you. Would be happy to put business cards, stickers, etc in our parcels and will try my absolute best if you want to limit it to an area or state.

I can't leave this offer open to too many because that would greatly increase packing times, but the offer is out there. Just email me through the site or my personal one, which is my first name followed by the site's url.

www.clockworkcouture.com

Okay, last thing, how are you all ringing in your New Year? I know many are going to the Edison but wonder what else is going on around the globe.

Cut and past HTM here to spread all about
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaborwhalky/4221323153/" title="Worlds fair by jaborwhalky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4221323153_1bf5555d35.jpg" width="377" height="500" alt="Worlds fair" /></a>

Super large here:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaborwhalky/4221323153/" title="Worlds fair by jaborwhalky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4221323153_1bf5555d35_b.jpg" width="772" height="1024" alt="Worlds fair" /></a>

The growing list of talent can be seen here :
http://steampunkworldsfair.com/performers/
(The site is still being worked on so do check back time to time)

Something that has occurred to me that I wonder if others might also share in agreement, at least some insight. For those of you who may have read Frank Herbert's Dune chronicles, would you not agree that his novels were, in fact, Steampunk in nature? Considering that the first novel itself seems to create a picture of a retro-futuristic world in the year 10,191 that seems to be a combination of 1890-meets-1910, that made me start to wonder if indeed Dune could be, well, Steampunk literature.

What say ye?

We did it!
For those of you not in the know, previous posts pertaining to the unofficial community photobook are here
http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/2213500.html
and here
http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/2182567.html
and it looks absolutely gorgeous, no lie.

Thank you so, so much to my amazingly patient and understanding contributors. The maiden copy was lost in the mail but Blurb kindly replaced it free of charge with free express shipping. I have made purchases from them over a dozen times and can highly recommend them as a safe and efficient business.
For those who have been featured within and would like a copy, or those like myself who simply want a piece of gorgeous for the coffee table, it's just been released to the public:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/970199
You can also "preview" the first half of the book at that link, for those hungry for more detail.

$19.95 for soft cover, $29.95 for hard cover and dust jacket, both variations of which I introduce you to in this video
http://www.youtube.com/user/Kanira#p/a/u/0/vetJdRfaivY
for those who want to see it in the pseudo-flesh. For the intrigued, no, I am neither featured inside nor do I see any profit, Blurb alone takes up the fees for printing.

Again thank you so, so much guys, this was tons of fun.

This is the lovely copyright page just inside the cover, and...

a sample of the inside.
It's all work-safe, not pin-up or eye-candy oriented; all about great design and the great photography that's captured it.

(Sorry for the double post to the SFsteamVent group)

As some of you may know, January 8th 2010 will mark the 130s anniversary of the death of legendary Joshua A. Norton, Emperor of American and Protector of Mexico. Emperor Norton for short.

I was wondering if any Bay Area Steamers might be interested in a get together on January 9th (Saturday) to commemorate our fallen leader. We could meet, take the cable cars to the Cable Car Museum (festively steamy) and have "The Feast of Norton" across the street at the Gallery Cafe, then wonder down Grant and California to pay our respects.

This is just a possibility. I know the historical fraternity, the Clampers will be in Colma at 10 am for speechafying. Also a possibility.

If anyone is interested in a nice little get together or has ideas, I'd love to have something happen. It would be a shame for the 130th anniversary to go by and have no Steamer event.

It would also be a great excuse to get out and show off any new gear and fashion you might have gotten for the holidays!

Let the inner city kids have their light bulbs and ground affect lighting and all that what-not. That don't impress me, not when I could get my car to have these kinds of lighting affects!

Now HERE is some impressive ground affect lighting for your car.

Gizmodo has posted the blueprints to the Eiffel Tower.

It's just so, so pretty... I have no skill with silk screening, but how amazing would fabric with these patterns printed on them be? It could make some really amazing creations in the hands of some people in this comm.

(Edited because I spliced two sentences together in complete grammatical failure by omitting words.)