steampunk
tamago23 has inspired me with her recent steampunk costumery and character creation. optimystik and I were discussing what sorts of steampunk characters we would be. I figured I'd definitely do the adventuress gig and wear practical but elegant clothing -- either that or be a carpet bag lady who wears too much velvet and is just a little off in the noggin. N would be a gentleman scientist/adventurere.
But since neither of us are costumers nor do we have much opportunity to wear said costumes, we thought it more enticing a prospect to incorporate certain aspects of steampunkery into our daily lives.
As such, N now has an engraved skeleton (see-through) pocketwatch to accessorize with his office wear, which includes vests. (This was my xmess gift to him and I was so thrilled to be able to give it to him!)
And, in keeping with my current emergency prep fixation, we have ordered a lantern (in black) and an oil lamp (as shown). I got the large fount lantern because it holds enough oil to burn for 45 hours straight and is totally weather resistant -- wind won't affect it in the least! Hello, practicality! And I got the lamp because, damn, that thing just totally rocks my socks! I swoon when I see it and I'm head-over-heels happy that I'll have one of my very own. Sweet! It's going right next to the grandfather clock. :)
We also got a glass barometer that has a thermometer and hygrometer at the top. (functional and useful dials!) My grandfather had a glass barometer that I grew up looking at and admiring. I asked after it while we were visiting and he said it broke a couple of years ago because he left it out after a freeze. I was so sad! I was really hoping to be able to take that home with me -- a piece of my childhood. But I was able to find another that was similarly elegant, so it's on its way to me. Yay!
I'm looking at getting a glass dip pen and eventually a fountain pen. I am lusting after some of these vintage dip pens and 'magic' pencils here. This combo is beautiful.
N has been wanting a straight razor for many moons now. Technically, he's already using one, but it has a disposable blade in it, so it's not the real thing he's hoping for. He uses a strop to sharpen the blade to make it last longer. A decent straight razor costs $200 and he's seen them as high as $1800. He told me that men used to get a set of 7 -- one for each day of the week -- so the edge on the blades would last longer and not need resharpening as frequently. A good one will last multiple lifetimes if cared for properly.
He ordered a whetstone and some ceramic something-or-others in preparation for getting a blade of his own. He wants to be able to sharpen it properly himself (totally commendable and practical) before getting one. So he's going to practice on the kitchen knives, I think. (And, uhhhh, there's a knife sharpener at the farmers' market near us that can fix any sharpening mistakes that will probably never occur because N is perfect in everything he does. but, y'know, just in case. *grins*)
Anyway, shaving with a straight razor? totally hardcore, totally Victorian, and totally sustainable. In fact, damn near all this stuff is green (with the notable exception of the lamp and lantern fuel, but I don't think that's any worse than standard candles, since those are all petroleum-based).
And yes, I realize that most of this stuff isn't technically steampunk, that it's more Victorian in nature or some such, but adding some Victorian/older technology to our comparably high-tech home equals steampunk, n'est-ce pas?
We're still looking for some glacier glasses for N that are reasonably priced and that meet his approval. Oooh, he's a picky one, he is. He likes the look of them better than goggles, and I agree they suit his aesthetic better. I'm still trying to figure out how to accentuate my own wardrobe while still maintaining comfort and practicality. It's Hard! yes, I can look killer in a corset, but that doesn't mean I enjoy wearing one. Ditto with the froofy skirts. Alas. I don't actually enjoy wearing skirts period, so that makes it doubly difficult. Boo! I would like a proper coat, though. Someday, I'll figure out precisely what sort of design it should be and then I'll have it made. It'll take me awhile, though. it always does. I've been pondering for months now.
Oh, and we've been watching movies that are steampunkish. so far, just two because it's hard fitting movies in with a toddler who doesn't like to sleep until late. But we've managed to see The Golden Compass (finally!) and A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Next is Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Any other recs? I'm not yet interested in venturing into the television genre. Eventually, though.
And I'm reading Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. I had wanted 20,000 Leagues, but the library didn't have it available (despite saying so on the catalog).
So yeah, thanks for the inspiration, tamago23! I know there are others on my flist who are totally into steampunk, but for whatever reason, it took Tamago's costumery goodness to flip the inspiration switch to the 'ON' position. Guess the stars were right or something.
But since neither of us are costumers nor do we have much opportunity to wear said costumes, we thought it more enticing a prospect to incorporate certain aspects of steampunkery into our daily lives.
As such, N now has an engraved skeleton (see-through) pocketwatch to accessorize with his office wear, which includes vests. (This was my xmess gift to him and I was so thrilled to be able to give it to him!)
And, in keeping with my current emergency prep fixation, we have ordered a lantern (in black) and an oil lamp (as shown). I got the large fount lantern because it holds enough oil to burn for 45 hours straight and is totally weather resistant -- wind won't affect it in the least! Hello, practicality! And I got the lamp because, damn, that thing just totally rocks my socks! I swoon when I see it and I'm head-over-heels happy that I'll have one of my very own. Sweet! It's going right next to the grandfather clock. :)
We also got a glass barometer that has a thermometer and hygrometer at the top. (functional and useful dials!) My grandfather had a glass barometer that I grew up looking at and admiring. I asked after it while we were visiting and he said it broke a couple of years ago because he left it out after a freeze. I was so sad! I was really hoping to be able to take that home with me -- a piece of my childhood. But I was able to find another that was similarly elegant, so it's on its way to me. Yay!
I'm looking at getting a glass dip pen and eventually a fountain pen. I am lusting after some of these vintage dip pens and 'magic' pencils here. This combo is beautiful.
N has been wanting a straight razor for many moons now. Technically, he's already using one, but it has a disposable blade in it, so it's not the real thing he's hoping for. He uses a strop to sharpen the blade to make it last longer. A decent straight razor costs $200 and he's seen them as high as $1800. He told me that men used to get a set of 7 -- one for each day of the week -- so the edge on the blades would last longer and not need resharpening as frequently. A good one will last multiple lifetimes if cared for properly.
He ordered a whetstone and some ceramic something-or-others in preparation for getting a blade of his own. He wants to be able to sharpen it properly himself (totally commendable and practical) before getting one. So he's going to practice on the kitchen knives, I think. (And, uhhhh, there's a knife sharpener at the farmers' market near us that can fix any sharpening mistakes that will probably never occur because N is perfect in everything he does. but, y'know, just in case. *grins*)
Anyway, shaving with a straight razor? totally hardcore, totally Victorian, and totally sustainable. In fact, damn near all this stuff is green (with the notable exception of the lamp and lantern fuel, but I don't think that's any worse than standard candles, since those are all petroleum-based).
And yes, I realize that most of this stuff isn't technically steampunk, that it's more Victorian in nature or some such, but adding some Victorian/older technology to our comparably high-tech home equals steampunk, n'est-ce pas?
We're still looking for some glacier glasses for N that are reasonably priced and that meet his approval. Oooh, he's a picky one, he is. He likes the look of them better than goggles, and I agree they suit his aesthetic better. I'm still trying to figure out how to accentuate my own wardrobe while still maintaining comfort and practicality. It's Hard! yes, I can look killer in a corset, but that doesn't mean I enjoy wearing one. Ditto with the froofy skirts. Alas. I don't actually enjoy wearing skirts period, so that makes it doubly difficult. Boo! I would like a proper coat, though. Someday, I'll figure out precisely what sort of design it should be and then I'll have it made. It'll take me awhile, though. it always does. I've been pondering for months now.
Oh, and we've been watching movies that are steampunkish. so far, just two because it's hard fitting movies in with a toddler who doesn't like to sleep until late. But we've managed to see The Golden Compass (finally!) and A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Next is Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Any other recs? I'm not yet interested in venturing into the television genre. Eventually, though.
And I'm reading Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. I had wanted 20,000 Leagues, but the library didn't have it available (despite saying so on the catalog).
So yeah, thanks for the inspiration, tamago23! I know there are others on my flist who are totally into steampunk, but for whatever reason, it took Tamago's costumery goodness to flip the inspiration switch to the 'ON' position. Guess the stars were right or something.