Steampunk, Baby

This weekend, my daughter and I went to the first Gettysburg Steampunk : Film, Art & Music Festival. All I can say was it was FUN. We were told by the promoter that it has already outgrown the space. As soon as I walked in I was hooked. We ran into these two gentlemen.  I thought that I was going to be the oldest person there and as it turned out,  I was the perfect age.  So much of the lectures and workshops overlapped so I did not get to see and do everything which was a pity.  The Festival ran from March 29 to March 31.

I really fell in love with Bartitsu: The Victorian Art of Self-Defense and took two workshops, attended a lecture and a movie about the beginning of the art.  The instructors real name is Mark P. Donnelly but he calls himself Professore di Armes.  This art was developed in England  by Edward William Barton-Wright after he spent time in Japan but we remember it from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the technique used by Sherlock Holmes.  The Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899 and only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Mr. Barton-Wright summarised the essential principles of Barititus as: 

1. To disturb the equlibrium of the attacker.
2. To surprise him before he has time to regain his balance and use his strength.
3. If necessary, to subject the joints of any parts of his body, whether neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, knee, ankle, etc. to strains that they are anatomically and mechanically unable to resist.

Women were allowed in the Bartitsu Club but was not taught all the disciplines because it was not lady like.  When the club closed, Edith Garrud, opened her own dojo and specialized in teaching women and children the art of self defense.  She taught an elite group of women the technique which the newspaper called Amazons.  These ladies became know as "the Bodyguard."  They were sworn to protect the Suffragate  leaders during their public protest rallies, which was often violently interrupted by the police.  I am happy to say they were very effective.

What  does a gentleman of fine breeding have as he is walking down the street...a cane.  What does a lady carry....a parasol.   I attended the gentlemen's workshop entitled Fight Like Sherlock Holmes-Introductory Bartitsu taught by  Prof. Mark P Donnelly were we tried a few techniques on how to use the cane and feet to disable the attacker.  This is my daughter using a cane against the assailant.   In this workshop, he told us that men are punched and if we attended the ladies workshop entitled Kicking Ass in a Corset - Bartitsu for Ladies we would see that men  grab women.  So on Saturday, we attended that workshop and found that for women, use your shoes, parasol or whatever is handy..the point was to get away.  I have some video but can't figure how to get it on Blogger, I will keep at it.

Some of the costumes.He is a mad scientist

Before we left and after I brought my corset (you wear them on the outside), we attended the Bathing Beauties Costume Contest.  We did not stay to see who won because we had already picked the winner in our heads.


I thought I would end with the corset that I brought for my costume that I am trying to get together in my mind before the next festival.  The one I really, really, really want to go to is in NJ,  Steampunk World's Fair. Last year there was 4,000 attendees.  I even have a name "Mistress Gift",   in German, Gift means to poison.  I thought that I would be a poisoner.  My first costume will be simple, something like thisor  without the gun, remember...I am a poisoner.   I should wear a skirt but I never wear a skirt,  if I did, it would be similar to this.  Time to go to GStreet for fabric and leather.

I was talking to some gentlemen and I agreed with them that the reason that Steampunk is popular with older people is because we grew up with Buck Rogers, Jules Verne and others like them so we are just reliving our childhoods.


(My daughter and son-in-law)

80 Days and Counting

Just got back from my last big company meeting.  It was good seeing  co-workers but I paid no attention to any of the  topics in the  meeting once we  were told that our jobs would not change in 2013.

I also went to my favorite Disney park, Epcot.  It was the Flower and Garden festival which is one of my favorite times to go, my favorite being Christmas season.  In the UK section they had these large cups with tea plants in them.  They have this every year and I think they are neat.  also, my favorite snack place is in France.   They have expanded it and now there is indoor seating.   Had to stop and get a Napoleon which goes by different names depending on which country you are in, no matter to me, they taste good.

A little about what is going on with the RV. I received an email that the flooring came in and it was not up to standard and they sent pictures of an alternative.   To reorder it would put the RV off schedule.   I was not sure from the pictures and told my saleslady to have the other ladies look at the flooring up to the cherry cabinets and if they would put it in their home then she was to go for it.   I was told that all the ladies loved it so I will see my flooring when I pick it up.

I also received the renderings for my workstation/dinette area for approval. I had some concerns that will get worked out then I will approve everything. I won't have much space to get from the driving area to the back when the slide is in but that was a trade off that I was willing to have to get my work space.  What you do not see from the rendering is that a leg drops down when table is fully extended, full storage underneath, all functioning drawers, desktop and table will be laminate, heavy duty drawer glides.
This is desk fully extended 39".  the table will stick out enough for me to eat dinner or use my laptop when it is pushed in.

This is when slide is in.

Otherwise, downsizing is going slowly.   I have been deployed (working)  for 10 days so that will slow things down.   When I get back, I will rent a truck and take the things to my son that he wants.

This is a funny story, One of the ladies in my women artist group, takes care of her aunt that has alzheimers, had to get rid of her aunts cat.   In order to not upset the aunt, she told her that the cat was ill and they had to put him to sleep, the aunt wanted to see the cat so Elaine told her that they had to cremate it.   The aunt wanted the ashes so Elaine had to get ashes from the fireplace of a friend and ordered this urn.The urn filled with fireplace ashes now sits on the aunts bedside table.

My partner in crime and my dearest friends, Collin,  while we were in Florida.  Check out the matching tee shirts and me in my McGoo glasses.  
 I thought they looked cute until I saw me in that picture.

First Campground Found

Yes, my first campground has been found.   I need a place to stay for one month after I pick up the RV.  It had to be convenient to my family so they could outfit it, etc. if  I was on assignment.    It is the Mountain Creek Campground and the price is right for a month.

As far as what projects I am working on for the RV, I am working on the floorcloth for the living room area. So far, I have painted the background and my daughter is suppose to carve some stamps for me. This is what I have so far, look in the background at the hand felted pillows that will be on the  sofa.

I made my reservation for a campsite for Fiber College at Searsport Ocean Campground for Sept 3 to Sept 10.  afterwards I will start heading south.   Fiber College is from the 5th to the 8th.   I have several people that I want to see along the way so it will be sometime in October before I get to the campground in Florida.

Today my rolling tote for my new serger arrived.  I was not getting a case at first but I know that I am going to want to take classes.  This case folds flat which was a plus.  But it fits the serger and supplies nicely.


Flooring samples finally arrived  for the RV.  My daughter and I took the samples to Home Depot and layed them by cherry cabinets.  We agreed on the Pearwood . Now they just have to order it,  get it installed and then they can lay the walls and get the build underway.   I also received a  call  from Karen at NexusRV and found out I will have to get a bigger generator since I have asked for 50 amp service.  This is $1400 more.   There goes me upgrading my sewing/embroidery machine.

We went to the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore at the Convention Center on Friday.  The goal was to look for inspiration on things I could make for the RV or even buy if the price was right.   Just think, no purses, jewelry, or clothes..........this would be a first.  Well,  I almost got out of there without buying clothing.  I have been admiring these collars made from ties for a few shows.  I broke down and brought me and my daughter one.  These are not  ours because I was too lazy to take a picture, but you should get the idea.  Then I brought a  mobile to use over my  bed instead  of a chandelier.   This one is a large wire flower and hummingbird.  I also  brought  a cutting board  in the shape of a painters palette and a wall sconce that has a little shelf that I plan to  have hanging by the door for my keys.  This gentlemen is going to send  me  pictures of the last  thing I wanted  so I can decide.  He  takes  books  and  turns  them  into  shelves or  clocks.  He is going to send me pictures of some weaving books he has that he can make into a clock for me with a hidden compartment.

At one booth, the vendor had beaded his motorcycle..I wonder if they still ride it.

Today, I went to the R V Women winter luncheon in Thurmont,  MD., at the Cozy.    The food was plentiful but average, Lots of laughing and talking about their RV's.   Had a great time and looking forward to the May rally.

Next week I go to the yearly Section Meeting with the company I work for.  I had to postpone Jury Duty because I would be in Florida.  Stay tuned for a report.

Working On It

On Friday, I donated my Jeep Cherokee.   This is another piece that is closed and gets me closer to my goal.  I will use my Honda Pilot as the trade in on my tow car.

That evening, I checked into the Holiday Inn Express for one night using some of my reward points because I was going to a concert for the first time in years.  I went to see a southern rock band that my friend Collin really loves and insisted that I see.   I even brought a teeshirt that I will wear when Collin and I go to Disney World next month after a meeting we have to go to.  The group is very good, their name is Blackberry Smoke.   The group sings one of the songs that is part of my new attitude, 'I might not change the world but I am going to leave a scar.'. The band that I enjoyed better was the first band,  Drake White.  He and his band was fantastic.  I would have purchased a CD but it was so crowded.  I will go see them in the future.  I did feel a little strange being the only black person and with dread locs in the crowd.

The next day I met an old girlfriend of my son's for lunch.  She is a terrific lady and I so wish they had worked out.   We laughed for about two hours, the food was good, and I will go back to that restaurant again, however the company was better.

Before I met up with JoAnne, I brought my dream serger.  the Baby Lock Evolution,  it does everything but slice bread.  Realllllllly it does.  I know....I am getting rid of toys and not suppose to add to them.   At this rate, I will have no clothes or food in the RV because they weight too much with my toys.   This was a NEED purchase.   I will have to have something to do when it rains and I can't get outside.   I am convinced, are you?  At the moment, since I have decided to get rid  of clothing and food, I want to take my Brother sewing/embroidery machine, Baby Lock Embellisher, Baby lock serger, spinning wheel, and  travel loom.  That will keep me happy.  I am leaving behind my other sewing machines, large looms, band saw and tons of yarn, books and fabric.  I think that is enough of a sacrifice.

Today, I am making a pair of chef pants for my daughter and then will get ready for the women artist group I go to once a month when I am home.  I wanted to go to the spinning wheel group meet up but lazy kicked in.  Just think, lazy can take over anytime it wants to after June 1.

I am dieting and exercising so I can get in better health for my new life.  I have been doing Zumba and walking on my treadmill daily.  Somewhere in my travels  I picked up a CD with healthy quick recipes that I am enjoying,  the title is Cooking Thin and Loving Food with chef Kathleen.   I made the broiled fish with lemony cucumber yogurt sauce.  You cook the fish in the microwave.  Now that is my kind of cooking.  It was very, very good.   I also made the bacon and white bean soup, yummy.  Tonight is the Sesame-ginger shrimp & spicy black bean salad.   I am trying to decided between the Pork tenderloin with White wine sauce or the Seared Pork Tenderloin with Quick Fruit Chutney for tomorrow night.  There are even more recipes on her website,  you should check it out.  Quick, easy and Delicious.

If I have not been sent out on assignment, I will keep chugging along on this downsizing.  My daughter will come on Friday to help me go though this mountain of clothes and shoes I have.   The idea is to keep two weeks of summer clothes, two weeks of fall clothes that should also work for Florida, couple of dressy things that squash well and still look good, one coat that I hope I never have to use, and rain wear.    Everything must mix and match with scarves, shawls and jewelry.   We will think of everything that I might need, make a pile of those and then  narrow down.  Some clothes will go to the Dress For Success organization and some will go to the Rescue Mission.

I ordered the floor cloth canvas that I will be painting for the Living room area and bedroom of the RV.  I know the design that I want to paint for the Living Room one but am not sure about the other.  I also want to weave a throw rug for the bathroom before I sale my big loom.  I have a buyer for the rug loom, she just has to come pick it up.  I can use the travel loom to weave dish towels.  This is the floor cloth that I painted to go in front of my refrigerator.  I believe it is too large to go in front of the refrigerator in the RV and will have to cut it down once I move in because I would like to use it.