Costume College 2016

By | August 20th, 2016|Categories: Accessories, Fashion, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Where to start? I have just returned from this year’s Costume College, put on by the Costumer’s Guild West, and held at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California. Nearly 400 attendees, dressed in every type of costume imaginable (and some highly unimaginable) gather each year at the end of July. We come to [...]

TeslaCon – Steampunk’s Immersion Convention

By | June 25th, 2016|Categories: Steampunk, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , |

Immerse Yourself in TeslaCon Everybody likes a party, but Eric Larson, aka Lord Hastings Robert Bobbins III, Prime Minister of England, has taken the fan convention concept to a new level with TeslaCon. He was bored of the traditional fan convention and used his talents to reimagine the experience. Some fans refer to him as [...]

Murdoch Mysteries (The Artful Detective) – Building Steam(punk) to Season 10

By | June 21st, 2016|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Steampunk, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Murdoch Mysteries or The Artful Detective? Murdoch Mysteries started production on its 10th season last month. If you aren't familiar with this gem which is known as The Artful Detective in the United States (Ovation TV), take a little time some rainy day this summer to catch up on past episodes. You won't be disappointed! [...]

3 Victorian Romance Novels for Summer Reading

By | June 11th, 2016|Categories: Fashion, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Heat Up Your Summer with Victorian Romance Ah, summertime. Do you like hot days spent at the beach or cool evenings by the campfire? Whatever your choice for summer relaxation, a good romance novel is always a good companion. Here are three romance novels set in the Victorian era you might enjoy. Secrets of a Summer [...]

Costume College 2015

By | August 21st, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Destinations, Edwardian Era, Fashion, Old West, Pioneer Dress, Roaring 20s, Steampunk, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

By Sue McDonald   Costume College - Whirlwind of Classes and Special Events   If you haven’t heard about Costume College, then you haven’t been paying attention! After hearing about it for years, a friend convinced me to enroll last year, and I am now positively addicted to the excitement, the many opportunities for learning [...]

Victorian Fashion as Inspiration for Steampunk

By | June 20th, 2015|Categories: Steampunk, Victorian Era, Victorian Fashions|Tags: , , , , |

From the movies and pop culture, most of us know what parts of Victorian fashion were important. For instance, women’s ball gowns and bustles and men’s top hats and jackets are all recognizable elements of a Victorian wardrobe. However, a relatively recent innovation takes these iconic Victorian images and morphs them with a modern, sci-fi [...]

Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society

By | May 4th, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Edwardian Era, Steampunk, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

What is Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society?   The Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society (PEERS) is a non-profit corporation based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The organization is dedicated to remembering, researching, and re-creating the performing arts of the past. Their goals include producing and sponsoring original and re-creations of [...]

What is Steampunk?

By | April 9th, 2011|Categories: Steampunk|Tags: , , , , |

With the Steampunk subculture recently being featured on the current TV series “Castle”, in the comic strip “Luann”, and in Steampunk-inspired gadgets and machines featured in the current “Warehouse 13” series, Steampunk is poised to emerge as a mainline culture and lifestyle on the world scene. While the movement has its roots in many works [...]