Tag Archive | steampunk

Congratulations Shandai and Ravyn!!!!

Only a little over 6 months late but…. ENJOY… sometimes reflecting back is a warm fuzzy all its own!master (21)

FIRST obligatory adorable kitty pics! 12096470_10153703232386151_6064828047901730230_n

IMG_2819The 10th of October marked the beginning of what I believe is already an AMAZING marriage. My oldest friend marrying the absolute love of her life! And Ken and I got to be a major part of it!! I was the MAID (see she knows how to make a girl feel young) of honour to stand next to her Man of honour. Ken got to be the driver of the bride and so much more.

Sitting in the fancy ride (the GMC thanks to the loan of the inlaws) having a pre wedding sip.

Sitting in the fancy ride (the GMC thanks to the loan of the inlaws) having a pre wedding sip.

IMG_2830The wedding was definitely not a classic church wedding and it suited them to a T. Hand fasting, an actual KNOT was tied (I kid you not… cords representing different parts of their marriage knotted in an infinity knot). The location was amazing – a state park between two major rivers, the day PERFECT! After months and months of work, organizing and positive thinking the day just came together marvelously.DSCN1194

DSCN1195I had the added task of welcoming Shandai’s mother (Wilma) into the circle during the ceremony. She passed away nearly 11 years ago from MS. I remember her… it was so amazing to do this task and honestly FEEL her THERE. I know she was smiling and dancing along with us. (of course I cried… actually I cried MULTIPLE times during the day… no one who knows me is surprised I am sure) I don’t think I can explain how… pure and special the entire experience felt.

our gift to them... that is Shandai's mom (her favourite picture of her), paper made by the kids, my welcome hand written by myself and arranged by Ken.

our gift to them… that is Shandai’s mom (her favourite picture of her), paper made by the kids, my welcome hand written by myself and arranged by Ken.

The crochet’ed top hats I made over the year (like 100) went over marvelously too… they even had a table at the reception to decorate them so people all over the place were WEARING MY HATS!

Sheep tested!

Sheep tested!

Tiny beings and tiny hats!

Tiny beings and tiny hats!

fullweb (2)fullweb (3)fullweb (4)But enough about that… let’s see, the pertinent information – THEME! Steampunk with a touch of Firefly… there was people dressed up impeccably as characters from the show. My outift, Shandai’s absolutely PERFECT gown and the Best Woman Dara’s outfits were all made by the most talented seamstress Amy Sue. I do believe I linked her before but repeat is a good thing… HERE.

Dressing at the house

Dressing at the house

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Can you see the Firefly inspiration here???

Can you see the Firefly inspiration here???

My hair and make up were all in the capable hands of Kristi… She was AMAZING… the gears were all her… the hair completely her brain. The hair piece (and the ring bearer the gorgeous and pregnant Raina’s) were all Ken! My artistic man.DSCN1187

The day was perfect… sunshine and wee bit of breeze. No overheating but not shivering in the cold either. I swear it was a day made for this wedding.
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The wedding was outside and the day was PERFECT! Lots of great pictures from the ceremony and the location.

Andy (Man of Honour) placing a Serenity charm on Shandai's shoe

Andy (Man of Honour) placing a Serenity charm on Shandai’s shoe

With Raina (pregnant with TWIN BOYS!) the bearer of the rings

With Raina (pregnant with TWIN BOYS!) the bearer of the rings

Chatting, I love how our faces look like it is something completely different

Chatting, I love how our faces look like it is something completely different

Bride, Groom, Brother of the Groom (Bill... he had the best long tails EVER) and the seamstress... the AMAZING Amy Sue

Bride, Groom, Brother of the Groom (Bill… he had the best long tails EVER) and the seamstress… the AMAZING Amy Sue

fullwebLet’s see… I met a variety of new people… had an amazing experience… tasted some absolutely amazing mead. There was Irish dancing at the reception as well. With a large percentage of the guests being dancers or Renaissance Festival employees and enthusiasts it was quite the party.12122576_10200994959911650_2773561288717916963_n

One of Amy's fun selfies (on left) with Trish

One of Amy’s fun selfies (on left) with Trish

Thanks Amy, we look cute in this one!

Thanks Amy, we look cute in this one!

We stopped at a pub they dance at before we got to the reception. Pictures were taken of course.

With bridal attendant Trish

With bridal attendant Trish

12122526_10153234427315954_8062970876602714635_nThere was a photo booth area manned by the photographer’s niece and nephew… and I must say, the photographer was AMAZING… so energized and he was awesome at brainstorming and then getting fun and unique ideas across. His site is HERE. I am planning on framing these three images below (edited by the gorgeous bride herself) for display on our wall. A nice series of images from a day to remember.12167173_10153235146635954_1998140958_n

12072596_10153235109545954_4226697375616343846_n11696705_10153235152745954_74121373_nNow to blow you over with amazing images… and one more time !!! CONGRATS YOU TWO!

Just the girls in the wedding party... Emily (bridesmaid), Trish (bridal attendant), Raina (bearer of rings), Shandai (bride), Dara (best woman), Me (maid of honour... yup MAID hehe)

Just the girls in the wedding party… Emily (bridesmaid), Trish (bridal attendant), Raina (bearer of rings), Shandai (bride), Dara (best woman), Me (maid of honour… yup MAID hehe)

Bridal Party

Bridal Party

The guests at the wedding itself

The guests at the wedding itself

master (25)

master (30)

Dress repair! Amy Sue you rock!

Dress repair! Amy Sue you rock!

This entry was posted on 22/05/2016, in Uncategorized. 5 Comments

Curtsies & Conspiracies… A Book Review

I am not sure what it is with grabbing the second book in a series but I seem to have turned it into somewhat of a talent! I have delved into this world before with the Parasol Protectorate series. Gail Carriger has a real talent to create an enthralling steampunk world full of vampires, werewolves and spys.  Curtsies & Conspiracies does not disappoint in any way. From the Finishing School series this is “Book the Second”, I actually came across this book from a rather entertaining website: Finishing School (HERE) where you learn “The Fine Art of Finishing Others”. Which of course means I completely did not make the connection between the adult series and this young adult one until the book came in from the library.

We follow Sophronia as she goes about her first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies where all things ladylike including spying and seat planning are taught from a dirigible! A school trip is more than simply visiting London… after all the entire school is afloat! There is conspiracy and intrigue, petticoats and suspiciously mechanical purses topped with fine lace.

What I love about the characters is that all the tiers of society are represented… the gentile ladies, the sooties in the boiler room (Soap), even those connected to the suspicious and unknown Picklemen. There are classes and clandestine meetings, adventure and balls and tea, flirtation with death as well as noble boys. There are characters connected to the adult series and the same basic conflicts of the main group. I love that I did not feel like I was reading a story that was really only for young adults. It was easy to lose yourself in the plot and enjoy the adventure.

So follow Sophronia as she uses her training to navigate London, relations with vampires and werewolves and the beginnings of young love!curtsies & conspiracies

Some Memorable Pictures

In order to keep the blog size down I figured I would do a sort of overflow blog entry. So… here are some MORE pictures to enjoy of what we saw and did at Comic con! 

Let’s start with some of the costumes that were at the con… 

The woman on the left was a volunteer... steampunk style popped up all over the place! And on the right of course a stormtrooper.

This girl was an artist at one of the booths. She was so lovely and VERY willing to pose for Trinity. Trinity actually asked for a few "princesses" to have a picture taken. She did not want to be in the pictures but wanted pictures of them all the same. This girl said she was so amazed by Trinity, if it was HER she would have been crying lol

A princess for Trinity! She was nice enough to stop and let us take a photo!

This girl is in high school and made her entire costume herself! She has won contests with it. I could not resist asking to take a picture.

Lwaxana Troi!!! She made her own costume and was in character. LOVELY!

Now don’t forget that there was the main cast of Star Trek the Next Generation at the convention for autographs and all. While I did not go and see them we did run into this lovely lady. She was portraying Lwaxana Troi in a recreation of THIS dress I think. 

Now this was one of Ken's - Jay and Silent Bob!

Do you recognize them? They were spot on! Jay and Silent Bob

I cannot believe how many amazing costumes there was. I didn’t get a picture of the old school He-Man with REAL muscles under his spray on tan. Will, Kathy’s brother saw what he described as a 10th Doctor look alike with his very own Tardis walking around (I am not happy I missed that one!). 

One last picture to share and this is my most touristy one … the largest building in the city, though it is still under construction! 

Gorgeous