My sincerest apologies my dear friends for not writing sooner and keeping you up to date as to what we’ve been doing out here in Durham. My infernal PC crashed a horrible death and I only just got my replacement, so, here I am with a few things to show you.
Let’s start with an announcement, for members of the Sterling Stars, Durham Region Steampunk Society, we now have a design for calling cards that you can download and print for yourself. Members Raven MacRaven and Lisa MacRaven graciously volunteered their time and expertise in making these possible. If you would like to make your own, email me and I can send you the document. Members can type in their own name, and “Member Since 20XX” if you so desire. You can also add your own email address, phone number etc…whatever you would like to have on there that will fit. We just ask that you not change the font or the design in any way, so that we all have a standardised format.
Here’s mine 
Our first event of Spring 2014 “Welcome to Spring” luncheon at Trinity Irish Pub in Whitby was a wonderful afternoon spent with good friends, good food and drink, and good music. We celebrated a new member’s birthday, and talked about our display that we were working on for the Victorian Market Bizarre Bazaar. Here are a few photos of our day to show you what you missed 🙂 Stuart and I also started planning my birthday party which will be the party to be at at FanExpo on Saturday August 30th. Just look for the Birthday Fairy and the Candy Pimp! 😀

Gina & Rebecca

the obligatory “selfie”

Happy Birthday Chris!

Gina & Sarah

Stuart, Lisa and Raven
The following weekend was the Victorian Market where we had a table taking donations for the local food bank. We had 4 members working the table for the day, myself, Gina (who put together most of the display board), Raven and Lisa. The event was hosted by Pop Culture Canada and we made some new friends and reacquainted with some others (I don’t like to use the word “old” when it refers to friends, to avoid offence 😉 ).

Raven being bamboozled

our booth display

Have a seat!

Friends new and known
Here is a list of the vendors who were there, and please do visit their websites. They all had lovely and useful items on offer, some of which I availed myself of! I’d have got more, if I my stipend were significantly higher.
Family merchants Waterston’s Wardrobe who lovingly makes some beautiful women’s clothes and men’s ascots, and her daughter Before Dark 30 whom I purchased a beautiful pair of earrings from. Rumour has it that Husband/Father does custom leather work, and will make your dog a steampunk collar and leash set. I’m saving my nickels to outfit Kreacher for an outing! He can be reached through the Waterston’s Wardrobe link above.
Husband and wife team Time to Accessorize has chainmail jewelery, dragon eggs and other geekery!
You know gluten free has gone mainstream when a baker shows up at a geek convention selling yummy gluten free cupcakes! Sweet Gluten Freedom I personally appreciate the availability of gluten free offerings, being celiac, it is quite often difficult to find things to eat when I’m out!
The Spider and Fly does some amazingly geeky things with TARDIS coasters and Ouija board placemats and check out Pixie Fashions for embroiderd patches, hairbands and other geeky necessaries.
The award for “furthest travelled vendor” went to Veronique Marcoux who came all the way from Montreal! Such shiny and beautiful pieces of jewellery that would be difficult to find their rival. You can find her shop at Capsule Creations on Etsy and she said she would very likely make the trip for Steam on Queen in June. Please stop by to see her and say “bonjour”
Another jewellery artisan who makes some wonderful things that you simply must see to believe is Steamgummi
If you need a corset please do have a look at Eva Mocek’s Etsy store. Her custom work is gorgeous, and pricing is more than fair. I plan to take her a bolt of fabric I’ve had laying about for years and always thought of making a corset, but I can’t sew!
And last but not least, Adam Smith from Sword in the Stone and Steampunk Canada who was showing off his leather wares, which I must say are very durable. I purchased a wrist band from him a bazillion years ago (or maybe it was just a hundred 😉 ) at Renaissance Faire. I love it and wear it often. Even when I’m not cosplaying. He also regaled us with a story of a pile of broken zombies during a lull.
I cannot tell a lie though, I must say that my favourite part of the whole day was once again the Dragonfly Belly Dancers

Highlight of the day
We plan to have a few more steampunky events here in Durham in the upcoming months. Hopefully about every 6 weeks or so. The next one will be either May 31 or June 1, depending what I can bodge together for the day, and whatever the weather decides to do, if an honest to goodness Spring will show up or not! It’ll be lunch, or maybe an evening pub moot. I will certainly let you know with plenty of time to have your top hat cleaned and your collars starched.
As always dear friends, do keep in touch. You can find us on Facebook and you can email me any time at durhamsteampunk@gmail.com