Afternoon Tea

We had a lovely time this afternoon meeting the new merchant in town, the lovely Lex at Epicaa.

Go see the shop, she has Steampunk, Punk, Goth, and soon to have a lot more stuff!  The ladies had a wonderful time trying on so many new corsets!  And OH the fascinators!

Never fear gents, there’s stuff for you too!  Trousers, shirts and waistcoats!  Such finery as you have ever seen.

A scrumptious tea was set out for us to enjoy as we shopped, t’was truly a great day.  I hope Lex at Epicaa enjoyed it as well, and that we will see her and her family out at some Durham Steampunk events.

She is looking for jewellery makers to showcase in her store, if you’re interested and have some wares to sell, contact her at the link above.

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There’s a new merchant in town!

I just wanted to keep you updated on a couple of things happening in Durham Region.

First and foremost, there is a new merchant in Pickering, she’s just opened recently and she has many many wonderful gadgets and costume items for Steampunks.  The store name is Epicaa and she is located at 1822 Whites Road, Pickering.

On Sunday, 7th December, Epicaa and the Sterling Stars will be celebrating the grand opening of the shop, with afternoon tea.  Please join us at Epicaa from noon until 5pm.  Browse the store, buy some things, enjoy some lovely tea and refreshments, and revel in the company of your fellow costumed geeks. 🙂  I myself plan to be there in my best finery, and hope to shop for a new corset, or perhaps a new hat.  Or dress.  Or … 😉

There are two Facebook events set up, one on the Sterling Stars page, and one on the Epicaa page.  You don’t have to RSVP to either if you’re not a Facebook user, but if you are, please click the Join button so the merchant knows how much tea to make.

I do so wish to see you all there.

The Train, The Train!

Last Sunday Durham Steampunkers went out for a day trip on the York – Durham Heritage Railway from Uxbridge to Stouffville and back, with a layover in Stouffville for lunch at The Earl of Whitchurch Pub.

The day started out cold and damp, but as we gathered at the train station in Uxbridge, we knew we were in for a treat.  It is October after all, and that means Halloween fun!  The train cars were all decorated and children of all ages were in costume (children 12 and under who arrive in costume ride the train for free in October).  I do believe we were the only adults in fancy dress however.  But that’s sort of what we’re all about.

Here are the photos that I took that day.  There’s quite a few and if I ever have time to figure out how to create a proper gallery on this blog I’ll do it, but I don’t, so we’ll just have to do with it like this I’m afraid.

There are more photos on our Facebook page please join us, we’d love to see you at our events!

Don’t forget!!!

We’re going on a train ride!  Sunday October 19th, from 10 am until 5pm Durham Steampunk will be on the York/Durham Heritage Train for a day of leaf peepin and lunchin’.

The York/Durham Heritage Train leaves Uxbridge at 10am, arrives in Stouffville at 11:15. There’s a lunchtime layover and we can enjoy a meal and good company at the Earl of Whitchurch Pub, just a block from the train station. If time allows, or you’d rather shop, there are a lot of interesting little places along Main St. in town.

Return to Uxbridge trip leaves Stouffville at 4pm arrives at Uxbridge 5:15

There are other ticketing options, without layovers if you would prefer to not spend the entire day. Regular ticketing prices are $25 for adults, $23 for Seniors, children (2 – 12) in a costume are free (during their Halloween promo) or $17 if not in costume (unfortunately for us, adults get no discount for costumes, but we’d still like to see yours!)

Get your tickets for Trip # 3, car # 106 here http://www.ydhr.ca/tickets/trips.php?cat=170

Please email me to let me know if you will be joining us so that I can make sure there are enough tables set aside for us at the pub.

Event Announcement!

We have a very awesome event coming up with the Durham Steampunks!  Join us on Sunday, October 19th, 2014 on the York-Durham Heritage Train!  If you’re on Facebook, join the event here

If you’re not on Facebook, here are the deets:

The York/Durham Heritage Train leaves Uxbridge at 10am, arrives in Stouffville at 11:15. There’s a lunchtime layover and we can enjoy a meal and good company at the Earl of Whitchurch Pub, just a block from the train station. If time allows, or you’d rather shop, there are a lot of interesting little places along Main St. in town.

Return to Uxbridge trip leaves Stouffville at 4pm arrives at Uxbridge 5:15

There are other ticketing options, without layovers. If we get enough participation, we may be able to get a group rate (need 20 or more people). Regular ticketing prices are $25 for adults, $23 for Seniors, children (2 – 12) in a costume are free (during their Halloween promo) or $17 if not in costume (unfortunately for us, adults get no discount for costumes, but we’d still like to see yours!)

Please get your tickets here for trip #3 if you wish to join us for the entire day.   If you don’t want to take the whole day, get tickets for trip #1, join us for the trip in the morning, then return immediately to Uxbridge, OR order trip #4, depart Uxbridge, then meet us at the station in Stouffville, and we will all return to Uxbridge together 🙂

We would like to all sit together in the same car obviously, so far one person has ordered her tickets in car #106, we may switch to car #102, so I will keep you posted as to what happens with that.  So far the train is nowhere near sold, so we have a while before we need to rush and figure out where we’re all sitting.

Lunch will be at The Earl of Whitchurch pub KIDS EAT FREE ON SUNDAYS! and breakfast is served until 3pm.  They have gluten free options, and are very gluten savvy!  I spoke with Leanna personally, and she is very knowledgeable about celiac needs, which is a blessing and a relief to me!  Their specials menu changes weekly, but they always have the pub grub standards.

If you will be joining us, please email me to let me know so that I can add your numbers to the pub reservation to ensure we have enough tables set up for us.

I hope to see you there!

Such a wonderful day!

Well the day started out frightfully dull and wet, but that did not deter us from our scheduled outing to visit the Oshawa Museum and enjoy a picnic at the beach.

I took quite a lot of photos today, please do humour me by looking at them all!  I had no idea that Oshawa history could be so interesting, and that the homes here were so grand!  I did ask if I win the lottery could I purchase Henry House, it is just that lovely!  I highly suggest a similar outing for anyone so inclined.  Admission to the museum houses is only $3, and takes but an hour or so of your time, depending on how long you linger at each exhibit.  We spent a bit of time in quite a few places, and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely! Picnicking is as always, free.  There is an ice-cream shop there, and places where you can BBQ even, as well as a few sheltered gazebos.  It is a rather well appointed park.  We chose a spot under a tree, as the clouds had cleared and the sun emerged whilst we toured the museum.

Well, without further ado, I bid you well and fair viewing of these images to follow.

Arriving in style

Practising our letters

The school marm’s dress

God save the Queen!

Ice water

Shopping at the General Store

Community bulletin board

A local archaeological find

Pre-Victorian era

Joanne and the spinning wheel

Some medical gadgets

Obstetrical tools, bloodletting, and some questionable medicinals

The front office of the gentleman of the house

Writing paraphernalia

The secretary desk

Map pre-Confederation

Ontario and Durham regions

Lovely curio shelf in the parlour

Ready for tea?

Have a seat

A wreath made from seeds

A wreath made from human hair

Sideboard cabinet

A wee chair, with a wee History of Canada (not much had happened by that point yet!)

Supper is served

Keeping the tea hot

Gina and Joanne

Stuart

The kitchen cupboards

Such a warm and inviting kitchen

They had running water even!

Fantastic iron stove

Keeping occupied on the loom

or churning butter

knitting, or reading

A collection of tea pots

Candle maker

Pots, pans, and irons

A swan covered dish

Dishes, various ingredients

Kitchen lanterns

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Henry

The Henry’s bed

Mrs. Henry’s wheelchair

And some of their shoes

Jewellery made from human hair

Toiletries

The nightstand

Gina

Lynn

The back garden

The wagon

Herbs

Henry House

Stuart

Flower

 

Look at what you missed!

So many things to update from Steam on Queen! First I will list some of the upcoming events for the rest of this summer that are happening.

First and foremost of course is the Sterling Stars Durham Region Steampunk Summer Picnic on July 13th

If you can get up to Coldwater, there’s a Steampunk Festival August 8 & 9 that looks like it will be a lot of fun!

Then there’s Suburban Steam in Scarborough at Historic Zion Schoolhouse on August 23

On Labour Day weekend is Steam Era out in Milton

And of course, The Grand Canadian Steampunk Expo September 12, 13 & 14 at Fort George Niagara-on-the-Lake

Now, on to the shopping!  I found myself a few things that I really really needed, I got some goggles at Lady Lilleigh’s Little Luxuries (say that 10 times fast! 😉 )  I needed some for my air-ship factory worker persona.

I also got some really really neat Elf ears that will be brilliant for my Birthday Fairy costume that I will be wearing on my birthday at FanExpo from Arcane Angel.  And to go with the elf ears, I found some pretty little drop flower earrings at CatherinetteRings.  And because it was such a hot day, I bought myself a nice sandalwood fan at Spencer’s Merchantile.

Oh, and so I don’t forget to add this to my Chapters Indigo Wish List, I wanted to buy this series of books, I just didn’t want to have to carry them around all day!  So I will have to get them for some summer reading.  Sunset Val – by Rob St. Martin

I was so busy being amazed all day long that I forgot to take any photographs.  I am waiting on other members to share some.  In the meantime, you can check out the Steam On Queen website I’m sure they’ll have some photos up soon 🙂

Yes, it’s been a while…

There hasn’t been much happening in the world of Steampunk here in Durham Region, however there are a few of us gearing up (heh heh…gearing up) to attend Steam on Queen next Saturday.  I am very much looking forward to this event, it is always so much fun.  Personally I am very excited to see the Metropolis Robot!  And my mouth is slavering just thinking of the pulled pork that will be available for luncheon from Little Tomato Catering!

Please, do join us, admission is free, however donations at the gate will not be turned down!  And do bring a few extra notes in case you find some needful things with the merchants.  I am quite certain that you will not be disappointed!

Our next event after Steam on Queen will be the Sterling Stars Summer Picnic Outing on Sunday July 13th (links to Facebook event)  We will be touring the Oshawa Community Museum at Lakeview Park, Oshawa, followed by bring your own picnic lunch.  Admission to the museum houses is $3 for adults, $1 child, $2 Senior, and $7 for a family.  We will meet at 11:30 am in the parking lot, tour the museums at noon, and then lunch on the lawn, bring a blanket!  Please do come in costume if you can, but modern dress is also perfectly welcome.

To whet your appetite, here is a photo from our last picnic at the beach

Getting caught up

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

 

Gettin’ busy

Today is our Welcome to Spring Steampunk Lunch at the Trinity Irish Pub.  It’s supposed to rain, so we’ll be indoors, rather than out on the patio, though the weather is likely warm enough to be outside.  We just don’t want to ruin the feathers in our fascinators  😉  I’ll post some pics after our lunch.

I started working on a new project, repurposing a child’s toy steam train that I picked up at a yard sale oh so long ago.  It’s red and shiny and just not nearly Steampunk enough for our tastes, but hopefully I will come up with something and be able to have it finished to dress up our table at next weekend’s Victorian Marketplace Bizarre Bazaar.  Here’s a few photos to get us started…