Corsets were in abundance for sale and adorned many of the ladies we met. The custom-crafted details reflected a passion for the genre. Ladies bustled, wrapped, gathered and chain-linked garments with style and finesse, infused with traits from India to Gothic and everything in between.


Pop culture favorites popped up in surprising accents too, like this Doctor Who dalek inspired hoop skirt. Pictured on the right is David Lee from Virginia carrying his Darth Vader steampunked helmet creation. He attended with his wife who graced the stage with her belly dancing routine in the weekend events.


We weren't the only family to attend. Accommodating one of the youngest attendees, a vintage pram cruised the show with this couple we saw Friday evening in one of the many exhibit rooms.


Lots of leather in feminine lacing and added tinkering created conversation coming and going all weekend. The fella on the right was a walking music man carrying his steampunked audio system backpack with brass horn speakers.


Meet the talking automaton parrot, Smithwick. She casually introduced her creation to us as we browsed the jewelry and millinery vendors. Many of the robotic companions echoed their owners inventive spirit.


Demonstrating his passion, David Lee of Hatton Cross Steampunk  built this tank automobile - The Gentleman's Armored Battle Carriage. Not only did David host one of the many symposiums at the fair, he is also one of the iconic faces featured in the International Steampunk Fashions book by Victoriana Lady Lisa. After speaking with the author, I purchased the book, which Lady Lisa generously signed for me. It's packed with unique styles, taking her two years to compile, chronicling a reference for the many veins of the Steampunk fashion movement all over the world. With the abundance of picturesque photos, this beautiful book is now part of my personal design library. It is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.



Robert got a chance to try the doctor's contraption for "behavioral modification", cleverly engineered with colander, flatware chest and authentic antique electric shock components. Not that my dear husband needed any of this... I am told he is already very well trained! He was such a good sport and enjoyed the festivities with lighthearted spirit and charm, as always.

The three of us managed very well with our vintage and thrift store finds. Three outfits each carried us throughout the weekend. Friday, day one, Brenna and Robert donned their pinstriped vests. The boots I purchased were fittingly comfortable especially for all the walking we did.


Day two, more vests, boots, corset, goggles and cameos... Oh my! We took a break Saturday afternoon before the Centennial Ball concerts that evening.


On Sunday, we continued with the steampunk threads. Robert was complimented on his brocade vest, surprising inquiring minds when he confessed it was simply a Good Will score... from the ladies section!


Not only was fashion showcased, but top-notch entertainment included music, belly-dancing, karaoke, clever exhibits and engaging demonstrations. Strictly for the adults, gaming, absinthe tastings and burlesque were highlighted. The "statue" at Friday's Goblin Market had all of us carefully watching as she stood completely still until Brenna put money in her vessel. She then gracefully repositioned herself after handing Brenna a piece of paper which quoted Homer's Odyssey... "Cyclops, You ask my honorable name? Remember the gift you promised me, and I shall tell you. My name is Nobody: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me nobody."

Everyone was somebody and devoted fans like Brenna were excited to spot some members sans make-up from her favorite band, Steam Powered Giraffe. Granting autographs and photos before their performances, the guys were just hanging out, meeting and greeting lucky fans as we strolled the hallways from one event to the other. Several official meet and greet times were scheduled for real face time with their favorites. Above, Bunny Bennett with girlfriend Paige were spotted in a corner near the main entrance. To the right, guitarist, Michael Reed easily flowed up and down the hall to autograph fan paraphernalia while waiting for the other members on the long winding line. Michael was nice enough to pause for the minute, and according to Brenna, he gives great hugs!

Mentalist and Mime, Mr. Saturday & Sixpence popped up all over and enjoyed interacting with fans, signing their original artwork and just chillin' at the Daffodil Lounge on Saturday.


Up close and personal with modern day Renaissance man, musician, artist and writer, Voltaire... He was on the ticket here promoting his new book, Call of the Jersey Devil, illustrations and Cd's, back in the US after a victorious UK and Dublin tour. Taking the stage solo, Voltaire performed his lively cabaret set Saturday night to an ardent crowd until one in the morning.

Earlier Saturday night, we anxiously awaited Steam Powered Giraffe's set, playing to a packed tent. The Fair was this San Diego band's first area gig, and the turnout confirmed a substantial fan base here on the East Coast. Their show is a unique mix of robot pantomime and folk rock music, dotted with humor and witty charm. Just as the harmonies in their song Clockwork Vaudeville, "There were four metal people dressed oh so sharply; They sung and danced a catchy tune with automaton robotic ease; Their guitar strings hummed to the beat kept by their tambourine." I'm sure we'll be seeing them again in our area real soon. Can't wait!

Once upon a time, in a land of busy social calendars of volunteer variety, afternoons were graced with a slower pace allowing the taking of tea. This ritual was established to stave off hunger until dinnertime - a gathering often at 9 pm or later. It is believed we should thank Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the early 19th century for this establishment. Today, even Mick Jagger admits "I got nasty habits; I take tea at three."

Think about it... Have our overloaded schedules really changed? If anything, we're even more busy in today's world. So what about break-time or snacking? I know I surely need a pick-me-up somewhere around three o'clock, grabbing a cup of coffee... or tea. To enjoy a soothing hot cup of tea may be considered a treat, but an afternoon break is often a necessity. We owe our busy selves a reassurance that our time is important and we need to nourish the soul with warmth to face the remainder of the day.

Both the English and Irish are steadfast with this custom, and scones are an important accompaniment. I love scones and after several tries, the recipe I now use has become a hit with family and friends alike. They are easy to make, and you can use whatever fresh ingredients on hand to flavor them. Let's make fresh lemon blueberry scones!
Lemon Blueberry Scones
2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature cut into small pieces
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
1 egg, beaten
Extra sugar for sprinkling
1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2) Sift the flour and sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
3) Cut the butter into the dry mixture with a pastry cutter or 2 knives until combined into a course meal.
4) Using a grater (or a citrus zester), shave the lemon zest and scrape all bits into the bowl. Mix into the meal.
5) Add the blueberries and mix into the meal using a spatula.
6) Add the vanilla extract and cream. Combine with the spatula. The dough will become very sticky at which point you need to gently fold the dough in the bowl to combine all and create a firm ball.
7) On a floured surface, cover the dough ball in flour and roll out to a circle about 1/2 inch thick.
8) Using a sharp knife or dough cutter, cut the circle as you would  pie into eight even triangular slices.
9) Place the triangles onto the parchment and brush liberally with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with sugar.
10) Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until they are slightly brown (ovens vary, so watch they don't get overdone).

Some other varieties I've made are Lemon Strawberry, Almond Cranberry (replace the vanilla extract with almond extract and the fruit with dried cranberries), and even simple chocolate chip. Whatever your favorite flavor, these past traditions present gifts of time... Time to enjoy tea at three... 

xoxo-Sonya

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby 

Steampunk  from Tumblr

Some families spend weekend time together enjoying sport events, watching a current movie or entertaining friends at home. We certainly spend quality time together like this too, although some of our weekend activities are not your average fare. Those who are familiar with our past theatrical mingling in the Hermitage murder mystery dinners will not be surprised by our latest adventure. This time, Brenna is the leading force, introducing Robert and I to the ingenious world of Steampunk... Think of Victoriana meets sci-fi, a subculture of neo-Victorian, cyberpunk and retro-futurism. Pretty cool, huh? Swiftly approaching on May 17th through the 19th, we booked our tickets for The Steampunk World's Fair. For this family affair, we decided to attend in full regalia, accessories and all! So over the last several weeks, we have been searching the Internet for fashionable inspiration and vintage clothing shops to dress-up the weekend in style. 

We narrowed our list to four shops around New Jersey and one in New York. After adding the local thrift stores, we comprised our route of time travel from Tarrytown, New York all the way down to Somerville, New Jersey.

We started our journey at a small, but loaded consignment shop in Tarrytown called Deja Vu. Here they carry many high-end current designer names, but only a select amount of vintage frocks. Brenna and I enjoyed browsing, but were unable to find anything to fit this assignment. Robert was told their other location in Port Chester housed menswear items. Perhaps another day...

The following weekend, we visited a Pompton Lakes locale that produced a bit more. In Charisma, Brenna scored a pair of retro blue sun spectacles and a pinstriped vest. The shop is layered with vintage looks for men and women, dresses, suits and separates awaiting to be cleverly assembled for the stage or a private soiree. Oodles of costume jewelry had my attention for most of this visit, but once again, Robert didn't find a thing. Okay, onto the next...

We managed to find a great place in Hawthorne called Udelco, at least I thought it was. Brenna was put off by the manner of the warehouse strewn inventory in a sea of cardboard boxes. The website said they are "a wholesale vintage clothing distributor open to the public". You need a lot of time to sift through the boxes of items simply categorized as "70's PRINTS" or "HANDBAGS". I found it intriguing and will have to get back there on my own one day soon. On another lengthy trip down to Sommerville, we visited Incogneeto and enjoyed discovering the charming selection of hats, clothing, shoes and accessories packed in all corners of the deep shop. Owner Stacy LoAlbo showed us around, bringing our attention to her published book, Vintage Fashion Accessories, which features many of the finds within the walls. A thorough inspection of the shop enabled us to pick up a few items that secured elements for our transformations. Brenna finally found an affordable black bowler hat and I was lucky with the size 8 zip-up granny style boots. LoAlbo also has an online shop on Etsy if you are trying to locate something special from the comfort of your own home without the mileage. 

But low and behold, our most fruitful excursions for Robert were closest to home in Bergen and Rockland counties. Thank God for Good Will! Robert scored the best gear in three different fancy fabric vests coordinating with shirts stuffed into the racks. The vests were certainly in abundance because I laid my hands on one in hunter green with pockets and scooped peter pan collar.

Even the dollar store provided fringe benefits to our looks. Water guns we purchased as accessory items still need to be painted and detailed to complete the costumes. Brenna has already gotten a head start with this project. She layered the metallic colors in detail carefully over a base of black. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me! I want her to make our accessories too.

Inexpensive dollar store water guns we just bought...

...can look like this with some creativity and spray paint.

We have a great start, but much more work needs to be invested to produce our wardrobe for the three day event. Stay tuned for our ensembles of oldies into goodies. I promise to take lots of pictures of the final curtain call!
xoxo-Sonya