Steampunk Canada

When I received this book to review, I expected a Victorian drama with some interesting British Columbian history added for good measure. As I read the book my thoughts went something like this.... "this is ok"....."this is interesting, I like the main character, she's got spunk"..... "this is a bit of all right, the history about Cumberland is quite fascinating"...... "Oooo now this is something"....... "what the heck just happened"...... "Wow what  an ending!"

Bucket of Blood was not entirely what I was expecting. It had the Bucket of Blood, it's the name of the local drinking hole (and trust me, I'm not giving anything away), and it had the British Columbia history – specifically about the little town of Cumberland. The historical and fictional drama came from the local population, the miners, the Chinese population and the transient workers. But the main story, which at first seems to be the lovely portrayal of a 15 year old girl with a different outlook on how to be a woman in the backwoods of Canada in the Victorian period, takes on a very dark twist.

Amaryllis is the daughter of a local doctor and a mother who's said to be mad. Sadly, the reader only gets to know her mother through flashbacks because, as the book begins, she and her sister are getting dressed for her funeral. Her sister Violet is slightly older and always concerned with social niceties. Amaryllis, most often called Lizzie throughout the story, would now be called a tomboy. In the Victorian period she was just odd. She was allowed from an early age to wear trousers and go where she pleased. She was encouraged to ask questions and learn more than was normal for a girl of good standing who only needed to know those things to make her a fine marriage and a good wife.

The death of Lizzie's mother becomes the catalyst for a chain of events that leads to a very unexpected and brilliant end to the book. The journey there is long and twisted and Lizzie's story is not the one I would have imagined. The author has given us a grand opportunity to see things through the eyes and mind of her main character. Lizzie very much reminds me of a young female Sherlock Holmes, including all of the mental complexities that make him so brilliant.

While this story is fantastic for adults, I'm going to also encourage my girls to read it. They both read a lot of young adult fiction where the female character is strong, but still considered a beauty and a catch. Where the main male character is big and strong and virtuous and together they save the day, or their school, or their relationship. This story is very different and Lizzie is not your average young adult fictional character. This story will intrigue the girls and expand their minds!

I highly recommend Bucket of Blood. It is a fine piece of Canadian literature with interesting local history during the Victorian period, characters you can sink your teeth into and a story that will have you wide-eyed by the end... Seriously, that's what I looked like as I came to the end of the story.

You can fnd out more and purchase Bucket of Blood HERE

Say hello to a local steampunk designer with a great eye for future steampunk fashion!

Spyder Designs is Owned and Operated by Morrigana Townsend, who is a steampunk, gothic and alternative fashion designer using Spyder Designs as the label under which her creations are showcased and sold.  She specializes in unique clothing styles and fabrics for both every-day wear and special occasions.  All of her designs are one of a kind and will not be found in any store, anywhere in the world. Morrigana currently travels to showcase her fashion, which she considers art due to the uniqueness of the style.

Morrigana may be found showcasing her work at the following events: FanExpo 2012, Museum London for their INFUSION Show, and London, Ontario Steampunk Society Events for 2012.  Participation or attendance at other Events and Conventions is still pending for 2012.

You can find Syder Designs at their brand new Website

Contact Morrigana Townsend if you would like your own piece of wearable art!

Today is Steampunk Canada's 2nd Anniversary.

I can't believe we've grown so much in so short a time. Thank you to all our members and supporters and all the local groups across the country.

HUZZAH!!  

Lee Ann Farruga

Founder

Steampunk Canada

Jason Robichaud is an artist with lots of talent and a very big heart.  He has combined the two to start a fundraiser called PINUPS FOR CANCER. 

Here is how it works:

The pinups can be male or female. For a sketch it's a donation of $5 or higher. For a fully coloured picture it's a donation of $10 or higher. Each additional character will add a little more to the price.  The minimum donation price is incredibly low for an original piece of art. 

If you are interested, you can email Jason at  Uldron@gmail.com

Email him under the subject  "Pinups for Cancer". Send him a reference photo of the character or person you want pinuped and he will send you the paypal payment information.

I had a pinup done for Steampunk Canada.  I'm very pleased with my lady and I know the funds have gone toward a great cause.  Get your own pinup and help out Jason's fundraiser!

....and here she is....

If you didn't know yet, here's some exiting news.... Clear your calendar for the May 12 and 13, 2012 because Ottawa is about to get it's own ComicCon!! 

They are still putting together their website but for now you can keep up to date at....

Ottawa ComicCon Facebook Page 

We're hoping to have a great steampunk presence there, so keep watching for more details!

This is the story of a life time. Literally. It begins when both Jules Verne and Andre Nemo are but boys playing games on the bank of the Loire. They come from very different backgrounds, Verne from a conservative, but well off family and Nemo from a less fortunate life. His father scrapes by a living by working at the shipyards and they survive day to day. It's their love of adventure stories that brings the boys together. Their other mutual love is the daughter of a wealthy shipping merchant, Caroline Aronnax. She is not a proper young lady. She too likes adventure and doing as she pleases, and she dislikes the restraints on her sex.

From the beginning it is Nemo who invents and takes risks. Verne is too afraid of consequences to truly get involved in their boyhood schemes, but he is a loyal friend who helps to bring Nemo's ideas to life. He loves Nemo, but is jealous of his bravery and his relationship with Caroline. Nemo and Caroline's relationship is one of mutual admiration and a shared kindred spirit.

The title of this book, “The Fantastic Adventures of a Dark Genius” belies the fact that Nemo begins life as a very average, happy and brilliant boy. It is the events throughout his life that turn him into the “Dark Genius”that he becomes. The author does an incredible job of making the reader believe that this story is what truly happened to the great Nemo. At the same time, it is all the average things that happen from Verne's choices in life that finally bring him to his goal of being a great and well known writer. But are the stories truly from his imagination only? His ideas and stories come to life in this glorious piece of fiction.

Kevin J. Anderson writes like someone spreading warm butter on toast. It's smooth and effortless to read. Each character is truly alive and each emotion they feel thoughout the story, whether of pure joy, terror or grief, is palpable. The author has also taken Verne's literary works, his real life, and the history of his time, and added a who's who of his characters, family members, and historical figures into this story. They are the people in the day to day lives of each of Anderson's main characters and they are a big influence in changing them over the course of their lives into the adults they become.

Kevin J. Anderson's Captain Nemo should be a companion book in any English class reading the works of Jules Verne. While Verne's stories are fantastic on their own, it would truly bring a different level of understanding to his novels and his characters. As one of the characters tells Verne in the novel “you must wrap your research within a tale so exciting that the people will cry out for more...you will become a teacher, introducing the public to new concepts without their realizing it”.

On its own, this is an incredible piece of work and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves adventure, history, steampunk, invention, or just a great story.

You can find it HERE.

It was my pleasure and delight to meet this exceptional Canadian west coast artist at the 2011 Victoria Steam Expo. 

Kyle Miller, also known under the brand name "Thin Gypsy Thief Studios" is a visual-artist based out of Vancouver Island, BC. specialising in steampunk and science-fiction styled woodworking.  His work often includes elements inspired by film, folk art, science fiction and fantasy artwork. Originally educated as a furniture designer and cabinetmaker, Kyle has branched out into visual art and musical instruments, incorporating a primarily steampunk aesthetic in his work.

His work includes everything from these exquite wings...

...to the Advanced Resonant Sound Transducer!  A fully functional amplifier.

And of course everyone has heard about the famous rapper T-Pain and his recent interest in the steampunk aesthetic.  It was Kyle who made his steampunk mic in 2011.  It has been seen worldwide!

On his website right now you can see his steampunk bass guitar in action.

You can find out more about Kyle Miller or contact him to do something special for you at thingypsythief.com  or at his Facebook page.

This is something I have been wanting to post for quite some time. I am finally able to share with you a very visual telling of the creation of our steampunk library.

I love our heritage home. It was built in 1899 By Isadore De Poca, a widower, for his new bride, herself a widow. It's a modest home with a lot of history. It was sadly abused and muddled in the 1970's and 1980's as illegal apartments and a flop house. We have been slowly restoring it to its former life as a family home since we bought it in 1996. Having two children and a busy life has made it a slow process, but most definitely a labour of love.

One of the things I had always wanted here was a library. We are all great book lovers. I also wanted a cozy spot to not only read, but also snuggle with the family to watch favourite movies. Of course, it was always planned as a formal library, but with our steampunk fascination it was bound to be eclectic and lovingly odd.

We have a room off the kitchen that at one time was a shed, then a livingroom when the house was cut into apartments, then our daughters' bedroom, and most recently a playroom/office – painted half pink with yellow flowers and half chocolate brown. It was like walking into a container of neapolitan ice cream. One corner of the room had once held a badly constructed closet and shelves – all made of leftover wood and drywall. It was demolished to find the original walls full of holes and different colours of paint.

For many years I schemed and planned my dream library and always envisoned that particular corner with built-in bookshelves. I have a great love of built-in bookshelves and that feature was an absolute must! We are your average family and not made of money, so to make this a reality my amazing husband Patrick worked out a way to build the shelves out of cost effective MDF with wood trims. 

The photos above show the shelves after being built and set into place.  The backs are thin, narrow panelling. The white strips on the sides that you see are shelf standards for moveable shelving.

After a first coat of paint you can see how they begin to look like old wooden built-ins.

The trims are all wood, except for the lovely and intricate top mouldings.  They are actually made of foam!  You can see how paint makes a world of difference.  The walls are painted a pale blue/grey to offset the dark wood of the bookshelves.

After a second coat of paint on the shelves and some serious clean up, we started to add more to the room.

A cabinet was added to house all the computer equipment needed for school projects. 

We were incredibly lucky to find a fabulous steampunk light fixture at Home Depot of all places.  We were amazed and thrilled to find it so easily.

After all the hand built shelves were painted, they were installed and ready to hold the numerous books we had stored in our attic for many years.

We added some comfort, and our most modern piece of equipment for viewing favourite movies and, of course, so the girls could play games....

After the basics were in, it was time to start organizing the best part, the books... and to add fun art, sculptures and trinkets!

Books, books, and more books. 

But what would a steampunk library be without.... animal parts and trains...

... and steampunk works of art (these are by the amazing Brigid Ashwood)

The light on the table is the work of Roger Wood of Klockwerks.  All the gauges, walking sticks and the old suitcase are in the "exploration corner" of the library.

There must, of course, also be a few Victorian elements of mysticism and the occult....

....and a little whimsy.

Finally, this is the top shelf of our corner bookshelves.  We have been given a number of wonderful gifts by friends and family to add to the steampunk library and we have been collecting them here.  (I am still looking for a nice mounted crow for this shelf)

Even those in other countries have contributed to our collection.  Thank you Phil and Kaja Foglio for the great addition to the library.

We are in no way finished with our library.  We will be adding more shelves by the cabinet as we have collected a number of lovely pieces that still have no home. 

I hope you have enjoyed this quick tour of our favourite room in the house.  If you ever find occasion to visit with us, we would be more than happy to enjoy a cup of tea, or perhaps a glass of absinthe, with you in our cozy steampunk retreat.

Eli August has a new album, Bottom of the Sea. It's all brand new music, but to be honest when the first song started, Nautical Mile, it sounded just like his older work. Actually it sounded very similar in tune to one of his earlier songs. This had me worried about what the rest of the songs would sound like.

The rest of the album is much better. The next song, Dead Reckoning, while still quite dark, was actually more upbeat and new. I know it sounds like an oxymoron, but if you listen to it you'll understand. As well, Eli has incorporated more instruments and voices to a number of his tunes and it brings new dimensions to his work. I really liked the drums in Dark Reckoning and The Plunge and the additional vocals in Down Deep and Waves. His story telling is still quite good, and certainly the tone of his music lends itself perfectly to the tales he weaves.

While still very dark (his music makes me want to give Eli a big hug), you can hear his musical growth. I'm a big fan of the sea and although this album is still in his usual languid style, I quite enjoyed the story, the tunes and the new depth to his music.

You can find out more about Eli August and buy his albums at eliaugust.com

As 2011 comes to a close I want to send out a huge THANK YOU to all you lovely steampunks, Canadian and otherwise, who joined, helped or simply checked out Steampunk Canada in the last year.  I wish for you a very wonderful and Happy New Year!

In 2012 I hope for bigger and better Canadian steampunk events, local groups, art, movies, conventions, literature and generally everything that makes steampunk so fabulous!

Cheers,

Countessa Lenora

aka

Lee Ann Farruga, Founder, Steampunk Canada