On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

12 Air Pirates

11 Painted Ladies

10 Clock Hands

9 Ray Guns

8 Pairs Brass Goggles

7 Aviator Caps

6 Cogs and Gears

5 Mad Scientists

4 Flying Cars

3 Top Hats

2 Dirigibles

And an Airship in a Pear Tree!

If you’re the crafty sort, I found a great steampunk craft that can be made from polymer clay, gears, and bits of things.  These Clockwork Hearts from CF Originals are perfect for holiday gifts or even something to amuse the kids while they’re on vacation.

Happy Hanukkah from everyone at Steamed!

May your nights be full of fun, friends, light, and latkes.

I love writing Time Travels. Except for the fact that they give me a major headache when I’m working on the plot. Thinking of all the repercussions of going to the past to change the future is really difficult. Still I was thrilled to be invited to be a part of The Mammoth Book of Time Travel. (psst if the link doesn’t work just look for it on Amazon.)

My story is about Rand Brock, a Texas Ranger investigating a mysterious death and disappearance in West Texas during the 1880’s. Imagine his surpise when he’s taking a bath in a stream and comes face to face with Shea, a Time Cop from the future. You must read the story to find out what happens but I will let you in on one part of the plot. Steam Punk Scorpions.

I hope you enjoy reading Time Trails as much as I enjoyed writing it.

by Marie-Claude Bourque 

Steampunk Santa by ~CyborgNecromancer on deviantART

The holidays are coming, and that means holiday parties. The center of most holiday parties tends to be the beverages.  We know there’s a few Steampunk cocktails out there, but only a few.  Here at Steamed! We decided to invent two of our own Steampunk cocktails for your holiday enjoyment… 

This brightly colored beverage is great hot or cold at your favorite club, at a party, or hanging out at home with friends.  Other sodas (strawberry, grape, ect) and be used if you’d like to match your drink to your outfit…

The Hot Lolita

2 parts Orange Crush (or other colored fruity soda)

1part Vodka

 Hot–heat vodka, pourinto a class, add soda, serve with an orange slice
Cold–Pur vodka and soda in a glass, add dry ice for that steamy effect
  

What could be more genteel than a hot drink on a cool night?  This next one is perfect for regaling your friends with your latest exploits and adventures in front of a nice warm fire…

The Gentleman Airpriate

2 oz Vodka

1 oz Kahlua

Milk

Gently heat vodka and Kahlua.  Pour into a brandy snifter and add milk to taste (about 1/2 oz is usually good).  Garnish with a sprinkling of nutmeg or chili pepper depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.   

Do you have a favorite holiday cocktail, Steampunk or otherwise? Tell us for a chance to win a sparkly tiara for all your holiday parties!

I was thinking about what a Steampunk Thanksgiving would look like. So I came up with the following menu. This is not what we’re having for Thanksgiving (I’ll be at my sister in law’s) but it sounds interesting, don’t you think? Think dinner by candlelight, great music, fun placemats, clock-part napkin rings…Could you imagine a steampunk cornucopia as the centerpiece? Anything you would add?

So what will you have for Thanksgiving dinner?

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the photo contest. I let the tot (the kid in the goggles in the last contest post) pick her personal favorite…

…and the winner is…

(drumroll please)

The “SteamCon Hussies” from SteamCon in Seattle, (Lolitas Deborah, Elizabeth, and Marie-Claude) as entered by Deborah Schneider.

Congratulations!

Deborah, as the one who entered the photo, you’re the one who gets the prize! Please email me at suzannelazear (@) hotmail.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Steampunk Lolitas: Deborah Schneider, Elizabeth Darvill and myself at Steamcon!

by Marie-Claude Bourque

What is Steampunk style? I am probably the last one to know. That’s why when I headed for Steamcon in Seattle, I didn’t really know what to expect, expect for a bunch of brass goggles and a few corsets.

So it’s with my own corset (laced tight and rescued from the Romantic Times Convention) that I sat down in the lobby of the Seatt;le Marriot  and sipped my venti nonfat latte doing what I like best (after writing) and… people watched.

I was glad I had read about all the various Steampunk spin-off  in Suzanne Lazear blog post at Steamed! Dieselpunk, Monsterpunk, Oilpunk, Clockpunk, coompleted with Steampunk fairies, I think I saw it all.

What striked me the most was that really all goes. As you long as you have your goggles on, you are good to go. I did expect the clockwork and victorian look but I have to say that I was surprised by the intrincacy of it all and by how well dressed everyone was.

I saw plenty of victorian ladies and gentlemen in full regalia, top hats and elaborate googles and ornate canes, beautiful skirts and expensive corsets (mine is a cheap one, be warned) but also feather in upswept hair, parasol and yes, fans! So many things I want (need?) to buy!!!

Beside the victorian look, was also the western look. Think of the movie Wild Wild West, with variation on steampunk  guns, cowboy hats. Some were on the goths or dark side with black and spooky outfit closer to MadMax that is probably what they would call Dieselpunk. And some ladies had on simpler dresses that wouldn’t have been out of place in Anne of Green Gables.

All in all, I think the rule is to let your imagination run, and yes get those goggles and that corset! Can’t down too many lattes with it on but your waistline may thank you!

 Steamcon 2010 is on! Get your tickets as soon as they come on sale! I bet they will fly really fast! (yep, stood in line for four hours  to get mine!). I’ll be there

The Museum of the History of Science, Oxford University

Here’s a spot where I’d love to be standing.. NO. . .  I’d rather be inside wandering through this fabulous exhibit of works of art by steam punkers from around the globe! Even the signedbofficial poster is highly collectible. See below – or follow the link – where you can see the extraordinary selection of Steam Punk Art!