Well Done, Sister Suffragettes

Dickens On The Strand was earlier this month. It included a holiday parades of pirates, fellow Steampunkers, choirs of carolers, beggars, a host of other memorable Victorian characters and also the suffragettes. This picture of me next to H. G. Wells’ time machine as I’m wearing my Votes for Women sash is fitting. I went back in time on the strand as I marched with the Victorian suffragettes in the parade.

We sung: All I want for Christmas is the right to vote The right to vote The right to vote All I want for Christmas is the right to vote So I can govern my existence

Marching as a suffragette was a blast but the real suffragette movement was serious business and a long hard fight. Millicent Fawcett founded the National Union of Women’s Suffrage in 1897. The movement began with peaceful protest arguing that if women had to pay taxes they had the right to vote.

But because Fawcett’s progress through peaceful protests was slow, a lawyer, Richard Pankhurst, his wife, Emmeline, and daughter, Christabel, made a fresh attempt to gain the vote for women and formed the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903. They pursued civil disobedience for the cause. Suffragettes protested by chaining themselves to railings and eventually by smashing windows.

As you make your New Year resolutions tomorrow, think about these brave women of the suffragettes movement who resolved to gain us the vote and did so, both Suffragettes in England and also in America. They gave us a great gift, the opportunity to vote.

Consider adding a suffragette sash to your Steampunk costume. I’m going to continue to wear mine. Also consider making one of your Steampunk characters a suffragette – it worked well for Mrs. Banks in Disney’s Marry Poppins film.

~ ~ ~

Maeve Alpin, who also writes as Cornelia Amiri, is the author of 24 published books. She creates stories with kilts, corsets, and happy endings. She lives in Houston Texas with her son, granddaughter, and her cat, Severus.

Read Full Post »

Starting Off the New Year – “Green” Victorian Habits

In my search for things to do during the winter months, I encountered and interesting note to Victorian housekeepers. So for our Steampunk folks, here are some tips on how to reuse your newspapers… just like they did way back when..

Peterson’s Magazine 1890

USES FOR OLD PAPERS. – Most housekeepers know how invaluable newspapers are for packing away the winter clothing, the printing-ink acting as a defiance to the stoutest moth, some housewives think, as successfully as camphor or tar paper. For this reason, newspapers are invaluable under the carpet, laid over the regular carpet-paper. The most valuable quality of newspapers in the kitchen, however, is their ability to keep out the air. It is well known that ice, completely enveloped in newspapers so that all air is shut out, will keep a longer time than under other conditions; and that a pitcher of ice-water wrapped in a newspaper, with the ends of the paper twisted together to exclude the air, will remain all night in any room in midsummer, with scarcely any perceptible melting of the ice. These facts should be utilized oftener than they are in the care of the sick at night. In freezing ice-cream, when the ice is scarce, pack the freezer only three-quarters full of ice and salt, and finish with newspapers, and the difference in the tie of freezing and quality of the cream is not perceptible from the result where the freezer is packed full of ice. After removing the dasher, it is better to cork up the cream and cover it tightly with a packing of newspapers than to use more ice. The newspapers retain the cold already in the ice better than a packing of cracked ice and salt, which must have crevices to admit the air.

so… let me know if you try any of these and how they work.

Keep in mind that modern day inks are different. If you choose to try these out please be VERY careful if you use newspapers around food. Be careful… Be safe…

Read Full Post »

Happy Holidays from the crew of Steamed!

Twelve Steampunk Days of Christmas

©Cindy Spencer Pape 2012

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Twelve vile villians,

Eleven killer kraken,

Ten automata

Nine naughty nymphets

Eight brave explorers

Seven scribbling scribes

Six leather corsets

Five brassy gears

Four tiny top hats

Three ray guns

Two Tesla coils

And a Babbage engine in an airship.

Read Full Post »

A Steampunk Night Before Christmas

A Steampunk Night Before Christmas
© 2009 Suzanne Lazear

‘Twas the night before Christmas and the whole ship was quiet,
Too quiet for the likes of this seasoned air pirate.

The airship was festooned with frippery and green,
With nary a brass polished surface to be seen.

Their stocking were hung by the crow’s nest with pride,
Along with homemade cookies and rum for Santa to imbibe.

I didn’t have the heart to tell the crew.
That Santa wouldn’t approve of what we do.

Sure, we stole from the rich, and gave to the needy.
But he’d probably think taking a cut was too greedy.

It didn’t matter that they had hearts of gold,
Only that it was stolen goods we bought and sold.

Suddenly portside there arose such a clatter,
That I grabbed my spyglass to see what was the matter.

The deck became filled with curious crew,
As I climbed the rigging for a better view.

The sky that had moments before been silent,
Had erupted with a commotion both grievous and violent.

The black ship portside was one that even we dread,
And it looked as if it were attacking a small red sled,

Driven by a fat guy and flying brown deer,
I polished the spyglass to ensure my vision was clear.

“Dread Pirate Fred’s attacking Santa, let’s help him, quick,”
Shouted my trusty first mate old Salty Nick.

What could I do but help out the sled,
“Come on, crew, let’s teach a lesson to Fred.”

I climbed down the rigging.
“There are cannons to load,
Christmas to save,
And pirates to goad.
Let’s kick up our speed,
And give up a fight.
Even we know
Robbing Santa just isn’t right.”

With a cheer, I manned the helm, going full speed ahead,
Nick loading our cannons to aim at the Dread Pirate Fred.

“Don’t worry Santa, help will arrive,
Salty Nick, man the cannons, prepare to take a dive.”

We flew through the air quickly, with all our might,
Fred’s crew had the sleigh on board, a terrible sight

Santa looked frightened, a gun to his head,
“Give me those presents,” growled the Dread Pirate Fred.

Even the reindeer had been rendered immobile,
By a few of Fred’s men in a black dirigible.

Santa shook his head, “If you take them, they will be missed.
Certainly, you all shall make my permanent naughty list.”

“I don’t care,” the pirate growled,
“We just want those gifts,” his crew avowed.

“Unhand those presents,” I called, dashing through the air
The cannons fired, aimed only to scare.

The reindeer bucked, trying to get free,
Fred sneered, “Captain Sno, you don’t scare me.”

Quickly, we secured Fred’s ship and dastardly crew,
But Fred still had Santa—there was only one thing to do.

Fred and I grappled across the deck, precariously,
Nick making sure Santa and the reindeer went free,

“You can’t rob Santa, it’s just not right,”
I yelled as I punched Fred when he put up a fight.

“Now, now, cease that,” Santa said,
Causing me to stop punching Dread Fred.

“Now Dread Pirate Fred, trying to steal presents in wrong,
but Captain Sno, punching him won’t stop him for long.

Christmas is about sharing and caring, not fighting and stealing,
and doing what’s right, not wheeling and dealing.”

Fred and I looked at each other, hanging our heads in shame.
The jolly old man had a good handle on our game.

Both crews made sure the gifts all went back
Into Santa’s giant red velvet sack.

Cook fed the reindeer carrots, and Santa cherry pie
I looked at the Dread Pirate Fred and gave a sigh.

“Why did you do that? That’s low even for you,
to attack Santa and take his presents on Christmas Eve, too.”

“Those presents would fetch prices that are sky high.”
But the look on Fred’s face told me that was a lie.

“There are better ways of getting a present from Santa’s sack,
then trapping the reindeer and staging an attack.”

“You’re one to talk,” Fred replied.
Nodding slowing, I looked at my crew, and again I sighed.

“I’m afraid, Santa, neither Fred nor I have been good this year,
but please, don’t forget our crew, they could use some cheer.

They don’t meant to be bad; they’re just following orders
They’re good men at heart, not drunkards and cavorters.”

Santa said, “Thank you captain, for rescuing me,
I think I my sleigh might hold an extra present or three.

You too,” he added to Dread Pirate Fred.
I shook my head. Was that what he actually said?

“Fred and his crew tried to steal your gifts to sell,
now you’re giving them presents as if all were well?”

Santa winked. “Now, Sno, remember what Christmas is all about.”
Getting in his sleigh, he gave his reindeer a shout.

“Just try to stay off the naughty list, the both of you, from now on.
Now, I have to be off, to get these delivered before dawn.”

Both crews looked up, as Santa took off.
“Merry Christmas, Santa,” my voice went soft.

With a wink of his eye, and a flick of his hand,
Presents flew out of his sleigh; onto the deck they did land.

“Thank you, Santa,” the crews did shout.
“There’s not one for me,” Dread Fred did pout.

“All I’ve ever wanted is a present from Santa, just one.”
I scoffed. “But not enough to stop having all your plundering fun.”

“Stop it you two,” Santa added with a call.
“But I didn’t forget you either, no, not at all.”

Two more presents floated down from the sky.
Turning mine over in my hands I looked up. “But why?”

Santa just smiled. “Just remember what I said.
And for once, Sno, can you stop plaguing Fred?”

With a hearty laugh, the sled flew through the sky,
Both crews waving, tears in their eyes.

“A present for me?” Fred’s eyes gleamed.
I knew deep down, he wasn’t as dreadful as he seemed.

Taking a box from my pocket, I said, “And there’s another.”
Giving it to him, I smiled. “Merry Christmas, brother.

I’m sorry I plague you, but it’s so much fun.
Let’s make next year a much better one.”

Nodding, Fred said, “For once, Sno, you’re right.
I think this should be the last time we fight.”

Santa sped by, doing one last turn.
“I hope there’s a lesson tonight you all learned.

Merry Christmas to you, and remember my lads,
no one says air pirates have to be bad.”

—

Suzanne Lazear writes steampunk tales for teens.  INNOCENT DARKNESS, book one of The Aether Chronicles, book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, and book three, FRAGILE DESTINY, are now available from Flux. Visit her personal blog for more adventures.

Read Full Post »

Moments of Distraction – Parlor Amusements

Another find from Peterson’s Magazine…

This Parlor Amusement is so detailed they must have memorized it like a mini play. Title sounds like it might have been vaguely inspired by Poe.

Having a Steampunk gathering during the winter? This might be fun to try amongst the ladies… and gentlemen if they choose.

Let me know!
Raye –

PARLOR AMUSEMENTS
THE TELL-TALE LITTLE FINGER. – This game is intended for young ladies; if, however, a few young gentlemen are of the company, their presence may contribute to render it the more amusing.
All the company place themselves in a semicircle, within which is a seat more elevated than the rest, for the schoolmistress, whom they at once proceed to choose. The latter selects another of the company, who takes her place on a stool in front of her companions, and must be prepared to answer all the accusations which the Mistress may bring against her.
Mistress. – You ventured to go out yesterday without my permission; where did you go?
Accused. – To my aunt’s (here she points to one of her companions, who must at once answer, “Yes, mistress,” or pay a forfeit.)
Mistress. – That is not all; you have been somewhere else, my thumb tells me so. (At the word thumb, the Accused answers, “It knows nothing about it,” which she repeats until the Mistress names another finger.)*
Mistress. – And, what is worse, you did not go alone.
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – Still it says that you were in a grove –
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – And that a handsome young man was there at the same time.
Accused. – It knows nothing about it.
Mistress. – You have even dined in company with him. It is my middle finger tells me this.
Accused. – Do not believe it. (This is the phrase where the middle finger is spoken of.)
Mistress. – And in a private room.
Accused. – Do not believe it. My neighbor knows to the contrary. (She points to another young lady, who must answer. “Yes, Mistress.”
Mistress. – After the dinner, which lasted for a long time –
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – The young man brought you back in a carriage.
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – And the carriage was overturned in crossing a brook.
Accused. – Do not believe it.
Mistress. – And when you returned, your dress was wet and torn.
Accused. – Do not believe it. I can bring testimony of one, two, or three of my companions. (She points toward those who are inattentive to the game in preference to the others. They must answer, “Yes, Mistress,” or pay a forfeit.)
Mistress. – It is my little finger that has told me so.
Accused. – Pardon me, Mistress, it has told a falsehood. (All the young ladies say at the same time, “Ah! The wicked little finger!”
Mistress. – It insists upon it, however.
Accused. – It has told a falsehood. Ask all my companions.
All, without uttering a word, lift up their right-hand, as if to attest the falsehood of the accusation. The slightest hesitation is punished by a forfeit.
Mistress. – It says that all these young ladies tells a falsehood.
All rise. Those who keep their seats pay a forfeit. The Accused returns among her companions; a new Mistress is chosen, who designates a new culprit, and the game continues.
If, on the contrary, the first Mistress, content with the testimony which the young ladies have given without rising, announces that the little finger declares that it was mistaken, she can bring forward new charges, to which the culprit must answer in the same manner as before described.

*There was a punctuation error in this line. I didn’t want to post it without the correction.

Read Full Post »

Victorian Holiday Fun

Dickens Christmas on the Strand, held in Galveston Texas, is full of old  fashioned Holiday fun. So lasso up the kids and heard then down to the strand. Tossing knives while ridding a unicycle … fun fun fun. Of course I won’t be trying that anytime soonA highlight of Dickens On the Strand is the Victorian Bed Races. The beds have to be Victorian style with head and foot-boards.

 

 

The beds must be decorated in a Victorian Christmas theme.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beds may only be pushed, from the back or the sides. No pulling allowed Teams begin at 21st and Mechanic Street and race westward to the intersection of 22nd and Mechanic. In the intersection, teams come to a complete stop and perform a “Chinese Fire Drill”, with every team member circling the bed once. Then one of the pushers dons a night cap and gown, without assistance, and changes places with the previous rider, who becomes a pusher.         Once the new rider is on the bed, the team races to the finish line. Awards are given for the fastest time and the best decorated.

I want to wish all the Steamed readers a Merry Steampunk Christmas and a lot of Victorian Holiday fun.

Maeve Alpin, who also writes as Cornelia Amiri, is the author of 24 published books. She creates stories with kilts, corsets, and happy endings. She lives in Houston Texas with her son, granddaughter, and her cat, Severus.

Read Full Post »

Victorian Christmas Traditions

The idea of Christmas in the Victorian era immediately evokes imagery of lushly decorated trees, lavish dinners and balls, and Santa. Many of our most beloved Christmas traditions were started or made popular by the Victorians.

At the beginning of the 19th century, it was barely considered a holiday by many. But my the end of the 19th century was the most popular. Some of this rise in popularity is attributed to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, since he brought many of his own traditions, including a Christmas tree, to Britain, which then became popular in America and other places. Christmas trees and lavish decorations soon became household mainstays.

 

The Christmas Card, Christmas Cracker, and caroling were also made popular as well. Many gave gifts at the new year, but as Christmas became more and more popular, giving moved as well. The first gifts were simple, then, they became more and more lavish, especially as businesses began to see the commercial side of Christmas.  The Christmas feast can be traced back to the Middle Ages but the Victorians shaped it into what it is today. This includes the Christmas turkey. Santa, as we know him, also took shape in the Victorian era.

Here’s a menu for a “Traditional Christmas Dinner” from the 1890 Godey’s Lady’s Book.

CHRISTMAS DINNER MENU

Raw Oysters

 Bouillon

 Fried smelts……………………………Sauce tartare

Potatoes a la Maitre d’ Hotel

 Sweetbread Pates……………………….Peas

 Roast Turkey………………Cranberry Sauce

Roman Punch

Quail with Truffles………….Rice Croquettes

Parisian Salad

Crackers and Cheese

Nesselrode Pudding………….Fancy Cakes

Fruit………………….Coffee

 If you’d like to learn how to make everything, directions are here. Make sure to scroll down the page to see them.

So much of what we think of as Christmas was popularized by the Victorian, yet at the same time, the idea of a Victorian Christmas still makes me think of a simpler time. Here are some ideas ranging from easy to difficult to create some of your own Victorian Christmas magic.

 

—

Suzanne Lazear writes steampunk tales for teens.  INNOCENT DARKNESS, book one of The Aether Chronicles, book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, and book three, FRAGILE DESTINY, are now available from Flux. Visit her personal blog for more adventures.

Read Full Post »

Moments of Distraction – Christmas Games

More on activities for cold winter nights! There are two activities detailed in this section of Peterson’s Magazine 1883 – December edition.

The first may look familiar… In my childhood we called it Telephone… but when I think about it now, Telephone wasn’t a good name for the game… after all who whispers to another person on the telephone… strange but true. The Victorian name for the game seems to fit the activity better!

CHRISTMAS GAMES.

CONFIDENCES is a capital game in its way. One lady whispers a remark to her neighbor about someone present. She would say, perhaps: “Young Mr. jones was coming home from a party last night, and lost his way in the fog, and had to leave his carriage, and walk home with two boys carrying lanterns.” And this is whispered hurriedly from person to person round the circle, and the amusing part of it is to discover how the story has become altered by being passed on in this manner.

Many games are played entirely for the amusement of children, and only joined in by the elders with that object. It is not always easy at the moment to hit upon something to please children, other than romping-games, such as “Post,” Blind Man’s Buff,” “Puss in the Corner,” “Hide and Seek,” “Magic Music,” “Oranges and Lemons,” “Throwing the Handkerchief,” etc. But these games, although very well for the nursery or for the play-room on a wet day, or for the garden on a summer’s day, occasion a good deal of noise when played in a drawing-room. Children are apt to become rough and quarrelsome when these boisterous games are indulged in for any length of time, and parents generally prefer to see their children amused and interested in a quieter way. “Shadows is a good game where with to amuse children, but it is best to play it in the school-room or in the dining room. The plan is to fix a linen sheet across the room, and to place a lamp on the floor behind it; the actors dance and perform a sort of pantomime, with much gesticulation and many quaint antics, and the shadows thus formed on the sheet are a source of great delight to the young spectators.

What games would your characters play on a snowy evening when kept indoors? Could you play these games in the public rooms on an airship? Hmmm… what do you think?

Read Full Post »

The Steampunk 12 Days of Christmas

It’s that time of year again.

” Steampunk Santa” ©Jennifer Koopman on Etsy

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 Pretty Corsets

And an Airship in a Pear Tree!

–

Suzanne Lazear writes steampunk tales for teens.  INNOCENT DARKNESS, book one of The Aether Chronicles, book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, and book three, FRAGILE DESTINY, are now available from Flux. Visit her personal blog for more adventures.

Read Full Post »

Moments of Distraction – Parlor Games And Crafts

First, my apologies for my disappearing act. It was not my wish. Diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both my hands, I have done my best to recover the full use of my hands, but still have bouts of pain and I can’t feel my fingertips. So, I owe you folks posts.. and I will make them… just horribly late. So very sorry for the wait. – Raye

Since this is the winter, hopefully of much content for all of you… I wanted to post about Victorian Era entertainments and crafts. Hoping that if you do end up with some ‘snow days’ you might have something to occupy your time in a Steampunk way!

Peterson’s Magazine – 1865

PARLOR GAMES.
FOX and GEESE. – There must be an even number of players in this game, and a circle is to be formed standing two by two, so that those who are on the outside have each one person in front of them; these are called the Geese, and there must be some space left between the couples, to allow the one who is chased to run in and out of the circle. Two must be left out, one a Goose, and the other the Fox.

The Fox is to catch the Goose not belonging to the circle, who can run around the circle and also within it, which the Fox cannot be allowed to do; but when the Goose, who is pursued, places himself before one of the couples composing the circle, there will necessarily be three in the row, and as this is against the rule, the outside one of that three immediately becomes liable to be caught instead of the other, and must endeavor to avoid the pursuit of the Fox by darting within the circle and placing himself before some one of the players.

It is the object of the Fox to catch the player who makes the third one of a row and it is the object of each Goose to avoid the third place. The Fox can only catch the Goose as he stands the third in a row, or before he succeeds in escaping to a place of safety. If the Goose is touched by the Fox while in the position of third one in a row, or if touched in passing from this third place to one of safety, he becomes the Fox instead, and the other becomes the Goose again. It will be observed that the amusement of this game will depend upon the spirit and animation with which it is conducted. Great rapidity of movement is necessary.

While I was reading/typing out the instructions, it struck me that the game was still around when I was in school. Back then (in the 80s) we called it Safety Tag and played it in the school yard during PE Class.

Would this game occupy children in the common room of an airship? In a village in a remote part of the world after a long voyage? Aboard a submarine to entertain the families of crew?

What kinds of games would children in your stories play on long winter days/nights?

Read Full Post »

Christmas Past

It wore a tunic of the purest white;- “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”

Thursday, the Houston Thanksgiving parade included Queen Victoria in her carriage, the Ghost of Christmas past and other splendid characters from Dickens On the Strand. It’s that time of year for the annual Victorian/Steampunk event in Galveston Texas. It’s this coming weekend, but here are some scenes from Christmas past.

And some ways to get ready for Chris tmas present to attend Christmas Steampunk or Victorian event in your area. First you may want to brush up (with make-up brushes that is) on Victorian make up with this tutorial. http://www.mookychick.co.uk/alternative-beauty/make-up-tips/victorian-fashion-ideas-makeup.php

Here is more help with a video on Victorian hairstyles.

And in addition to the hair and makeup tips, there are plenty of costume ideas in the photos above. As well as a workshop on Literary Consuming on how to turn a page from a book  into a costume.

~                            ~                            ~

Maeve Alpin, who also writes as Cornelia Amiri, is the author of 24 published books. She creates stories with kilts, corsets, and happy endings. She lives in Houston Texas with her son, granddaughter, and her cat, Severus. This Saturday December 6th you can find her at the Maud Marks Library Local Author event and Sunday December 7th she’ll  be enjoying herself at Dickens On The Strand.

Read Full Post »