Apr 2012
Gaslight Gathering 2011
April 26, 2012
As we’re busily making preparations for the second Gaslight Gathering, we thought we would take a moment to reflect on last year’s Gathering, a wildly successful event right here in our own backyard, figuratively speaking. We don’t call San Diego “America’s Finest City” for nothing!
With two and a half days of events, we got to try out a few costumes (although I confess to devolving to my limited-edition D&McT t-shirt for the end of the last day out of sheer exhaustion from wearing multiple layers). Like this one where I’m wearing my John Bull topper and the cool, purple leaf vest my mom made me, but no leather duster. (It gets really hot!) Drake proves that he has more fortitude than I by wearing his.
With two and a half days of events, we got to try out a few costumes (although I confess to devolving to my limited-edition D&McT t-shirt for the end of the last day out of sheer exhaustion from wearing multiple layers). Like this one where I’m wearing my John Bull topper and the cool, purple leaf vest my mom made me, but no leather duster. (It gets really hot!) Drake proves that he has more fortitude than I by wearing his.
Oooo, McTrowell loves Drake
To read further about Gaslight Gathering 2011, click here.
C. Llewellyn McTrowell
April 22, 2012
“Just hold you trews on! I’m not as spry as I used to be,” the lady hollered as she made her way from the kitchen to the front door, wiping the flour from her hands onto her apron. She looked the visitor on her stoop up and down. His face was fortified with the expression that boys on the verge of manhood wear when they’re attempting to be serious and authoritative beyond their years. “Good day, young sir. What can I do for you?”
“I have a important message for Mr. McTrowell.”
“Oh dearie, you’re a wee tad too late. Mr. McTrowell has been dead and gone more than ten years now.” ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
“I have a important message for Mr. McTrowell.”
“Oh dearie, you’re a wee tad too late. Mr. McTrowell has been dead and gone more than ten years now.” ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
Curses!: in Which Our Authors (Nearly) Achieve International Fame
April 20, 2012
Surely all of our readers are familiar with League of S.T.E.A.M. We’ve been following them since McTrowell got to wind up the Crackitus Potts’ plunger launcher at Steamcon II. So when the League of S.T.E.A.M. put out a call for local-ish steampunks to work as extras in a webisode for season two, we jumped at the chance! We packed the Dr. Sparky-mobile full of costume bits and headed up to South Pasadena early one Saturday morning. They provided coffee and bagels, and we provided our photogenic selves.
To read further about our being extras for “Curses!”, click here.
Golden Gears
April 18, 2012
Just about the time Drake said, “We shouldn’t let this thing take over our lives,” we strolled into our favorite jeweler’s, Charles Koll, and Drake asked one of the jewelry designers, David Armstrong, to make us a couple of lapel pins with our logo. Thinking such a design task would take quite a bit of time, we left and went on our merry way. David Armstrong is a jewelry design geek…and a steampunk fan. He called a week later, “Oo, oo, oo, you guys have to come in and see the design.” We were thinking it would just be a sketch or maybe the CAD.
Okay, he had the CAD. But he also had the wax parts fabricated from their 3D printer. (Seriously, these guys are amazing designers!) Including, wait for it, the actual gears. The center of the gear with our faces is stabilized by the pin on the back. The outside of the gear turns…which turns three, tiny, gold gears in the back which counter rotate the bezel on the front holding the diamond!
And here are the results!
Mine, on the left, also has a fold-down bail so I can wear it on a chain. And then I had to have matching earrings. Too. Cute! I just have to remember to wear them in the correct ears so we’re not backwards.
Many thanks to Charles Koll Jewelers and their incredible designers.
Crossing Poultry
April 15, 2012
Standing alone in his flat, Erasmus was beside himself. He thought he had conveyed the proper level of concern to Sparky that she was edging into a dangerous area with her graph. He also remembered the warnings that he had received at the meeting about not revealing anything to anyone. But at what cost? He had to talk to her.
Erasmus realized that he didn’t even have a vest on. He grabbed one and slipped his arms into it as he scampered down the steps. He stopped at the bottom, looking out of the glass in the large doors to see if he might have caught her in time. ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
Erasmus realized that he didn’t even have a vest on. He grabbed one and slipped his arms into it as he scampered down the steps. He stopped at the bottom, looking out of the glass in the large doors to see if he might have caught her in time. ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
Steampunk Croquet
April 13, 2012
Way up at the top of our list of people to party with is The League of Gentlemen Adventurers. Last year we participated in their Second Annual League of Gentlemen Adventurers International Invitational Croquet Tournament & Symposium. (Okay, so that was way back in May of 2011 and we’re obviously running a little behind on our non-story posts.) These guys sure know how to cater an adventure! Here we are, defending the honor of D&McT and acquitting ourselves with valor.
Photo credit to The League of Gentleman Adventurers - May 2011
Inexplicably, we didn’t win. I think the fix was in. However, my wounded pride was considerably assuaged by the scrumptious repast and the perfectly executed kir royale. Oh yeah, I also got a story idea out of the whole affair. The tournament was the inspiration for an episode of D&McT, Pall Mall.
Steampunk Cufflinks
April 11, 2012
A Farthing for Your Thoughts
April 09, 2012
Drake was wiping the last of the shaving soap off the square corner of his jaw when he heard a knock on his door. Ah, that would be his breakfast right on time. The day was likely to be frightfully busy, so he had asked James to send up some victuals once he had finished his morning regimen with the dressmaker’s dummies. He knew old Crocker could hear him when there was no one in the pub, so the timing wasn’t that miraculous. He whipped open the door with one hand and fetched a farthing out of his pocket with the other to tip the pub boy. ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
The Unexpected Visit
April 02, 2012
Mr. Haversham was a worrier. He had six houses that he rented, but his late mother’s old cottage held a special place in his heart, and he had hoped to have a young family rent it and be there for a spell. But it had stood empty for far too long, and he had to let it go to the odd gentleman that answered his ad in the local weekly, and his two friends. Despite the income and the handsome deposit, it just didn’t sit right with him. He knew that the three men would use the place for some temporary business work, probably commercial or industrial. Either way, it would tarnish the memories and reduce the quaintness of the place. Mr. Haversham’s worrying drove him to walk the two miles to the cottage to check in on the men and see that his fears were unwarranted. ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...
Click here to read the entire entry within the cyberserialized story ...
Click here to read the entire blog post and the accompanying comments ...