My Weekend at Zenkaikon

People have been telling my to try my luck at Anime Cons for a while - for those of you who don't know - Anime is Japanese cartoons and comics - for us old folks think of Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion - for the younger crowd, well, you guys know what it is.  So, since Zenkaikon was taking place in Lancaster this year, booth prices were reasonable (although electricity for your booth was NOT, c'mon folks $50 a day??) I signed up for a booth.  Thursday drop off and set up was a breeze, I arrived Friday morning with a helper and set up my jewelry in about an hour and a half and I was ready to go.  Friday sales were brisk and I brought in more stuff Saturday to replace what was sold. Saturday sales were just about non-existent but my Mom came to keep my company and that was great.  She loved seeing all the costumes and the kids - she loves kids.  So - on to some photos -

So here are Sally from Nightmare before Christmas and the darling lovely from Brave (which I haven't seen yet so I don't know her name) Check out the makeup job - AWESOME!

Where else do you keep your sonic screwdrivers except in your tool drawer?

Best costume of the day- Pinup Captain America - I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful Cosplay! Oh yes, that's me in my Avenger's corset - and my Tony Stark Tee

Here's my friend Red Bettie - as Rose from Doctor Who - I had never seen her cosplay this before and she was spot on!

Me and my Whovian buddies - these guys go to a lot of cons and events dressed in their characters and are so much fun to hang out with - unfortunately I was not dressed in my 10th Doctor Fem Steampunk on Sunday - but oh - watch out below because here I am -

 

 

Now the other thing about Cons that I love are all the artists so I managed to pick up some artwork while i was there from a couple of women who had fantastic artwork.  First was http://www.daniellesylvan.deviantart.com/

and one of the pieces I wound up with was this http://daniellesylvan.storenvy.com/products/1232162-the-summoning

She also had a Wonder Woman which I picked up - beautiful, you need to go check out her stuff. 

 

The other artist was had some wonderful Steampunk art that I just had to have - She also had pieces in a more sizes which I really liked because I'm running out of room with my Greg Horns and my Kristen Millers (my daughter) and in an 8x10 size these will fit in nicely in smaller but more visible places -  Her name was Julia Lichty - www.ghostfire.net and I bought three pieces of hers, but one is a gift for a friends and will remain secret!

 

This is called "The Tinkerer and you can get it here - http://www.ghostfire.net/

So that's a little wrap up of my weekend, many thanks to all those who stopped by my booth to say hi, to buy, to help me pass the time.  I loved meeting each and every one of you, seeing my old friends and making new ones! 

Next weekend you can find me at www.steampunkatgettysburg.com vending and once again dressing up in corsets!!!



More Steampunk and other Goodness!

My, the steamy goodness keeps adding up!  First of all, a non-steam event, lol.  I did hear back from Byers' Choice and will be participating in their Second annual Mother's Day Craft Show.  This was a very nice show last year, lots of variety, lots of talented artists - between this and Heart of Lancaster I must say, if you have the chance, try to make it.  Byers' Choice is in Chalfont, PA and the show is held Mother's day weekend, Saturday and Sunday.  If you're planning on going send me an e-mail.  I have free tickets I can mail out to you!

More information can be found at http://www.byerschoicecraftshow.com/about.htm

In other news, I'm also going to be showing at the Strasburg Railroad's event, Steampunk unLimited on November 16-17.  I was there last weekend taking place in a photo shoot, so here I am in all my steampunk glory with some other local Steampunks -

I finished the overskirt just the night before and threw together the outfit to match - btw, these are my Idris cosplay boots and I LOVE them!!

 

 

 

 

 

So there's the update for the week, two more shows and a few pictures of what steampunk can be - cause it can be a lot of things as you saw from the comments last week.  Can't wait to see the professional shots from last weekend's shoot -



 

 



The Schedule Keeps adding UP!

I received official word the other day that I will be "room" vending at Steampunk World's Fair.  I am so very excited.  First of all my husband will be accompanying me which should be fun - there are sleep number beds, so he is excited, it's my first SPWF and if Wicked Faire was any indication - SPWF is going to be a blast.  I've never done room vending before so I'm not really sure what all to pack for display pieces but I will eventually figure it out. 
It occurred to me while writing this that many of you are wondering what Steampunk is - most things you can look up and get a cohesive idea of what I'm talking about - Doctor Who is of course a TV show, Star Trek - most people know, Comic Con - well - the gathering of the geeks and nerds but Steampunk?  Now it seems the Steampunk community enjoys arguing about the definition - I'm going to tell you what steampunk means to me - (that way no one can argue with me, right?) 
Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite place on earth is and always has been, Cape May, NJ.  I have been going there since I was 4 years old -

I love Victorian architecture, decor and yes, the clothes.  I love tea and manners and hats.  But I also love science fiction, medicine, and ghosts (things Victorians were enamoured of as well.)  I love anything English.  Steampunk wraps all these up and puts a little spin on it.  Imagine if we all still wore Victorian clothes to do our daily jobs; what would that look like?  And instead of gas - our vehicles were still run on steam?  Instead of throwing things out and replacing them - we took them apart and repurposed them?  What would the world look like then? 

This is Steampunk -

Steampunk is inclusive - don't pay attention to the bickering that goes on in some groups - I hesitate to even mention it, but it does exist as it does in any group where people congregate - but there are people from all walks of life - kids up to - well, I don't know how old the oldest steampunk is, but I can imagine that maybe they were alive when these clothes really were in fashion!!  I have seen people up into their 70s at least and many of us are middle aged.  Some people buy their costumes, some make them, some repurpose from Goodwill - some (me) do all 3!  Steampunk has awakened my love of sewing again! 

And as many that look at me askance when I tell them what I've been into lately - they listen -  and some jump the fence to the darkside, where there's tea, and scones and many tasty treats - 

One more thing - Corsets - don't knock it till you've tried it - they are amazing for your body - comfortable if they fit right and when you're working the floor of a con - they keep your back from hurting - really!  I seriously wonder why we ever stopped wearing them!  I do so much better at shows when I'm wearing one.

See ya next week - when I am panicking about how much I have to make yet for Zenkaikon!!

Why I Do Craft and Art Shows

Last week I posted on why I added Cons (conventions) to my shows.  This week I'd like to post on why I continue to do some Craft and Art Shows and why I choose carefully the ones I do. 
Several of my shows I have been doing since the beginning - Landis Woods Art Show and Heart of Lancaster have been on my schedule for going on 8 or 9 years now.  They are well run, invite only handcrafters and artists and are local.  This builds my local business and those people are the ones that come to my open house.  I also did a show last year for the first time in Chalfont, PA - Byers Choice (that I hope to do again this year but haven't heard from yet) which shared those qualities.  I don't do shows that invite vendors - vendors are people who sell ready-made items.  Basically, they are reselling for a company.  I have nothing against vendors, I was a Mary Kay Consultant for many years and loved it.  But, in a show in which vendors and crafters are competing, my experience has been that the crafter always loses.  I am cultivating a clientele that appreciate the hand made.  My customers are people who appreciate wearing something different and don't want to be the same as everyone else.  I want you, when you wear my jewelry, to feel special, to know that you're not going to see the same thing on the next five women (or men) that walk down the street.  When people see you, I want them to notice that there is something unique about you, something special.  They may not see the jewelry right off, but they will know there was something different and interesting about you. 
I do make some items that look similar, but I make them in 5s or 6s, not 100s.  And generally - my jewelry is customizable, I can change it on the spot (most of the time) to suit you or you can special order something. 
So, now to highlight some of my one of a kind items -

Dark Gray Beaded Bead with Drop

Topaz Beaded Key

Beaded Cabochon Centerpiece with Ndebele Collar

Beaded Jasper Cabochon with Spiral Necklace

Hand beaded Collar with Mother of Pearl Cabs and Fringe - not listed in my shop but you can e-mail me for details - $825 - meleenia@aol.com

Thanks for reading, thanks for looking, and much thanks for any words of encouragement or purchases.  You make it possible for me to pursue my art!