Dwarf Planet in Purple

Despite day-tripping to save money, I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend at Darkover. Saw lots of friends, and missed the ones who didn't attend this year. I brought my instruments, but there was no open musical jam this year, and I didn't feel like sitting in on the Regency ball, if there was live music there after all. Instead, I just happened to feel like listening to other musical artists and knitting the hat I promised the boy toy I'd make for him.

I learned a few more things about steampunk, and, thanks to Amber Bunny's silent auction to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I picked up a Reconstructing History gift certificate and a handmade fascinator, which I affixed to my black wool hat. Why, yes, I did make a tiny attempt to look vaguely Victorian. The black wool hat was the plain brimmed model I wear in the SCA when I think it's going to rain. I also donned a black-and-white-striped blouse that I used to wear to work when I actually had a job, plus a heavy black cotton skirt that I bought for SCA use but is really too long to walk in unless I pull the waistband up to Empire-waist level (and I did that). So, no gears, but it was a start.

The boy toy had wanted me to pick up a particular RH pattern for him, but RH wasn't at Darkover, for unknown reasons. (Personally, I think he ought to scour the thrift stores for a double-breasted men's vest before attempting to make one for himself, but that's his problem.) Oh, well. Maybe I can order the pattern for him and get one for the SCA for myself.

Don't worry, I'm NOT going to abandon the SCA for steampunk. But I could dabble in it a bit. I think it might be something for the boy toy and me to explore together, and to get him out of the house more and making more friends (as long as I don't have to subsidize him on this). And it is getting more and more popular -- longtime Darkover attendees have said there were a lot more steampunk/Victorian outfits this year than at previous cons, and rumor has it that there was even an uptick in attendance, which hasn't been the case with all fan-run cons lately. So, yeah, that's where I'm coming from on this.

Finally, I bought some tablet-woven trim to use for my early-period outfit for the upcoming SCA demos at the National Geographic. Gotta try to be as authentic as possible ... after all, the NatGeo crowd could range in sophistication from the casual Renn-faire goer to the Ph.D. in European history. Whew.