We have recently returned from Conbust at Smith College, and what a wonderful adventure we had! Having never visited Northampton before, we were delighted by the architecture, the lively downtown, and most particularly our friendly and intelligent hosts.
I attended panels on Young Adult Fiction with Holly Black and Annette Curtis Klause, Heroes and Protagonists with Patricia Briggs and Phoebe Wray, Urban Fantasy with Holly Black, Women in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Industry with Jennie Breeden, Lynn Flewelling, and Phoebe Wray, and the scintillating Romance, Eroticism, and the Demon Lover, with Holly Black, Lynn Flewelling, and Annette Curtis Klause.
We were impressed with the caliber of both guest and discussion. The writers and artists were forthcoming with their expertise and gracious with their fans. The discussions were not merely fan ravings and insider gossip, but intellectual and considered, as one would expect of Smith. It was a small, friendly event, but well-organized, nevertheless, and with something for everyone. (The panels I listed express my interests, not the range of possibilities. The children were most taken with the History of Weapons seminar. Their excellent behavior throughout the weekend was rewarded with this.) I congratulate the Conchairs and Staff. Well done! Do let us know how we can assist your inexorable rise to world domination.
Although not a children-centered event, there were plenty of things for well-behaved, intelligent children to enjoy. Thank goodness that’s the kind of children we have. They were thrilled by the kind attention of the con participants, participated enthusiastically in the traditional boffer battle, and (with wide eyes and hushed voices) met Holly Black and had their Spiderwick signed.
With the barest minimum of organization (thanks, MASS_STEAM!) the steampunk community was out in force on Sunday. We vonHedwigs were cordially invited to assist in the Introduction to Steampunk panel discussion, and were invited to come back next year to further the discussion. We hope very much to attend! Other than a general discussion of steampunk ( as genre, fashion, cultural movement), what would you like us to do – bustle building? Corset construction? Welding? Fantastic fabrication? Do tell us in the comments, if you would be so kind.
More pictures may be found here on our flicker page.
By Madame vonHedwig on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
In order to further this aim, we vonHedwigs have been acquiring and decorating hats as fast as our little paychecks and big imaginations can manage. We began with one ladies topper, on permanent loan from Becky, who got it for the purposes of looking like Marlena Dietrich for an evening. Which was an excellent notion, for now we can all look at this:
I decorated this hat with a scrap of black lace and some curly feathers (from a big box store, I am sorry to say, but the black chickens were not forthcoming during molting season, and object strongly to having their feathers forcibly removed), and now it looks like this:
Then Yuletide arrived, and my dear husband and I exchanged the gift of toppers. I decorated mine with a remarkable decorative metal ribbon that a very artistic friend had given me years ago, and that had been ornamenting the pianoforte until I realized I could wear it. Then I lashed together a long, gorgeous pheasant tail feather (a gift from a hunter of my acquaintance) with some chicken feathers (the Reds were much more generous during molt) and more of the crazy black curly ones to support it.
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For my navy ensemble, I purchased a hat blank at a millinery shop on Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is very sturdy felt, and the cause of a) acquisition of millinery needles, and b) various holes in my fingers. I trimmed it with lace and ribbon, and a beautiful bow made for me by Annabelle.
To wear it, I first lift up much of my hair and augment it with a pad (what my mother called a rat’s nest) of hair pulled out of the family’s hairbrushes, saved up and shoved in the foot of an old stocking. Then I pin my own hair over it. At this point I look like a terrifying sixties country singer, only with ringlets. (No, you may not see a picture of this.) Then I (or sometimes a team of sturdy-fingered dressers) shove in as many hatpins as it takes, usually 3-4. As difficult as this dressing regimen may be, I am pleased with the effect.
By Madame vonHedwig on Monday, February 2nd, 2009
At the turn of this new year, we were honoured by an invitation from the estimable G.D. Falksen to join him for a stroll on the grounds of the hallowed Smithsonian Institution, the United States’ intellectual and aesthetic gem in the heart of that nation’s capital. We were rewarded by brisk but sunny winter weather, and had a lovely time. We met many interesting, well-mannered, and beautifully dressed people, including this lady, Capitaine Charette.
She is an American volunteer in the French Armee Aeronautique. She is generous of spirit and jovial in nature. In addition, if only half of what I have heard of her flying exploits is true, then she is surely fearless!
I have been corresponding with the Capitaine ever since, and she has graciously enlightened us as to her most recent bit of tinkering, a modification of her regulation headset and transmitter to include a time compass and ipod nano. That information may be found here, In the Lab.
Dear young Mirabelle was sporting the new outfit she received at Christmas. Here she is, just before the Smithsonian security automaton removed her from the tree. I assure you, neither the tree nor the automaton were injured the the process.
Here, Herr vonHedwig (right) expostulates, while Mr. Falksen (far left) looks handsome and reserved.
Other of our pictures may be found here, and those of the talented Mr. Lesnik are here.
While many things are going on in the lab, most are still in the secret classified category until after the holidays, their completion or their use, in time of need, leads to their change classification. However, I can show the hat pins The Madam needed me to make her for her new hat.
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And here is the new 13 button knee high spats.
13 button spats
For all of you asking about P. Phinneas latest creation in men’s fashion’ here is the new waistcoat.
Waistcoat
