Tempting Teas! $5 Off Adagio Tea Orders

Greetings, all!

    Let me just get this confession out of the way: I adore tea. Any kind, any origin.

     When I was diagnosed with a medical condition that prohibited me from drinking tea, I was devastated. Give up my morning cup? That will not do!  But I had to, or keep having some quite painful issues, so I wiped away the tears and threw away my beloved tea. That was several years ago.


     Recently, my frustration and longing for a nice cup of tea led me to Adagio Teas, and I browsed their site for hours.  I chose a few varieties that I thought might lend themselves to some experimentation, to see if there is just one kind of concoction that resembles tea that I can drink without repercussions.  I placed an order for several samples, and they sent me a discount code to give to others.


     So, if it is of interest, please use this code and get $5 off of an order from Adagio.  They have a good variety of teas, herbal and otherwise, and the sample portions go for between $2-9, so you can try out ones that interest you without breaking the budget!

     Yummy treat! Here is a $5 gift certificate to Adagio Teas: 7665144551. Expires in 24 hours. http://www.adagio.com

Do enjoy!

P.S. from 6/14/12 - I have to say that I am impressed with the company. I placed my order two days ago, and am now drinking what I ordered! The tea samples arrived in sturdy, well-marked, resealable bags; each one is color coded, as well, for white tea, black tea, herbal, etc. On each package is the ideal brewing temperature and time.  Oh, and so far, the tea is delicious!

For Sale: Gears and Singed Feathers Preserved in Two Miniature Resin-Filled Glass Bottles

Singed Feathers in Clear Glass Bottle

Feathers and Brass Watch Gear in Bottle

     Greetings, everyone!
      Due to one thing and another, I have not yet made these bottles into jewelry, so instead of tearing them apart and possibly ruining the pieces, I have decided to offer them for sale as curiosities. (I discovered how to make a relatively easy and functional hanging loop after I permanently affixed the corks into these bottles, and said technique must be done before adding the corks and before the resin hardens.)
      These bottles represent simple, first-time experiments with the materials, and should in no way be taken as the end-all of my feather/resin/bottle efforts.  As usual, I have come up with more a few more ideas, and must simply try them!

     (Want to know more about the materials I used? Read about other pieces which also utilized the Red Lory feathers (and tell more about the bird from whom they came) in this previous post.

Laundry, Mores, and Murder: Tales from Victorian London

    What better way to acquaint oneself with both the mundane and the extreme happenings of daily life in Victorian London, than by reading what actual Londoners wrote about it?

     I recently downloaded the free sample of Daily Life in Victorian London: An Extraordinary Anthology, compiled by Lee Jackson. As I began to read with a mostly open mind, I still found myself dismayed that I felt surprised at what shocked the people of that era. (Very conflicting emotions, there.)  Many of the sections are articles submitted to newspapers and other periodicals of the time period.  As the author comments, it is perhaps presumptuous to call this anthology "extraordinary," yet it certainly sheds light on the mores and idiosyncrasies of the day.

     Lee Jackson's truly informative web site, The Dictionary of Victorian London, led me to the book.  There you will also find sketches, photographs, and an encyclopedia of Victorian London divided by subject matter.  One could spend weeks reading through the material he has gathered there! Jackson has published many books on various topics regarding Victorian London.  Most can be had as a digital download for $2-3 apiece. His most recent book might possibly nod to the television show "Dirty Jobs": Dust, Mud, Soot and Soil: The Worst Jobs in Victorian London. Fascinating!  I recommend and will certainly read more by this preserver of Victorian history.

"Remnant" Part 3, Brutal from Birth

Scene from Penny Dreadful Productions' "Remnant, Brutal from Birth"

For those following the dramatic, costume-laden vignettes produced by Penny Dreadful Productions, 

the third installment is here!

(I viewed it a couple of weeks ago, but did not post about it, my apologies!)

Please read my original post on these movies.  There you will find the back story, as well as links to Penny Dreadful Productions and other related subjects, including photos that I took at Anachrocon 2012 of the actual actors and armor from the series.

Enjoy!

"Steam Powered Arm" - A Steampunk Kickstarter Project

     I occasionally check Kickstarter.com to see what new steampunk projects have requested funding; today, I found a project that caught my attention.  It is not a game, not a clothing company, not a book.  Shawn Skeel of Kalon Innovations has requested funding to create a steampunk prosthetic arm for his disabled friend.  Hm!

      To quote Kickstarter's site: "This project will only be funded if at least $500 is pledged by Thursday Jun 7, 12:50pm EDT." For those not familiar with Kickstarter, the person requesting money often offers rewards for certain levels of donations; for this project, donors may receive a leather "thank you" card, a small leather top hat, instructions on how to make your own "steam-powered" arm, or an actual "steam-powered" arm (the arm will be powered by a CO2 cartridge, not steam!).

     So, if you wish, take a look at the video of what the inventor has planned for the design. Though the project seems more theory than substance at this point, I hope it gets completed!

Forewarned is Forearmed! Steampunk Armor For Sale on Etsy

When you need innovative protection from your enemies (or unhappy friends!), look no further. I have found some most excellent sources for you to purchase fine leather and metal goods created by masterful craftsmen. Some are famous, some perhaps will be quite soon; all certainly have talent!

Dr. Grimmelore Superior Replacement Arm by Thomas Willeford (Lord Featherstone)/Brute Force Studios 

This is indeed the famous armor worn on ABC's "Castle" and also by Lady Clankington in the infamous steampunk poster. Things to know about this item: your order will be custom made in about six months, you can choose a theme, a leather, and a metal, and each arm weighs 10 pounds.

 Combat Tesla Armor Mk II by TheEdmondSteamworks

Things to know about this armor: made of copper, leather, and brass, much of which is bullet casings, and it is for a small or medium-sized person.

Deluxe Steampunk Wings, by Bionic Concepts 

If, gods of wind and cloud forbid, you should need to beat a hasty retreat, these large fantastic mechanized wings will aid your departure.  Things to know about the wings: powered by CO2 cartridges and 8 AA batteries, they have a six foot wingspan, and they are controlled by a hand-held control pad.

Deluxe Aether Fist Armor by Aetheranvil

Things to know about this item: the cuff is 16" by 6", the leather has been well-sealed with wax, and a 9v battery is included to power the disk. The maker also has a video of the disk functioning.




I hope you have enjoyed these selections of personal protection gear. Safety first!