Filed under: Beak of the Week, Steampunk | Tags: Beak of the Week, blackbird, crow, jewelry, neo victorian, raven, Steampunk, Tilly Bloom, Victorian illustration
Mister Bertrand Bird and Son
brooch by Tilly Bloom
Embracing the bizarre, Scottish lass, Miss Tilly Bloom, creates wearable delights from her home in Brooklyn, New York.
Tilly Bloom’s jewelry is strange and charming, taking every form from bracelets to cuff links, earrings to buttons, all incorporating Victorian Era images and styling.
You can subscribe to Tilly’s monthly newsletter here, and visit her Etsy shop for more truly wonderful items including prints of her work.
Filed under: Oddities, Steampunk | Tags: aerial, Alexander Bell, Antique plane, Baddeck Nova Scotia, Canadian aviation, Canadian Centennial of Flight, flight, Silver Dart, Steampunk, Vintage plane
Backed by the passion of Alexander Graham Bell and the funds of his wife Mabel, the Aerial Experiment Association was formed. A year, four months, and many test flights later, Canada saw its first powered engine flight.
On February 23, 1909 a group of volunteers on skates pushed The Silver Dart out onto the ice of Baddeck Bay in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Piloted by Baddeck local, Douglas McCurdy, the plane rose almost 9 meters and flew for almost a kilometer and a half at 65 kph.
To mark the 100th anniversary of this first flight, a replica of the Silver Dart was constructed and flown on February 23, 2009. I wish I could have been there to check it out. The plane took and almost 5 years and a whole lotta cash to construct. Despite a couple of disappointing early test flights, the plane performed beautifully for the Centennial Celebration.
Here is a video of the replica flight last month
For a bit more on the historical flight The Canadian Centennial of Flight has posted an excerpt of their fabulous 9-part documentary On Canadian Wings.
For More information on the Silver Dart Flight, here is the official site.
Filed under: General, Steampunk | Tags: clock, clockpunk, Curious Oddities, Eric Freitas, mechanical, Steampunk
Hello all, and how I’ve missed you!
For those who haven’t seen them yet, the immensely talented clock builder Eric Freitas has posted pictures of his newest mechanical marvel. Visit his blog for an incredibly detailed documentation of the creation process, including lots of delicious photos.
Unfortunately this piece isn’t for sale.
I interviewed Eric Freitas back in July, if you missed it, here is the link.
Eric, thanks again for sharing your beautiful work with us!
After much contemplation over these past long Winter months, I have decided to focus on the Curious Oddities shop and Blog.
I am applying to some craft shows here in Toronto, and there is a fabulous Circusy, vaudevillian event in the works for late Summer. Look forward to a new website, delightful new items, news, interviews and adventure. I’ll keep you posted.
