Isambard Kingdom Brunel !!

    It has been a bit strange since the weekend. I worked very hard to get ready for the Comicon in Birmingham followed the next weekend by a local event on Saturday in Ashby the which book ended by Steampunk events on the Friday and Saturday nights. Throw in a visit to suppliers, a quite pint with my Movember brothers and a drop in my friends shop to have a glass of bubbly to celebrate their 25 years  in their shoe in Swadlincote and I suppose it is no wonder I am a bit pooped. On Tuesday I was in London on a discovery mission about new technology to mix in with my traditional style pieces. I cannot say anymore about that except that it is very interesting.

   The Steampunk events were a hoot. The Saturday do was at Snibson Discovery Museum in Coalville. Click HERE for their website. It was not just a gathering but it also had several small performances and one grand performance. It was sort of a promenade performance as the audience moved for one tableau to the next. We were led to the theatre through the machine hall of the museum escorted by one of the miners [who as a day job explain the mining equipment to the visitors]. Many of the exhibits were wrapped up as if mothballed. The miners script went along the lines of the machines being of another age and our failure to understand how they worked or what they did. However they were preserved so they must have been important. It is difficult to relay the impact of the grand performance but I shall try. Snibson is a disused coal mine. The winding gear and many of workings and railway tracks are still present. It was a pitch black, cold November night outside as we were led from the theater were we had just experienced a performance relating to the memories contained the Cast Iron and how to extract those memories. As we made our way through external part of the Cast Iron memories interactive pieces, our way lined by braziers stoked up by the biting wind. We gathered in front of  a gantry which crossed the railway tracks. A young lady gave us two soprano operatic solos. Very powerful from one so small. Hanging from the gantry was a large screen. As the operatic element came to a close a gentleman on the other side of the gantry gave a spoken piece. As he delivered his oration a montage of images splashed onto the make shift screen. The oration was in form of a advertisement for an imagined company concern with future of power. Coal, history, power were all heaped into the performance. It sounded to me like a political manifesto being delivered. The climax of the oration was a real locomotive bursting through the screen. It was a very powerful piece. We were led through the darkness of the goods yard to the dimly lit museum. On entering the museum we were presented with a red pouch with contain something hard. On inspection it was a piece of coal. It was quite moving. With the museum to ourselves we took in the galleries and drifted back to the foyer where a second helping of food had appeared. A smashing three piece combo [organ, accordion and drums] were quietly playing traditional English country tunes in an up beat tempo. In side rooms there were exhibits of ray guns with the inventor along side to explain the up side and down sides of each piece. Next door was a several pieces from the museums collection of clothes. The pieces were corsets from the 18th and 19th century.
   I spotted a couple who looked vaguely familiar. Given that I went to an event were I fully expected to know no one at all it was a bit of a surprise to recognise a face. The couple turned out to be Cumbrian's we had met on a BMW motorcycle weekend twenty some years ago. They were attending another Steampunk event the next evening so I arrange to go to that as well and take my good lady along. An altogether splendid evening.

  The least said about the Saturday craft market the better. There had been a Steampunk event on all day at the Space centre Leicester. Click HERE for their website. We only attended the evening element. The rocket tower lent itself to a bunch to retro-futurists. There was performance poetry [John Cooper Clark's job is safe], a kind of musical hall witty banter and comedic songs element and a mentalist. In another space was a series of Victorian gaming tables, a type of shove ha'penny, bagatelle and pontoon. The event was collecting for the Movember men's health charity which had ended on the same day. Click HERE for the Movember website and find out what it is all about. The night end with a set from a Steampunk band "The men that will not be blamed for nothing". They were raucous, witty and odd in equal measure. Anyone that can do a tune about IKB [Isambard Kingdom Brunel] is okay with me.

Turn the sound up and click play.......



   We met our buddies, made some new buddies, had a few beers - Moore Beer in fact, an homage to the great Sir Patrick Moore and locally brewed by Belvoir Brewery and had a jolly good time was had by all.

Thanks you and God save the Queen.

MCM Comicon Birmingam - Day Two

   Day two was a later start but no less busy before the gates opened to the public. My costuming dressmaker, Belle Costumes, arrived with her Princess Leia, Queen Amadala, Valkyrie and Jawa costumes. I added my pieces to her outfits, Leia belt, Straps for the Valkyrie breast plate and the chain maille epaulette for the same costume. We also had to rearrange the table. The count down was given by the tannoy lady and the people flooded in once again. It was a different crowd from the Saturday but no less energetic. A number of visitor folks came to both days so they were greeted as "friends". The Valkyrie piece was something Fem451, my dressmaking friend's cosplay nom de plume, and I put together for the show. Fem451 made a medieval/Game of Thones style of dress and a breast plate modeled from a Victorian theatre prop. I made the plaited leather straps for the breast plate and a chain maille epaulette. It got a lot of comments and the piece drew people in to speak to me.

   Through that piece I got a number of contacts and hopefully a commission or two. The Savage Opress piece drew a lot of comments. I later discovered it is the only one in this country. The feed back on the overall impression and detailing was very good. It is comforting to know that a knowledgeable audience appreciates your work. More of Savage in another post.

   I donned my costume for the afternoon session. The wide belt supports my back very nicely. I might start wear the belt more often. I was chatting to a professional costume actor, as you do, he commented on my outfit and deemed it to be a Steampunk theme. So now I know. My winderbusse drew nearly as much attention as Savage Opress.

Mark, the bass player from the Steampunk band Birthrite dropped by. Click HERE for their website. I duly enrolled him the Ashby de la Zouch light Winderbusse yeomanry.





   
   Thanks to Simon and Jackie of the RPF for the invitation and for looking after me. Thanks to the lads and lasses of the RPF for making me feel at home over the weekend. The Judge Dredds for not taking me into custody. And lastly but not least my better half for putting up with comings and goings at all hours

MCM Comicon Birmingham - Day One.

   The folks flooded in and it never stopped from that moment onward. The was lots of positive energy in the air. The folks were very knowledgeable. I was pleased to see they appreciated the items on show.The two hits of the day were the Savage Opress costume, a recent completion for a customer, and my Winderbusse. A steampunk weaponised contraption.  Folks ebbed and flowed. Chats were had, enquiries made and business cards distributed.

   I took a stroll round the event as I was getting stiff just standing about. It amazing what was for sale. Sweet for Japan, self published comics, a myriad of collectibles and the celebrities autographing for a few quid. I made way back to the stand and took up duties again.





Imogen modelled my Steampunk epaulette. Imogen lives in Dudley and rocks the steampunk looks on daily basis

















This young gentleman posed with my winderbusse as a favour to me. I don't think he minded.










   The day continued in much the same way. One couple did look a bit lost. The couple were of pensionable age and came over to have a chat with me. They were amazed at this new world they had discovered. They had been at the Model Train exhibition which was also on at the NEC. They took a chance and stepped into the comicon world. They liked it. Lots of folks enjoying themselves without expenses of the anyone else. It was accessible to them because the was lot s film and TV references. The gamers and Japanese anime kids was a bit strange to them but they liked the atmosphere. It was not until the tonnoy lady announced the event was closing did the visitor numbers start to dwindle. In fact a few souls had to be herded out. We exhibitor tidied up and picked over the day during well deserved sit down. I got away at 6 pm which felt early. Back tomorrow for part deux.



 

MCM Comicon Birmingham - Day Minus one.

   Day minus one at Birmingham Comicon and Collectomania. I turned up at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday at 2.30 pm. Security directed me to a car park with a long queue of vans and cars. As luck would have it the chap I was to meet, Simon and his missus Jackie, were in the same queue. Again as luck would have it they was nearer the front of the queue than me. Given there was just two lines of vehicle I ran the car down to meet him. I was let into the queue....which was nice.We were directed the loading bays where bun fight commenced. If your are not on the list you are not coming in! was the gist of the security guards message. Jackie worked her magic and entry wrist bands were procured as were free parking passes. Gold star for Jackie's merit chart.

  Si and I bagged a heap of tables for our pitch. Si gets a call to say the bike has turned up. What bike? It is only the Lawmaster motorbike from the Judge Dredd movie. We gingerly unload it then had a bit of bother manoeuvring it. Too many cooks etc. I take charge...whats new.... I whizzed round and through the doors of the venue in a trice. Nothing broken, scratched or bent. It really i easier to to do on your own. To be fair it is quite a light bike if bulky. The three of us build the back drop for the set and position the bike and Dredd manikins. A few posters and graffiti are we are done.

   I set myself to setting up my area. It is not that big a job once we have decided where all the other exhibitors are going.



Before long the other exhibitors had arrived and unloaded there wares. Unbelievable models of space ships, amazing latex masks, brilliant costumed manikins and fantastic space helmets.

   I got home about 8 pm. I glass of wine with a late tea then bed...well eventually after in had made a number of labels.  A 5 am start. It is frosty outside. However I get sorted, shower, shave, breakfast and butties made and I am in my car for the run over to the NEC in good time. Everything is as we left it the previous evening. The lady on the tannoy system counts down to the opening to the public. The folks flood in.

   

Next Outing

   Here is your next chance to see, fondle and smell some of my work. Sir John Moore Foundation know their audience. There is a free glass of wine included in the admission price.

I hope to see you there!

Click HERE for Sir John Moore Foundation website

Nice bit of Feedback

   There is a new entry on the Testimonials page. It is great when someone voices their appreciation of your work.

Phew! That was a day

   Well that was a day. After a potential rocky start when the copper sheet I had order was found not correctly cut to size the decent folks at Smiths Metals in Beeston re-cut replacements as I waited and were very apologetic. They made it better by providing a brew. They gave a very personal service. I will using them again. Click HERE for their website.I got away earlier than expected which was a bonus. The next stop was to drop the copper sheets to a polishing firm in Lye near Stourbridge in the West Midlands. The company shuts down at 1 pm on a Friday. I think that is a legacy of the old hours of working. Lye is in the heart of the Black Country. I like all the old factories and workshops but it is a pain to travel round. I made it with quarter of an hours to spare. When my business was completed the Dad of the firm introduced me to the sons business which is laser etching.

   I had my sandwiches in the car park. It was warm and sunny. "Very mild for the time of year" as they say. A railway line ran past the car park. Trains kept me company whilst I made a few phones calls and replied to emails. I took a punt and decided to visit a beekeeping suppliers that was sort of on the way home. I found the place fairly easily even though it was in the sticks or so I thought. Having bought a supply of bee candy I set off North for Solihull. In a matter in minutes I was in the hurly burly of Solihull. I had a look round Toys R Us for Nerf guns. Lots of cosplayers use Nerf guns so I figured I would do some research. I was sadly out of place in the creche that is Toys R Us Solihull. Solihull is right on the M42. Once leaving Toys R Us I was on the motorway heading home.

   I had five stops on my 150 mile journey round the English Midlands and achieved something at each stop. I very efficient day all in all.

   If you of the Tweeting persuasion you can find me on Twitter @diamondawl