Featured Teapot Racer: S.S. Nonsense

"S.S. Nonsense" was built and driven by Marty DeSimone at the Chicago Steampunk Expo. The R.C. car he used as his base was one he had built from a kit many years ago.

Bribing the judges is part of the game, but not all bribes have to be physical objects. Marty gave hugs.





This was the fastest teapot racer at the Chicago Steampunk Expo, finishing the course in 26.5 seconds and winning the drag race.

Elgin Historical Museum

Sept. 26, 2019

Before spending the rest of the day scrubbing my mom's recently vacated upstairs apartment, Blaze, my mom, and I went to the Elgin Historical Museum which is housed in the Old Main building of the Elgin Academy.

The Blue Box Cafe and Deli

Elgin, Illinois' Dr. Who themed cafe.

Teapot Tuesday Featured Teapot Racer: The Earl of Grey

Sept. 14, 2019 was the third annual SWFL SteamCon in For Myers, Florida at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Bell Tower Shops.



We had a good turnout of people new to teapot racing, who had built their own original teapot racers.
One of those was Deborah Perry, with her racer, the Earl of Grey. It featured an antique style car, that Deborah had built out of foam.

The adorable little driver took a couple falls from his perch, but the over-all look of the vehicle took full marks from both of the judges.






Extra points were given for the bribing of the judges.



The Earl of Grey finished the obstacle course in 2 minutes, 47 seconds, with quite a bit of manual assistance.

Featured Teapot Racer: Time 4 Tea

Time 4 Tea was built and operated by Denny Mineweaser at Renninger's Steampunk and Industrial Show in Mount Dora, Florida. October 2018.



If there had been a prize for cutest teapot racer, this one would have won.
The cookie wheel covers are a clever touch.





Denny wasn't the Grand Champion for teapot racing, but he did win the prize for best costume at Renninger's.



Check out his backpack!

Christmas 2018

Scenes from our December:


This is the picture we sent out with Christmas cards this year:


The Lego robot kit that Blaze received for his birthday on Dec. 6th:



Thomasville, Georgia's Victorian Christmas Festival:





The new tree topper I made to display the color-changing Santa's airship ornament from Hallmark:



A snowflake cake at Solstice:



Visiting the lights at Oven Park:


The gingerbread train:





Melted snowman bark:


Stocking stuffers:









The Hogwarts Express Lego kit that Blaze got for Christmas:



The cat somehow got into and out of that spot on the windowsill without knocking anything down.



Playing the Clue game that Blaze got for Christmas.

Steampunk "I Spy" Christmas Letters

I bought these puffy letter on clearance after Christmas several years ago, but only just got around to doing anything with them. I've acquired quite a few steampunk charms and buttons over the years and this project made use of all of them and then some.




I spray painted over everything with "Hammered Copper" colored paint.