Melancholy Romantic

I decided to look up "Mina's Apothecary" to see if and where the tag would show up via Google. I did not think that it would show any connections other than my own. I was VERY surprised to see that a really cool website called "Melancholy Romantic" had me on their site TWICE! Here are screen shots of my shop. We shall see if you can find me! ;]I feel that if someone was kind enough to feature me then I need to step my game up and don't let them down! Thank you so incredibly much Melancholy Romantic!

http://melancholyromantic.com/

NEW Roll On Oil Perfumes at Mina's Apothecary

I have wanted to make and sell perfume oils for YEARS. I have made them for myself and have made spiritual oils for quite some time. I never had the money to let go and make things based off scent alone. I have now started slowly making perfume oils and am selling them in my Etsy shop "Mina's Apothecary."

My first line of oils has a Dracula theme (from the novel folks). I LOVE the scents my friend and I came up with! Next, I think I am going to do a HooDoo themed line! There are still more to come in the Dracula line. I just need to collect more bottles!

Here are some pictures from the oils I made. They are available at http://www.etsy.com/shop/MinasApothecary:

Very First Professional Photoshoot

I had my very first professional photoshoot yesterday! Paul Savage Photography was looking for Steampunk (and cosplay, etc) people to do some free shoots for artistic purposes. I offered myself and a few friends up! It was a lot of fun but I was VERY nervous and had NO idea how to pose or anything! gah! Something I need to work on! Here are SOME of the photos from the shoot!









To look at the rest find my Steampunk persona on Facebook! Wilhelmina Ophelia Kaiser: http://www.facebook.com/wilhelmina.kaiser

Find Paul Savage Photography on Facebook as well! HE ROCKS!: http://www.facebook.com/ShotByASavage

Thank you so much Paul! You are fantastic!

New Hair Dodads For Mina!

Here are some new hair accessories I made for my Steampunk persona. The first is a headband my Mom created last minute for my first Steampunk event. It was perfect! I altered it a little tonight by adding gears/cogs and some other little additions. Here is the finished product!







Here is the other! It was a feather I bought at the craft store and have kept for YEARS without knowing what to do with it. It's been sitting in my room for literally years. SAD. I made it to stick into my bun! So pretty!



I LOVE making simple little additions that make a difference! yay!

FINALLY! I got my white out contacts!

After searching high and low for my white out contacts I finally acquired a pair! I am so excited! Most people find them creepy but I adore them! Here are some pictures and a video I did on the contacts:

Steampunk Gun!

I post A LOT of things from Etsy onto my Facebook profiles when I find something cool....which is ALL the time! I was looking for a Steampunk gun for my outfit when I found the PERFECT one at the "Old JunkYard Boutique." My friend thought it was the perfect gun as well and got it for himself. LONG STORY AND ARGUMENT....short story is my fairy godmother Leslie found me another and BETTER one!

It's a "Steampunk Victorian TESLA CAP Gun VAMPIRE killer." I AM SO HAPPY WITH IT! I actually just recorded a video about it that I will post on my Youtube channel later (username: waywardmina).

Here is a picture of it that I borrowed from their etsy shop listing:


Check out their Etsy shop! They have A TON of stuff and have sold thousands of items! WOW!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/oldjunkyardboutique

The World's Youngest Archeologist and Explorer

My original Steampunk "group" consists of myself, my friend Devin (Viktor Graves) and his now 15 year old daughter Fionna (Lily Loos). His 11 year old daughter Fae wanted to join as well but was seen as too immature for her age to really get into something without being overly hyper, sensitive, et cetera. Yesterday, she finally got fed up.

Now, Fae is dyslexic so please excuse the spelling. This was incredibly cute however and got her Dad to start helping her develop ideas on what her Steampunk look and persona would entail:

"daddy i love seem punk but you don't see that , it dus not matter if i am musher . i just want to be in it with you and Karina and fifi
i fell left out , but you don't see that , i just think you shod let me have a chains ."

INCREDIBLY CUTE. And it isn't like Fae gets left out. Dana (Devin's wife), Devin and Fae (as well as myself) are all in the SCA together and go to events together as well (Fionna isn't into it anymore but grew up in the SCA). Fae gets to be occasionally a pirate or a viking depending on which piece of garb she throws on for events. I think it is that she sees how excited we are and wants to be a part of everything her Dad does. Incredibly cute.

Anyway, so Fae LOVES anything to do with Egypt. She wanted to be a Steampunk mummy (XD!!!) but since that won't work her Dad is helping her to be "The World's Youngest Archeologist and Explorer." He is currently working on getting her a British Pith helmet. This is what she wrote in response:

"thank you daddy for making me a explorer in seem punk , but were are we going to get the piff helmet ?!"

Don't you just love her already? SEEM PUNK!

Here is a picture her Dad mocked up for her (be aware she ALWAYS makes super silly faces in pictures):



Here is a picture of the gun he Steampunked for her as well. Be aware. WE IZ POOR. He doesn't have finances too so the whole "paint it brass and glue cogs to it" works for us. Sorry folks!

She is making her evil face here....don't ask me why.... XD


That's all for now! :] I will post more about Fae's persona and costume development as it maps out!

Fake Nose Rings!

I've always wanted a pierced nose but with my constant sinus issues (ew! boogies!) I have never gotten it done. I was looking up fake piercing components online but they were far too expensive. I wanted a nose ring with a chain across my cheek leading to my ear for one of my Steampunk costumes but even with what I created here the chain seems too heavy.

Here are some examples of the nose rings I made using copper wire I had laying around (gauge unknown):











XD

I made them out of cut pieces of wire but figured if you had big enough and thinner jump rings you could make them out of those as well. If you happen to make some...I want to seeeee! :]

FAILCAT! Failed Attempt at Cheshire Cat Face Paint

So...I found some pretty awesome face painting examples on weheartit.com of people who painted their faces to look like Cheshire Cat from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." I attempted it...and failed...miserably. My artistic talent and available materials was just not up to par!



Here is a shot if the video doesn't work:


I see you laughing...and yes...it is hilarious. :]

Bullet Casing Earrings at Mina's Apothecary

My friend Leslie Gregory of "Blyth House Creations" sent me some bullet casings a while back. I recently got to work drilling them and making them into jewelry! Here are some earrings I made tonight and the start of their gruesome story....

"The American West. A land filled with chaos, cowboys...and the Kentucky Cannibal. Boone Helm was a serial killer with a taste for blood. Literally. These bullet casings were collected as the authorities attempted to track down the vicious murderer. I happened to "acquire" a few of them. My sources are such blessings...

These bullet casings are rumored to cause cannibalistic tendencies in whoever decides to wear them. Be warned. Be cautious."

All on Mina's Apothecary on Etsy! Username: minasapothecary

New Youtube Channel

When I used to do Youtube videos under "thewellandspindle" it brought me a lot of success in my Etsy shop, allowed me to share some of my knowledge and connect to other people. Yesterday, I started a new Youtube channel for my Steampunk and Fantasy videos (Meaning: Me rambling about stuff I like). They are quick, ramble-licious and...well...you be the judge!

For some reason every time I try to post a link here it DIES. So just look me up on Youtube! "waywardmina"! DOO EEET! :]

New Jewelry! 20 December 2011

I've been telling myself I need to make more jewelry for Mina's Apothecary. I finally got to it today while watching Hellboy (AGAIN!). Here are my newest pieces with their story underneath! To see full listings find me on Etsy! Username: minasapothecary



Prometheus Bound - Chain Necklace with Cogs and Gears

I created this necklace from chain purchased from an elderly Greek man living on the island of Crete. He claims it was forged by the god Hephaestus for the purpose of binding the titan Prometheus. Prometheus is said to have brought fire to man and was punished to all eternity for his actions. The old man told me the chains would bind any person for eternity or until the person who bound the chains released them. If this is true, I would be careful to only adorn yourself with this necklace by your own hand....


Gears of Love - The Tragic Story of a Texas Shotgun Wedding - Necklace

I was in Texas recently for a "shotgun wedding." Unfortunately, the attendees as well as the bride and groom themselves were unaware how fitting that name was. The term "shotgun wedding" usually refers to a forced marriage when a woman finds herself pregnant out of wedlock. This bride however was not happy with her forced groom and shot him just after she muttered "I Do." She always did love dramatics. Dear sweetly psychotic Jean-Marie. I made this necklace from the bullet I pulled from her dearly departed husband's chest while all others were in a panic.

This necklace is a symbol of freedom. It is also a symbol not to messed with a strong and upset woman.


The Rose and Cog - A Story of Lost Love and Airships - Necklace

I acquired this piece through an old friend back in my hometown of Leipzig. She claims there was was an Airship Pirate Captain named Dieter Herrmann who managed to win the heart of the daughter of a local Bürgermeister, despite the fact that she had been betrothed to another. When the Bürgermeister discovered that she was planning to elope with the dashing Captain, he had a squad of Assault Airships bring his ship down. The daughter, Sabine Schulze, wept for months. Eventually she made a necklace from some of the parts of her dear Captain’s destroyed craft. She never married, and died old and alone while wearing all she had left of her lost love.

It is rumored that whoever wears this necklace will never feel the pains of love and yearning.

New photos!

Today was pretty great. Devin (Viktor Graves in the Steampunk world) and I went to the Steam Powered Giraffe Cavlawhateverheck Carnival (which didn't suit us so we left) and then took pictures in Balboa Park in our Steampunk garb. We have been meaning for months to do another "photo shoot" with my cheap camera and we got the chance today. Unfortunately, his daughter Fionna (Lily Loos) was not able to come with. She was busy preparing for her birthday party that night (which we went to after). NEXT TIME PROMETHEAN!

It is always fun dressing up and having your picture taken! Even just with friends and a camera you got at Target with your employee discount. XD

Here are a few shots of me from today:








To see MORE add me on Facebook! I love new friends! "Wilhelmina Ophelia Kaiser"

Dragon Corsets - I WON A WAIST CINCHER!

This year has NOT been the best (not the worst though!). I have not been able to find a job since July, my businesses are not doing that fabulous and just things don't seem to be going my way. I can't complain though. I have a roof over my head and am not starving. I still do a lot of the things I used to do...just try to keep it cheap or free!

Then, I entered a contest to win a waist cincher from Dragon Corsets on their Facebook fan page (I would link it but every time I try my blog gets messed up). I had been posting a lot of corsets and waist cinchers on my page and when I came home today and found out I WON one I pretty much started nearly crying. I teared a little. :] I tried to refrain so my makeup wouldn't fun and sting my eyes horribly. XD

I am the happiest woman EVER right now!

They are having ANOTHER share and give away! GO ENTER! It is a fabulous Steampunk inspired corset! Totally drool worthy!

Here was the promotion:

Garb in the Making - STEAMPUNK'D Medieval Middle Eastern!

Recently I have been in dispair over my current thrown together Steampunk garb. I loved what I was able to find from Thrift Stores and what I already had from old work clothes and things until I went to a Steampunk ball recently. I saw all the other women in their nicely made or store bought garb and how form fitting and feminine it was. My garb fits my persona but they don't know my persona and don't give a damn. So I went searching for garb I couldn't afford and drooled over it.

My good friends Dana and Devin saw this and talked about it. Dana agreed to make me a new costume out of the stashed material she had sitting in her garage. I was so excited! I still am! I was amazed I found PERFECT materials for each piece of the garb she is making. We are all in the SCA (I am a Norsewoman!) and so she has a pattern for Medieval Middle Eastern garb. She thought it would be cool to make me garb with a Steampunk flair (like cogs and gears on my waist belt, etc).

Here is the material we picked out today! Devin said she can hopefully get to work after the holidays! I am so happy! I have to find a wait to repay her!







OUTSIDE JACKET MATERIAL:


INSIDE JACKET MATERIALS (BOTH):


PANTS MATERIAL:


UNDERSHIRT THINGY MATERIAL:


I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS EVER!!!!!!

Half Sizes at Mina's Apothecary!

While ordering more bottles for Mina's Apothecary I noticed there are 1/4 ounce bottles in the same shape as the ones I am using now. When I was buying bottles before for my other Etsy shop (The Well And Spindle. Username: thewellandspindle) I never needed them so small. These are perfect for half size versions of some of my creations! Not half the PRICE but half of the bottle space. The bottles are still almost the same price as the other bottles and take just as much work.

Anyway, here is my first batch showing size comparison!