Steampunks Ride Again!

This year's Del Mar Fair (cause even I'm old enough to know that this is it's real name) was a fabulous af"fair".  The theme being Fab Fair; a British Fab Four Invasion.  Let me just say that we really did do our share of "invading".  Everywhere we went we heard whisper's, "there's another one of those Steampunk people" and those just asking directly what we were doing at the fair.  Our attendance was to enjoy the fair and meeting to see the Antique Car Races.

For all the wonder of the day, my arrival was rather a rocky start.  Before I explain, however, I'd like to start by saying that I try to find some focal point for each event.  Most of the time it's a breakdown of a new costume & it's design, or a fabulous costume I've seen at the event that I wish to highlight.  Well this time it's a bit more focused on the woes of costuming mishaps.  Now to explain my rough entry.

Fashionably late is not something I like to do, but being new, I haven't yet mastered being ready on time for costumed events.  So I'm already worried about being late, which makes one rush & hurry.  I'd dressed lighter than any guild event up to this point and was looking forward to an easy day at the fair.  Finding parking went smoother and took less time than I expected. (Having happened upon a parking secret that I will use for years to come). So I donned the last bits of costume, locked the car, and picked up my good friend Fredrick Firetail, who had been previously attached to my jacket for the day, and started to walk into the fair. 

Side Note: If you don't know, Fredrick is the dragonfly (well damselfly, but that's confusing to all but dfly enthusiasts) that perches on my shoulder at Steampunk events.

So I purchased my ticket.  I chose to enter the side gate instead of the main entrance and purchased my ticket at the booth in between the two.  This made for a very short line, which made me smile and boosted my confidence even more that I wouldn't be too much later arriving.  I exited the line and turned towards the gate to suddenly hear the popping sound that is the copper wire frame on one set of Fredrick's wings.

I stopped dead in my tracks!  Heart pounding, I tried to maintain the calm that befits Victorian culture.  On my right was a hedge and it sort of made a cut out so that I could step out of the main flow of traffic.  Kneeling down I reached into the pocket of the jacket and pricking my finger on my emergency needle, I pulled the thread out along with it.

While praying that sewing two raw ends of strong copper wire together would hold all day, while bouncing on my shoulder, I quickly cut the thread and threaded my needle.  There were small bits of slag left on each end of the joint that snapped.  This made spots that I could use to bind the two sides together.  If the ends had been smoother, I would not have been able to repair him.  So I made quick work of stitching the copper wire together and continued on to the entry gate.

The gates have had metal detectors for a few years now, so I had come prepared, by carrying in my big metal amphibious "bug".  The guards helped me get him into a box and sent him through on the side.  I stepped through and picked him up, put him on and off I went.  I remember thinking, "coming down the home stretch.  Just up those steps and you'll be there just in time."  I took two steps up and heard another fatal sound, "RRRIIIPPPPP".  Quickly I scurried to the top of the steps, trying not to make the issue worse and sat down in the nearest seat to check the damage.  Upon inspection I discovered that the pleated bottom third of my skirt had been separated from the body of it in a 6" section.  At this point all I can say is I'm glad I had remembered my emergency kit for the first time ever!  Needle & thread mended again with a quick whip stitch and I finally arrived just as everyone was dispersing to wander the fair. 

The moral of the story?  Remember your emergency kit!

Cindy & Jerry picked me up after a bit of mingling in the stands and we wandered throughout the lunch hour together.

 My annual hot dog on a stick & lemonade was purchased and consumed.

Then we made our way to see the side show act I'd heard mention of.  (I have an event in the works that could be in need of circus-like entertainment, so I was really excited to see the show for ideas and possible performers).

 Tickets were purchased & the side show was enjoyed.

We then journeyed through the arts & textile buildings to pass our time before making our way to see the fiberglass ponies.

By now I was quite drained of energy and I decided to opt out of riding the carousel, in exchange for taking photos.  As you may have seen by these photos, it was a great choice & the best of a few, that kept the mornings mishaps from taking root as a fowled day.

The amazing response to my photos from the day, have made me one happy girl!  I'm so excited to get to know all of my new steampunk friends from the fair & those that are now my friends on facebook.  As a person bad at remembering names, FB is a wonderful tool for putting a face to a tangible name.  I can see your name right next to your face & that makes life a whole lot easier.

Thanks again to Cindy & Jerry for enjoying the fair with me.  Thanks to Jerry @ jerryabuan.zenfolio.com & a few others, for a few of the photos found herein.  Here's to seeing you again soon!  Cheers!