Victorian Spookiness

Here's a little Victorian Spookiness!!!

The French Eye

I ran across the prettiest blog today while looking for unusual bird cages. It's called The French Eye. Such beautiful posts take a look.

Neo-Victorian Elegance

Here are a few of my favorite Neo-Victorian Gothic pictures, with a little Steampunk edge.

Moroccan Lanterns

I dearly love Moroccan lanterns! When I was little my favorite store had one hanging from the center of the main floor. It was so glamours, and foreign it captivated me and I've been enamored with them ever since. About ten years ago I found the best trio of lanterns in the whole world. One really huge one and two smaller ones in descending order. They were my favorite possessions for years. But this is where the story turns tragic. I was in the process of moving in with my boyfriend at the time. I spent half of my week at his apartment and half at school. So of course my most prized possessions when to live at his place for safe keeping. Can you sense what I'm going to say girls. Yep... all of a sudden he broke up with me and in the emotional torment of moving my stuff out I forgot them. It was too hard to goback and get them after that. And before I knew it he moved to another city. -SIGH- I have yet to find their equal even in a picture so I made this post as a little shrine to my missing lanterns. To heal my wounded designers heart. I will find their equal one day until then I have pretty pictures to look at to appease me.

Flush

The Anatomy of The Kraken

The Anatomy of The Kraken

Pregnancy Doll

One day I happened upon this beautiful picture. I realized that it was an antique biological model, but couldn't find out much for about it. Tonight while browsing through one of my favorite blogs morbidanatomy I think I might have found my answer. I believe it is a "Pregnancy Doll."

"In the 18th and 19th centuries, sideshow carnivals known asmisemono were a popular form of entertainment for the sophisticated residents of Edo (present-day Tokyo). The sideshows featured a myriad of educational and entertaining attractions designed to evoke a sense of wonder and satisfy a deep curiosity for the mysteries of life. One popular attraction was the pregnant doll. Although it is commonly believed that these dolls were created primarily to teach midwives how to deliver babies, evidence suggests they were also used for entertainment purposes. For example, records from 1864 describe a popular show in Tokyo’s Asakusa entertainment district that educated audiences about the human body. The show featured a pregnant doll whose abdomen could be opened to reveal fetal models depicting the various stages of prenatal development... (July 2001 issue of Geijutsu Shincho magazine) " In morbidanatomy post about the doll she references another post on pinktentacle that has even more info. So happy I finally found out what it is.

Steampunk...huh?

I find it so interesting that the Steampunk movement which I am completely in love with is also so difficult for me to define. It is understandable because it is still growing and evolving, but when asked flat out by someone. A person who has no idea about the movement at all I still stammer over my words for a definition. Currently my favorite one comes from the loveliest blog Grey Shade Estate. They define if as... " In its original literary definition steampunk imagines alternate realities wherein modern ideas and technology are mixed with ideas and technology from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. So it is with a steampunk lifestyle, but unlike the literature we seek the best combination of new and old not just the most entertaining. Like the literature, the lifestyle begins with speculation: What would reality be like if all the best parts of the past had continued on but the best parts of the present had also developed? Unlike the literature, the lifestyle is about trying to make this reality “real” to the greatest extent that personal action makes possible. " It is a blog chronicling their ventures in Urban Homesteading. I just love reading about their progress. As I find more and more definition of the Steampunk world that I enjoy I am sure to post them here. So that when I am fumbling for words I can just tap the person asking the question on the shoulder point to the elegantly pend definition and grunt "you read... now."

Victorian Prosthetic Arm

I just saw this and had to share. The craftsmanship of it is really amazing. I would just love to have it laying around my house as a piece of sculpture. Look at the fingers they are so creepy and delicate at the same time. I wish I knew who this was made for . I'm guessing it was for a woman.

Memento Mori Clock

Add to the list yet another thing I have to make. I just love the little grim reaper with the scythe.
Nosferatu: The Vampyre/Phantom Der Nacht

Mimic Octopus

The Indonesian Mimic Octopus has to be one of my favorite animals on this planet. Not only is it beautiful, it's crafty too. "the mimic octopus is the first known species to take on the characteristics of multiple species. This octopus is able to copy the physical likeness and movement of more than fifteen different species, including sea snakes, lion fish, flatfish, brittle stars, giant crabs, sea shells, stingrays, jellyfish, sea anemones, and mantis shrimp. This animal is so intelligent that it is able to discern which dangerous sea creature to impersonate that will present the greatest threat to its current possible predator. For example, scientists observed that when the octopus was attacked by territorial damsel fishes, it mimicked the banded sea snake, a known predator of damsel fishes." ( From: www.americanpendulum.com Here is a great video demonstrating some of these behaviors. There is another type of Octopus that I dearly love as well. I can't remember it's name, but it has this behavior where it will turn it's body upside down, make it's color ghost white, and make this grumpy face ( as the scientist called it on the documentry). I wish I knew it's name, it's such a great behavior!

Metallic Beings

I was so excited to happen upon this artists work the other day. His name is John Haley III, and his metalsmithing skills are exceptional. His work makes my mind wander to alien exoskeletons, and foreign, harsh world made of metal and dust. So impressive!

An Ode To Ernest

I am a HUGE fan of Ernst Haeckel illustrations. He was a German Zoologist who drew scientific illustrations of various forms of life. His most breathtaking images were drawings of sea life. Haeckel captured their essence in such a haunting way, adding a vibrancy to them that is beyond compare. Given that it’s no wonder why I wouldn’t absolutely fall in love with this creation by Timothy Horn, entitled Medusa. Measuring 9 feet wide and made out of cast silicone and fiber optics. Such an impressive interpretation, and a masterful use of his medium to see it in person I would imagine one could only stand in awe.

Futuristic Elegance- The Work Of Patrice Hubert

I think one of my requirements for loving an artist is A- growing green with envy at their talent and B- not being about to fully describe it. Patrice Hubert is one of my new favorite artists, but for the life of me I can’t eloquently describe his work. Every time I try just a long stream of descriptions come out. Dark, mechanized, industrial, edgy, Baroque, otherworldly, AMAZING!!! Do yourself a favor and check out his website.