Steampunk Afternoon Tea
A few weekends ago I attended a lovely Steampunk themed afternoon tea organized by the fabulous Emily of Ever So Scrumptious. I didn’t make anything new outfit-wise for the the tea, but it was the perfect opportunity for me to wear the 1883 in Every Way pleated skirt myself for the first time. Some people did manage to make new outfits – Sarah had just finished her fantastic striped Victorian ensemble. I own some of the same fabric. It’s fascinating stuff – silk cotton, green in some lights, blue in others, and distinctly brown in others. Afternoon tea was held at the Wellesley Hotel, a fantastic old hotel with great staircases, a beautiful atmospheric lobby, and a fascinating collection of art – and taxidermy. Every time I’m at the Wellesley I discover something new. This visit’s find was their records of the atmospheric measurements in Wellington, including the record for the day of the Wahine disaster. Check out the plummet in atmospheric pressure. They say it was the worst extratropical cyclone in New Zealand’s history, …