Latest Issue of The Primgraph is Available

Issue 8 of The Primgraph Available

The latest issue of The Primgraph magazine is out, with articles of interest to those in the Steamlands and historic sims...

The Primgraph: Issue 8 - October 2009

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Elle on Travel: Of Interest to Aviator Types

For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible to man. --Wilbur Wright

Recent travel with friends and family took me to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I soon realized that we were very, very close to an important site to aviators worldwide: Kill Devil Hills (Kitty Hawk). In 1903, this windy expanse was where the Wright Brothers did their glider experiments and are recognized as having successfully made the first sustained powered aircraft flight...While at the Wright Bros. National Memorial, I walked the length of the marker for the first flight (120 feet) to the 4th--852 feet away from the takeoff point. Looking back down the way, I realized how phenomenal that must have been at the time. People thought they were crazy...
...but thanks to them, we can cross oceans and have even left the Earth altogether. We now take for granted what was but a dream to them then.

Elle Overseas: Funicular Railways

My goal? The top of the Montmartre Butte. My reality? There was no way that I was going to make it up all of those stairs (300!) to its summit and Sacre Coeur. What's a lady to do? The funiculaire!

Funicular railways were devised as a way to move passengers or loads up and down steep inclines by a means of counterbalancing the cars. For example, as one goes up the track the other is going down. If you look at the postcard of the original one above (which was completed in 1900), it follows the standard parallel track configuration that was popular until the 1890s, when passing tracks became the standard--allowing the cars to pass mid-track. Montmartre's original funicular was powered by water, moving the cars as the cisterns filled or emptied.

Although this is the more modern incarnation of it, I thought I'd share my ride up with you:

Elle Overseas: The Eiffel Tower as Steampunk Monument

"Here is the string of iron that the wizard has thrown up to the heavens...which he invites his friends to climb..." --Jean Giraudoux

I have returned home from my travels overseas and while in Paris, I once again visited that most recognizable and magnificent of steampunk edifices--the Eiffel Tower...Called everything from a "tragic street lamp" to a "hole-riddled suppository", the Tower was rather reviled at the time of its construction for the Exposition. In 1887, leading artists and tastemakers of the time thought it would bring a "dishonor and ugliness that could not be corrected." Naysayers be damned, no? It was the vision of its creator Gustave Eiffel, whose main design consideration was actually wind resistance and stability--as any proper engineer would be mindful of. He believed that the Tower would "possess its own beauty..." and mused "Do people believe that because we are engineers, beauty plays no part in what we build...?"Completed in 1889, Eiffel's masterpiece stands 1063 ft tall (including its antenna), weighs 7300 tons, has 2,500,000 rivets (like those of boilers and locomotives) and 18,038 iron parts that were created in the Fould-Dupont factories as seen below... Eiffel saw the Tower's scientific possibilities and encouraged it to be used for metereological and aerodynamics purposes, maintaining a lab upon it and encouraging other scientists to perform experiments there as well. This is a shot of the elevator wheels in the North pillar. While waiting to go up, I could see the counterweights and such. What an impressive hydraulics system for its time! Although I have visited the Tower before, I was still in awe of this stunning engineering marvel...

Steelhead Museum of Historic Preservation Open!

I've been hard at work for the past month making the Steelhead Museum of Historic Preservation, which is located in Steelhead Harborside. It is in a re-creation I built inspired by the real-life 1897 Antelope Community Church located in Antelope, OR. Its exhibit--showing Steelhead's virtual builds and their real-life counterparts--also includes preservation information and links to national and Pacific Northwest historic preservation websites so that visitors may find out more information...Steelhead is a town with beautiful architecture. As you stroll through it, you will come across many buildings that are inspired by real life structures. Look for the site markers that allow you to click on them to find out more about its RL inspiration...
SL is a fantastic medium for builders and architects, enabling them to use it to re-create historic buildings and structures. In turn, this allows citizens from around the world to visit and appreciate them as well. I created this museum so that others can learn more about these historic structures and perhaps become inspired to look at, or even help to preserve or save, the ones in their RL communities. To visit the Museum, click HERE...http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead%20Harborside/117/90/25

New Release: Seaside Summer Dress

Inspired by a favorite painting by Tissot, the Seaside is a beautiful flirty summer dress perfect for soirees or leisurely strolls. A slim silhouette, it comes with a sheer jacket with lace cuffs and sculpted bows, as well as a fluttery train and cascades of ruffles that flatter your every move.

It is available in Sky, Rose, Aubergine and Canary, as well as all four colors at E.Laval shops in Caledon Regency and Steelhead City.

Inspiration for the Seaside Dress

The Seaside dress was inspired by this painting--"The Galley of the HMS Calcutta (Portsmouth)" by James-Jacques Tissot, c. 1887...

1897 Historic Church Build in Harborside

I originally needed the other two parcels in Harborside for extra prims, but I really wanted to create something on them like the Post Office that everyone could use and enjoy. I said I wanted to do good things for Steelhead and I meant it. As you cross the bridge to the other side of Harborside, I built a little building based upon the RL historic 1897 Antelope Community Church in Antelope, OR...
With the exception of the shingles and foundation stones, I created all of the textures for this from scratch. This one is called the Harborside Museum, as I hope to have small exhibits about the Pacific Northwest and historic preservation there in the future. I also hope that it'll be used for another special purpose as well--bringing folks together in a positive way. I love the concept of "purpose to be announced." In general though, here are some interesting historic preservation links, both U.S. national and Pacific Northwest. Enjoy:

National Trust for Historic Preservation
Washington State Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Building Oregon: Architecture of Oregon & the Pacific NW (U. of Oregon Libraries)
Oregon State Historic Preservation Office

Primgraph Issue #6 Available

The latest issue of the Primgraph is available, featuring the steampunk community of New Babbage and articles of much interest to residents of the historic sims and those who appreciate them. You may read it by clicking on the link HERE or the issue cover above.

Steelhead Post Office

One of the buildings that I have been hard at work on is the Steelhead Post Office Harborside Station! It is based upon the historic Martinson Cabin Museum in Poulsbo, WA and I had a great time building and tweaking/creating whole new textures for it. Much of the signage is inspired by RL historic post office signage and visit if only to go inside and read the post office hours! Miss Genie and I were talking outside of it and she has claimed PO Box #36.
I really want folks to come by and actually have fun using it regularly. Anyone may send fun Steelhead postcards with the LM in it to their friends in SL, so they can come and visit Steelhead for themselves. There is a dropbox for Steelhead suggestions and ideas out from and Lunar will be adding one for himself. I'll be adding more things to the post office soon, such as a general drop box for everyone if they want to write letters to one another and have them delivered. Enjoy!

After I talked to Genie, I was riding my little pony around town and came across Lunar's demon brother Chronos. He promised not to eat my pony (or me!) and we had a rather amiable chat...

Steelhead Steampunk Exhibit

I managed to catch the steampunk exhibit curated by Mr Bartleby Kidd at the Steelhead Public Library just before it closed. It was a very well-thought out and planned overview and the notecards made for good reading later.

Primgraph 5 Now Out

This issue of the Primgraph explores the historic Baroque sim of Drottningholm and also has articles about the Babbage Kite Festival, Steelhead Public Library's "Celebration of Steampunk" exhibit, and more. Evil geniuses everywhere will be interested in Frau Lowey's "Death Rays" article in her Steamlands Etiquette series. You may peruse it HERE.

The Primgraph #4 Available!

The staff at The Primgraph has done a lovely job again. This issue features the Wild West historic RP sim of Tombstone, as well as articles about fan language, the Babbage airship regatta, and other topics of 19th century interest. To read a copy on the aethernet, please click HERE.

E.Laval New Releases: Steelhead Sunrise & Tiny Steampunk Lady

One may have seen me wear this on my rez day recently, but I decided to go ahead and release Steelhead Sunrise for everyone to enjoy. Miss Riven Homewood, when it was mentioned in chat that I had made a Steelhead dress, asked if it was made of fish. Well, yes, actually. The pattern is scales in the lovely gradated colors of the skin of the Steelhead trout, which is also reflected in the texture of the corset waist. It is inspired by the Gardner worth, and comes with the corset waist, bodice, skirts, gloves, a golden-brown lace underskirt and bodice and dress frills...Now, I couldn't possibly release a Tiny Steampunk Gent ensemble without releasing a Tiny Steampunk Lady version to join in on the adventure! Both new outfits may be found at my shops in Caledon Regency, Steelhead City or via the aethernet at XStreet...

The February Grand Tour

It being Valentine's Day weekend, I was not inworld for most of the Grand Tour, which rotated through locations in the historic and themed community sims of Neufriedstadt, Caledon, Colonia Nova, Oneiros, Artis Natur, Wonderland Gardens, Giverny, New Babbage, Steeltopia, Alpine Meadow, ROMA, Raglan Shire, Nantucket, Edison and ending in Steelhead...I was able to make Steelhead's, whose Hotel & Ballroom looked as beautiful as the dancers swirling within it...

1891 Isabella Stewart Gardner Worth Gown Available to Benefit Library

In conjunction with my exhibit at the main library in Caledon, my reproduction of Isabella Stewart Gardner/Mrs Jack's 1891 Worth gown--which uses a texture from the original dress' textile--is now available for sale for 1000L. 100% of the proceeds go to benefit the Caledon Library/Alexandrian Free Library system, which has helped to educate and provide libraries not just in Caledon, but throughout the grid. You may find vendors to purchase it at the Whitehorn Memorial Library in Victoria City or at my main shop near the hub in Caledon Regency.

Victorian Fashion Exhibit in Caledon

Tomorrow, 12/7, will be the opening of my exhibit "The Past Reimagined: Victorian Fashion and the Designs of Eladrienne Laval" at the Whitehorn Memorial Library in Caledon Victoria City from 1-3 pm SLT... With the assistance of head librarian Sir JJ Drinkwater, we put together a retrospective of my work (I have created over 75 pieces since I started designing) giving you an idea of how a piece goes from historic source images and sketches to a final ensemble. It will discuss inspirations and give a side-by-side look. I also created an exhibit about Paris' first "couturier" who revolutionized dressmaking and fashion, Charles Frederick Worth...
With the help of library curator Miss Siri Woodget, we are also presenting an exhibit about one of Worth's wealthy patrons, Boston socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner, who is shown wearing her favorite Worth gown in this photograph...And here I am in the reproduction of it that I created, which uses the texture from its actual fabric. If you attend the salon discussion and opening tomorrow, you will have a chance to win this stunning dress. The exhibit will run until March 1, but I do hope to see you there!

Steelhead in the Primgraph Magazine

Yes, still playing catch-up here. Blame all of the turkey and stuffing...

Steelhead was featured in The Primgraph magazine recently. It discusses Steelhead's history, architecture and there are interviews with Steelhead residents, such as myself (I'm the "modiste", how lovely!) There is also a piece about Steelhead's Girl Genius community as well. I think folks reading it will come away knowing what a special place it is.

You can read the issue by clicking the cover photo or clicking HERE.

The Professor's Daughter

While perusing my local bookseller yesterday, I came upon a most interesting graphic novel entitled The Professor's Daughter, written by Joann Sfar and illustrated by Emmanuel Gilbert. The lovely watercolor illustrations drew me in, and I bought it right away. Upon reading it, I found the story--a funny, sweet romance between a young woman and a mummy awakened after 3000 years--as absolutely charming as the illustrations. Set in Victorian England, how could I resist the following description from the inner flap:

"Murder, adventure, mystery, kidnapping, Queen Victoria tossed in the Thames--what more could you ask for?"

It is a short read that will have you smiling at the end.