Suspicious Disguise No. 1: The Gray Ghost

Need to hide your identity while demanding candy from the neighbors? Nothing could be more classic for Halloween than the visage of a tragic ghost bride. Here's a DIY costume idea that looks more elaborate than it is. A simple project with a distinct Victorian Gothic mood.

Eight DIY Projects to Decorate Your Mansion/Secret Lab/Fortress of Evil!

It's that magical time of year again! The time when it's not only normal to be dark and scary and wear silly hats, but it's almost mandatory! Ah, Halloween!

But like any holiday, it has its pressures. After all, be you a vampire, a murderous widow, or an evil super villain, you simply cannot be caught with your lair in disarray, or, worse yet, non-scariness! Honestly, no one will take your plans of world domination seriously if you leave your teddy bear out.

But fear not, my villainous friend! Here are some clever and simple ways to get that cutely little sewer lab you've got looking more like a lair worthy of Doctor Frankenstein!

 1. Rats! 
             Concerned about the plague this year? Don't be; these rabid little cuties are made of paper!

2. Goblins!
                Love all things whimsical and creepy-cute? And what about fun yet easy projects? This little guy takes the cake in both departments.

3. Burning Coals
                 The warm glow of a fire in the night is something that's been sadly lacking in the daily lives of most modern people. Of course, not everyone happens to have the luxury of a piping hot coal stove on a chilly fall day, but this decoration here at least looks like one.

4. Graveyard Fence
                    Problems with neighborhood kids and dogs coming too close to your secret experiments? Well, nothing says "you shouldn't be here" like a spiky iron fence topped with skulls. If that's out of your budget, this simple tutorial will aid you in making a purely decorative variety.

5. Spooky Curtains
                    Need some torn-up black curtains that flow in the wind and send chills down the spine of potential trick-or-treaters? Turns out, a plastic garbage bag and two simple steps manages that quite well.

6. Candle Cluster
                Given how so many "creatures of horror" are sensitive to light (ghosts don't much like sunlight, and vampires sunburn so easily, you know.) any considerate evil host would keep the lighting down to candles rather than pushing his or her luck with those ghastly electric things. Worried about those dangerous chemicals in your secret lab catching fire? No problem; this tutorial is made with false candles in mind.

7. Bloody Candles!
                 Hey, why not? This is remarkably easy, taking just a white candle and a red one, and incredibly atmospheric.

8. Raven Dinnerware
                A dinner display that Mister Poe himself would be proud of. It's simpler than you'd expect, and, although this tutorial is perfect for Halloween, the same method could be applied, with different artwork, to just about any occasion.

A Tale of Woe and Excuses

I do apologize for my lengthy absence, but I assure you, there is a good reason for it. I spent several weeks as of late studying at a prestigious local academy. I put utter devotion into my noble studies, which kept me very  until a fateful event struck.

On a fine September evening, I was cruising over the shining waters of Lake Michigan in my personal balloon, when a fateful disaster struck. A mighty freshwater kracken sprung up from the waters, grasping my balloon in its tentacles and dragging me down into the water. (Normally I have the skill to steer around such creatures, but I was not expecting one to appear so early in the evening.)

In the depths of the frigid lake, I struggled in the beast's grasp, until I was able to locate and take up my trusty cutlass. In one desperate swing, I succeeded in slicing through the kracken's tentacles Once the creature had been frightened away, I fought my way to the surface, and, clinging to the wreckage of my beloved balloon, awaited rescue. I survived that night, although the beast had entirely crushed my right leg and slightly jostled my spinal cord, causing me to spend several weeks confined to the local medical complex.

I went mad with the terror of what I had seen, and thus was sent to an asylum for yet another week. Despite the horrors of the place (many of which were located in the cafeteria--French fries simply should not bounce off of hard surfaces), I managed to find a few kindred spirits. A fellow inmate of mine created this mechanical aid to the healing of my leg:

So now here I am, back at home, more or less confined to my bed, and left with no excuses to keep from my Aether-web journal. More DIY tutorials, book reviews, and tales of my adventures soon to come.

Hyde Park and Kensington Palace

Of course, what trip to London is complete without a visit to Hyde Park? Once the fashionable home of Queen Victoria, the setting for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and yet another location featured in my favorite video game--how much more steampunk could it get? 

 

Inside Kensignton palace itself, which is now open to the public, was an exhibit on the life of Queen Victoria!

This was her wedding dress. By the size of it, she probably wasn't much taller than four feet.

Also was a recreation of what the personal rooms of King George would have looked like:

A Walk Through London

Just a few pics taken during my walk from Westminster to the Globe Theater!

Tower Bridge!

Below Tower Bridge

I don't know what this place is, but I found it across from the Themes, and I like it. 

And it has a cool fountain.

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A recreation of the ship formerly belonging to Sir Francis Drake.

Bonus Mini Post: Moorgate Station

As a hardcore fan of the American McGee's Alice video game series, I spent plenty of time scouring London maps in search of locales from the games. What I found was Moorgate Station, the setting for the climax of Alice: Madness Returns. A geek's dream come true!

Camden Market Fashion!

Once again, sorry for the long post gap. I've got a new computer, since returning from England, so I had to set things up, transfer pictures, and so forth. Camden market is a neighborhood in Soho, London, which is basically full of random market stalls, selling clothing, souvenirs, and just about everything else ever. I was only able to explore a small bit of the region, but what I did see was and alt fashion extravaganza!!

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While I was there, I bought this dress! Isn't it pretty?

Ok, I cheated. This one's from Glastonbury, but I thought I'd put it in while we were talking about fashion.