Steampunk New Years Eve Tea Party 2011

Join us for a Steampunk Tea Party at our house on New Years Eve.

All the fine china hot tea and baked goods (and finger sandwiches!) you can manage and some steampunk parlor games or readings or storytelling or crafts and so on to occupy us until Midnight and beyond.

We live in San Jose, so guests would need to make their way to the South Bay, but we could probably manage some crash space. We also have two indoor cats who are super friendly but shed.

What to Bring:


Yourself
Wayward Friends and Family
Any Small Children you belong to
Something stylish And Steampunky to wear
A Tea Cup
An iPod of music you enjoy
Party games you like to play (hey, we can even keep it Historical! Wink anyone?)
Any celebratory streamers/horns/hats/etc you have hanging around (or kidnap from Target, hehe),
A plate of your favorite finger sandwiches or other savories and an appetite for tea and cake.

We'll privide tea (Black, Green, White, Chai, Roobios, Herbal, Oolong, you name it... its in the Tea Cupboard) and china teapots, the cups and saucers we have and enough baked goods to sink Amsterdam.

When: 8pm, December 31st (7pm if you want to help decorate)

Where: 501 Raymond Ave, San Jose, CA 95128

RSVP Much Appreciated. Last minute attendees, Please don't hesitate to Join us!

As Always, everyone is welcome!

Steampunk Weekend in SF in October

Looks like I am putting this together.... email us at stclairaeronauts@gmail.com if you want to be on the mailing list to get more info!


Friday, Oct. 8th: Dinner at the Basil Canteen (http://www.basilthai.com/canteen/) and then off to the DNA Lounge to see Abney Park.

We might get a hotel room for the weekend....There are also a number of terrific Bed and Breakfasts....

Saturday, Oct. 9th: We will sleep in, then wander around China Town for an impromptu China Town Self Guided Walking Tour and meet up in the late afternoon for High Tea at the Samovar Tea Lounge (http://samovarlife.com/).

Sunday, October 10th: Head off to the SF Maritime Museum to see the 19th century cargo ship the Balclutha and get pics taken in front of some period scenery! (http://www.nps.gov/safr/) (http://www.nps.gov/safr/historyculture/balclutha.htm) We might even turn the pics into Old Timey Post Cards if they come out well enough...

Let me know if you are interested in participating any any of these events with us.... We would definately need reservations for the Samovar Tea Lounge and the Basil Canteen, but people could just show up to the other events if we nailed down a location and a time....
Join us for one of them, or more than one!

Your Event Mistress,

Sophia St. Clair

New items at the St. Clair Aeronauts Etsy Shop

Purses and Bustle and Zeppelins, Oh My!

Get them at the St. Clair Aeronauts Etsy Shop!

Private Sewing Classes This Summer. San Jose

Have you got a sewing project in mind that you think would be perfect, but you don't have the skill to make it on your own? Consider taking a private sewing lesson with Sophia St. Clair of the St. Clair Aeronauts.

I have been sewing my own clothes and costumes for over 20 years and I have been designing my own patterns and pieces for over 10. On top of that I am an education professional, teaching high school history for over 15 years. I know how to break complex tasks into do-able pieces and I know how to teach skills and technique to beginners.

I also have a dedicated sewing room with all the tools of the trade, so you don't even need to own a sewing machine to take these lessons.

Check out some of the things I've designed and made Here.

Evening classes can be scheduled Monday or Wednesday 6pm - 10pm or for the hours you specify- $30

Day classes can be scheduled Wednesday, Thursday or weekends from 11am - 6pm or for the hours your specify- $50

You bring the ideas and materials and we'll make your project together.

Contact Me at Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com

Cargo Bloomers Sewing Class, San Jose, July 11th

Design, draft a pattern and sew a pair of Cargo Bloomers at this one day class. Not only are they comfortable in hot weather and attractive on all body types, but they are practical too!

You will go home with a pattern and a pair of cargo bloomers. No experience necessary.

Only 4 openings available for this class. Cost is $20 per student to be paid by Paypal when you sign up for the class. Scholarships are available from the St. Clair Aeronauts for people in need. Please submit a note of explanation. Please email Sophia St. Clair at Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com to reserve your spot in the class. First come first served.

There is a high demand for this class, so please do not take one of the few positions unless you really mean to attend. I hate to see a long wait list and then get a last minute cancellation.

The Details:

Where: Our House- 501 Raymond Ave, San Jose, CA, 95128
Phone: 925.787.2591
Time: Sunday, July 11th Noon - 6pm.
3pm- Tea Time (snacks and tea provided by your hostess)
6pm- Clean up and dinner (probably walk to the Chinese or Mexican restaurants 2 blocks from my house)

What to bring:

I have access to at least 3 sewing machines. Bring your own if you like....

Snacks if you are likely to want them
$10 - $15 for Dinner if you will be joining us
Whatever you like to drink (we have water and tea available but that is it...)
Pens, Pencils, Project book or paper for notes.
Newspaper and tape (for your pattern)

Cargo Bloomers Materials:

Enough fabric to go from your waist to the ground twice. Generally between 2 and 3 yrds of fabric.
Regular hand sewing needle
Thread to match your fabric
Scissors
Seam ripper
Pins
Fabric chalk
Extra machine needles (mostly size 11 or 14)
Enough no roll elastic to go around your waist and both ankles.

To Decorate your cargo pockets and bloomers:

Ribbon in different colors and widths (you will need 1" ribbon to make proper ribbon roses and such)
Lace or other trim (even scraps can be useful, but you can do a lot with 2 yards or more (if you add tassel trim this becomes a dryclean only item)
Random fabric accents (doilies, patches, sequin decorations, embroidered bits, vintage scraps, beads, buttons, bells, tassels, etc)

Fabric Types:
Natural Woven Fabrics: 100% cotton or linen is the best way to go. Anything else, especially synthetics or brocades, will be hot and uncomfortable. Also, you can wash linen and cotton. Please no knitt or stretchy fabrics.

I have one machine that will sew thin garment weight leather.

Fabric Stores (other than Joe-Ann's and Hancock Fabrics):

Discount Fabrics: Two Locations- Berkeley and SF- http://www.discountfabrics-sf.com/
Fabrics R Us: (best place to by $4 linen!) San Jose- http://www.yelp.com/biz/fabrics-r-us-san-jose
SCRAPS (Goodwill for craft supplies, esp. Fabric and trim): SF- http://www.scrap-sf.org/

St. Clair Aeronauts Summer Sewing Classes!

Summer Sewing Classes, sponsored by the St. Clair Aeronauts
Learn to modify and sew your own clothes and accessories!
Learn to design and draft your own patterns!
Stay busy over the summer!

Sophia St. Clair will be offering beginning sewing and pattern drafting classes this summer in her home. All classes are for beginners and intermediate sewers. No experience is necessary. Mrs. St. Clair also has sewing machines and other necessary sewing tools but there are only 4 places in each class. Classes are $10 - $20. Scholarships are available. Please inquire if you would like to apply for the St. Clair Crafters Scholarship. Students are responsible for purchasing materials like cloth, patterns, buttons and thread. A list of needed items will be given out before each class.


Two types of classes:

BROP- (Bring Your Own Project)- Know what you want, but don't know how to make it? Bring your materials and we will make it together. I can teach you how!

One Day Workshops- Look for one day workshops on making Bustles, Bloomers, Bags, Spats and more. Even more topics on demand. Tell me what you want and I'll make a class for it! Show up with your materials and go home woth a finished piece.

Interested? Contact Sophia St. Clair to get on the mailing list, sign up for classes or find out more:

Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com
Stclairaeronauts.blogspot.com
925.787.2591

Picnic and Winchester Mystery House Pics...

We had a truely wonderful time. First, just scads of people showed up for the picnic at the Rose Garden and everyone brought the most delicious baked goods. We made wreaths out of flowers and ran through the roses. And the weather was perfect!

The Winchester Mystery House was also Awesome and we decked the statues with our wreaths.

Here are the pics....

Steampunks in the Sun