Gunpowder Gertie

Brother Ody I have to say ye may be on ta somethin' here. A piratical ornament exchange ye say!

It be a fantastic idea, says I! Let's be doin' it, spreadin' piratical holiday cheer amongst the brethren..and the sistern...(?)

Mayhap we kin get some o' the crafty ones to create an ornament er two...

PM on the way!

BTW- ye be goin' ta Norcal this year..looks like I may have a ship and a crew and be sailing that way aroun' that time...

Ahoy- well I've been acquiring some o' them piratical ornaments fer me tree.

So far, nary a one has arrived. And..a couple- after a week o' waiting fer shipping, cancelled em and say they don't ship ta Canada!

Ahoy- me Paypal works as well as any other Pirate! And. I be payin' the exhorbitant shipping too!

Arrrr.

So far me offerin's have all had a Disney bent..the ones what aren't Disney - they don't wanna ship to me. And them included a lovely fanciful ship too.

Nothing worse than a Pirate wi'out a a ship on a tree, I be thinkin'.

Next year..mermaids. Belay that!

MerMEN.

Oh...eye.....er, I mean, aye...

Aye have bin properly inspired for next year! Aye am starting to buy me piratical ornaments even as I sit yarnin'' at ya.

Me first investment? I little cast iron cannon ornament. An' a pirate ship. so's I can gi' it a broadside! yaharrrrrrrrr!

an maybe if I get a pirate lad ornament aye kin organize a boardin' party.

Now That be a fine tree Oderless!

I particularly like the skull and tricorn hat clad pyrate near the top o' the tree..whar be ya gettin' these fine things?

I have a couple of the Pirates of the Caribbean ornaments..but where can I acquire them fine mermaids?

Tis wonder, mate! Tis a WONDER!

Just picked it up as a Yule gift for a friend!

Sorry if I didn't answer every email and pm about the lateness of the issues. . .with all of the information on the website, I found that repeating something that any pirate with a lick of sense could find out on their own. again was not covered under the umbrella of "customer service." I don't respond well to whiners so I don't respond at all to them.

If you're too lazy or not smart enough to check a website for publication dates that were ALWAYS updated, that's your problem mates. . . not mine. I'm a one-man business busting my butt to deliver what I think is a high quality product that, unlike other magazines, never, ever skips an issue. . . . it might be 10 months late. . . . but not skipped. I don't have time for lazy pirates looking for an excuse to complain.

Yeah. . .I'm a bit defensive over what I do for a living. . . not for just a hobby like most pirate enthusiasts.

Refunds for a subscription balance are always available. . . no questions asked.

ya know what?

There is no need to take this tone with us..or me! I've emailed you several times, you could at least reply. You've had my money for OVER A YEAR..and then you think you can call ME a whiner?

I had pretty much written you off. As for checking your website..hmm- yeah I did.

Even checked your forums that laid dormant with no postings for months.

And- let me tell you- your website would say an issue was going out- and then months would pass, and then another website "update" saying it had gone to press and was going out the next week..and then..nothing for months.

Gimme a break.

Yeah- I could have cancelled my subscription- but would you have answered THAT email if you didn't answer any of the others? Seems you got attached to my money.

But you've still got enough fundage to launch Faire magazine..and now- what is it? the Compendium?

Quite the scheme you've got goin' buddy.

and you have the nerve to insult your subscribers, who have until now been patient.

Yeah- okay.

We've PM'ed him here and emailed him at the magazine for the past 8-9 months and it has never been resolved ....Bad business practices!!!

I've emailed him on numerous occasions, got a reply once- to wait.That was several months ago.

Okay- it's been over a year- and not one issue.

I keep seeing these postings about issues in the mail.

Gettin' old, really.

Has anybody gotten an issue? I subscribed in October '08.

I think that was before he put out his new mag. Is that where my money went? Maybe I should get one of those, too...

and oh wait- he's got a Steampunk mag coming out too now? Is that how he got the money to make the issues that supposedly are in the mail?

Colour me disgusted.

Tis a shame ye couldn't swing through the riggin' onto the Queen!

Amusing video.

An' wouldn't that be amazin' if we could get close enough to board her!

As it was we were told at the beginning of our sail that a lot o' silt had built up around the berm, and so it was possible, though unlikely, that we'd run aground.

Now that would've been special!

We had quite the time aboard the American Pride, with Capn' Mac and his scurvy crew including Crazyboots. I got some great footage too.

I'd love to do it again. Any word on if there will be another one?

But seriously- if anyone has any video footage from the opposite side, on board the Queen Mary, let me know! I'll be cutting together a little more serious PyrateDaze video, I'll post a link here as well.

OOOOOOOOOOOh I want to see the video! Never got to see the show.

Well-

here's a video!

I haven't edited together all my PyrateDaze video yet..but this is more of a spoofy vacationy music video.

With elements of a piratical bent, and locations including Disneyland, the American Pride, and the Queen Mary.

With some pirates ya might know...

And me...rappin'. Kind of...

But then...this ain't your mother's vacation video!

If you have seen the Lonely island's I'm on a Boat- you'll understand.

EXPLICIT lyrics, but if that don't put ya off:

Aye Patrick.Ye cleaned up nicely in ye Steampunk duds sir..

I been thinking of starting an Airship Pirate group (loosely)

A kinda group genre of cosplay with in the Steampunk universe

fer the west coast.. Airship Pirate Republic for a name..

Aye- Me an' Black Tess could maybe get into that group? We be West Coasters, eh?

We been discussing, plottin' and plannin' our steampunk personas since we got back!

Oi! There be some fine piccies there, Missy!

I finally looked at me video t'day! An' I have some most excellent video of the American Pride attacking the Queen Mary- now does one of you scurvy dogs have any video of the defense of the Queen Mary?

It'd be really nice if I could get the other point of view and edit them together!

Hoping to see some of you Pub people at this event! Looks like it's going to be a great time!

I have a whole new line of gorgeous jewelry fit for a Queen, new array of feather hat pins, and many more incredible goodies!

My space is right next to No Quarter Given's spot. See you there!!!

Rumba Rue

Aye- that it does.

I'll be comin' in late on Friday, hope I'll get there for the party..but I'll see ya all on Sat!

Although I expect that the thread title was meant to be funny...

it wasn't the performer playing Jack. He was playing his trusty sidekick Mack.

This guy seemed to be a member of a couple of pirate groups in Florida..he was well known on the Dinner theatre circuit around Orlando.

But- he loved to be a pirate! He wasn't any different from any of us here, portraying a pirate for entertainment, not just for Disney.

I guess I was a little disappointed, because it seems to cheapen the fact that this man died, doing what we all love.

This kind of freak accident could happen to any of us...

I went to his Myspace..he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

Here's some pics:

As a pirate- but not the Disney pirate:

His headshot:

and him performing at Walt Disney World:

RIP Mark...

Well, Me and Black Tess will be attendin' this event. Got all our letters of marque ship shape an' ship's passage paid fer...

Maybe we'll be busy plunderin' that Queen Mary galleon, me thinks...

Worth watching and laughing at, but is definitely more funny if you are Canadian and know about the places and things he is singing about.

Aye- an here' 'tis in the original Canadian...

that is, the author's of the song were in fact these lads, the Arrogant Worms. If ya ever gets a chance ta see them in concert, do so. They are a very funny bunch.

I especially like the pirate hook....

Just in time for Canada Day! Happy July 1st everyone!

But havin' said that-

Thankee fer postin this!

I confess I have been worried about what I could do should such a thing happen. A pyrate with a broken flintlock is...

well,

like a pirate with a broken flintlock.

All 'round, pretty sad!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!? WHATS THIS I ERE???!!?!?!?!? YA BEST BE KEEPING YER PIECE CLEAN AND FUNCTIONAL ABOARD ME VESSEL!!!!! SUCH A SHOTTY MAINTENACE OF SUCH A FYNE GUN...... (looks old though)

An' That why they be callin' me Dirty Gertie, doncha know?

Aharrr

Tell us more, ya scallywag!

I am now taking some caps fer a cap gun, gluing them together, and stickin' 'em to the strikeplate right whereat the hammer falls.

That way I can use me replica as a startin' pistol fer me little pyrates obstacle course adventure.

I get a decent bang, and a flash from it...but them powder monkeys always be wantin' more bang fer their buck, as 'twere.

but now I be wantin' ta know YOUR technique.

Cough it up, me Boyo..

don't make me come back thar!

I took my Denix replica, which just looked too new..and also I hated the skull and crossbones on the grip.

I decided to repaint it to look old, my pirate persona's name is Dirty Gertie, so I wanted to reflect that in her choice of weapons.

First I used a letter opener and just tapped it around the wood to give scratches and wear marks.

I used black acrylic paint, and rubbed it into the stock. Then I used a combination of metallic bronze, burnt umber and burnt sienna and dabbed it on, and then wiped it off to give it a rusty, well used look.

I tried to keep in mind where the wear would be, around the trigger, and on the grip. Then I rubbed the paint off with a wet cloth, and a bit of fine sandpaper. It looked pretty dry by now, so I rubbed a bit o' vaseline into the wood to give it an aged patina.Then I used Ben Nye charcoal powder to simulate the gunpowder residue on the barrel and frizzen..

I'd appreciate any comments you have, since I actually have never held, or seen up close a flintlock pistol that'd been fired before.

Lady Barbossa saw my efforts and also assisted with the gunpowder residue information - and then suggested I post it here.

All told, I was very happy with the way it turned out.

I looked at some museum pieces in a reference book- and noticed a blunderbuss which had initials carved in the stock. I thought that would be a great thing for this pistol too, to add some authenticity.

so:

Here it is before:

and here it is after:

Please feel free to move this, if I got it in the wrong forum...

Happy Birthday, mate!!!

Enjoy a scrumptious somethin' in that fancy pirate lair o' yourn!!!

Aye- I spent a ton of time on my feet in New Orleans- sadly couldn't go in the parade as I had aggravated an existing ankle problem before I left- but, I have to say, I was very happy with me shoes! They fit well, I had NO PROBLEMS with chafing, sliding or anything like that. Other'n just bein' footsore from strolling the French Quarter, and that would've happened anyway!

They were excellent, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them!

Oil pastels worked well for me... The kind you get at the craft store. Matte makeup in dark colors also works well for smearing and so do some of the long wear eye colors (so long as they don't have any shimmer).

For aging costumes, I think the clothesline out in the sun and a good couple storms does well for wearing things out a bit. I left my linen skirt out for only a little while and it was already starting to fade in spots.

And spilling coffee on hubby's shirt did well to make it look dirty too... :-/

I use Fullers earth for agin'- it comes in a tube, packed in a canvas bag, and you just bang it against the cloth to get it to add some age. Now, granted, it's a fine dust, but if you dampen the item to be aged first, it becomes more mudlike and sticks better. In order yto age a dead pirate cosyume ( drowned and washed up onto a beach, I made a special concoction of tea, potting soil, white glue and aloe vera gel,and either a brown craft acylic or a black craft acrylic paint and microwaved it for a few minutes, then applied it with my hands. It worked very well. If you want to apply sand, I used a brush, and brushed white glue onto the material, and then packed the sand on. It stuck very well..(you can also use aloe vera gel, it also holds detritus on to a shirt or something of that nature, though it will sometimes leave a pale green residue. That's what I wanted, and it dried clear in most cases. If you use white glue out of the bottle, the adhesion will be very strong, but keep something between layers, as you don't want to glue a sleeve together say. And it dries hard, so you will have to use it in a place where a natural fold doesn't occur.Depending on the level of stickiness I need, I will dilute the white glue mixture. That's how I set some of the lighter detritus, like the potting soil flakes. Experiment, and you'll find that a little white glue goes a long way. Also - it's not necessary to add a ton of sand..just a bit will indicate dirt.I also use two Ben Nye products- Plains Dust and Charcoal. I use it on both ,my garb and my skin. Since my character, Gunpowder Gertie, a/k/a Dirty Gertie is well..dirty..I apply it amply. I've never had it come off even when I sweat. If you need to "set it" you can use something as simple as "pump" dispensed extra hold hairspray. Just make sure your eyes are closed when you aplly it, and since the pump delivers a fine mist, make sure you are far enough away that it doesn't run- just like with spray paint. I don't use it, I haven't had to., but I would depending on the weather. If I thought it would rain, I would definitely set it.The Plains dust and the charcoal get right into my hands, and face...sometimes I scrunch up my eyes and apply it with a brush or sponge, so that the wrinkle lines are clean when I unscrunch..looks like I've been squinting into the sun for hours. I also try and make it more realistic by wiping my nose or across my cheek with a handfull of the powder. Leaving some areas cleaner than others helps make you look just duirty, but if you want to look tanned or windburned, apply evenly, scrunching your face to leave clean wrinkles, again so it looks you've been working in the sun.

Diluting acrylic paint with water, and then dragging a sleeve or a hem or a pant leg thru it will really look like authentic dirt. Don't paint the garment...let it sit in the diluted paint solution for a bit and then hang to dry. Then repeat the process so you look likeyou've walked thru many a muddy street.

I also use a wire brush to distress hems and sleeve edges. It works really well.

granted I am more the Hollywood pirate type, but these techniques will work quite well wth any fabric.

however the other lines used only went in sporadic areas and never all the way across any item of clothing where the ones on the stocking on the upper figure do cross the entire leg ...why couldn't they be striped???

Having been a professional artist, and more than familiar with types of shading, I would say that the artist intended for the stripes on the lower leg of the kneeling person to be stripes. The stripes go all the way around the leg, yet they are separate. If the artist intended to show shadow of the body over the leg, the stripes may or may not go all the way "around" the leg- but they would most certainly be closer together to indicate a denser shadow. Also, there would likely be more stripes at the bottom of the leg (the shin) to indicate gradation of tone, and a darker shadow again as it touches the ground.Also note, on the other body that the shading stripes are short and choppy, and are used to denote shape, form and structure. The stripes on the leg do none of these things, and are in my opinion there merely to indicate a pattern.I would also say that the colour of the stocking stripes are black, as red was used to denote pants stripes,and the pants themselves and gold/brown wash to indicate coat colour. That wouldn't be necessary to add a wash if if the stripes were black to begin with.

This is where I get confused, most of those vendors listed, speak of their wares being proper 18th Cent. and some particularly to the latter half of the 18th Cent. This puts them OUT of the GAOP period.

I'd jus like ta point out that the middle of the 18th century is GAOP.

we be in the 21st century now, but we say 2009, savvy?

Ergo..the 18th century deals with items from 1700-1799.

the 19th century is out of the GAOP- from 1800- 1899.

If you have too much toe room you can go to a dance supply shop and get some lamb's wool to stuff the toes with ...it gives a good fit without causing serious toe/nail problems (first wife was a ballerina)

Aye- an thankee fer the advice..so far so good, but I may want to do that fer roamin' in the parade in New Orleans next month!