Steampunk Window Displays: Spirit Riders

As you all know, I've been roaming around Florence-the antiques capital of Colorado to view some of the steampunk window displays in evidence as the town gears up for its 2nd annual Escape In Time To Steampunk In Wine Festival, April 9 and 10.

Of course, we'd expect Spirit Rider, at 111 W. Main, to have a tantalizing steampunk window display, because store co-owner, Barb Bierley, is the driving force and organizer of the steampunk festival.

Barb has done a fantastic job of of turning Florence's steampunk festival into a tour de force.

She's organized and inspired the town to embrace the steampunk identity. And it's an identity that Florence had all along--but just needed a festival to celebrate what it already had for many years.

If you've read previous blog posts, you know that Florence, with its many antiques shops and art galleries was already embracing the Victoriana, steampunk and industrials arts for years.

It took someone like Barb to organize the festival into an event that perfectly showcases what Florence had for years-a multitude of shops, artists and resources that embodies the spirit of steampunk.

And this festival is a double-win. No, it's more like a quadruple or more win. The festival not only celebrates the spirit of steampunk, but the small-town community feel of Florence and all the creativity that has always been here. It also celebrates a town treasure: The historic 1923 opera house, the Rialto. The event is a fundraiser to restore the town jewel that is the Rialto. And that's something we can all get behind.

See you there--on April 9 and 10!

Steampunk Window Display: Legends & Lace In Florence,COLORADO

Florence, the antiques capital of Colorado is getting ready for its 2nd annual Escape In Time To Steampunk And Wine festival, April 9 and 10. So, I'm peering in all the town's shop windows and giving everyone a virtual tour of the window displays.

Legends And Lace Antiques, 131 W. Main St., ALWAYS does its window displays up right all year round, but totally knocks it out of the park for steampunk.

                                               STEAMPUNK GIRL IN FLORENCE,CO

Steampunk girl is new  (from last year) in the Legends And Lace window. She's just so dang cute I want to squeeze her pudgy cheeks and goggles off her adorable face.

                                                  COLONEL STEAMPUNK IN FLORENCE,CO

I'm just making this up. I have no idea if this guy's name is Colonel Steampunk. But, hey, it's my blog and I can do whatever I want. I personally think the Colonel is a good spy and commands covert missions and he's Steampunk Girl's favorite uncle.

                                                 STEAMPUNK BOMBSHELL IN FLORENCE,CO

I was going to make this bombshell, Steampunk Girl's mother or aunt. But I think I'll make her an undercover spy that attempts to seduce Colonel Steampunk from his righteous mission.

See how cool the steampunk window is at Legends And Lace? Come on--get up to Florence and see if for yourself--and you can have the fun of making up your own (better than mine) stories about the characters in the window.

And don't forget to come to the steampunk festival. There are more activities, contests and goings-ons than you can shake a pair of goggles at.

Who Says Antiques Can't Be Funny? Umm--And Crazy!

Yes, I find some antiques funny. OK, I find most of life pretty darn funny. Yes, I live in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado and it was here I discovered just how funny antiques can really be.

A few weeks ago, many antiques shops decorated windows for Pioneer Days. I took some pictures of the windows at Legends and Lace, and the Iron Gate Antiques Mall, both on Florence's Main St.

For some odd reason, I was allowed to get a little crazy with the window at the Iron Gate. I showed some pictures of the display and some corny signs I printed up in previous blog posts. Naturally, I was a bit curious as to the reaction browsers and customers would have. I totally get that some people would think it was a bit over the top. In fact, one of the employees commented on how corny it was. When I casually mentioned that I might have had something to do with that travesty--the review changed to: cute.

Some feedback came in from customers. Sophisticated. I was surprised by that one. But the proof was in how much attention a window gets and how many of the items showcased actually sell from the window. OK, on both counts.

But sometimes things can backfire!

To refresh your memories. This was one of the corny things we did in the window.

That's an antique surgery or dental table. And the leg is a vintage prosthesis.

I thought it was corny. But hey, you try and decorate a window based on the items vendors have in their booths and somehow get a theme going.

So, here's where it almost backfired. I was sitting in Iron Gate Antique Mall by the door on an antique church pew. OK, I know it's sacrilegious to think of someone of my ilk to be in a church pew. But it's located by the door and occasionally I sit there and greet customers.

The pew has a great view of the entire window. I noticed two gentleman walking by, then they put on the brakes and stopped by the "leg" display. Even though I couldn't hear them, I could see them quivering with laughter.

I was thinking" Thank God! Someone besides me think this is a little amusing.

But these guys were laughing so hard, I was wondering why. They then came in the store.

As I greeted them (without mentioning I noticed them guffawing outside) I noticed the gentleman laughing the hardest had a leg prosthesis. I inwardly cringed, thinking: Oh my God! In my wildest window-decorating fantasies, I NEVER even thought of how people who were missing a limb would take this. What have I done!?

The men greeted me and strode by, still chuckling. They never once mentioned it was offensive.

And that's when I realized, if someone with a partially missing leg thought it was hysterically funny--then I too could come out of the closet and be as corny as I want.

Yes, even though it almost backfired: Who Says Antiques Can't Be Funny?

Florence can't be the only place in the country with some funny antiques. Feel free to send us your funny antiques' pictures and maybe we'll put the on the blog.

Who Says Antiques Can't Be Fun? A Leg & A Ho In Florence--The Antiques Capital Of Colorado

Who says antiques can't be fun? Certainly not me.

There are a few people in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado--who seem to have a warped sense of humor. If you read a previous blog post, you saw just a sampling of window displays in honor the 88th annual Pioneer Days, slated for Sept. 18 to 20.

One of the most amusing windows was spotted at Legends and Lace with its sporting ladies and a gentleman caller getting ready for, ahem, a night of romance.

Then we went to Iron Gate Antiques Mall and spotted a window with some rather corny signs it. I noted there was a rumor a few more signs might pop up in the window. And I wasn't lying.

If you don't believe the level of silliness going on in the antiques trade (in select parts of Florence) breeze by the Iron Gate and Legends and Lace to see for yourself.

Since we visited the Iron Gate window last week--this sign popped up. GET A LEG UP ON YOUR SHOPPING. Sigh! How original!

That's an old dental or medical table (for sale) and a leg (yes, also for sale). And getting a leg up on the shopping refers to Junktique and Punktique on Sept. 18 and 19. Most people know about Junktique--and open air market replete with fine antiques, collectibles and plain, old junk and other fun stuff.

But Punktique is NEW! It's also an open air market, and caters to those interested in steampunk items. Now, a few weeks ago I did a search on the word--PUNKTIQUE. It does not come up that much, except in terms of an alternative music genre. So, (and you heard it hear first) the PUNKTIQUE open air market for steampunkers (and all those with tastes leaning towards neo-Victorian, industrial and gothic) in Florence, MIGHT well be one of the first such events in the USA. I say USA--because steampunk is much more popular in the UK and Australia and is starting to come into its own in the USA more.

Now, won't that be exciting--to be at one of the first punktique markets ever?

Back to the window display. Some of those window decorators at Iron Gate could not resist this one.

Oh, my goodness! Travesty upon the English language! Imagine getting a real antique HOE and imagining the pioneers might have been thinking about farm implements when they came up with the slogan: Westward Ho! What kind of crazed antiques dealers do they have in Florence?

See you at Pioneer Days and Junktique and Punktique. You won't know who I am. I'll have my camera. But I'll be in hiding. Why? Because as you might have guessed--I am the butcher of the English language responsible for these signs.

AND I also might see you somewhere in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado--when I pop out of nowhere and ask to take your picture for our new feature: Will we find YOU in Florence?

Who Says Antiques Can't Be Fun: Florence, Colorado

Who says antiques can't be fun? As most everyone knows, Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado is gearing up for the 88th Annual Pioneer Days, held Sept. 18 to 20. This year the event will have a bit of steampunk flair.

There will be a steampunk ball street dance and Punktique. Annually, bargain hunters descend on Florence for Junktique--a cavalcade of bargains, antiques and good old-fashioned junk. New this year is Punktique--and open air steampunk market held at the same time as Junktique.

There are already lots of signs in Florence's windows welcoming steampunkers.

And a few windows that prove: antiques can be fun.

This was taken at Legends and Lace. This dude is taking a bath and strumming a melody: Love Always, according to his sheet music.

Ah! Seems innocent enough. Let's "pan" over to the other side of the window.

Oh my! You can't see it very well in the picture, but that there fancy lady is holding a cigarette holder and some money in her hand. And there's a pile of money on the table. My goodness! That dude is getting ready for an evening with the sporting ladies. The window is quite the homage to racy ladies--and I love it.

Let's move down Florence's Main St. a little. Someone with a warped sense of humor was busy at the Iron Gate Antique Mall.

Looks innocuous enough. A bunch of grates hanging on the wall in the window. Yeah, it's a little steampunk. But you can't really see the sign in the right side of the picture. Some joker put up a sign that reads: Isn't This A "Grate" Wall? Honestly, I am appalled by that sign. When I find out who put it up there--I will tell them that antiques are a serious business and nothing to joke about.

What else is in the window at Iron Gate? Well, it's an homage to pioneers with a little steampunk thrown in.

Yes, someone had the audacity to dress a nice pioneer woman up, plunk a steampunk-inspired hat on her noggin and then give her a suitcase, a bear skull and a badminton racquet to fend off all the animals in the Old West (pictured in the background). She was placed in a Victorian-era baby buggy with a gizmo and light bulb-- to steampunk-power her buggy across the lone prairie.

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At the top of this picture, one can see the wheels of her steampunk-powered buggy, which also has a big chain and anchor in the back. Why you ask? Just because.

There's some more taxidermied animals and a nice display of antique wheels. The same joker who put that "grate" wall sign up, decided to put a HOT WHEELS sign on that big rusty John Deere wheel.

There's a few more signs in the window. Rumor has it these window decorators were also going after that Burma Shave sign ambience. And rumor has it that a few more of those corny and appalling signs might appear in the window before Pioneer Days. I hear that one of the signs that might pop up is SO silly that people might gasp in shock.

All this nonsense really has to stop. People will start thinking antiques are fun. Wait, they are!

See you all at Pioneer Days, Junktique and Punktique. How will you know who I am? I'll be wearing a red rose. No, actually, I'll be wearing a taxidermied skunk with a sign around my neck that reads: SteamSkunk.