"Reactions" bar added, for your voting pleasure!

Greetings, all!

I discovered how to add a bar that will allow input from you, my viewers. Finally.
You may choose from "interesting," "cool," or "truly steam'y" (for those things which you think are deliciously steampunk).

Feel free to vote at the bottom of each post! It may not sway my tastes/choices, but it will let me know what ya think! ;-)

~DreamSteam

My Signature Pocket Watch Pendants

My favorite material to use in jewelry-making is pocket watches -- all parts of them, any shape, any size, any condition (though I do not like to disassemble watches that could be repaired).

After having sold a few items of this style, I consider it my signature piece. The pic on the bottom left shows how I made the back of a few of the pendants. A couple had the original smooth watch back plate, but I think the internal plate lent more interest to the work. The one on the upper left is for sale in my ArtFire shop; just click and buy! =)

Truly Amazing Handmade Books

handmade journals by Tim Baker

Yes, I am as obsessed with handmade books as much as I am with SP animals. The few leather-bound journals on my shelf remain empty because they are too pretty to write in!
I could not resist sharing these images; this person truly has a gift.
Click on the photo to go to Tim Baker's blog, or view these on DeviantArt.

/wave to my Followers!

Just wanted to send a greeting to my brave followers, and to those who come here to read my musings. I thank you for giving me an audience so that I don't feel like I am just talking to myself! Your presence motivates me to find interesting things and share them. Much appreciated!

Antique Victorian Microscope Slides

Since this was a part of the time period, and is pretty amazing,
here is a peek at a (probably) lost art.

In the 1800's, "exhibition slides were often considered to be the pinnacle of the commercial mounters art, considering the degree of difficulty in their preparation. Combining various objects, often many 100s (or 1000s!) of individual butterfly or insect scales, diatoms, spicules, etc.; each piece was individually selected and assembled to create pictures or complex geometric arrangements."

These photographs come from http://www.victorianmicroscopeslides.com/
where you can find many more examples of this remarkable art form.

Neo-Victorian VW Beetle ... and Other Wrought Iron Vehicles

Iron VW Beetle by MG Verbanus

Since this is one of the most viewed posts on my site, I wanted to add information about this vehicle and about the world of wrought-iron/metal filigree style bodied Volkswagons. 

This is the closest thing to a neo-Victorian Volkswagen that I have ever seen.

VW beetle by MG Verbanus

The metal-art workshop Verbanus, founded in 1981, created this masterpiece.  It took over 2500 hours and is plated in 24 karat gold.  It does indeed function.  The workshop specializes in custom pieces created mostly by hand for discerning clients.

VW beetle by MG Verbanus

 WikiPedia defines wrought iron:  Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content, in comparison to steel, and has fibrous inclusions, known as slag.

Several handmade VW Beetles have been made, but I believe the one pictured above is the prettiest.  The story of another wrought iron VW bug can be found here on Oldcar.com.   If you like looking at wacky cars created for the sake of art, the ArtCar blog is the place to go.  I will add more information as I find it. Wonder what kind of gas mileage an iron filigree automobile gets? ...

Enjoy!

Victorian Stencils

I feel bad about posting so many animals, so here is something else!
A link to some Victorian stencils with which you can decorate your study or smoking room to your heart's delight. http://www.citysalvage.com/stencils/ Enjoy!

Mechanical Animals

OH NO. More animals?! Yep. Thought these were great! The beasties are made by Andrew Chase. They are fully articulated. Click on the cheetah photo for a full motion video.

Steampunk Jewelry on ArtFire

(clockwise from upper left to lower right)
Fork Octopus - celtsmith
Time Travel Earrings - saffron
Precise Elegance - DreamSteam
In Ruins - wickedgems

I searched through over fifty pages of items found using the term "steampunk" on the ArtFire site, and found a few handmade pieces which involve more than gluing a watch movement to a ring. Here they are. Enjoy!

Steampunk Critters For Sale on Etsy!

(clockwise, upper left to lower left)
Steampunk Horse bychrisanderson
Gold Moth Pendant chinookhugs
Fire Dragon riveng
Momma Spider desertsol

I was so happy at finding the metal animal sculptures at the recycling center, I looked on Etsy to see if there were any similar creatures for sale. Of course, there were plenty to be had; these are some of the more expensive items, but certainly some of the most interesting ones!