What did you say? Chap-hop? ... Brilliant!

If one of you resolutions for the New Year was to branch out in your musical tastes, the contents of this post may very well give that effort a massive shot in the arm. If it was not, consider this an adventure anyway.

I give you... chap-hop.

Yes, you read correctly. Chap-hop. Professor Elemental has brought the phenomenon to life over the last few years, and seems intent on continuing to astonish his audiences with his cheeky rhymes.  This has to be heard to be believed.  The following two tunes give you a sample of the style.


"Cup of Brown Joy"
and
"Fighting Trousers"

Professor Elemental describes himself: 

"Elemental. The quintessential English fellow, explorer, scientist, exotic dancer and some might say raving lunatic.  Banned from 13 of the colonies for 'unspeakable scientific experiments', yet heralded as something of a deity in a great many more."

Of "Fighting Trousers," he says this: " Brace yourself, as Professor Elemental fires off the first shot in a chap-hop/ steampunk battle."  The opponent? Mr. B. The Gentleman Rhymer.

Both of Elemental's tunes hail from the "Indifference Engine" album, and for a small fee, you can download MP3 copies of his individual songs or the entire albums from his web site, or from the Professor Elemental section of  Tea Sea Records.


Enjoy the madness!

Rather Unofficial Girl Genius Day 2012 News and Poll!

A happy Girl Genius Day to you all!

Perhaps unofficially, as my research has not found out if January 12th, 2012 is to be a repeat of 2011's public merry-making and steampunk celebration.  January 12th, 2011 was declared by the Foglios to be Girl Genius Day, as well as Kaja Foglio's birthday and the release date of their wildly popular (and excellent) novel, Agatha H. and the Airship City.

This year, it seems that the Foglios are attending the Arisia con out on the East coast. From their calendar:

"Arisia '12

When: Jan 12 – 16, 2012

Where: Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel/ Boston, MA (map)

Description: A fine science-fiction convention held in the frozen north. Science fiction conventions tend to be more literary (when they're not all about Dr. Who).  Boston is a charming city with the worst drivers in America, and that takes some doing. There are many fine museums and seafood restaurants."

The sequel to the first Agatha novel is slated for availability this month.  If you are a GG fan and have not read the first book yet, I highly recommend it; I obtained it for the Kindle, and enjoyed it very much. If books do not appeal to you at this time,you may wish to peruse the Girl Genius wiki, here.

So, happy birthday, Kaja! And readers, if you wish, vote for your favorite Girl Genius characters in the poll posted on my blog in celebration of the many years of wonderful steampunk comics that the Foglios have given us!  (If your favorite is not listed, please leave a comment and tell us who is!)

Results of the poll, "who is your favorite GG character?":

Agatha	4 (12%)
Gil	2 (6%)
Tarvek	0 (0%)
The Castle	3 (9%)
Violetta	1 (3%)
Theo	1 (3%)
Krosp	0 (0%)
Zeetha	2 (6%)
Sleipnir	1 (3%)
Baron Wulfenbach	1 (3%)
Bangladesh DuPree	0 (0%)
the Jagermonsters	5 (15%)
Othar Tryggvassen	1 (3%)
Von Pinn	0 (0%)
Higgs	1 (3%)
The Other	1 (3%)
the clanks	2 (6%)
Moloch	2 (6%)
someone else!	6 (18%)

Votes so far: 33
Poll closed

Brass Wing and Smoky Glass Bead Earrings by DreamSteam

Brass Wings and Smoky Glass Bead Earrings by DreamSteam

It's 2012!  As promised, here are my first pieces of jewelry of the new year.

The faceted glass beads have a pretty smoky quartz color to them.  I really like the stylized, almost art-deco wings that I chose for these earrings, and I am very picky about my wings!

I had to convince myself to post these for sale in my Artfire shop, because I like them so much.  (But if I do not like the things I make, they do not go public, hence I will actually want to keep most of the things that I sell. Catch 22!) 

Two resin rings are in process now; I am using some new materials and have to fidget with them until I am happy with the results. Soon, I hope!

Happy New Year! Preview of DreamSteam's Jewelry 2012

Greetings, everyone!

I just want to wish you all a Happy New Year (starting tomorrow, of course), and to mention what I have planned for jewelry in 2012.

I have in my possession a plethora of Victorianesque printed paper, which will be incorporated into both copper and silver-tone rings, then coated with resin to make a clear dome.  I made two papier-mache ornaments for other people using some of the paper in small quantities; the details of the patterns do not come through as much on these because I added a layer of white glitter to the surface. Here is a photo of one ornament:

 

 I also plan on making more pocket watch pendants/necklaces.  They may have a wild west theme, like the one I mentioned in my last post, or involve other steampunkish ideas that came to me along the way.

One of the most exciting projects for me in 2012 will be creating with copper precious metal clay.  I have to decide what to make, then I have to get the firing process right, so any of those items may be a while in production! (I may even post photos of my failed attempts, depending on how spectacular they are.)  I have worked with silver PMC before, but the cost of silver right now makes that an expensive endeavor. The copper version is much less expensive, and perhaps more suited to steampunk themes.

Anyway.  This year has been very difficult for me, for many reasons (as it has for many people), and I hope to be able to buck up and produce more jewelry in the coming year. Thank you all for reading my blog, buying my jewelry, and leaving kind comments here. May you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.

~ DreamSteam

A Bullet Sits Atop It - Copper Watch Face and Bullets Pocket Watch Pendant by DreamSteam

Bullet Pocketwatch Pendant by DreamSteam

Greetings, everyone!

This is the newest piece I have made; it is the first in a series of Wild West steampunk influenced pocket watch pendants that I hope to continue making as long as my supply of pocket watch cases and bullets holds out (I know, I can get more of either).

A vintage pocket watch case forms the base for the piece.  The stamped copper watch face forms the background for some interesting found items, two of which I found at the shooting ranges I frequent: an exquisitely rusted gear, a feathered brass fired bullet casing, and a fired bullet which bounced off of a steel target.  Crystal-clear resin encases all of these items, forming a smooth dome on the front.

As for the photo, I am not finished attempting to photograph this piece (translation: I want a better picture!) and I may or may not sell it with the brass chain seen here, since I want to sell it with something better.  My many ideas for a fancy necklace to enhance the pendant have been eliminated one by one as I have tried them and either they did not work as I had planned, or I just did not like them as well as I thought I would.  The creative process can be a harsh one!

This pendant/necklace will be for sale in my ArtFire studio very soon (hopefully this week), so keep an eye out for it there. (Edit: Done! I have posted this piece for sale, with the brass chain pictured, and posted a better photo of it.)

Steampunk (and other) Things I Saw in San Francisco in 2011

Greetings, everyone!  This post is link-rich and a little edgy.

As you may know from my Winchester Mystery House post, I finally made the voyage to the Bay area  in September, and had a laundry list of steampunk-related things I could still go see (most  sp events occurred earlier in the year, drat). Though it was but a wish list, some became memories for me as I was guided to some amazing local establishments (The Chieftain and Roux, both were amazing!) and some traditional touristy places by my resident guide, even after I had lost my wallet on the second evening I was there.(It was found and returned the day before I was to depart, so I tried to enjoy myself even though I sweated bullets the whole time about having no identification and no money.)

Reminiscent of days of yore is the Hubba Hubba Revue at the DNA Lounge. Some reviewers claim it is the most presitgious variety/burlesque show in the country, and it was on my agenda, jet lag allowing (I had find some coffee to keep me going long enough to see Lee Presson, yet I still did not make it long enough; the "standing room only" venue madie it tough on my weary... well ... everything. One a.m. SF time was 4 a.m. to me, and I had to fold shortly thereafter.  Lee apparently emceed the last set of the night.).  Oh well, maybe next time I'll plan a little better and not try to stay up all night after a 20 hour day of travel.  The show was fascinating, nonetheless! The costumes alone were worth the price of admission (corsets and ruffles, anyone?). Here is a link to the video they showed on stage as a tribute to the 5 year history of the Revue. (Probably NSFW, depending on where you work.  Just saying.)

I also rode the cable car (quite an adventure, that!) down to Pier 39 and passed the Musee Mechanique, which contains a vast collection of vintage carnival machines.  (I had planned on going in, but it was getting late, and I wanted to go take a photo of Alcatraz and the SF Bay Bridge before it got too dark); then on the walk back past the Musee, I was famished and decided to go eat instead. But you can investigate their site; they have better pictures than I could have gotten with my phone!

Here are photos I took from the pier.

Alcatraz, seen through the rigging of the sub USS Pampanito

The Golden Gate Bridge, seen behind the 1800's ship Blaclutha

A very large and inquisitive gull, who found a good seat for the gorgeous sunset

I have other photos from around the area, but these are the only vaguely steampunkish subjects (except the seagull, of course, he was just too cute).  It was a memorable trip; I hope to go back someday when actual steampunk faires and such are going on, which usually happen in the spring/summer. I tip my hat to all who use public transit as their main method of travel around there; your patience astounds me!  (My journey to the pier went something like this: walk, wait for and then ride the bus, walk, light rail, train, walk, find and wait on the bus, walk, wait for the streetcar, then walk even more. The up side is that I lost four pounds in five days from the walking, lol.) A memorable experience all around, indeed.