Goggles in the Works!

     My goggles are progressing, bit by bit!  Though I have been fighting a nasty sinus problem which has made me see double for over a week (makes typing VERY interesting/frustrating, and driving even more so), I have gathered the materials together and also started experimental assembly.

     The upper left pic shows several belts I bought at Goodwill for $1.50 each, the plastic pipe part I will cut the ends off of to hold the glass for the lenses in place, and the "washers" to go between pipe threads and glass.  In the upper right pic you can see the circles of glass that I cut and shaped by hand, along with the parts seen in the previous photo.

     The last pic shows the remnants of a soft leather purse I also bought for about $3; the leather is supple and yet sturdy.

     The belts may not be wide enough to use on their own as eye cups, but I may end up using them as a rigid base and then cover them with the thin leather and other accouterments that I have in mind to make these unique.

     I like unique!  =)

Edit:  As I have found inspiration and made progress on these, I decided I might not use the little plastic rings to pad between the glass and the metal ring at all.  The leather will hold the glass in, and it will look better without it.  Maybe.  Hrmm. 

Jolly Good Online Steampunk Clothing Shop

This is a shop that has some of the prettiest/most handsome steampunk clothing I have found to date. If all the pieces are available, it is indeed a large variety of finery.  I may have to place an order!!!

Steampunk Emporium

My Precious Clockwork Pendant and Brass Necklace

This fabulous pendant was created by yours truly a few months ago.  I wanted to create something which was larger than my usual pendants, and that had nothing but pure metal on it.  I fit each piece and gear meticulously, changing their configuration a countless number of times until I was satisfied that it looked as if it could function as a true clockwork.  Every piece is from a vintage clock or large pocket watch; all have the beautiful patina that metal receives over many years' time.

This is currently for sale in my ArtFire shop.

You can click and buy it; there is no signing up for anything if you already have a PayPal account.

I value this piece highly because of the sheer number of hours spent perfecting its' design, and the fact that the materials used are rare and possibly even one-of-a-kind in this day and age.

I am fairly certain that absolutely nobody is mass-manufacturing any clock parts of this quality anymore.

Go to DreamSteam's ArtFire Shop to view more pictures, read a more detailed description, and to purchase this wondrous and quality piece of steampunk jewelry art.

~ DS

Domo Arigato, Mr. Butterflyboto

I have been intrigued by the designs of American artist Mike Libby for a long time.  He acquires dessicated insects and adds watch and clock parts to them to create tiny robots!  The beetle pictured above is my personal favorite.  Many of these fascinating fauna can be purchased from his studio web site -- Insect Lab.
Although I try not to create knock-offs, the sale prices of these make me consider scouring my yard for dead insects!  The price of one robot can range from $600 to $2500.  Here, buggy buggy buggy....

Crania Mechanica

 These imposing sculptures are the work of artist Ron Bell, featured in the internationally acclaimed museum-and-art-gallery-touring "Crania Mechanica" exhibit.

The artist/mechanic integrates machine parts and animal bones in sculptures inspired by the 18th-century scientist Luigi Galvani.  (Galvani is the unorthodox thinker who introduced an electrical spark to the exposed muscle tissue of a severed frog leg and saw that the leg twitched.  Galvani’s experiment led to the discovery of bioelectricity, which controls heatbeat and other important bodily functions in living beings.)

Methinks Bell could make props and stage settings for some of SyFy's movies! (Using their new moniker under protest here.)  I know I would be hitting the pause button on the TiVo....

Who is that Masked Madman?

Clockwise, from upper left to lower left:

1. Fan Leather Mask - TomBanwell  

2.  Leather Gas Mask - ProfMaelstromme 

3. Rust Spider Mask - ScowlingOwl 

4. The Wind-Up Guardian - ioianthe  

It's that time of year again! A day soon cometh when all steampunks-at-heart can break out our imaginative retro-futuristic creations and collections and wear them, carry them, and even use them without receiving strange looks from the uninitiated populace. 

Here are some innovative masks which you can purchase on the wonderful Etsy, or use the ideas to spark your own creative endeavors. As for me,  I am going to attempt to make some goggles to accentuate my own Halloween party attire; it is still in the materials gathering stage now, but you can bet that if they turn out well enough, I will share them here.  

In the meantime, rejoice! And get to making the best steampunk outfit ever!