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!

New Jewelry by DreamSteam - Brass Portrait Necklace, Copper Spiral Earrings & Upgraded Filigree Earrings

Beaded Brass and Skeleton Key Filigree Diamond Earrings

I felt up to doing a little jewelry today, and so made two new jewelry items and reworked another.  To the earrings in the above picture, I added the miniature skeleton keys; they simply needed "something" more, and the keys add something!

Watch Gears and Verdigris Copper Spiral Steampunk Earrings

This is a brand new pair of my spiral earrings, as the others already sold.  For this pair, I decided to add another chain and gear to each to see how that looked, and I am happy with the results. These also have a lot more verdigris (green) finish than previous copper pieces I have "aged" (apparently white wine vinegar and salt react more quickly and thoroughly with copper than any other types I have used). I found myself looking for other copper things to patina with it!

Tulip and Butterfly Brass Portrait Pendant on Brass Chain Necklace

This necklace is a work in progress... maybe!  The cute brass pendant was ornate enough in itself that I just chose to put it on a simple yet structured figure-eight brass chain and add the single matching pear-shaped bead (with accompanying tiny brass nut for good steampunk measure!)  I also aged the portrait in the center with some ink to give it a  less new appearance.  If I find the right pieces to add on, I may do so. (I did try several things but none really "fit".)

Of course, these pieces are all for sale in my ArtFire studio. If interested, do click on the links below the photos to go directly to the items.

Twirl About Madly! Copper Spiral with Dangling Brass Watch Gear Steampunk Earrings

Copper Spiral and Brass Gear Earrings

     A kind customer once wrote that they liked my style because I made pieces that went beyond the "Gears! SQUEE!"  sentiment of most steampunk jewelry.  While I definitely do lapse into an odd state of bliss when I see exquisite watch parts, I do try to go beyond the usual when it comes to designing my pieces.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
     I think these work.  I made and sold (!) a similar pair years ago, and I wanted to perfect the techniques involved and even improve on the effect; the main difference is that the previous spiral earrings were not given a verdigris finish.  I happen to love how these turned out! They are the same length, despite the difference in the photograph; I wanted them to dangle as I took it, and I used the only decorative straight-ish thing I had as the hanger!
     Of course, these DreamSteam original design earrings are for sale on ArtFire.  I hope someone likes these enough to give them a home.  (They even come in a pretty red organza ribbon drawstring gift bag!)  These have now sold. (Thank you!) 

Edit 11/10:  Here is a new pair of copper spiral earrings for sale on ArtFire. I kept the design is similar, but added even more gears and more beautiful green verdigris finish!

Since I like these a lot, I will try to keep some earrings of this style in my shop at all times, so if these sell and you do not see more, do check in at my shop soon and/or leave me a note that you would like a pair.  Thanks for looking!

The Wing's the Thing

The Wing's the Thing-- Gears and Wings Steampunk Earrings

     From my collection, may I now present:  my new wing and wing-related jewelry!

   
     When I see feathers and wings or winged creatures, it reminds me to think of the possible.  Birds never doubt their ability to stretch their wings and fly, and neither should we! (Metaphorically, of course.)  To me, that is what steampunk is about, as well. 

The earrings pictured above include detailed antiqued silver wings and silver pocket watch flywheel gears.

Nom de Plume - Silver Feather and Glass Bead Necklace

     I enjoy working with the wing and feathers because as symbols of freedom, they are beautiful and can inspire uplifting feelings of hope.

Special Delivery -- Brass Birds, Pearls, and Bows Earrings

     I added something to these earrings; they now have radiant, quality glass pearls nestled amongst their warm brass bird and bow components.  I think they are even more beautiful this way!

     Hope you have enjoyed viewing my latest creations, and that someone likes these pieces enough to give them a new home.  They are all for sale here, among many other one-of-a-kind pieces of steampunk jewelry: DreamSteam's ArtFire Studio .   Thanks for reading!

Pearl and Hematite Bead Noir Dangle Earrings

The cold and dreary winter weather has brought me to a place where nuances of noir appeal to me.  Hence, I created these earrings to reflect that notion.

The ear wires are pure Sterling silver, and the pearls are high-quality glass faux pearls.  Round, lustrous hematite beads accent the warmth of the pearls, which balance out the darkness of the whole.

I love these and will probably make myself a pair in addition to this pair, which is for sale in my ArtFire studio.

~DS

Stocking Stuffers! Brass and Pearl, Crystal and Gears Steampunk Earrings - Crystal Charm & Mechanical Mata Hari

I was industrious this evening and created a couple of pairs of earrings to post on ArtFire for sale.  The first pair sprang from some pretty dichroic red glass beads and some clear(ish) crackled-glass beads with silver bead caps that I found at the art store last week.  The second pair had been lying on my worktable, unfinished, for a while; the seed pearls I found added the final touch I thought it had been missing (it is VERY difficult to work hardware nuts into a pair of earrings, trust me!).

In a departure from my usual M.O., there are *gasp!* no gears on the second pair! 

I hope someone likes one or both pairs enough to give them homes this holiday season.

You may find them in my ArtFire shop.

~ DS