A Little Bit of Brass! Butterfly Key Clock Necklace and Victorian Brass Stamping Earrings

Brass Butterfly & Key Necklace

Two new whinsical pieces of steampunk-inspired jewelry now reside in my Artfire shop! Click on the links mbelow the photos to go to the studio and read more about them.

The first is a one-of-a-kind necklace containing contrasting metal colors and textures; the filigree butterfly and a minature skeleton key are secured to a clock-like antiqued pendant base by solid copper wire, which will ensure durability of the piece even under the most stormy airship conditions.

Victorian Elegance

The second pairing of wondrous brass parts includes a pair of identical brass watch gears which embellish two detailed antiqued solid brass Victorian-esque stampings. A lustrous faceted hematite-colored bead tops off each earring.

As ususal, upon purchase, each item will be placed in a pretty organza draw-ribbon bag and lovingly packed for shipment to anywhere in the world.

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.

Decorating Nemo: Nautilus Squid Necklace Cabinet by 19 Moons

Atlantean Squid Necklace Cabinet by 19 Moons of the Etsy Steam Team

As usual, another great work of steampunk jewelry and art has come from a member of the Etsy Steam Team, this time, for a museum steampunk exhibit!

From 19 Moons' Facebook page:

"I am excited to be making this Ex-squidsite Nautical necklace cabinet for the upcoming Steampunk Exhibition with Jules Verne theme- here is an article featuring my piece."

The gallery will feature items that could have been on the Nautilus, Captain Nemo's wondrous submarine from the classic Jules Verne novel, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.  The novel has been heralded as one of the very first steampunk novels of all time, and certainly one of the most famous.  At the opening gala, there will also be an hour-long interactive, group video game in which participants will have to solve puzzles and complete tasks.

Though the process started in June of this year, there is still time to mark your calendars and see the "Nemos' Steampunk Art & Invention Gallery."  According to Steampuffin.com:

"WHERE: Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Interactive Entertainment Experience (located in Patriot Place’s North Lifestyle Center, Foxboro MA, adjacent to Gillette Stadium)

WHEN: Saturday, February 5, 2011 from 5:00PM to 12:00 Midnight

COST: FREE if you are wearing any Steampunk costume (prize for best ‘Nautilus or Nemo themed’ costume)"

They say that the art exhibit will be available for viewing online in November.   The pieces featured in the exhibit will be for sale for $1000 - 5000 and up, and all will be photographed and made into a book Steampunk Design and Innovations, which will be available for purchase in 2012.

And last but not least, if you would like to exhibit and sell your work at Nemo’s Steampunk Art and Invention Gallery, you may call Bruce Rosenbaum at 781-784-0250 or email bruce@modvic.com for details.

Congrats to 19 Moons on creating a beautiful steampunk work of art, and on getting some well-deserved accolades.

You Hold the Key -- Victorian Lock and Key Copper Steampunk Necklace by DreamSteam

You Hold the Key... steampunk necklace for sale

 I love this piece.  In this steampunk inspired necklace, an antiqued Victorian style copper key dangles from a draped copper chain, ready to unlock the mysteries guarded by the exquisitely detailed miniature copper lock plate above.

The total chain length is an elegant 24" long. It has a matching copper toggle and ring clasp.

There are a pair of copper beads and some iridescent red glass beads along the chain as accents.

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:

Simple yet elegant. I was inspired by a necklace recently worn by the character Claudia on "Warehoue 13." The show is no stranger to steampunk, as among other touches the keyboard in their office was created by the master computer steampunker Jake von Slatt.

It is listed for sale on both Etsy and ArtFire.  Be on the lookout for a brass version of this necklace to be posted for sale soon!

Metamorphosis: Butterfly Pocket Watch Pendant - Before and After

I often ponder how to upgrade pieces I have already created but have the potential to be more steampunk than they are.  After receiving some inspiration from, of all things, a handmade gift tag given to me, I changed the accent pieces and added some "weather" to one of my favorite pendants.  Here are the before and after pictures:

                                                  Before                                                   After

The butterfly did not actually change in color (just the lighting and photography), but I did add some brass-colored highlights in places to jazz it up a bit.  A brass finding and a six-spoked watch gear replaced the other brass watch gear and clock part at the bottom center.  I also changed the copper chain out for a bass one; it better matches the pocket watch case.

This nifty trinket was for sale in my ArtFire studio: Bronzed Filigree Butterfly Pocket Watch Pendant.  Please feel free to browse the rest of my shop as well.   (Browsers welcome, buyers adored, indeed!)  It sold on 8/10/10; I truly hope the buyer enjoys it.  This was one of my favorite pieces ever.

~ DS

Butterfly Dreams -- Three New Steampunk Necklaces For Sale on ArtFire

As the title mentions, I have just posted three new necklaces for sale in my ArtFire studio shop.  They involve butterflies, filigree, keys, locks, and beads.  Two of them are brass, one is copper, all three are pretty neat, In my opinion!

I dedicate these three necklaces to a family-in-law member who passed away last night while visiting from up north.  His death was unexpected, and of course, tragic.  May his spirit soar like the butterflies, and may ours soar with his, even now.
    You may view (and purchase!) these pretty necklaces here, or you may click on any of the above pictures to see individual items.  These pictures only show the focal point of the necklaces; some necklaces have details further up the chain that add to the piece.  There is currently a free shipping coupon available on my ArtFire site; please look for the banner to get the number and then enter it during the checkout process to receive the benefit.

All Things Steampunk, Redux

Browsing the past posts in a blog can be overwhelming.  Looking back over the wonders contained here, I found a few items that perchance warrant a little 'bump' to the top for your consideration, in case you missed them!

For Fun:

Steampunkopedia  - a guide to all things steampunk

Steampunk Name Generator - to add a bit of flair to one's alias!

the ever-popular Volkswagen VW Beetle, Victorian style


For your home:

How to 'Age' Brass

printable Victorian stencils with which to decorate elegantly

'Hard Country' Furnishings

My Jewelry still for sale on ArtFire:
(if the article links to Etsy, also look for the piece in my ArtFire shop, all are there) Please help give these unique pieces a home!

Blue Airship French Air Mail Stamp and Gears Copper Pendant

Brass Clockwork Gears Pendant and Brass Chain Necklace

Handmade Copper and Resin Soviet Airship Stamp and Tiny Gears Pendant

Rotating Clock Gear Ring with Hand-Hammered Adjustable  Brass Band

I hope that you find this voyage down memory lane useful and enjoyable!

~ DS

Necklace of the Duchess

Right before the reception, the duchess donned her favorite pearl and filigree necklace. She loved how the pendant accentuated her best features by trailing down her decollete assertively, but ever so gently....

 Another step in my journey into the world of elegant noir, this piece is my favorite of all the necklaces I have made so far. 

I listed the construction time as six hours; this may seem excessive to some, but each time I start a new piece, it takes a while to get the look I want!

I rearranged various components a few times to see where they looked the best, and tried many different colors and types of beads and pearls as well.   

Wiring the little tiny pearls and beads by hand took the lion's share of the six hours of assembly time, as I am still perfecting my beading techniques, and since every type of wire has different properties (thickness, strength, pliability, etc.), do-overs happen! 

In the end, I think this necklace is exactly what I wanted it to be, and more.  The Duchess Necklace is, of course,  for sale in my ArtFire shop.

Thank you for reading about my creative process.  ;-)

~DS

Bourbon Decanter Label Necklace

  Bourbon Bottle Marker Necklace

Ahh bourbon. The drink of kings and Saint Bernard rescue dogs of legend.

Here we have an elegant tribute in brass to this particular nectar, with a nod to the world of Steampunk for good measure.  I think that vintage bottle markers have a place in jewelry, and so I have ventured to make a necklace from a quality replica of one.

The chain itself is 24" long in circumference, and the pendant adds 5 1/2" to the total.

The beads are of clear crackle glass, which sparkles in any light to draw attention to this unique necklace, and to the wearer! 

I think this necklace is interesting, and I hope that someone else feels the same, enough to purchase it.  Cheers!   =)

~ DS

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