shanesemler

Last night was the Curious Collectors of Baker Street's annual Gasfitter's Ball, and the theme this year was steampunk! I've been going to this event for years and years, and I have to say that for this go-round people really pulled out the stops! As usual, the hubby and I had a marvelous time, although next time I wear this get-up I'm going to throw on the corset in the parking lot after I get there, because being stuck in traffic whilst wearing a get-up such as this begins to get a little painful (yesterday was the Breeder's Cup at Santa Anita Racetrack, and it seriously borked the 210 Freeway).



Of course, the first order of business was to procure a bottle of champagne...

( Come inside -- the show's about to start! )

I just discovered Spoonflower, a site that allows you to design your own printed fabric custom by the yard.



In the interests of experimentation I have signed up and created a fabric for the purposes of assessing the site. A sample swatch should be here in the next two weeks, at which time I will update.

This is my experimental fabric. I created it using a public domain image from the Florida Educational Technology Clearing House. For those of you not in the know, they are an excellent source of free old style clip art, provided you are not using their images for profit.

I also changed the colours on the image using their insite editing software. No photoshopping required! They offer a number of different fabric weights, all of which are machine washable. You also can dicker around with the size and layout of the design. I've opted to print my fabric with a smaller image offset, so it'll look a little different.

The whole experiment cost me $7, though it'll come in a wee bit more than that after converting to Aussie dollars. That's including international shipping.

I see great utility in this. We have the same two clock print fabrics pop up on just about everything. The same two key fabrics. This could open the doors to a HUGE range of different looks, especially for our various groups who could conceivably use this to print off custom military patches.

They also operate a marketplace where designs can be bought and sold - Vicky will be hitting the marketplace if I like the look of the swatch! Some fabrics with potential: Bees and clocks, a lovely blue Alice border (which would make a gorgeous Loli-style jumper dress - I can see it in my mind!), creamy geometric patterns, all the math you can handle, lovely marbly swirls, wallpaper bats, silver keys, Mucha silver wallpaper prints, teal cameos.

Browsing Newport News, I found these gorgeous & steamy boots:

http://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=37543237&index=36&gp_coll_id=7516&gp_cat_id=7517&nav_cat_id=7582&category_id=7583

If they came in a color other than grey, I'd have to have them!

Today's fabric find is from the Fat Quarter Shop, a place I discovered through someone here on steamfashion.

The "Be a Man" collection featuring:


It's so rare to find fabrics with gears on them. And this one is in a color I don't mind. I wish the price were lower, but it could still be fun to play with!

Just letting every one know I have completed a few things one of which is a set of engraved silver goggles!

here is the obligatory picture



and a couple of masks, rest of this including ebay links are below the cut!
( Read more... )

hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Awhile ago I bought a large box of antique/vintage laces and trims. I have only scratched the surface of what was in there, I found a fun use: adorning velvet blazers. I get velvet blazers at the thrift stores and reline, trim and give them a new life. I posted one a while ago with keys as buttons, but I just wanted to show you more cause you asked for it. And some other goodies I have been working on
Without further ado: (and available on my etsy)

www.shawkstitches.etsy.com
( More steamy goodness )

Just thought I'd pop in and introduce myself, I'm Lady V from Lady V Designs. I am a multidisciplinary artist creating organic influenced abstract, contemporary landscape, expressionistic surrealistic portraits, photography, assemblage, jewellery and handmade art cards.

I sell my jewellery exclusively at Art of Adornment and most of my jewellery is limited edition or one-of-a-kind accessories made from rare, unusual and exquisite components. Art of Adornment carries unique pieces from independent artist that are historically-inspired, focusing on vintage Victorian, romantic Renaissance, daring 1920's, Steampunk and dark modern Gothic styles.

This is one of me newest creations...


One of a kind. Layers of flowing antique bronze floral and Art Nouveau motif stampings create a stunning contrast with the charmlike brass watch cogs and matte black glass bicone beads which dangle from them. A hand-poured resin teardrop shaped cabochon containing more vintage watch parts acts as a focal point in the center. A 1 inch (2.5cm) antique brass locking bar pin is mounted on the back. (Description & photography by E.Foster from Art of Adornment)

Dimensions: 2 3/4" x 3 3/8" (7x8.5cm) including dangles

If your local Target still has some Halloween stock left, you can grab a pair of these pleather Darth Vader gauntlets for $0.79 (originally $7.99). I think they'd make nice driving/aviator gloves.

I'd gotten this image from the photo salon at SteamCon:



They offered a choice of color or sepia tone, but didn't have the capability of showing you what the image would look like in sepia. I opted for the color version and decided I'd play with it myself later.

( Here's what I did )

But that wasn't what I really wanted. I wanted what looked like an old daguerrotype. Luckily I have a friend with mad Photoshop skills. I forwarded her the image, and this is what she came up with:

( Read more... )

She's got examples of the kinds of work she can do posted to her journal here.

Hello all fine steampunkers of the world wide web,

hope everyone is doing wonderfully well

So my first Boston Convention is coming up, and it just so happens to be a sci-fi / anime con, with some steampunk panels, and what a better reason then to dress up all nice and steamy!?

so i have been mentally designing an outfit for it, thats my design process xD in my head, to paper, to REALITY :0

xD so here is one of my sketchs,

( Pics! :3 )

This Halloween, I managed to wrangle a few others into dressing ( a little more steamy )

We need more steampunk aficionados in NOLA. If you're here, speak up!

(x-posted to steampunk_plus)

After a long, long stuggle, my CC High Tea Blouse arrived! (Not living in America but ordering from there comes with a lot of hassle.)
Thus I present you my long-awaited Steampunk Daily Basis Outfit!
( Click for pics! )

So, it's a little later in era than steampunk and closer to diesel punk, but...
Cirque Mechanics is coming to Northern New England!
Capital Center for the Performing Arts, Concord, NH

Think circus acrobatics set into a mechanical factory. Era for costumes is "1940s", but much of the factory worker outfits are time-neutral!
Thursday, Nov 12 @ 7:30.
Tickets start at $12.50 and go up to $75.00 each.
http://ccanh.com/ShowDetails/31/426

It's time to clear out some inventory to make way for new goodies...my creative mood is back!

The Julian - Midsize Tophat With Working Clock



( Other Items On Sale )

So many more items on sale in our Etsy Shop!
.

The amazing milliner Kim of TOPSY TURVY DESIGN just released images of a new hat she designed for the Dances of Vice Festival silent auction, and it's just so sublime I wanted to share this incredible piece with you! It is Topsy Turvy Design's Leather Seafaring Tricorn with Steampunk Details. The festival silent auction also features a number of other steampunk pieces from our sponsors ARANWEN'S JEWELRY, ELECTRA DESIGNS, HEY SAILOR! HATS and many more.

The third annual Dances of Vice Festival is coming up in just two weeks in New York City! This year the festival is being held in a nautical seafaring theme, featuring all manner of chimerical amusements, from a luxury cruise to historical fencing demonstrations, Baroque opera and ballroom dancing. The theme is perfect for the adventurous steampunk, and I hope some of you will be able to join us! This year's headlining band is The Hellblinki Sextet, performing with Ragwater Revue (featuring guest musicians Brian Viglione and Ben Ickies).



For more info about the festival, visit www.dancesofvice.com.

( DOVF III Flyer )

In my last offering here it was mentioned that i should have cogs and gears on my iPhone wallets.




So here they are, 3 different iPhone Wallets






thanks for looking!
S23

I'll be vending this event. Additionally, the model (Glam Amour) will be wearing a couple items of my making and one of the performers (Zamra) will be wearing an entire outfit designed by myself and my wonderful partner Luscious Eve.

I discovered Steampunk fairly recently, but it feels like something I've been looking for for a long time. I just wanted to post my Halloween pics (since that's is one of my favorite parts of this blog; all the pictures of peoples outfits). There are just two, and I blocked my face ONLY because I am not photogenic, and they were just...bad.

( Pics )

Here's my album from All Hallow's Eve at TRF.  It's punk'centric w/a few miscellaneous shots of friends, Alices & the garden - but as usual, none of me *pout*:

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z290/wattsupdoc/Steampunk%2010%2031%2009/