Broken Eyelash Dream, A Royal Steampunk Wedding Fashion Collection!

Few people know how much of a wedding geek I can be but I'm finally ready to admit it--I nerd out over weddings, well handmade weddings mostly.  I love the attention to detail and most importantly the attention to the happy couple's story. It's no surprise that I've been asked to be a maid of honor (twice now!), and a bridesmaid (I won't admit how many times but I might give Katherine Heigel's character in 27 Dresses a run for her money). When Marry Me Indie approached me about putting together a collection for their indie, handmade wedding show I was certainly up for the challenge (and I certainly wanted the chance to upcycle all of those bridesmaids' dresses hanging in the back of my closet). I transformed each dress into a simply steampunk creation--both tasteful and elegant. I can't wait to share how I did it in a few DIYs to come later this month (so stay tuned)!

I had so much fun transforming each of the dresses, thrifting for vintage tuxes, and the piece de resistance came from my mom who found (at an estate) the most exquisite wedding dress I have ever seen. It is an off-the-shoulder dress made of gauzy white handmade lace with a long flowing train. It was sold with white ballet shoes (still with a penny for good luck taped into the inner sole)!

Accessorizing was easy--I was inspired by vintage rhinestone pieces, gleaming brass gears, and these embroidered Royal crests & patches. I had so much fun ruffling through antique photographs of Victorian weddings and ogling all of the dresses, floral arrangements & nosegays.

When June 1st finally arrived I could hardly contain my excitement! Everything had fallen into place  and sure there were a couple of hiccups but the show was a complete success (much like a wedding day I expect). I couldn't have done it without the encouragement of Christine & Renee; the help of all of my wonderful models--Melissa, Joe, Michael, Karen, Caroline, Ryan, Mitch, and especially Alicia (who was such a hauntingly beautiful bride--she looked as if she had stepped out of a shroud of ghostly invisibility to corporeal form to remind us of a bygone era); the help of Sherri, who filmed the fashion show for me; and last, but not least, my collaborator and co-designer, my mom (The Salvage Steamstress).

So for those of you who couldn't make it--here's a video of the show. Hope you enjoy it!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxc_DW1VsJg]

And a Silver Sixpence in my Shoe!

Hi everyone! It's the big day! Marry Me Indie is today and I can't wait for our big fashion show of men's & women's jewelry & accessories for a Royal Steampunk Wedding! I'll be taping & photographing the fashion show--which starts at 3:00pm! Come by and see me before then at my booth! For more info on Marry Me Indie, see their lovely poster below! And in case you were wondering about the title of this post--I recently learned something that I thought I'd share with you. The familiar bridal saying--Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue--has just one more line--And a Silver Sixpence in my Shoe! The vintage hand sewn lace bridal gown that I am sending down the runway is American made and when my mom & I happened upon it at an estate sale it came complete with white ballet slippers to match the gown's delicate elegance--and what did I find taped inside the sole but a penny! So for us in the states the saying & superstition is not complete without a brand new shiny penny! See you at Marry Me Indie! xo Sam

My Booth at Springfest

I set up at Springfest this year--thank you to everyone who came out--and got the chance to show off my new displays. (The DIYs of which you can find here, and here, and also here). I am incredibly proud of my booth display as I put a lot of thought behind it. So whenever someone gets excited about it too or oohs and ahs over it I feel a sense of accomplishment at having successfully transported them (even if only for a moment).

The light from the window created a soft Spring glow and it shone brilliantly on the metals of my table.

This inkwell, which I purchased from one of my favorite antique & junk shops in Tulsa--Delman's on 15th street--is always a conversation starter. Shoe horns are among my favorite display objects because they are great for draping & showing off tiny, dainty, and intricate pieces.Among my display pieces are a number of tools--like my old drill, jeweler's anvil, wrench, and blade sharpener. Many men (and tough tomboys & tinker-type ladies too) who might normally pass by a jewelry booth without giving it a second glance--stop by.

I have a lot of fun setting up my booth because I know that throughout the whole show I will meet tons of new people (as well as see  familiar, friendly faces) and stories will be exchanged sparked by the various objects in my booth.

For those of you who have your own crafty business and are looking for more information & inspiration on how to create booth displays & how to set up for a show--check out my friend Jill's (of Favoring Brave) new website: CraftFairology! I'll be guest posting one of these days I hope!

Dark Carnivale~Bohemian Romance & The Salvage Steamstress Fashion Show

Saturday, Sept. 29th, at Indie Emporium, was my very first fashion show! I styled the models myself and created unique jewelry pieces to compliment my mom's, the Salvage Steamstress, fantastical hats! We had a blast! I can certainly say that out of all the models & designers waiting backstage--we had to most fun! Playing with our props, tipping our hats to one another and just generally being goofy. This sense of playfulness carried over into the show (for which I am very glad). For those of you who missed it, here are a few photos that were taken n the runway!

Here is Caroline wearing the Lady Hawke Top Hat, gearrings, and LadyIron Gear Necklace. At the end of the runway, Caroline activated her prop--a beaded skeleton parasol.

Confidently, Caroline walked back up the runway, tipping her hat to Renee.

Renee modeled the Auntie Mame Bowler, gearrings, and the Amalia Popper Opera Necklace (for which I won honorable mention in Bead Magazine's steampunk contest).

At the end of the runway, Renee activated her prop--a fan which she opened with a swift flick of her wrist!

Next came Holly wearing a Steampunk Scottish Beret, gearrings, the No. 117 Steampunk bow tie, an electrical fuse bracelet, and the Seaside Girls Steampunk necklace (made for LiberateUlysses's Bloomsday Art Project in 2012).

At the end of the runway, Holly activated her prop--a gun (an vintage paper popper).

Doffing his tophat to Holly, Thom sauntered up the runway wearing the Tick Tock Top Hat, Imperial Steampunk medal (necklace), Steampunk General's medallion (pinned right), and Skeleton Key Kilt Pin (pinned left).

At the end of the runway, posing like the gentlemen he is--Thom paused and checked the time on his steam train pocket watch while leaning on his cane.

As Frenchy and the Punk's gypsy tune, "Dark Carnivale," played on, our next model, Kathleen wearing the Puttin' On the Ritz Steampunk Bowler, gearrings, gold gear cuff, spiral skeleton key cuff, and typewriter key necklace ripped flowers from her lace bodice and threw them out into the audience. Kathleen saved a bunch of violets for Melissa--our final model.

Melissa wore Frankly Scarlett Steampunk Top Hat, gearrings and a spiral cog necklace. Her prop, a riding crop, was activated all down the runway! The cattle call was so much fun--it was surreal being up there with my mom with everyone clapping. To see so many smiles, I knew we had pulled it off and transported them somewhere magical.

Thank You

First and foremost to my mom, for inspiring this collection of jewelry and for creating such beautiful hats. You keep challenging me & I am so grateful that you do! Second, thanks to Christine Crowe for insisting that I do the fashion show in the first place. Without that push, I would never have dreamed of doing this! Third, my wonderful models--Caroline, Renee, Holly, Thom, Kathleen, and Melissa! You were so wonderful and I couldn't have done it without you! To the volunteers at Indie Emporium who organized the music & helped us with a run-through. And last but not least, to Val Esparza for all of your help & support!

Here's a little of our behind the scenes madness/goofiness!

By the way--did I mention that Juliette Lewis loved Holly's outfit?!! She didn't stay for the show but she did snap a photo of Holly with her phone! Gleep! So freakin' cool! An outfit I styled is on Juliette Lewis's phone!

A Sneak Peek at Bohemian Romance's Fashion Show at Indie Emporium on Saturday

I'll be doing my first fashion show this Saturday at Indie Emporium! The collection is called Dark Carnivale and is a collaboration between me and my mom, Cindy. Cindy created fantastical steampunk hats and I created pieces to accompany them. Here is a little preview of what you'll see on Saturday at the show!

My mom calls this hat--Puttin' on the Ritz! The collage of vintage rhinestone pins are accented by a salvaged tie, refashioned around the brim of the bowler hat. At the back, a tiny red feather gives just a pop of color. Just one more sneak peek--got to save something for the show right? This gray top hat is festooned with black feathers the spiral and cascade back down toward the brim. A fancy embroidered ribbon hugs the base of the top hat and accompanies the focal point of this piece--a cameo which has been beaded around to highlight its startling silver tone with pearl, gray, and crystal beads.

You can see the other creations we have in store for you on Saturday. Hope to see you there, 8:00 pm sharp!

Steampunk Temporary Tattoos

The Indie Emporium grab bags are going to be EPIC this year! Tee shirts from Darby & Dash, buttons galore, mini prints, coupons for money off your purchases at the show, and....(drumroll please) Steampunk Temporary Tattoos! I designed these 2 tattoos myself. One is a sketch of the Diving Bell Helmet that I have in my booth display and the other is the silhouette I use as my logo--the lovely Lady Gears! I couldn't have done this without Buttonhead on Etsy. Check out her shop, she makes buttons & custom tattoos. Grab bags go to the first 50 people so get there early! Can't wait to see you all at the show!

The Pocket Watch Bow Tie

I am bursting with pride right now--I have made what I consider one of my best creations--The Pocket Watch Bow Tie. Even though my fingers are riddled with pinpricks and sore from fiddling with metal for the majority of today; and even though my back and neck feel as if they will remain craned over horizontal surfaces forever & never straighten out again...I am so unbelievably happy.

It's moments like these that I am grateful for the people in my life that helped me develop my imagination (seriously,  thanks Mom & Grams). I love what I do and I love what I make--which is often why it is so hard to sell certain pieces. This one has a a little bit of my soul in it, a whole lotta love & whimsy, and a touch of what makes great art--joy.

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday. Drop by my booth at Indie Emporium this Friday and Saturday (and remember the fashion show is on Saturday @ 8pm, get there early)--there's a ton of new jewelry and accessories--esp. for you gents.

Well, I am heading to bed where I will certainly be dreaming up more fantastical creations!

Gearing Up for Indie Emporium!

Indie Emporium is 10 days away and I am so excited for it this year! In addition to having a booth at the show, I am showcasing some of my more hardcore Steampunk jewelry pieces alongside my mom's fantastical Steampunk top hats, berets, & bowlers!  It is not an event to miss! (The fashion show takes place on Sat. Sept. 29th at 8:00pm--space fills up quickly so get there early). I've been working like a mad scientist in his lab so much lately that I have neglected my blog a bit. So here are some things I've been cooking up--Gearrings Galore!

I've made so many earrings I will not even be able to put them all out at the same time! Unless I get extra creative with my display (which may just happen in 10 days). I've been on a button-kick lately. Pearl buttons lend a daintiness and femininity to harsh metals--one of the reasons I use them so often in my jewelry. A main staple of my gearrings are clothing snaps--you can see them in the earrings in the above collage on the left. My favorite pair I've recently made is pictured on the left (in the middle). A new development is my use of black buttons which I think add just a touch a dark romance.I've been asked to make more cameo necklaces and here are 2 of the latest! I've nestled them in pocket watches and paired each cameo with a background of book print. Gents, now don't go thinking that I forgot about you--I have some extra special men's Steampunk pieces this year. I have a line of Steampunked bow ties. And of course, man-bling like necklaces, leather cuffs, and jacket pins. There will also be a male model in the fashion show--donning a top hat, pocket watch, cuff, and steampunk medal (pictured below).And I'll also have something for you explorers and adventurers--compasses!

Phew! Well, back to my cluttered workshop table. Hope to see you at Indie Emporium and I really hope you come by for the fashion show!

Bohemian Romance Model Casting Call

Bohemian Romance Model Casting Call!

Who I am Looking For:

Looking for 5 female models aged 20 and up, of various body types and builds. I would like to have some diversity with models and represent a range of healthy body types and ages in the show if possible. My only prerequisite is that all models must have pierced ears.

Please provide 2 photos (one of your lovely face & one that includes you from head to toe), and your name to the following email address: bohemianromancejewelrycasting@gmail.com

More about Me & the Event:

Bohemian Romance will be in this year’s Indie Emporium Fashion Show! Indie Emporium is in its 6^th year and offers plenty of exposure & opportunities for artists. The fashion show takes place at Living Arts on Saturday, September 29^th at 8:00 pm. Models must arrive at 4:00 pm that day for hair & makeup.

Products to be Modeled:

You will be modeling Steampunk accessories (mainly hats and jewelry). Most of you who read this blog are familiar with Steampunk but for those of you who were referred here—it is “Jane Austen meets Mad Max,” or in simpler terms it is a subculture that fuses science fiction & fantasy with Victorian culture, sensibility, and steam technology. Think clock gears, corsets, goggles, and ray guns and you’re halfway there.

What You’ll Get from Me:

Unfortunately I cannot pay for models but each will receive a free ticket to Indie Emporium, digital photography of themselves for their portfolio, exposure & networking with other designers, and a steampunk jewelry set that I will custom design for each individual model.

Again, those interested please email me, Sam, at bohemianromancejewelrycasting@gmail.com Thanks!

RAW; Tulsa Solstice's Interview with Bohemian Romance

For RAW;Tulsa's launch event, Solstice, here in Tulsa, Oklahoma artists came together for an amazing showcase, fashion show, & art viewing. I was happy to be a part of this event & wanted to share with you all the interview of that night. For those of you with YouTube accounts, please be kind with your comments. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0RGvjS25LA&feature=relmfu]

Steampunk Grandfather Clock

I had purchased a broken grandfather clock at a thrift store 2 months ago in the hope of making a display piece out of it. As a rule, I never upcycle anything that can be restored. This clock was in a sad state when I happened upon it--the wood panel in the back was entirely overtaken by mold & wood rot. Luckily, the majority of the clock was in tact. Though it is still a work-in-progress (I hope to fashion it with wheels & a working clock mechanism), the exterior is finally done! Here it is in its various stages. I used clock plates, bicycle gears, chain, metal erector set pieces, a clock spring, an old whisk, and lots of screws & nails.

Want to DIY?, here are a few tips! To make your own steampunk grandfather clock (out of an already broken one), you will need the following hardware: screws (of various sizes, fitting your collected pieces), chain & jump rings, metal brackets (for heavier pieces, like the bicycle gear pictured above), Gorilla brand wood glue, nails (for extra support at the base of your grandfather clock), and metal connector pieces (like the metal erector set pieces that I used--which are a rare find; however, at Lowes Home Improvement you can purchase similar metal pieces in their hardware section categorized under hardware designated for "Science Projects."). The tools I used are fairly common: hammers (one large & one small), an awl (for making starter holes for screws & nails), pliers (for opening jump rings & chain links), and screwdrivers (of various sizes depending on the type of screws that fit into your collected pieces).

After you have gutted your clock, I recommend cleaning it thoroughly before beginning to steampunk it. Murphy's oil is great for wood, soap & water, a wood-friendly scrub brush, & (if you are dealing with mold) rubber gloves & a protective mask. Once you have collected pieces that you would like to affix to your clock, I suggest laying everything out before beginning to screw & nail it in or sketching it out beforehand.

As a display, at RAW; Tulsa's Solstice event, it had the desired effect of drawing a lot of attention & foot traffic. In the home & at an event like this one, it certainly is a conversation piece.

Thank Yous Galore, I must take this moment to thank a fellow Make;Tulsan and graphic designer extraordinaire, Michael Chaplin, for helping me transport the grandfather clock to the show & back home again. Sadly, I was not able to affix the clock with teleportation capabilities (sigh, if only). Thanks to RAW; Tulsa for the opportunity to showcase my work, have professional photographs taken, & video--everyone was so nice & I had such an amazing night; Thanks to 33forty & their wonderful staff who helped me with lighting & moving furniture & last but not least, to all of you who came!

Gearing Up for Solstice!

I am so excited for Solstice! It's just a week away! Purchase your ticket before June 18th online. Make sure to select "Bohemian Romance"! Here are a few things I've made especially for the show. Hope to see you there!

Gearrings Galore! Made with clock gears & cogs, washers, crystals, metal cameos, and clothing hooks!

Oodles & oodles of new earrings! But I've made some new necklaces too. Here is a sneak peek.

Solstice, a RAW; Artist Event

RAW; natural born artists is an organization that helps promote indie artists on both a local and national level. Tulsa is proud to be among RAW’s 65 locations in the U.S. and to be considered a trove of artistic talent. I am thrilled to have been selected to be a part of RAW’s launch event, Solstice. Solstice will be an evening of art, live music, & fashion. Tickets are $10.00 ($15.00 at the door). So join me in supporting local artists (for whom you can show your support by purchasing your ticket in their name.To support Bohemian Romance, click here.)

I hope you’ll join me, June 21st from 8:00 pm to Midnight at 33forty on Brookside for Solstice! I also hope that the Tulsa community will show continued support for RAW and its mission–to promote indie artists & help them achieve wider recognition.

Reflection, my Kind of Time Travel

Thank you to everyone who came out to support me at Blue Dome Arts Festival 2012! It was both affirming and wonderful to see so many people wearing jewelry that I made when they stopped by my little booth. Someone asked me this year why I was at Blue Dome and not Mayfest--a question I happily answered. I would like to share that answer with all of you. Blue Dome gave me a chance. In 2010, I applied to Mayfest and was respectfully rejected (and I would like to add, given valuable feedback on my application which I then used for later shows). But it was Blue Dome that offered me the opportunity to display my work for the first time. It was at that show that I realized that my Steampunk pieces were the ones that people enjoyed the most. Afterwhich I moved away from traditional beading and poured all of my energy into making only those pieces.

I met incredible people who told me about other shows, like Alliday Everyday & Indie Emporium that would later lead to other successes (becoming a member of Make:Tulsa and being carried in stores, the first shop of which was & is Dwelling Spaces). I consider myself very lucky because I met such kindred, crafty spirits who genuinely wished me success & helped me grow as an artist.

Though I cringe to show you what my booth looked like in 2010, here it is:

I cringe a little when I look at this picture but I'm proud too, because I have grown immensely. I moved away from general jewelry-making and indulged heartily in my love of Steampunk. Now, my booth reflects what I make:

The tie-dye is gone, the tomato plant has retired, and I finally have a sign! Now I am complimented often on (and offered twice as often as I'm complimented to buy) my display pieces. Old projector lightbulbs, antique books, printer drawers, vintage scale & weights, turn-of-the-century eyeglasses, ink well, diving bell helmet model, & old tools....

So I want to say Thank You Blue Dome for believing in me and giving young artists a fighting chance. Happy Tuesday everyone!

See you at Blue Dome!

Stop by my booth this weekend at the Blue Dome Arts Festival in Downtown Tulsa's Blue Dome District & accessorize yourself for summer! The festival will be Friday (May 18th) & Saturday (May 19th) from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday (May 20th) from 11 am to 5 pm! There will be food, tons of vendors selling amazing local art and handmade things, belly dancers, art cars, live music...I am getting so excited just typing! Here are a few new jewelry pieces you'll see at Blue Dome!

Simply Steampunk Necklaces

Convertible Pin & Necklace Rose Cameo

Spring & Gear Necklace

Steampunk Gold for Steampunk Royalty!

Pieces made with metal erector set parts

Hope to see you at Blue Dome!

See you at Dustbowl this Saturday!

Hope to see you there!

Living Arts Champagne & Chocolate Gala & Things Galore...

Hello everyone, I have been a bit M.I.A. on my blog lately. I've been busy trying to get everything together for a string holiday events. The first of which is Living Arts' Champagne & Chocolate Gala (Saturday, Nov. 19th from 7:00-10:00 pm). The event will include a silent auction where you can bid on two Bohemian Romance items: 1) a pair of Tick-Tock-Timepiece Earrings and 2) A earring & bracelet set made with pearl buttons, washers, and gunmetal chain! Both auction items come with a plum gift box and Steampunk holiday gift tag! Good luck to any bidders! I have also been working on a display for an Indie Emporium pop-up shop where you can find Bohemian Romance items for the holiday season! I love the holidays, mostly because I love giving gifts and this year I decided to include a small gift to anyone who purchases one of my items from the pop-up shop or on my Etsy shop--a Steampunk holiday gift tag! There are 3 choices: a gear evergreen Christmas tree, berry red gear scrolling holly & ivy, and a glittering gold light bulb invention! (All of which, are made with fantastic rubber stamps I purchased on 1-2-3 Stitch's website).

Also for the pop-up shop I made a giveaway D.I.Y. which I will post on my blog later this month on how to make your own holiday gift tags using salvaged or upcylced materials! I am super excited. Here's a preview of one of my gift tag creations with instructions!

Well, next week will not be any less busy--my brother is getting married & my mom and I are getting together to make the bridesmaids' jewelry and design the floral arrangements! I'll be sure & sneak a few minutes to post some picture

Stop by B.A. Zaar at the Broken Arrow Farmers Market

I am so excited for B.A. Zaar tomorrow. Stop by and see me and start your holiday shopping early!

Where? The Broken Arrow Farmers Market, 418 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012

When? Tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 22nd from  8:00 am till 6:00 pm

Who'll be there? Why me of course! And a number of my make:Tulsa artists, Plume Perfume, Hollyrocks, Somer Knits, & Tweet Baby Designs!

I created a new collection, Steamstresses and Sky Captains, for this show. Drop by and check it out.

Upcoming Show: B.A. Zaar Oct. 22nd

Hello everyone, if you missed me at Indie Emporium or Art on Main you can come by & see me this Saturday at a new craft show in Broken Arrow, B.A. Zaar. I've made a ton of new earrings and a few new necklaces! Event Details are listed below:

Location: Broken Arrow Farmers Market, 418 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012

Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Free & Open to the Public

Hope to see you there!

Thanks Indie Emporium!

What a wonderful weekend! Music, fashion, crafters going toe-to-toe in challenges, and D.I.Y. work stations! My favorite part of the show is hearing stories from everyone when they come across something in my display or jewelry that reminds them of a memory. Sometimes I am lucky enough, and they share them with me. I heard stories about a grandmother's button box (that was raided frequently as pirate treasure), a father's electrical fuses (that were studied with wonder), and some who could recall days when subway tokens were used instead of disposable electronic tickets.

Now, I have a memory I would like to share with all of you. A girl and her mom were perusing my jewelry and came across my giant skeleton key. The young girl exclaimed, "Wow. That's a big key."

I replied, "Imagine the door that that key opened. It'd have to be a very big door. I wonder what's behind it." Before I blinked, she replied:

"An ice cave." She explained that the ice cave was very cold and we needed to wear coats and boots. The cave was also guarded by monsters. These monsters had 20-100 (twenty hundred) arms and heads, seventy eyes, and luckily for us they were ticklish. We snuck past them and used they key to open the door. Once the door was open we had to do a special dance to gain access. The young girl pirouetted and leaped. We were in the cave!

Intrigued to know more I asked her, "What's in this ice cave?"

"A bubble robot."

"Wow, a bubble robot! What is the robot guarding?"

The young girl quipped, "A treasure chest. We need to find another key to open it." She looked on my table and found one (I have tons of key necklaces!). Here it is!" We used the key to open the treasure chest (which opened with a creak) and inside found a rare treasure--a bubble blowing flower!

What an adventure and what an imagination!Congratulations to Jessica Hanback, the winner of a $40 gift certificate!

       

Thanks to everyone for coming out to see me at Indie Emporium. I'll be at Art on Main in Jenks, OK in front of Miss Isabelle's antique shop on Saturday, October 8 from 10 am to 5 pm!