A Very Steampunk Christmas

It's been a while since I've posted, and I've missed writing (but I do get to do plenty of that at my new job at Tulsa World where I am now feeling quite at home). Although we're well into the New Year, I thought I'd still tell you about this Christmas. It was very Steampunk indeed! My mom sewed me an exquisite Steampunk quilt. I love each of the blocks--the Victorian ladies are part human, part sewing machine & dress form, and sewing notions are strewn about their hair. It's a quirky quilt that reminds me of both my mom (who first introduced me to steampunk and jewelry making) and of my grams (who taught me how to sew & quilt). Each of the blocks is interesting and fun with bright bursts of color. What I also love is that each piece of fabric has a subtle background with quotations about sewing & quilting or just the act of creating things.

This is my favorite block. It sums up the feeling of being in my gram's kitchen at the table, everyone tinkering, sewing, baking, and filling the room with our imaginations, laughter, and conversation. We truly are knit together in love--a love of each other & a love of making things.

My Uncle John (who I lovingly call Uncle Crab) found a neat pair of old goggles for me to steampunk. He is one of my best scavengers of junk. He and the rest of my family send me care packages of flea market treasures. I love getting my "snit supplies" (Snit is his nickname for me).

A tradition of my mom's is to get my brother, Caleb, and I a new calendar every year as one of our presents. A practical gift, but one I look forward to getting every year. My mom always finds us calendars with art or styles we like. She outdid herself this year! I absolutely flipped when I unwrapped mine.

The calendar is titled "Things Come Apart" by photographer, Todd McLellan. Each month is a different object--broken apart and photographed to show its various components. Some were more complex than I had guessed--like a Swiss Army knife! What I love about repurposing old objects is taking them apart, and often I am surprised at the inner mechanics and the sheer amount of pieces. 

My favorite present was given to me by my future mother-in-law. Lory gave me her mother's periwinkle rhinestone choker. Jewelry that's passed down is precious. It's heritage, and I was so deeply moved by her gift. Rhinestones are a love of mine to begin with--when I was a little girl my mom gave me her rhinestone bracelet--it was broken and missing a few of the stones--but I felt like a queen whenever I wore it. It still has the same effect as it did then. I still have that bracelet, and to this day I prefer rhinestones over diamonds.

I won't be a stranger; I have been busy in the studio and wedding planning is well underway. More about that next week!

A Lazy Day in my Steampunk Studio

First off, I would like to say thanks for reading my blog! I've noticed that there are a number of you reading in other parts of the world--so hi to my neighbors in Canada, Bonjour France, Cheerio England, How are things Australia? Ciao Italy, Hei Finland, Guten Tag Germany, and Cześć Poland! It's a lazy day here in my little steampunk studio. I received a care package of flea market treasures from my family yesterday and today I have set down to research some of the oddities they sent.

Pictured below is a tiny toy bust of a woman, an early 19th century Fireman's medal (marked Station no. 2), and transistors (which are so breathtakingly intricate & add pops of color to the monotone metal that they are a frequent staple in my jewelry).

Among the many neat bits & bobs sent were 2 medals. The first is for Second Prize in the All Round Contest of the Outing Club, located in Hartford, Connecticut. It was issued and engraved with the year, 1891. The Outing Club was one of many gentleman's clubs in America. Men would gather for excursions outdoors, namely hiking, fishing, hunting, and swimming. On the back of the pin the name of the medal-maker is imprinted: a Mr. John Harriott of Boston, Massachusetts (located at 3 Winter Street). Mr. Harriott was a silversmith, enameler,  engraver and jeweler who even made 2 medals for J.P. Morgan's son, Evan on behalf of the Loon Lake Historical Society.

The other medal, made to mark someone's membership to the Woodstock Council No. 147, was made by The M.C. Lilley & Co. who operated out of Columbus, Ohio. According to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, M.C. Lilley & Co. was "[f]ounded in the mid-1860s, the M. C. Lilley Company was world renowned as manufacturers of regalia." They made a number of items: swords, flags, emblems, uniforms, and of course, medals. Among their many customers were the Freemasons, Knights of Pythias, West Point & Annapolis, and a number of fraternities. The company was founded by 4 veterans of the Civil War: Mitchell Campbell Lilley, John Siebert, and Charles & Henry Lindenberg.

The greatest surprise of all was the 9 tintype photos that I found wrapped up in a piece of crinkly tissue paper. I have no clues as to who these souls were, where they came from (except to hazard a guess that  they were from Connecticut or New York), or what their names were. I love old photographs just the same--despite their endless mystery.

Last but certainly not least, out of this marvelous box I pulled out a pair of children's goggles. My favorite part of these goggles is that they were marked by the little adventurer--Billy--who wrote his name on one of the flaps. These motorcycle/automobile goggles were made in France, marked on the metal rim as "L'express Brevet L.C.B.F. 433606."

I am lucky that I have such a supportive family--who are also avid flea marketers & junk-lovers themselves! Who are your partners in crime when it comes to thrifting, flea markets, & antiquing?

Thanks Stranger!

Thanks to the stranger (a Dwelling Spaces shopper) who gifted me two wrist watches. You brought a smile to my face and truly touched my heart. I am not able to thank you in person so I hope  this will do. Thank You. Thanks to you, and many others who have found me at shows and dropped off bags of broken watches & wayward bits-n-bobs. I have been shown such kindness & support as an artist and it keeps me going. New from my little Steampunk Workshop:

Monocle-Goggles for the Traveling-Reader among you!

Steampunk Countess's Emerald Monocle-Pin.

To fashion to your evening gown or vest, and the monocle unhooked when needed.

I've been on a bit of a monocle kick lately, more inventions are in the works. Of course that does mean I will have to put down Dead Iron at some point...very difficult to do. I recommend it highly though I am still mid-way through its pages.