Gears Coffin Trinket Box

This box mixes Steampunk with Art Nouveau.

My inspiration began with the woodwork in this Art Nouveau hutch.

I spray-painted the box flat black (after covering the hardware with blue painter's tape), penciled on the details, then added metallic purple paint and finished it off with highlights in silver.

This coffin box is the perfect size to fit a little Justice League Superman action figure.

A Bouquet of Tentacles

A vase of flowers becomes an excellent pencil holder, especially when your pencils are topped with handmade tentacles in a complementary color.

I molded these tentacles by hand (much as one would sculpt dough) and detail-painted them. I don't know how I came up with the idea, I just think tentacles are cool. They evoke monsters/aliens while bringing a pleasant organic shape to everyday decor.

Lace Clutch with Bow Pin

I made this clutch on Saturday morning. It would be great for Lolita cosplay, Steampunk, weddings, garden parties, Sunday brunch...

The clutch has a magnetic closure and two inside pockets. One pocket zippers closed.

I used a really nice textured sea-foam teal fabric with vintage off-white lace. The teal fabric was originally a square sample of special-order home decor fabric.

The inside lining fabric is a very light silver-grey satin (leftover from my Warcraft costume).

The bow is a detachable pin!

2012 SteamCon Hats

For a SteamPunk outfit, it is not necessary to have cogs or goggles to make it SteamPunk , in fact some times it isn't even logical (but sometimes it's alright to not be logical).  But what is required of a SteamPunk outfit is a HAT, or some sort of head fascinator.  

So this year at SteamCon I wanted to take a look at the hats that people wore.  FIY this year's SteamCon theme was Victorian Monsters, probably because it was during Halloween weekend, 

Top Hats

This hat is BIG

Her hat is covered with bridal tulle with colours that match her bright outfit

She's cookie monster (and she carried around cookies to give to people)

Top hat made of metal, with a Roses, and a working Clock

Creatures

A hunter is wearing her catch

Just a cute Lolita Fawn

Another young deer.

Fancy Gothic Elfling

Monster and Witches

Ok she doesn't have a hat, but her hair is just fascinating.  I guess I've seen and made CyberLoxs before, but because of the matching outfit, this really pops.

Spiky Helmet

Dark Witch

Who is she?  I looks familiar, kinda looks like a Witch from Madoka, but it's got to be something

Professions

Pilot

Garrison, didn't know her persona

A hood counts as a hat right?  I just love how this looks.  She could be wandering the desserts and shielding herself from the sand storms.

General

hand altered high society Hat

High Society Lady

Safari Hat

House of Wormwood

An artist who's hats seemed to pop up around the con.  Looking at her pieces 

I can tell why they are so popular

Ethic

She covers her head with a jeweled scarf.

Gypsies

Steampunk Cosplay from SteamCon 2012

SmallRiniLady and I attended SteamCon this weekend in Bellevue, WA. There were many fabulous things to see, and most of the attendees dressed up in Steampunk costumes, ranging from historical Victorian wear to fanciful, unique characters. I wish I could have taken pictures of them all!

SmallRiniLady as a marionette doll

Wind-up porcelain doll

Walter and Victoria's fabulous mini-crossbows!

Make-up of Death!

Very realistic-looking fox puppet!
His puppeteer had a really cute Steampunk outfit too, love those stripes.

Cosplay group photo-shoot - the more the merrier!

Eric the vampire, befitting the Victorian Monsters theme.

Mouse lady with a cage of wee mice!

SmallRiniLady will have more pics up later, so come back and check for more Steampunk cosplay!

Steampunk LollyPop

For a Lolita Steampunk Cosplay, I wanted a Lolita prop.  ~giggle~ a LOLLYPOP.

So let's see how to make a steampunk version of a lollypop.

Instead of getting the expensive steampunk gears at the craft store, I went to the original source, the Hardware Store! I went through the different buckets of bulk goods and picked up random pieces that I thuoght would look cool together, including a long screw to use as a handle.

Alcohol ink will dry to metal, and not rub off but it will if you spill a happy hour drink on it.  It's just randomly dab it all over the metal pieces to give it an non uniformed colouring.

Than using industrial super glue I randomly arranged them into a lollypop shape.  

 

The glue isn't ment for metal, so after many uses, some of the joints did get lose, so a little extra glue helped them stay put.

Sneak Peak for 2012 Steamcon

Yay, Steamcon is in two weeks.  It's the Steampunk convention here in the Seattle area.  This year because it's the Halloween weekend the theme is Victorian Monsters.

Here's a peak at my costume in works.

-SmallRiniLady

Button Bracelets and Cuffs

This is a fun, unconventional accessory, a soft fabric alternative to a bracelet. It could dress up an everyday outfit or add some bling and color to a Steampunk costume.

 

This cuff is like a cuff of a shirt, but it's not attached to a sleeve! Wear it like you would a cuff, but with a sleeveless or short-sleeved shirt, in place of a bracelet. Show off the decorative button with an attractive splash of color.

Copper Patina Paint Technique

Copper looks really gorgeous when it ages, it turns a gorgeous aqua/turquoise color, which is a beautiful contrast against the orange of the metal. Why not duplicate that pattern with paint?

Step 1: Brush on a layer of copper-colored paint. Let it dry.
Step 2: Using a wide flat-headed brush, dip the tip of the bristles in turquoise or aqua-colored paint. Apply over the copper in patches by touching just the tips of the bristles to the surface, dotting instead of brushing. This gives a more natural weathered look. Do this all over, wherever you want the patina look to appear.

I love painting trinket boxes. They are an excellent canvas for trying out new paint techniques. Plus they are great for storing thumbtacks and paperclips. Or really tiny treasures that you want to bury in your back yard.

Geek Girl Con 2012 Recap

Geek Girl Con 2012 was last weekend and we were there! SmallRiniLady had a booth and I (Avalyn) went for moral support and because I can't pass up an excellent cosplay opportunity.

SmallRiniLady debuted her new Captain America crossplay outfit, which was SUPER ADORABLE. I love the the winged headband!

We made flyers for the swag bags. I cut them out myself - oy!

This was our second year at Geek Girl Con (last year was the first year for the con!) and we were up for our Intro to Costume Craft and Cosplay panel again. This year we actually got through all 54 slides with 5 minutes to spare (54 slides because who doesn't want to see lots of cosplay pictures???).

There was never a dull moment at the SmallRiniLady booth!

I attended several panels, including Art as a Business Online, Steampunk Sewing (focused on corsets and bustles), and LEDs in Fabric.

Art as a Business Online panel

Somehow, I found time for lunch.

I always end up at Subway during conventions!

On Sunday I found a really great Codex! She even did her best to follow the online video tutorial on making the staff, it was very well done.

The weather was super warm and sunny. Since I was wearing costumes all weekend and riding the bus to and from the convention I was very happy not to see rain. Rain and foam weapons do not go well together.

Downtown Seattle on a rare sunny day. Gorgeous!

Of course I found something I had to buy upstairs in the dealer hall. TARDIS earrings!

Squee!

That's all of my Geek Girl Con pictures. Cup of tea, anyone?