I made this neck collar for one of my costume/outfits recently. I wanted something that was a little more like a collar, with a lace ruffle, something kind of bold to go with the open neck on a black lacey corset top that I was wearing. I made this in just a few minutes and it was really inexpensive and fun, so I wanted to share.

I used an old belt that I found at the thrift store, it is a faux leather belt with a cool big brass buckle that I cut down so it fit my neck. I hot glued the black lace to the bottom edge and covered that with a velvet ribbon so it looked cleaner and wasn't itchy on my neck. Then I glued the Triple Gear stone to the front with E6000. When that set up and dried, I attached a couple of brass filigree flourishes to each side with needle and thread, and thats it! It was super quick, and I love it! I want to do more things like this, and plan to shop for more belts tomorrow to work with. I made matching wrist bands too, and I will show those soon, along with the rest of the outfit.

One of the things I had the most fun working on for one of my costumes for ConFusion was the Clockwork Corset Top, which really isn't a corset at all, its a corset styled top. It was a ready made item I found on clearance at Torrid. I had the idea of a top all made of gears and mechanics that looked like what the inside of what a clockwork doll might be. I had been shopping at Torrid and passed this top up, because it wasn't my style, but I later thought about it and the price was right, so I tried it on and loved the fit. I was determined to make something neat out of it, and I think I did, with a little bit of time, and black and gold fabric paint.
 

Above, the top as it looked when I bought it. Bright red and black houndstooth. Not my style, but I liked the smooth surface and the basic black back. I also liked the criss cross tie up the back and noticed that both the cord for the lacing and the belt across the top could be taken off. Despite the bright pattern, it left a great canvas for painting.

I started by painting the front black with fabric paint. The material is a heavy cotton, that had been screen printed already, so it took the paint well. You could see a slight ghost of the houndstooth as the black paint made the bright red into a very dark red color, and made the black darker. It added some depth that makes the background look more interesting than it would if it was flat black.
 

The gold gears and mechanical elements were hand painted onto the fabric. I started with a silver metallic sharpee to sketch the basic shapes while I was wearing the top, and then handpainted the gold (and went in with details in black to clean things up) It was a bit of a challenge to paint things on, as the fabric is not straight, but is curved and darted to fit the form. But I stuffed it with newspaper in a garbage bag, to fill and flatten the fabric. It was easier than I thought it would be, and I was very pleased in the clean lines I was able to get with just a paintbrush. I really enjoyed making and wearing this at the Con, and how it became the centerpiece of my whole Clockwork costume idea. I look forward to wearing it again, perhaps not as a part of a full costume, but with some pants and a jacket over it. Its amazing what a little paint can do!

So I promised to show a picture of the other handpiece that I made, from the bits and experiments from the first one. I wanted to make a simple piece, based on a slave chain ring/bracelet type of jewelry. I like the ring and chain part and I like the boldness of the wrist/hand covering, but I don't know if I like them together. It was a quick piece to put together, and fun to wear, but I think I will disassemble it to make something new. I think I will keep the ring and chain and connect it to a more traditional linked chain bracelet. The heavy piece, I am not sure... I think it would be really neat if sewn to a leather glove. I am glad I documented it at least, but I see it as a sketch and a work in progress for now.


Speaking of rings... Congrats to my friends Scott and Lucy! Scott proposed to Lucy on our trip to Chicago last weekend, on the train, during a fun game he made up for us to play! He brought out a silly blinking blingy plastic ring for her to wear for the weekend, because he is silly that way. She said yes! And she will wear a family heirloom as her wedding ring. But she got to flaunt her flashy bling all weekend for all of us and Chicago to see. I was so happy to be there for this, and am so very excited for them. hugs, you two!

So here is a photo of the finished Alchemist Glove that I made for my Clockwork Doll costume. I am overall happy with it, although it ended up looking very different than I thought it would. I actually ended up having the parts to make two hand jewelry pieces, and I will show the other one next week. I decided that I really wanted to get some of my ceramic components into this piece, so it ended up being much more ornate than I had envisioned. It really sort of looks like a henna tattoo when seen from a distance, full of filigree lines and detailing. It fits really well, and I can almost even move my hand. It felt really magical wearing it, like it was a thing from another world. It seemed to have the power to transport me to another place in my mind.

So somewhere in the midst of all this Con and costuming work, I managed to carve a new design. I have been wanting to branch out into some larger round components that are easy to string and versatile to work with, so I started with a triple round gear disc. I started making some for stock just before Con and they appeared in a few costumes over the weekend: on the necks of a couple of very lovely ladies, as well as a set of oversized buttons for a steamy vest.

(photo by Nancy K)
I didn't really think of it at the time, because I tend to like triplicates as a design element, but I think that the three gears are sort of a good symbol for the Masquerade team of myself, Sheryl, and Limey, shown above in our costumes. Don't we make a fine and dynamic trio? It was great to work together and we got along amazingly well. Sheryl added it up and we put in well over 100 hours over the last few months for the Con. And we are still speaking to each other.. *laugh*...I am looking forward to future events with these two crazy freaks!

Above, a couple of close ups of the Triple Gear Disc on Limey's costume, made as buttons. I didn't think about buttons when I designed this component, but it seemed to work perfectly, and I got to use three holes for each button, which is a kinda neat, I think.

(Me in my Alycia Von Kylnfyre look, which was also my 2008 Halloween costume. Picture by Kat Burgett, see her full album here)

So I am returning to my normal working mode, leaving the world of ConFusion and the Masquerade behind me and settling into my regular work routine before my next adventure. The pic above was from right before my "Yeah, That's Steampunk" panel at Con. I look like a steampunk chick heading off to work on some airship with my travel case (which actually held my Nerf Gun). I presented with fellow Masquerade assistant Limey and Cathy Raymond. I was a little nervous to present a panel, but I had some good solid ideas and had taken notes and written an outline about things I wanted to discuss about Steampunk costuming concepts. I was afraid I might be too quiet or shy or shaky when I started speaking, but I went into Earthenwood mode (the goggles helped, as always) which gave me a boost of confidence and a surprisingly strong voice (I think so... nobody asked me to speak up, at least) and the panel went very well, at least from my side of the table. Cathy helped flesh out some of my ideas and Limey brought his usual humor and charm, as I sort of led the topics along my outline. The audience had some great things to say too, and everyone was very polite and excited about the subject. It was a great experience! We got through all the things on my list and then went even further into a sub-subject that I had hoped we might venture into: feminism and gender fluidity in steampunk. It was an overall delightful experience and I look forward to the possibility of presenting it at another Convention soon (hint hint)

Detail of my Steampunk Phone (or Coolest Phone Ever as Dave the photographer says. See more of his pictures of the Con here.)

 

I am looking through all the great pictures taken this weekend at ConFusion and I wanted to share a few that I found of myself. I am still decompressing, as it was a wonderful but very busy and exciting weekend! The Masquerade was wonderfully successful, and I am very proud to have been a part of it. I am looking forward to more conventions and working on more costuming in the future!
 

(detail of my Goggles by Kat Burgett, see her full album here)

 

One thing that I noticed and talked about with a variety of people was about my attention to detail. I do come from a jewelers' background, so this is not surprising. I think as far as costuming goes, I am much more interested in accessories and details than the overall look (when it comes to my own costuming pursuits). I think these pictures prove this. It makes me wonder if I would be suited for doing work on photo shoots or movie props or something. hmm. Anyway, I am becoming very interested in costuming as a whole, and really developing a passion for it. Not just in my own costuming, but helping and encouraging others to work on their own creative endeavors, and helping to create events where they can show them off. I sort of stumbled into this, and this passion has been growing over the last few months. With the success of the weekend, it is obvious to me that I want to pursue it further, in some manner. Anyway, thank you all who made the Masquerade great! More about the big picture soon...

 

Quick picture of the clock hand necklace I made yesterday and an even quicker post. I wanted something very theatrical, and I think this qualifies indeed. Gotta be careful with it! All those pointy hands! whee! If I don't see you at ConFusion, I will bring back stories and more pictures next week! If you do come to Fusion, I hope you will say hello, and come to the "Yeah, That's Steampunk" panel on Saturday that I am doing with a few other fine artisans. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Anybody have a little extra time on their hands that they can lend me? (*giggle* in the abstract sense of the phrase.  Your TIME is belong to me.  Want!  Alas, it doesn't work that way, does it?  We all only get 24 hours a day, you say? bah.)  Its crunch day, where I have to do some work and shipping and finish up all my projects for the Convention tomorrow. I got a shipment that I have been eagerly waiting for this morning from a company called KlockIt. It's a huge pile of beautiful ornate clock hands! I am going to have a lot of fun with them. The shapes are very pretty, they are lightweight, and they can be bent easily, which could make for some interesting crafting. I am envisioning a necklace with a bunch of black clock hands, around my neck and dripping down like tiny daggers. I can't wait to play with them!

 

I have many cool projects to show, but no time to photograph and blog. I will keep showing more things next week, after the Con. In other *hand* news, I did finish the Alchemist Glove and I am very pleased with it. I even did a simpler second one, more like a slave chain (ring connected to bracelet) with the extra parts. I am excited to show it to you soon. Until then, Tick Tock, time races on, and I must get back to work and play!

 

Here is the first picture of process on my steampunk robot glove that I blogged about the other day. This is just the finger part, it took some time to make the filigree parts into rings and then "hinge" them with jump rings. They are not fully hinged, but I do have some movement. The rings will stay on just the way they are, but my next step is attaching them to a plate that goes over my hand. I am quite pleased so far and would be happy if this was all I did for the hand, but the whole glove will be very exciting as well.

 

So as I have been working on it, I have been thinking about hands and touch in mythology, particularly the story of King Midas and the Midas touch. Also, whenever I work with brass, I think of alchemy and the mystery of turning objects into gold (which I just learned is called chrysopoeia. yay new word!) Midas and alchemy are linked in my mind, all twisted together. I started thinking about a magic golden glove, one that has alchemical properties. But perhaps something beyond the ability to turn things into gold, for I am not impressed with mere gold. I would prefer ornate beauty over precious metal any day. And I was thinking of something that would be more steampunkish So I think in my story, having a steam punk fiction inspired glove that would turn things into brass filigree would be even richer than gold. Could you imagine having the magical power to touch something, perhaps something plain and ugly, and watch it come alive with ornament and flourishes? I adore that idea!

 

Alas, I seem to be crafting a monster of fable and mythology with my glove idea. I love when that happens. I have had one of my favorite songs about *tough* in my mind all day, and was quite pleased to find a fan video for it on You Tube that is just perfect for my story and mood today. The song for today is Peter Gabriel's "I have the Touch" set to scenes from classic Frankenstein!

 

I bought these brown suede granny style boots at the thrift store for $8. I just passed down the shoe isle and they jumped out at me! They look absolutely brand new, and fit me perfectly, and are a label I have even heard of (Newport News) This was a very good find! I liked the boots just the way they were, but thought I might fancy them up a little bit with some neat brass and tulle trim that I found at JoAnn Fabrics. I stitched the trim all around the top of the boot, so it would hold well, but could also be removed if I changed my mind someday. I was pretty pleased with them, it seemed to make them a bit more formal and Victorian looking somehow. I wanted a somewhat more elegant boot for my steamy clothing, more dressy than the muddy looking work boots that I usually wear.

So I was pleased...until I put them on with some kneesocks and a skirt and looked in the mirror. Not bad, but it gave me a different feeling, not so Victorian anymore. I dunno, it might be my mind paired them with the video I saw yesterday on 80's fashion (with Mr. T! for the win!) I cannot shake the 80's feeling from the boots now. And that's the 1980's, not the 1880's. Something about the granny boot + tulle + little brass brads. I am unsure about them now. I feel like I have tripped into two different times, and it is confusing.

But then again, maybe I can rock an 80's inspired steampunk look... what do you think? Big double belts (but with brass buckles and brown leather instead of the dayglo ones I had as a kid)? Lacey gloves and tights like Madonna wore (she totally stole that from the Victorian era, she just made them fingerless and with stirrup pants)? What about Mr. T's gold chain look, but done in brass? I am rather amused with not only the thought of mixing these two time periods and cultures. How would you make a 1880/1980 steampunk costume?

I have been thinking about bones lately, both in a literal sense of the skeleton and in a conceptual way as well. And its funny to me how sometimes when I get something in my head, the ideas and imagery keeps popping up all over the place. It started the other day, when I was thinking about how I wanted to strip my website down, to the bare bones of my line, to make room for new items. I was thinking of my work as a body, and I sometimes need to reflect and narrow things down to the basics in order to make room for new ideas. I am doing a serious job of this right now, a little at a time, picking through and choosing the absolute essentials, down to the skeleton structure.

And the interesting coincidence is that someone sent me a link to a blog this morning about a Japanese funeral cremation ritual (warning, a little graphic) about a very similar idea, or at least similar imagery. That made me think about a necklace I made in college that resembled a spine with a vertabrae pendant. I thought... I should get that out of storage and look at it again, I think I am interested in exploring bones and skeletons again for a new line. I have also been thinking about skeleton keys lately, as well as the boning in corsets, things that have been important for me lately thinking about costuming and steampunk. I was just sort of brainstorming those two things, and enjoying the word play...thinking of them made up of actual bones, instead of keys and metal.

Later this afternoon, I was at the thrift store looking for clothing to upcycle for my Confusion costumes, and I saw this necklace in the jewelry counter. It has two large (about 2 inches) vertabrae made into beads. I did a double take and immediately got back in line to buy the necklace (for a mere $2.80). I am not sure what I will do with it yet, but it seemed serendipidous that it was just there today, with all my thoughts lately. I wonder where this inspiration will take me...

Aha! Check out the amazing progress made that was made on the backdrop using the stencil I made. I had a vision for the backdrop when I cut the stencils (which in retrospect, was pretty plain and boring), I left the stencils in the very capable hands of li885 , who really took off in an awesome direction. He used an airbrush and made the gears interlock and created an ornate background behind four huge decorative gears. It was surprising and totally exciting to see the design take form over the huge piece of fabric. On Saturday, sheryl67 and I brought our brown and metallic paints and painted in much of the large gears, while Limey airbrushed more. There is a little bit more work to do still, but I wanted to share a few pictures of the progress so far.

I am excited to be working on this, and seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into volunteering for ConFusion as the days pass and it comes closer. So now I am working some hours for Ops, and helping with the Masquerade and I am even working on a Steampunk costuming panel, which I am rather excited about. We are making some great prizes up for the Masquerade participants and I have a lot of work to do on my own costuming for all three days of the Con. I am going to try to take lots of pictures and blog about it as I go...