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Yesterday I spent some time wandering around an Antique shop in Kalamazoo. There were many sources of temptation in the store! I chuckled at the little strip of paper with the Oscar Wilde quote that makes up today's post title, because it was very true for me in that moment!


There were many items that inspired me for my steampunk costume. Since my steam persona, Alycia Von Kylnfyre, works with fire, I am always looking for fire related items, particularly interesting antique ones. The carved wooden bellows above really tugged at my tempted heart strings. Hmm, maybe I should have picked it up. Its a ver unusual item and I think I might need to start a small collection of them for my dad.

ooh, i really wanted this item! It is an old brass fire extinguisher! It was very heavy and wonderfully aged. I really wanted it, but couldn't justify spending over $50 for it, sadly. There were all sorts of other things that I would have liked, in particular the old keys and rusty metal things. I also liked the typewriter below, but I know I will find one someday with glass keys that will really call out to me.

As I type this, from the comfort of a homey, leather couch, I am feeling very relaxed and happy, and newly inspired. Much more fun and inspiring stuff planned for tonight and tomorrow, so I will update you again soon!

Finding My Way

  • Mar. 12th, 2009 at 11:04 PM



So this new necklace, called Finding My Way, is inspired by the new toy I got today as a gift. Today is all about compasses, old and new, and direction and finding my way around. My parents got me a GPS for my car, so I don't get lost quite so much. I have a terrible sense of direction, and usually have no idea which direction I am facing or how to get places. I am such a visual person, I usually just get around by seeing landmarks I recognize, I usually just drive along, until I get a "feeling" like I have seen things before, and then I figure I am on the right track.


I used it on the way home from my parents and I can already tell it will help me a great deal. I set it to read the directions with the voice of a rather dapper sounding English gentleman. I figure that will blend in with most of the British pop music that I seem to end up listening to in the car. As I was driving along, listening to my new electronic friend, I decided he needed a name. How about something properly British, like Nigel. Yeah. I think that will be the name for Mr. GPS. Gosh I am silly sometimes.


Of course, the name is inspired by my favorite band, XTC, and their classic tune "Making Plans for Nigel". Not one of my favorites actually, I think i have just heard it a million times too many. Still a good song, and it has great imagery, with the clashing drums and the workers theme, and British Steel references. Feels very industrial, and I think it helped inspire the necklace above as well. Here is an interesting video for the song, with some great old timey images.

A Stitch in Time

  • May. 5th, 2008 at 9:27 AM

  So I am returning from my week long blog hiatus of reposts. Thanks for bearing with me here. And the timing is perfect, because I have returned to participate in a double blog giveaway! The theme is about time, specifically the old saying "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine" a saying that means "A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later; consistency (achieving a set rhythm) is better than trying to rush ahead." I cannot think of a better way to describe my life and process at this moment, so this saying comes along at the perfect time as a reminder. Time to slow down, make necessary repairs and preparations, and continue steadily along...

Steam Week: Giddy-up!

  • Feb. 13th, 2008 at 12:24 PM


Welcome to day three of Steam Week. Today, I am side tracked slightly into what may be a bit of a tangent. I don't know if this is exactly Steampunk, or if it is a variation, but I am thinking about this Old West themed science fiction genre. As I contemplated it last night, watching the first season of the television show "Firefly" I carved the above one inch buckle tile, which will become a component like the rest of the pieces I am working on.

Steam Week: the gears are turning...

  • Feb. 11th, 2008 at 12:45 PM

 

 

Greetings, welcome to Steam Week! This is my week of intensive study about Steampunk, which I will share with you as I learn. So the basics...what is steampunk? I am learning that it is a LOT of things, so I will leave the boring dictionary stuff to Wikipedia, and I will instead show you what I think it is, and what it means to me, as the week goes on.

"Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight"

  • Feb. 10th, 2008 at 12:31 PM

Really quick post today, I just want to pop in and say hello and then get to work. I had a great time last night at the parties with my friends, and was even able to convince Chuck he needed time off to come for some laughs. I barely drank anything but I feel tried and hungover. Seriously, I only had a tiny glass of raspberry lambic. I guess just being up late did it to me. I am such a hermit sometimes, a day of being around people exhausts me, but I loved it.

 

Good news will work its way to all them plans."

Totally quick and sort of random post today. I have much to do today. I would like to do some work as I don't feel like I did as much as I would have liked yesterday. And today I have two events to attend with friends so I gotta squeeze some work in early. I am excited to get out of the house and talk with people for a bit. I hope it will inspire me a little, I am feeling overworked and cooped up lately...

 

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[info]earthenwood
Melanie Brooks (aka Alycia Von Kylnfyre)
Earthenwood Studio

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