Craftside

Steampunk eye-candy and crafty links

I love the Steampunk look and I am totally savoring all the pages of the new book Steampunk: An Illustrated History of Fantastical Fiction, Fanciful Film and other Victorian Visions. If you are into Steampunk as well, click on this page from the book to enlarge and get an eye full of some great Steampunk costuming.

 

More about the Voyager Press book:

Steampunk:

An Illustrated History of Fantastical Fiction, Fanciful Film and other Victorian Visions

by

Brian J. Robb

Foreword by: 

James P. Blaylock

Contribution by: 

Jonathan Clements

Steampunk is the hottest science fiction counterculture, alive in fantasy novels, films, arts and crafts, fashion, comic books, music, computer games, even architecture. Enter a world of Victorian technology, where steam power meets space travel. From Jules Verne and H. G. Wells to Alan Moore, Hayao Miyazaki, and Philip Pullman, the genre has captured imaginations around the globe. Here’s the first grand, illustrated history of the counterculture movement in a book fittingly stylish in its design, package, and artwork. From the fastest dirigible and steam-powered ray guns to fashionistas Lady Gaga and Alexander McQueen, the whole story of the gaslight romance is here.

James Blaylock is one of the originators of Steampunk science fiction. He is the author of The Narbondo Series, including The Digging Leviathan, Homunculus, Lord Kelvin’s Machine, The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives, The Ebb Tide, The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs, Zeuglodon, and The Aylesford Skull; The Balumnia Trilogy, including The Elfin Ship, The Disappearing Dwarf, The Stone Giant, and The Man in the Moon; The Christian Trilogy, including The Last Coin, The Paper Grail, and All the Bells on Earth; The Ghosts Trilogy, including Night Relics, Winter Tides, and The Rainy Season; plusThe Complete Twelve Hours of the Night, Land of Dreams, The Magic Spectacles, 13 Phantasms, On Pirates, The Devils in the Details, In for a Penny, The Knights of the Cornerstone, and The Shadow on the Doorstep.

And some crafty links to inspire and delight!

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YOU MUST CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE MOST AMAZING SURPRISE!!!!

I was simply blown away!!!! Trust me!

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QuarrySPOON

Recipe for Turkey, Artichoke, and Tomato Tapas

RockPaperInk

A Love of letterpress-We Make Stuff

Mail Art Inspires One's Art 
Have you tried mail art? Mail art inspires creativity in both sender and recipient. 

Mixed Media Artist 
Finding the right background fabric for an art quilt can sometimes be a challenge! 

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery 
How to make a pom pom bunny 

Strength 
Cherie talks about strength and art. 

ACreativeDream 
One thing leads to another... how creating an art doll led June to creating a necklace. 

Bag Lady in Training 
Tammy documents her training as a new recruit for Thirty-One Gifts, a company who sells bags and organizational products. 

Fabric Photo Magnets 
Discover how easy it is to make personalized magnets using a photo and some fabric. 

 
 

Steampunk Gaslight Gathering in San Diego and more crafty news

If you love Steampunk and are looking for something to do in San Diego on May 11-13, 2012, why not check out the Gaslight Gathering? It's So-Cal's first dedicated Steampunk & Victoriana convention!

And now, onto the crafty links:

RockPaperInk.com
Don't miss the Off Book/Typography/PBS Arts video.

Mixed Media Artist
Even though she has very few drawing skills, Cyndi is pleased with the results of her latest quilt experiment.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Learn how to applique a "Zzz" pillowcase.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
You can make any size envelope with the Crafter’s Companion Ultimate crafting tool. Look at how easy it is to “push the envelope!”

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess takes a road trip and visits an amazing yarn shop in Florida.

Carmi's Art/Life World
The spring ring: so easy to make and wear!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you how she turned trash into treasure with a re-purposed whisk, ribbon spool, felt and a little ingenuity.

   

How to make a Steampunk style cuff inspired by the book Steampunk Style Jewelry

You know when you buy bits of this and that and you don't know what you're going to make with it but you know you just have to have it? Such is the case with this cool little vintage style gun embossed metal finding. So off to the book Steampunk Style Jewelry for some inspiration because I just wanted to wear it somehow!

I loved the combo of the hardware and lace in the Minerva's cuff project by Annie Singer featured in Steampunk Style Jewelry.

I wasn't using the same elements at all but the inspiration was there.

Making these types of recycled leather cuffs is really easy!

The first thing I needed to do was bend the flat metal finding into a curve. I went out to the tool box and had a look around. I picked up my rubber mallet and used the handle of my 3 pound sledge hammer as a mandrill. I simply kept hammering it a bit then trying it on my wrist till it fit.

Then I cut a piece of scrap leather to fit on my wrist with the width of the Velcro as the amount of the overlap.

I wanted to incorporate another detail, so off to the trim stash! I found this part-lace, part-hook trim that I thought looked pretty cool. I stitched all the trim and Velcro on using the sewing machine with a leather needle. Then I hand-stitched the metal finding on.

The last bit I added was the two studs. One of the prongs of the stud went through the hole of the metal finding and the other three just went through the leather cuff. This hid the hand stitches.

Well there you have it. Whether you are into just being inspired by a book or full-on tutorials, you get both in this CPi book:

Steampunk Style Jewelry
Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings
By
Jean Campbell

This how-to jewelry-making book features the work of an array of invited jewelry designers influenced by the growing Steampunk trend. In Steampunk Style Jewelry, the projects focus on "no fire" techniques—like simple stringing, wirework, hammering, stamping, gluing, stitching, and off-loom beadwork—so that even a beginner can create pieces in the style. Each project provides a complete materials and tools list, step-by-step instructions, and clear illustrations.

Jean Campbell was the founding editor of Interweave’s Beadwork magazine and has written and edited more than 40 books. She has appeared on the DIY Jewelry Making show, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS' Beads, Baubles, and Jewels. She also teaches beading workshops throughout the United States. Swarovski has named Jean as one of their Certified Brand Ambassadors for the line of crystal beads and stones for beadworkers and crafters.

   

How to define characters through body proportions from the new book How to Draw Steampunk

What is your favorite Steampunk element, object or thing to draw or design?

Answer this question in today's comments by Midnight ET November 2, 2011 and you could be the proud new owner of a free copy of the new book How to Draw Steampunk: Discover the secrets to drawing, painting, and illustrating the curious world of science fiction in the Victorian Age.

This fun page from How to Draw Steampunk explores the interesting concept of how shape and body proportions can help define a character.

And this page features one step of the tutorial featured in How to Draw Steampunk on how to draw a lightning gun and a Steampunk weapon from the movie Cleric.

More about the book:

How to Draw Steampunk:

Discover the secrets to drawing, painting, and illustrating the curious world of science fiction in the Victorian Age

By

Bob Berry

and

Joey Marsocci

Author:

Allison DeBlasio

Enter into a world where fashion is Victorian punk, technology hasn't surpassed the steam engine, and inventors' workshops are filled with bizarre gadgets and contraptions that you haven't imagined in your wildest dreams. This is the world of steampunk; a world that has fueled a growing subculture and is making its presence known in mainstream media. From a crafty villain and steampunk laden woman to a steam-powered pet and a flying galleon complete with sails and propellers, talented illustrator Bob Berry takes readers through the process of drawing, painting, and digitally illustrating the marvelous players and elements of the steampunk genre. As aspiring artists learn how to create steam-powered machines and gadget-toting characters, Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories explain the history and origin of steampunk, its cultural relevance, and other interesting facts about real-life steampunk machines and their makers.

Joey Marsocci and his wife, Allison DeBlasio, are the proprietors of Dr. Grymm Laboratories, a business that provides custom designs of steampunk props and creatures for film production companies across the United States. Joey’s contraptions and sculptures have been seen in steampunk exhibits and publications around the world. Joey has a BFA in Film and Animation from the California Institute of the Arts. 

Bob Berry has been an artist, illustrator, and character and graphic designer for more than 15 years. While the mainstay of Bob Berry’s work is for children’s publishing and textbooks, Bob has also provided art and illustration for CDs, children’s games, toy packaging, and more. Visit bobberryillustration.com.

Crafty links to kick off August and Dr. Grymm makes the New York Times

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. First up: a big congrats goes out to Dr. Grymm, author of 1,000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear, and Art, on his inclusion in a very cool New York Times article - Steampunk At a Glance.

And now onto the usual crafty suspects that you know and love:

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the Knook - a kit that teaches you how to knit with a crochet hook!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See bling I designed inspired by Margot Potter's latest book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry and win a copy for yourself!

Mixed Media Artist
Continuing with her clothing obsession, Cyndi has taken out her acrylics to use on a summer dress!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Look at this cute coffee can recycling project. It also uses craft stash scraps, so it’s both economical and ecological!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has some important news about a very popular knitting loom.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a Crafter Companion paper fairy idea to show off this week!

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen offers you a re-post of her Chunky Canvas Bird Cage Tutorial.

About Family Crafts
Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday crafting, and Sherri will help you get a jump start on making your holiday gifts.