Not only is steampunk trends infecting wardrobes but also music. I am a lover of all types of music and always appreciate it when an artist can crossover or recreate a genre. I like this particular video because it pays homage to some of my favorite hip hop songs.
Mr. B Gentleman Rapper- Chap Hop History
Here are a couple more artists I have found recently.
WOW! has it really been almost a month since I was on here?? Ughh Well, I will try to remedy that as I have lots to write about lately as well as a good many sewing projects on my agenda 'til the Phoenix Comic Con, Memorial Day Weekend.
This past Saturday was the 2nd annual Downtown Phoenix Mardi Gras Parade. My fellow cohorts in the Arizona Steampunk Society and I were invited to roll in it. A few of us put our noses to the grindstone for 3 weeks in preparation of floats, throws and a huge cthulu mascot. Because I was so busy on the parade prep my costume sort of went on the back burner till the last moment. Luckily I already had some pieces I was able to throw together. My favorite piece of my costume was the wind up key.
My steampunk wind up doll costume
The key was the very last piece of my outfit and I stumbled on its construction with fear and anticipation. Luckily my friend Noe, who is brilliant with design work, helped me with the correct proportions making my gear out of cardboard. I used a template for the teeth and it worked out perfectly in sync. Next, I needed to make my key out of cardboard; which I didn't actually measure spot on but I think it came out pretty good, I laid out two bowls side by side and inverted them so the rims laid on the cardboard. I traced the bowls onto the cardboard. I did the same in the center with a set of smaller bowls, cut everything out in one piece. I made a slit into the center of the gear so the key would slide in. At the bottom of the key I folded the rectangular (bottom) so it went back and forth, I slid that part into the slot on the gear then cut that portion in half. I hot glued the two pieces like wings to give the key support and stay in place.
For the final addition, I looped white jewelry wire through the slot so I could attach it to my back and shoulders incognito. Now, I have a wind up key and gear for those times when you never know you will need one!
Etsy has several tools to help you become a good seller but there is also a lot of teams to help you get to know other seller and their shops. I used to feel like I was competing with other sellers and shops when I saw people with similar items I had- I learned to get past that and embrace the love everyone has for all things vintage. One of the ways I became more open to this is joining teams on Etsy. I tried out a few before I found one that fit me and I am so glad I found them. The X Factor Team(s). I have made some good online friendships and learned to network and promote and others network and promote my shop and items as well. I have not been feeling all that great past few days- suffering from typical January cold and flu symptoms. Sometimes I get inspiration from daily life and this was no exception. I made a treasury, which is a collection of items for sell on Etsy - you make a theme and then you promote it. I made one last night looking for things that might make you feel better during the cold and flu season. Here is the collection I made:
As I mentioned before in a previous post; I have an affinity for vintage patterns, textiles and notions; namely, vintage apron patterns. I also love aprons. I came across a couple of sellers on Etsy who are making aprons similar to the types I like. I also found a couple of sellers that make fantasy related aprons; mostly of the Doctor Who variety. I take great pride in my work and would never sell a handmade item without careful and tedious details maintained. I am notorious for ripping seams and restting my seams or even, most serious cases, recut the pattern piece altogether. Unfortunately some of the handmade aprons I am finding on Etsy don't show the attention to detail I put into mine. However, I did find inspiration to make my own TARDIS apron.
I made this from 100% cotton blue fabric with a modern apron pattern of a vintage apron style. I love how the ruffle goes all the around the to the tie in the back. Once I had the actual apron finished I began my prep on the custom pieces to resemble parts of a police box. I could have put alot more flair on the apron but I thought a simple, cleaner approach would be best. It was suggested to use fabric paint and write "Police (phone call) Box" on the top of the black stripe but I didn't trust my handwriting to look so good. I used a very thin 100% cotton white fabric for the windows. I didn't realize how thin the fabric was until I tried placing the pieces on the apron- I decided to use a fusible interfacing to give it more weight and not bunch up after washing. I also sewed 2 rows of stitches around the pieces and the pieces are quite secure. The final touch I added a small white grosgrain bow to resemble the light at the top but I don't really know how I feel about it. I am thinking I will get some yellow ribbon and see if I like it better. I think this apron took about 1 1/4 yards of fabric and 1/4 yard of contrast fabric and maybe 10 inches of the ribbon- all total I think this cost around $10.00 to make. UPDATE:
Joann's has added licensed BBC fabrics to their stores and I got my hands on a few yards of differnt styles. I have made some aprons with these materials in my Etsy shop.
Yeah- that is all the words I know to that song. Is that even the name of the song? I don't know. But I thought it was a clever title. One of the reasons I like writing this blog- I can be creative and whimsy and sometimes snarky. But let me ask you...what do you do when you want to blog but can't think of anything and you made a deal with yourself you would write EVERY day??? I still don't know the answer but I thought in place of words I would entertain with videos!
Here are some really great videos of beautiful girls getting all steamed up!
I love the whole process of make up and hair for this exotic aviator
I didn't know there was an actual clothing line called Steampunk Couture. This video is for their 2011 line and it is all handmade-
And I will leave you my reader with some music. A band I just got familiar with called The Melting Pot. I like the song and the video is ok- don't know what "Fred and Ginger" style dancing have to do with Steampunk but; for a glimpse, I thought I saw Vampira!
The Brits don't really have traditional closets like we have over here on this side of the pond. What we might call an armoire, they call a wardrobe. But mostly a wardrobe is a pile of clothes we use to mix and match everyday to make outfits. For as long as I have watched Doctor Who (which I started watching in the 70s); I learned that with each regeneration of The Doctor, his personality changes as does his wardrobe. Despite Doctor Who being a sci fi production the appearance of The Doctor is human and hip and modern. In the late 60s the 3rd doctor Jon Pertwee dressed in Victorian Revival regalia complete with crushed velvet jacket and lacy cravets.
The doctors of the past decade still have a modern look that is hard to determine certain "style" you can see personality differences but their style can fit in with any of the past 10 years.
My favorite doctor to date is portrayed by David Tennant; the 10th Doctor
How many synonyms are there for the word HOT!?!?
David's doctor's ensemble consists of a brown wool suit with blue pin stripes. His collar and tie are sometimes askew. He is sometimes seen wearing a taupe wool coat with minimalist military features. The coat has a blue lining. But, my favorite part of his outfits, AND what began my huge crush for him is that he wears high top Chuck Taylors!
As I do consider David Tennant's doctor to be my 1 and only favorite; I must say this new 11th Doctor is growing me. I used to have a habit of becoming attached to current doctor and when he re generated I would act scorned and hurt like the ex wife ogles the new girlfriend who replaced you, The 11th Doctor has changed my mind about that way of thinking.
Matt Smith is the youngest of all the doctors as to date. Matt is SOOO adorable and he can sport a bow tie like no one else! His catch phrase "bow ties are cool" has become my tag line for my custom bow ties I sell in my Etsy shop. He is also great at wearing a fez!
And last but not least those totally awesome beatle-esc boots he wears, They are All Saints Layer Boots and hand made.
Just because you are thousands of years old, an alien from planet Gallifrey and are a time lord- you don't have to dress silly like those crazy ole' Martians!.
Mardi Gras is exactly one month away this year. Me and my friends are usually knee deep in tulle and feathers in preparation of our costumes for either; our participation in various parades or our Mardi Gras day costume. This year I won't be in New Orleans to participate in parades or celebrate the day; however there is a possibility of participation in a Mardi Gras parade in Phoneix this year.
I am in the Arizona Steampunk Society and promoters of the Mardi Gras parade has invited the society to participate. I would like to say that everyone jumped at the moment of hearing this news but- that wasn't exactly the case. I have had bated breath wanting to know if we do participate if will be a theme or coordination of color. The one thing I do know is that there will be a steampunk influence. I went ahead and started preparation of of a costume- tame as it will be in comparison to a costume for New Orleans Mardi Gras costume- a costume in steampunk style. I chose fabrics in traditional Mardi Gras colors; green, purple and gold. I found some really great harlequin pattern fabric in cotton calico blended weight. I decided to make a Victorian inspired outfit using this Simplicity pattern.
Like I said above, I am using a cotton not a satin or taffeta like you see in the picture.
I am working on the bustier first and working the rest of the outfit later. Look at all these pieces I needed to cut out. For each pattern piece I had to cut out 2 of each layer; 2 of the front of the top, 2 pieces of fusible interfacing and 2 pieces of of the inside lining fabric (the green fabric).
The bustier also requires featherweight boning and a zipper. It is unusual for a typical bustier to have a zipper in place of corset laces or heavy hook and eye closures. Since I am still in the preparation stage of this project I will have come back and give an update as my project progresses.
