Lilly's Workshop

New instructable on making a steampunk corset

2011-03-27T01:47:00.000-07:00

I recently finished an instructable on making a steampunk corset. It includes an underbust pattern in pdf format, detailed instructions on selecting materials and making each part of the corset and some tips on how to get a good deal on supplies.

For the corset above I used a synthetic leather, although the pattern and directions can accommodate a variety of fabrics.

I've really been enjoying instructables, you may remember my Steampunk EKG project from last November.

New blue and silver steampunk corset design

2010-12-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

My newest design uses a brighter brocade than the last few corsets I've made! This underbust corset either looks like something a mage in World of Warcraft might wear, or a fashionable steampunk lady.

Front view of blue and silver steampunk underbust corset.

Back view of black lacing.

Detail shot of blue and silver brocade and side lacing.

Featured on Overbury Ink!

2010-12-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

Lilly’s Workshop is currently featured on Overbury Ink as part of SteamTuesday! Overbury Ink is one of the best sources online for finding steampunk news, resources, interviews Check out the post on Lilly's Workshop here, and be sure to follow Nancy Overbury on Twitter!

Steampunk EKG

2010-11-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Steampunk EKG LED

Last night I created an instructable on how to make a steampunk EKG (Elektrokardiogramm)! If you’re unfamiliar with instructables.com, it’s a website for people to upload and find instructions for DIY (do it yourself) projects. There are a lot of amazing projects on there, and they often hold contests with fantastic crafter prizes. If you're a fellow maker, I strongly recommend you join.

EKG in enclosure with a strap from an old military satchel.

If you want to see a video of my steampunk gadget in action or build one yourself, check out my instructable!

Steampunk utility corset with copper panels

2010-11-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

I made this custom fitted utility corset for a customer who wanted copper brocade panels in the front. I think the copper stands out! I love this brocade, because it comes in so many colors. I can't wait to eventually use the red and hunter green brocade that I have (although probably not together).

Watch the Season Finale of Riese!

2010-11-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

The two part season finale of the amazing steampunk webseries Riese is now available on the SyFy website.

If you enjoy it make sure to leave a comment on the SyFy website! Wouldn't it be great to see Riese on the SyFy channel?

Steampunk Holiday Gift Guide 2010

2010-11-20T16:39:00.003-08:00

Are you a steampunk looking for some steamy presents for your loved ones? Or are you a bewildered non-steampunk looking for a holiday gift for the inscrutable steampunk in your life? Enjoy the following suggestions either way!

8x12 Tesla Rock Star Scientist Steampunk Art Print Poster by meganlee

Help the scientist or nerd in your life pay homage to one of the greatest scientists ever, Nikola Tesla. Although he was a brilliant inventor, Telsa was sadly not a manipulative businessman like his contemporary Thomas Edison, and died penniless as a result. Tesla was also totally steampunk 100 years before anyone knew what steampunk was.

Recommended for: scientists, nerds, historians, engineers, Edison haters.

Triumph at the Las Vegas Hilton

Next week at the Hilton, Triumph, a steampunk spectacular, opens. Triumph features time travel and the science of writers Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, as well as Nikola Tesla (but hopefully no Edison). Tickets run from $29.95 - $99.95.

Recommended for: theater buffs, Las Vegas tourists and locals, and steampunk performance enthusiasts.

Through the Seasons - Steampunk Mini Hat by ToScarboroughFair

There is nothing quite so wonderful as a cat wearing a dignified hat and barely tolerating it. Why not treat your feline friend (and yourself/anyone who witnesses it) to a lovely steampunk top hat?

Recommended for: cat lovers, cat antagonists, cat ladies who need a cat hat in order to differentiate their many cats, lovers of kitten mittens.

Chained to my Gears Necklace by LadyLamb

Looking for a steampunk necklace gift that has gears but won’t weigh down the recipient? This lovely crotched necklace has all the style of gears but without the heaviness!

Recommended for: gearheads, jewelry lovers, people who have to pass through metal detectors.


Steampunk Entomology Lapel Fire Brooch by SpectraNova

Ok, so you’ve got the necklace sorted out for the jewelry lover in your life, but you’re looking for something else too. Might I recommend a brooch? This iridescent beetle brooch would make a fantastic addition to a sweater or other winter outfit.

Recommended for: entomologists, jewelry lovers, people who like shiny things.

The Entomologists Jewelry Box- Beetle by JennRoseFX

Now you’re almost done shopping for all the jewelry loving entomologists in your life! But wait, where are they going to keep all this shiny goodness? How about a Neo Victorian entomologist’s jewelry box?

Recommended for: entomologists, jewelry lovers, people who like boxes.

Brass Guitar Pick - steampunk - Hammered Texture by SkinzNhydez

If you know anyone who plays the guitar constantly, you know that they tend to lose their picks with alarming consistency. Get them a pick that’s too cool and shiny for them to lose.

Recommended for: music lovers, guitar players, air guitar players.

Wunderkammer One by gurusmasher

An intriguing assortment of tales and some amazing illustrations. I personally love birds, and Wunderkammer is full of steampunk birds, both anthropomorphic and fully avian.

Recommended for: Bird lovers, comic book geeks, graphic novel enthusiasts, your older brother who collects action figures and loves comic books.

Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey

Avalon Revisited is perfect for the paranormal romance, steampunk and vampire enthusiast. Being a new reader to the genre myself, I can recommend this if you are a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse novels (those being the other paranormal romance books I've read).

Recommended for: paranormal romanticists, fangbangers, book lovers, British history buffs.

Riese

Riese is a streampunk adventure drama and popular webseries with a rapidly growing loyal fanbase. This beautifully filmed show has won a Streamy, Internet TVs most prestigious award.

Recommended for: sci-fi fans, SyFy fans, television aficionados.

Five Funniest Mike Era Mystery Science 3000 Theater Episodes

2010-11-16T18:30:00.001-08:00

Travis and I have always shared a love of MST3K (both Joel and Mike seasons). Whenever we need something hilarious to watch we know that the residents of the Satellite of Love will deliver. With that in mind I'd like to share our five favorite Mike Nelson episodes of MST3K. A post with our favorite Joel episodes will follow next week, just in time for your very own MST3K Turkey Day marathon!

The Final Sacrifice
Even though I love Canada and would love to live there one day, it’s impossible not to laugh at the mockery heaped upon our neighbors to the north in this film. In The Final Sacrifice, a teenager and a drifter unravel an evil plot to take over the world. The Final sacrifice contains my favorite MST3K song, Tom Servo’s over the top anti-Canadian medley.

There is still a lot of hilarity to be found even if you hate Canada mocking. Two running gags include Mike and the bots making constant straining sounds as the young and weak looking protagonist lifts objects and ridiculing the adult protagonists laughable and somewhat awesome name, Rowsdower. There are also appearances by masked and incompetent S&M lackeys and a one of the grizzliest old hermits ever.

Favorite quote: I have no sense of proportion! I’m a disgrace to my uniform!

Hobgoblins

I’m a sucker for cheesy 80’s movies, which probably explains many of the choices here. Among the cheesiest and funniest of MST3K 80’s movies is Hobgoblins, a Gremlins knockoff with unlikable protagonists who make terrible and selfish decisions. The Hobgoblins themselves are terrible stuffed animals whose power is to grant people wishes that end up going horribly wrong in asinine ways.

Although Tom Servo’s rude and disturbing song about Canada is my favorite MST3K song, a close second favorite would have to be the brief “It’s the 80’s” song from Hobgoblins.

Favorite quote: It’s the 80’s, do a lot of coke and vote for Ronald Regan.

Time Chasers

Time Chasers is one of those rare MST3K episodes that features a film made in the 90’s. In it a brilliant inventor discovers the secret to time travel, which is accessed via a Commodore 64. As with many low budget films, some of the filming locations are widely different from what they are supposed to be. Time Chasers features one of the funniest of these disparities; the president of a mega-corporation has his office in what appears to be a mall mezzanine:

Favorite quote: Lisa: What's the use of a time machine for Gencorp?

Nick: I'll give you an example...

Crow: you could send an egg into the future...

Nick: ...you could study the long term effects of we're having on our environment. We could...

Mike: Send Bob Saget to meet Charlemagne.

Space Mutiny

Space Mutiny is a campy hot mess of continuity errors and miscast characters. From what I can tell, the poorly explained plot concerns a mutiny on a generational ship. Security on the ship (who travel in slow moving floor polishing machines called enforcers) plan on selling the other ship dwellers into slavery (I think). The beefy male protagonist, aka Fridge Largemeat aka Blast Hardcheese aka Slab Bulkhead aka Thick McRunfast aka Crunch Buttsteak and his new girlfriend who looks like a grandmother attempt to save the ship.The aforementioned girlfriend goes from dramatically mourning the explosive death of her beau to falling in love with Splint Chesthair (who she initially blamed for her boyfriend's death) on the same day. Their romance initially buds in what may be the worst 80's dance club scene I've ever seen.

Favorite Quote: If I go any faster I’ll have to drop the waxing compound!

Soultaker

The MST3K episode where Joel returns to the Satellite of Love! Unfortunately he doesn’t join Mike and the bots in the theater to tear apart this cheesy film with a predictable plot. A reckless teen driver crashes and apparently kills himself and his passengers. Unbeknowst to the outside world, the teens are really suffering from disembodied soul syndrome, and are hunted down one by one by Charlie Sheen’s uncle Joe Estevez, a professional Soultaker.

Favorite quote: Man, where does that guy even keep his acorns?

If you've seen all these MST3K episodes and are craving newer Mike Nelson riffs, the best RiffTrax are of Twilight, Return of the King and Star Trek V: The Undiscovered Country

New fantasy underbust corset design

2010-11-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

Ever since we’ve met, Steph and I shared a love of fantasy novels, films, games, shows and art. When we play fantasy MMOs or co-op games, I tend to be a hunter class, while Steph usually picks a caster (although she has been known to play a warrior tank).

My latest corset is inspired by my love of all things fantasy. I wanted to make a corset that could be worn to a LARP event, or as part of a fantasy costume/cosplay ensemble.

The green hemp and brown leather give the corset a natural look. Although I had fantasy in mind when I made this, it would also work as a steampunk piece. The hemp twill and synthetic leather have an earthy steampunk feel to them.

New Utility Corset Design

2010-11-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

I've finished my new utility corset design and will be posting one on Etsy either tonight or tomorrow. Check out the design changes in the photos below:

Front view of new steampunk utility corset.

The lacing and back of the new steampunk utility corset design.

Closeup of the new side pockets.

And of course the satchel, which is great for storing your gear (and cogs) in!

Preparing for Comic Con 2010

2010-07-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

I've been hard at work finishing custom corset orders so that I have time to finish Steph's mage costume before Comic Con. Attending Comic Con last year was what inspired me to start making costumes, and I'm really looking forward to going this year.

Some pics from our trip to Comic Con last year:

Steph looking scared with a group of Klingons. Says Steph of this picture "I'm such an enormous nerd that this is the third photo I've ever taken with Klingons. I really miss Star Trek: The Experience."

Steph with Torgo from Mystery Science Theater: Manos the Hands of Fate. This guy did a great Torgo voice, and had a device somewhere on his body that was playing a loop of the Torgo theme. If you're unfamiliar, watch the following clip and then watch the MST3K episode!

This man has found the perfect person to cosplay as. The Dude is both awesome and wears comfortable clothing.

Steph and I are both gamers, and Left 4 Dead is our preferred FPS. This girl is dressed as a Witch from Left 4 Dead, and even had little red LED lights by her eyes to achieve the Witch's hallmark glowing red eyes.

We'll have plenty of new photos in a couple weeks after we get back from San Diego!

Online art communities and a feature

2010-06-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

Lilly’s Workshop is currently featured on steampunk paranormal romance author O.M. Grey’s blog Caught in the Cogs! Steph is reading and planning a review of O.M. Grey's intriguing novel Avalon Revisited in the upcoming weeks, so keep an eye out for that.

I’d also like to highlight two amazing artist/crafter communities that I joined during the month of May.

The first is deviantART. Even if you’re not a member you’ve probably still seen deviantART, especially if you like viewing art online. In the three weeks since I started an account I’ve found amazing art and artists to favorite and put into my gallery, and I’ve received hundreds of comments and suggestions on my corsets (and a couple cockatiel photos). I really like the customization and organization options on your personal page and decided to try out a premium membership. So far I like it!

The second community is TotalArtSoul. This tight-knit group of artists and crafters offers forums, blogs, galleries, instant messaging and other features that help create a sense of community. I highly recommend looking through the insightful blog section, as well as the gallery full of artisan works.

Steph in her steampunk corset

2010-05-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

A couple shots of my adorable girlfriend Steph wearing her overbust corset that I made. She's also wearing a beautiful owl necklace by The Spectra Nova.

Two new corset variations

2010-05-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

In the past week I've made two new custom corset variations.

The first is an underbust version of my steampunk utility corset. It has adjustable straps that cross in the back and have brass buckles in the front. I made it for The Spectra Nova, who will be wearing it to the World Steam Expo in Dearborn, Michigan. If you're there go see her amazing and beautiful steampunk jewelry!

The overbust steampunk utility corset.

The other new corset I made is my overbust pattern with imitation black leather instead of the brown faux leather and brocade. I love the way the silver busks and white lacing looks in contrast to the shiny black leather. This corset could be steampunk or even goth depending on what you wear it with.

What goes into making a corset

2010-05-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

eph has been taking a lot of pictures of me making steampunk corsets so that she can send updates to customers. I decided to use some of them to demonstrate some of what goes into making a corset!

The first thing I do is make a custom pattern based on a customer's measurements. The pattern shown above is for an underbust corset.

After I've finished the pattern I cut the exterior fabric (hunter green brocade and imitation leather in this case) and the cotton coutil lining.

I sew the exterior fabric together forming an outer shell and then I sew the lining pieces together forming the inner shell. I then baste the two shells together at the seams and machine stitch the casings for the busk and boning.

This is the corset without finished edges, boning and grommets.

The cut spiral steel boning and some of my tools.

Setting the brass grommets into the back of the corset.

The finished corset!

This is what a prototype corset looks like. Keep an eye out for a new design in the next month!

What happens in Vegas Etsy treasury

2010-05-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Check out my Las Vegas Etsy Treasury, featuring artists from the new Las Vegas Etsy Team (final name pending)!

Check out my steampunk corset in the Etsy Prom Queen Voter!

2010-04-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Etsy frequently holds votes on items for specific events and themes. In the past these themes have ranged from Easter to gardening; the current vote is for an "item you think could help pull off an unforgettable glammed out prom night!"

Custom Neo-Victorian Steampunk turquoise blue and imitation leather corset

My turquoise Neo-Victorian steampunk corset is among many other beautiful dresses, hairpieces, shoes, toiletries and accessories up for vote. The winning item will be featured on Etsy's front page next week. Take a look at all the beautiful pieces and vote for your favorite!

The Lilly's Workshop Birdies

2010-04-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

We recently moved all of my sewing supplies and the cutting mat into our bedroom. I'd been working in the living room, but our birds get way to interested in what I'm doing and either try and jump down to join me or start screaming for attention.

Some pictures of the little attention mongers after the jump

This is Chaucer, our pied peachface lovebird. Chaucer doesn't really want a lot of attention, but he will try to eat my pattern envelopes if I leave them in the living room unattended.

This is Chowder (or Chowderface as we often call him). He is taking a bath in this picture, and isn't nearly as unhappy as he looks.

This is Not Sure (named after the protagonist in the amazing Mike Judge film Idiocracy). He may look demure in this picture, but he loves stealing my pins and grommets.

As you can see, although Not Sure and Chowder may look similar there are differences. Not Sure loves acting like an irritating little brother to Chowder.

This is Little Guy, whose name started as a nickname and ended up sticking. He is small compared to the other cockatiels and very affectionate. He loves watching me sew and constantly wants to snuggle our necks.

This is DuckRabbit. He is the most adventurous of the cockatiels and will often try and climb up my leg when I am sewing.

Springtime Steam Green

2010-04-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

All the beautiful items above and three additional ones can currently be seen in this treasury.

It's spring, and while the desert I live in isn't overly green, the abundant viridian trees at the University of Nevada Las Vegas are beginning to blossom while mockingbirds, sparrows and grackles sing to woo potential mates. I've assembled this collection in hope that these spring steampunk finds bring to mind the blossoms and beauty of spring.

The stereotypical colors of steampunk may be muted browns and grays along with metallic hues, but these artisans demonstrate that steampunk creations also have lively hues.

1. Vintage Watch Dial Pendant by asecondtime
2. Absinthe Cuffs (Pair) by Chocklit
3. Quadra Tatted Bracelet - Green by TotusMel
4. Thai Steampunk Bustle Skirt Purple by crescentwench
5. Time of Flight - real beetle wing necklace by ClockworkZero
6. Absinthe Glycerin Soap by amandalouise
7. Stink Bug Ring by CosmicFirefly
8. The Gypsy -Apple Blossom by TheThriftySparrow

9. A Compendium of Flowers and Their Meanings for Complicated Emotions by VanessaGelvin

On the front page of Etsy!

2010-04-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

My Steampunk academic satchel was on the front page of Etsy as part of a treasury this afternoon! This is my first time ever on the front page so I felt like making this post to celebrate. I was sewing a custom corset for a customer when Steph excitedly shouted out "You're on the front page! Dude, come over here right now, I'm serious!"

Special thanks to Emmamaha for including my bag in her fantastic scholastic treasury. I really appreciate it!

The Steampunk Mother's Day Gift Guide

2010-04-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

This post was authored by Stephanie, my significant other.

There’s less than one month left until Mother’s day (May 9th), and if you’re planning on ordering a handmade gift for a mother in your life you’ll need to make a decision soon! I’ve created a guide to buying steampunk themed gifts; however, they aren’t so specialized as to not appeal to the general public.

Although all these gifts have a steampunk or NeoVictorian theme, I’ve tried to create a well-rounded gift guide that’s categorized according to different interests.

Bath and Beauty

Ah, bath and beauty, that classic Mother's Day standby. This time show that you put time and effort into choosing quality and unique bath items rather than choosing something in haste at a drug store the day before!

Steampunk Soap - Essence of Bustle by Steampunkerie

These delightful steampunk soaps are wrapped in pages salvaged from a damaged Victorian book on ornithology. This scent is "Bustle", but you can choose a different custom scent if so desired.

Secret Scents Steam Bee - Steampunk Art Print Cameo Necklace Solid Perfume Oil Pagan by mysticmemories

This sweet little bee lockets comes equipped with a beeswax based solid perfume inside. This cute little clockwork bee would be great for the mom who loves oddities or bees!

Vintage Edwardian Victorian Travel Bottle Set of 5 Gibson Girls

by nineteenOthree
"In the 1890s, Charles Dana Gibson’s magazine illustrations of fashionable young women gained wide popularity. The physical type he portrayed became the standard of beauty, a romantic ideal that suggested a new female independence while also celebrating the privileges and glamour of elite society." -George Mason University

RAY GUN Steam Smoother, 8oz HEMP lotion by SteamBathFactory

This scent sounds incredibly enticing: citrus combined with tea leaves and cinnamon! In addition to leaving a lovely scent it

also promises to leave skin feeling soft and smooth.

Reading and writing (but not arithmetic)

Does the mother in your life like reading? How about writing? My mother loves both, so I put this category together while keeping her in mind.

STEAMPUNK BOOKMARK with DANGLING WATCH PARTS and GEARS by Thesteampunktrunk

Are mom's books dog-eared from her folding down the corners to mark her place? Is she reading so many books at once that she's run out of bookmarks? You can never go wrong giving a voracious reader a bookmark, especially when it's as stylish and eye-catching as this.

The Botanist's Herbology Journal by DeathMau

Does your mom keep a diary? Does she like to take a lot of notes or do some creative writing? This inspiring and fun steampunk journal may be what she needs to start writing her magnum opus!

Crow Quill Pen - Handmade Steampunk, Alchemist, Artist or Writer's Pen by drono

This quill pen is constructed from "antiquated machines and other curiosities." It's definitely a unique and fun way to write, perhaps even as a designated signature pen.

Set of 8 BOOKPLATES - The Mobile Library by adorapop

Is your mom the kindly sort who is apt to lend out her books? Increase the chances of her getting them back with this beautiful and playful set of steampunk bookplates.

Cooking, eating or drinking

Does your mom love her kitchen? Maybe she just loves delicious food or coffee. If that's the case these kitchen related picks may be just the thing.

Two pipes make one handle by iHRTart
This rugged industrial mug is perfect for a hot cup of coffee or tea. I personally prefer tea, but I won't judge anyone who likes coffee!

Lithographed Stoneware Bowl by trudalakingglatz

Perfect for some cereal, soup or ice cream, this intricately patterned bowl will provides enjoyment for any mom that eats from it.

Delicious Cookies - letterpress card by industrialfairytale
Is your mom a fantastic cook? Does she make delicious cookies? Show her you appreciate it with this adorable steampunk robot card!

Get In Gear - stone tile coaster set by thepaintedlily

Summer is approaching and that means mom will need cold drinks to cool off. Help her preserve the beauty of her tables by getting her a set of steampunk coasters.

Accessories

There are a lot of options and amazing creations in the world of steampunk accessories. Help your mom steam up her outfits with one of these picks.

Lace fingerless gloves - Black by LadyLamb

These lovely soft lace knitted NeoVictorian gloves would go well with an assortment of styles and you don't have to worry about them clashing with any colors because they're black!

Tenebrous - Tatted Earrings by TotusMel
These gorgeous tatted earrings would be perfect for a jewelry loving mother. They're both uncommon and beautiful, so she's sure to enjoy them!

Flower STEAMPUNK Brooch Pin Vintage Bulova Watch Part Filigree by mysticpieces
This adorable yet elegant brooch could be worn with both casual and formal outfits, depending on the occasion (and mother).

Parabola - Reclaimed Wood/Brass Steampunk neovictorian inspired hair stick/hair pin/shawl pin by asteriskandampersand

This versatile and stunning pin comes from one of my favorite places in the world, beautiful Vancouver Island. It can be worn as a hair pin, a shawl pin or a multitude of other uses.

La Lune et L'Hibou - The Moon and The Owl by TheThriftySparrow This one of a kind necklace features amazingly vivid shades of blue in addition to white, gray, jade and silver. I must confess that I love birds, but then again so does my mom!

Moment in Time Steampunk Wooden Jewelry Treasure Box by NandJDesigns
If the mom you're shopping for loves jewelry, the odds are that she already has a lot of it! Help her keep it organized in this cute wooden steampunk jewelry box. Although the featured colors are suitably steampunk, if you desire custom colors you can request them.

Animals
Does your mom love animals? Does she dote over doggies, kitties and birdies? Is she a birdwatcher? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may find the perfect gift in this section.

CUSTOM Mechanical Birdie - Freestanding Industrial Steampunk Bird by monsterkookies This adorable little mechanical birdie would be wonderful for any mom, not just one who is an bird lover! You can even choose custom colors, something to keep in mind if the mom you're shopping for loves a specific color.

Steampunk Cat Victorian Gothic Fantasy Art 5x7 Print by tigerpixie I know that the word whimsical gets tossed around a lot these days, but this cat if isn't whimsical I don't know what is. If your mom is a feline aficionado the chances are good she'll enjoy this.

11 inch Extinct Carolina Parakeets Hand Carved Wooden Bird by jjstudio
At first glance this beautiful and colorful Carolina Parakeet carving may not seem like it's related to steampunk or Victorians. However, the Carolina Parakeet was driven to extinction in part because women of the 19th century loved wearing their colorful feathers.

By gifting or displaying this stunning and lifelike carving you can help people never forget the greedy vanity that contributed to these beautiful parrots extinction. Any mom who is a birdwatcher will realize what a unique and precious gift this carving is.

Weiner Dog Steampunk Necklace by darkcarnival Is your mom more of a dog person than a cat or bird person? No worries, there are steampunk dogs too! This cute dachshund necklace is the perfect combination of steampunk and canine.

I hope that this guide has helped you start thinking about what to get mom for Mother's Day.

If you have any suggestions for steampunk or NeoVictorian themed Mother's Day gifts please mention them in a comment!

Copper Steampunk Utility Corset Preview

2010-04-09T02:04:00.000-07:00

I'm almost finished with this copper and imitation leather utility corset. As you can see, there are still some parts I need to sew (note the pins). I should have it finished and photographed tomorrow. Steph really likes this one, I think due in part to her love of clothing with pockets.

Etsy Treasury: A steampunk orange

2010-04-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

My "A steampunk orange" Etsy Treasury.

Update: This ended up getting over 300 views and was on the second page in "hotness". Thanks to all the artisans whose work was featured and for those of you who commented or tweeted it!

How I came to love Steampunk

2010-04-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

I first heard about steampunk in 2007. My girlfriend was reading The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. I asked her what it was about and she told me it was a steampunk alternative history novel.

I was intrigued! I knew about punk music and culture but had never heard of this “steampunk” before. I started Googling it and found out that it included a lot of unique inventions and Victorian fashion, two things that I loved. Since I was a boy I’ve always had a knack for making and fixing things out of existing materials, a trait that served me well doing experiments in physics labs for my undergraduate degree.

My fondness for Victorian fashion is another factor that makes steampunk appealing. I think that the corset is my favorite article of clothing and believe that nothing is as beautiful as a fitted and well-designed corset.

Last year when I went to Comic-Con with my girlfriend (pictured to the left next to a steampunk). I was delighted to see lots of people in corsets. I was inspired to start designing my own corsets, and immediately started making prototypes that summer. This year at Comic-Con we will both be dressing up!

Right now I’m focusing on steampunk and Neo-Victorian corsets, but I plan on eventually doing fantasy oriented corsets and costumes as well. I enjoy reading fantasy novels and watching fantasy and sci-fi movies, so I get a lot of inspiration from those.

Inspirations and uses

2010-03-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

When I finished sewing the imitation leather and brocade corset pictured to the left, I realized that it reminded me of the Chinese-Western fusion present in the show Firefly. The screenshot below illustrates one of the many hybrid styles from a short-lived but fantastic show.

I think that both corsets could be used in fantasy costumes. I can imagine the turquoise corset being worn by a mage or other caster, and the green underbust corset worn by a hunter-ranger or perhaps a rogue.

I'm thinking about making another brocade corset with white cotton coutil panels rather than the imitation leather. In addition to steampunk and Neo-Victorian, I think that it would be great for frost mages or "good" casters such as priests.

I made the small backpack to the left to serve as a bag for people in costume. Nothing breaks the illusion of a costume faster than a clashing or completely inappropriate bag! I was inspired by the backpacks worn by hobbits in the Lord of the Rings novels, elegant leather bags from the Victorian era, and even the quintessential fantasy backpack pictured in World of Warcraft.

Both corsets and the backpack are available at my Etsy store. I just opened and am adding new designs daily, so check back if you like what you see!

Western steampunk corset

2010-03-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

I’ve been working on this corset for a steampunk costume that Stephanie and I are planning. It’s going to be paired with a long skirt, collared white shirt, boots and a book satchel.

I was going for a Western steampunk look. I think that the brocade paired with the ruddy imitation leather creates a rugged adventurous look reminiscent of the West.

Stephanie suggested that this could also be a part of a fantasy mage costume. Perhaps an frost mage?

Above: Sewing the corset on my vintage Singer 201