Etsy Steampunk

As subcultures go, one of the most artistic and imaginitive(as well as bizarre) is steampunk, a phenomenon that I hadn't known about until recently. In case you're not familiar, here is how Wikipedia defines steampunk:
"Steampunk is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or digital mechanical computers (such as Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine); these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality."
Costumes aside, here are my favorite steampunk doohickeys offered on Etsy.
Firemaster's helmet by TomBanwell: An intricate creation made of leather, with a fascinating backstory in the item description. Beautiful!


Raygun Mark II by Teatimeinc: There are a lot of rayguns involved in steampunk props, and they are all so wonderfully brass and H.G. Wells-ish.


Mad Scientist Goggles by steampunk22: The essential steampunk accessory: goggles. The more elaborate, the better. Multiple lenses are a plus.


Surrealist Whirligig Necklace by Klewism: One of the most beautiful things about steampunk is the ingenious use of industrial parts and gadgetry to make something that looks antique and artistic. I'm so tempted to get to work with random junk and a soldering iron.


Biped ExAqua Big Fish Walker by BuildersStudio: Part of steampunk lore is the big, animal-like machines (think Wild Wild West) built for various purposes - in this case, underwater exploration. A beautiful 'scale' model that is absolutely adorable.

Etsy Illustrations

More Etsy showcases!
Today’s subject: Ink illustrations. I’m a huge fan of this medium, especially being partial to anything comic-book-like. Here’s a few of my favorites that are for sale at etsy.com.

Gemma Ward By DannyRoberts: Who cares that it doesn’t really resemble Gemma Ward at all – it’s a dramatic, captivating drawing with fabulous shadows and a style that walks a line between dark and cute – just the way I like it!


Those Last Days by JohnClark: One of a series done on book pages in black and white lithographic style. His strange parade of girls, looking as if they’ve been taken from MySpace profile pics, are lent a certain poetic quality by the stark contrast and the words deliberately chosen to show through the art.


Watering Can by KellieDrawsPictures: Perhaps the least morbid of the wonderfully strange illustrations offered by this artist. I love the use of picture-book-style illustration with decidedly un-childish subject matter.


The Pianist by LaurenCastillo: A little more bright and colorful than my other picks, this illustration depicts one of my favorite pastimes, and has a wonderfully imperfect character like those created by Norman Rockwell or Lynn Johnston.


Just a Little Poot Nerdy Birdy by Tsaifi: So adorable and so very, very odd! I love the girl – somewhere between Holly Hobby and a sixties pinup – and the strange concept of nerdy, farting birds.

Etsy Couture

Etsy.com has for years been one of my favorite places to window-shop. As one who prefers the unique over the trendy, the creative over the mass-produced, the atelier over the sweatshop, I find myself drawn to the creations of these kindred-spirit artisans.
Etsy does not just carry creations of hobbyist seamstresses who whip up an apron in an afternoon (though there are many of those, too); it is also a marketplace of up-and-coming couturiers, one-of-a-kind jewelers, and brilliant artists. One may find thousands of products for mere dollars, but also mind-blowing works of art that carry price tags of four, five, even six digits. These are, of course, beyond my lowly indie-rock-star pocketbook’s depths, but when I start selling hundreds of thousands of albums…
As this is my current obsession (and, dear reader, you know how these things cannot be predicted nor scheduled), I am going to showcase a few of my favorite products on Etsy.com for the next few (two? Fifty? Who knows?) posts until the next obsession obliges a change in subject.
Today: runway-worthy dresses.
By Attilladesign: the whimsically-named Summer Fling Barbarian Hybrid Tutti Frutti Mini Dress. Grandma’s house, circus freaks, Amazons and flappers in a science experiment gone horribly, horribly right.


By Brooch: Those nice Amish ladies would faint over this use of a quilt. A little bit of the Far East crossed with the Old West, remixed into a very modern, avant-garde shape.


By Clairelafaye: I can just imagine Bette Davis, a bottle of brandy, and a tragic ending. Or, if you prefer your glass half full, Nora Charles making witty quips to her charming husband as they go to sleep in their adorable twin beds.


By Fcp Cares: Though none of the ideas in this dress are entirely new or unique, something about the way they are used together, the precision of execution, and the vibrant color make this piece quite stunning.

By Kate Towers: There is quite an art to texture, and an innate luxury in something that obviously took countless hours to build. The smoky color is an ingenious choice that makes something pretty and feminine where a bright color would just be chaotic, cha-cha-esque, even monstrous.


By Toolgrrl: Called the Scapular art dress, this is one in a series of recycled vintage slips-turned-artwear. Each piece is based on a bit of an anatomical drawing, executed in a manner that feels only slightly morbid in a beautiful, exciting kind of way.