...opening a shop on Etsy. So on December 30th 2007 I opened 'The Grand Design' http://www.cjgrand.etsy.com (The name is not an ego trip, Grand is my maiden name;) Lately I've discovered a new obsession, Steampunk Jewelry. I was inspired to make some for myself but, again, I just didn't know when to stop. I've had so much fun with it that it has taken over a large part of my shop. I am now a proud member...

...in her new upcoming Rogues of Axiom form... get excited for that, it's coming soon ;D 2. Some of you may recognize this as the sketch for Elsa's birthday present, seen here. 3. Early sketch of my steampunk costume, which I'll be making for A-Kon this year. Her name is Rowena Payne, and she's the slightly-off-the-tracks electrician. 4. Random watercolor of Shirix... 5. I retaliate against Dan. 6...

...enjoyed working on this little make believe device of violence. Anyway, I am always on the "good guy" side... you believe me, right?... Here are two pictures of the finished modified Nerf steampunk gun. I am rather pleased with the way it turned out. Some brass and copper and silver paint over that bright yellow plastic turned it into a mean machine. Brown and rust paint to antique it gave...

I love old-timey rayguns. And I really enjoy Wired . I wish I lived in the Bay Area. It seems like so much cool stuff goes on there. *sigh* Must go sleep before another night shift. I suppose shouldn't really be making important decisions on 3 hours sleep.

...stuff lately.  Poor boy is seriously close to the exhaustion point. I've been sleeping 11ish a night lately and had a fever yesterday, which I'm hoping will pass by the weekend.  I'll be attending the Steampunk Convention in Sunnyvale, CA and doing a lot of interviewing as the Electronic and Western Frontiers Correspondent of the Steampunk Spectacular Podcast.  Finishing up my petticoat today for under...

Or, how to craft a keyed flux channel for your aetheric jumpship. (This is part four of a how-to series. Start at Part 1 !) The Wooden Cane Now we're back to some rather mundane crafting...inside of the tube. The End Result Glamour Shots: For those who stuck around for the how-to, thanks! I hope you enjoyed seeing it come together, and maybe found a little inspiration

Bustle Bat The post is about the bat outfit with bustle that a young lady created, and she's included the inspiration picture, a fashion plate from 1887.

...the computer w/ the creation of a single large computer due to network... this would make a good experimental/futurist "historical" creative essay, will pursue) + I feel that it's inevitable to consider steampunk when riding this train of thought -- not just because I am endlessly intrigued by the aesthetic, but because it's a great example of a NEXUS POINT (new buzzword in this Div III) that is part...

So the guys are all done except for ties and cravates, here's my costume...it looks better on the dress dummy:-) The bolero is made out of cotton jacqard with linen lining, and silk velvet piping...go ahead and make the waist cincher. Here it is at work.  My husband is doing the carving of a phoenix breaking out of a gear.  Yep...Clockwork Phoenix is born.  There'll be an Etsy page soon.  

... Mt. Sinai, NY somewhere. XD Photos taken and touched up by myself and Lachlana. Next up - Steampunk pt1 Location: Halloween Party Photos touched up by Lachlana and I. More to come to add to the latter pile after this weekend. X3 We're so stupidly happy with these outfits...