Everything Else
News: A Do-It-Yourself Singing Tesla Coil Kit
I happened across this in my Steampunk Facebook group, and I had to share. A company called oneTesla is running a Kickstarter campaign for a DIY singing Tesla coil.
News: My Latest Steampunk Creations...
Wow, nearly 2013! This is the time I look back over my body of work in 2012 and assess where I am creatively. With large gaps in the year due to moving into a new studio and two extended hospital stays certainly took a toll on my productivity mid year. I'm really proud of the pieces I submitted to "The Antipodean Steampunk Show", an exhibition that will be touring for three years in regional Australia.
News: Get Steamdrunk with Steampunk... Wine?
It wasn't that long ago that we started seeing a variety of beers catering to the Steampunk crowd, so why not some wine?
News: Have a Little More Christmas in Your Steampunk
Religion is one of the most-ignored topics when it comes to Steampunk, which is surprising given how important religion was in Victorian England. Even the hot-button issues of race and gender are confronted with a greater awareness than religion.
News: Majestic Airship Needs Votes to Get Produced by LEGO
LEGO has not attempted a blimp, zeppelin, or similar airship since 1999, the 5956 Expedition Balloon which used highly specialized parts. This is unfortunate as these vessels are well and truly part of the pulpy adventure and steampunk scene.
News: Treat Yourself (Or Someone Else) to Steampunk Sex for the Holidays
A Steampunk's Guide to Sex was the subject of a recent successful Kickstarter campaign, and I now hold the finished book in my hands. As such, I can say (mostly) unreservedly that you should buy this book. Allow me to tell you why, before I get into the nitty-gritty about the book itself. Sex is something of an odd topic in America because it's perfectly legal, and yet taboo. Unlike things that are illegal and not taboo, like drug use, murder, theft, etc. What this means is that children can ...
News: Revisiting the Appeal of Steampunk in Light of Today's Tragic Shooting in Connecticut
This most recent school shooting, one of the worst in history, has devastated our country. That such an act can be performed not by a begrudged child, but by one or more adults, is nearly unthinkable.
News: A Small Survey of a Selection of Steampunk Santas
This post has been brought to you by the letter S. With the Christmas season fast approaching, it's time to ask one of the most important questions of our lifetime:
End of the Century: The Fin De Siecle's Role in Steampunk
With the new year right around the corner, it's time to talk about the end of the 19th century, a time which plays an enormous role in Steampunk. If you've done any reading of British books written from about 1890 to 1899, you may have come across the phrase 'fin de siecle' and wondered what it meant. You also may have come across this term in reading about the late Victorian era. No worries, I'll tell you all about it! Image by Giovanni Dicandia
News: Fun Wondering the Bookstore
So I was wondering around Barnes and Noble (which happens to be a very bad habit of mine) see what is new and just checking out the books. Granted I was also straightening shelves and tables as well, I used to work there and old habits die hard.
News: Treat Yourself (Or Someone Else) to Some Steampunk Music This Holiday Season!
Steampunk music is an oft-debated genre, full of bands playing all sorts of different sounds. While this can make it difficult to generalize about the genre as a whole, it means that the average person is bound to like at least some Steampunk bands. That's why it's a great idea to support some independent Steampunk bands this holiday season by buying their music for yourself, or sharing it with someone else.
News: Why Defining Steampunk Is Worthwhile
I've tried my hand in the past at defining Steampunk, but as anyone else who has made a similar attempt will tell you, there's a significant backlash from the community against working to create a real definition of what Steampunk is. That may sound ridiculous to some, but it's a very serious matter to others. With the recent announcement that TeslaCon 4 will be called the Congress of Steam, I think it's appropriate to talk about why all of this stuff is worth it. In this article, I'm going t...
News: Flow Chart to Make Something Steampunk
I can't argue with this. Source: Geekcentricity
News: The Best 3 Steampunk Video Games You've Never Heard Of
I can imagine you sitting there thinking to yourself, "I've played a lot of games! I bet he won't have any that I don't know about!" Well, that's entirely possible. I'm only drawing from my own personal experience here, so you may, in fact, know of all these games.
News: The 26 Best Online Stores for Steampunk Christmas Shopping
The holiday season is creeping up fast, and if you're shopping for a Steampunk, it could be almost impossible to find anything for them unless you know exactly where to look. Luckily for you, some of us have done all of the work you'll need. Whether you're Steampunk shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Chrismukkah (yes, that's real), Kwanzaa, or Festivus, you're sure to find something for that special lady or gentleman in your life by taking a stroll down this list!
News: A Free Steampunk Horror Short Story
Sometimes I forget that I'm also a fiction writer, so I thought it might be a nice change of pace to share one of my stories with you. I wrote this piece awhile ago for an anthology that never came together and I'm tired of just sitting on it.
The Black Dandy: People of Color in Steampunk
I just returned from a trip overseas and I came across this great article over at The Chronicles of Harriet about the role of black men in the evolution of Dandyism. Dandyism rose to prominence at the end of the 19th century, so there's a clear connection to Steampunk. I hope that many black men embrace the fashion and find their way into steampunk!
News: The 28 Best and Worst Definitions of Steampunk
Ever since the mid-2000s, there's been a lot of bandying back and forth on the Internet over what exactly Steampunk is. Some people think it's one thing, others another thing, and some think that it shouldn't be defined at all.
News: ABC's New "Last Resort" TV Show Might Be More Steampunk Than You Think
Is "Last Resort" Steampunk? Well, no. I mean, how could it be?
News: Steampunk Adventure Book About... Knitting?
I couldn't make this up if I wanted to. There's a steampunk adventure book about knitting, and featuring knitting patterns. The full title is "Needles and Artifice: A Refined Adventure Story with Ingenious Knitting Patterns". It's real! Just look at these pictures!
News: Fully-Articulated Steampunk Leg
I came across this leg piece on the internet made by Skinz-N-Hydez and I just had to share it. I see a lot of steampunk arms on the internet, but I don't often see legs. This one is really well done, and I love the construction and design.
News: Amazing Steampunk Restaurant in Poland
While this is pretty out of the way for people who don't live in Poland, this restaurant, Wodna Wieza, is really gorgeous!
News: Steampunk Your Halloween with These Creepy Steampunk Decorations
Since it's October and Halloween is fast approaching, it's time for a series of articles on how to make the coolest Steampunk Halloween decorations for your home! In this installment, we'll look at some jack-o'-lanterns, skulls, and a few other things that are easy to Steampunk, but will still keep that "spooky" Halloween feeling.
News: Why LEGO's New Monster Fighters Screams Steampunk DIY
For those who don't know, LEGO recently came out with a new line called Monster Fighters. This set is about fighting monsters, sure, but it's about fighting classic monsters in a Steampunk universe. Just look at this promotional picture from the LEGO site: That LEGO dude (properly called a minifig) is wearing a vest, pocket watch, bowler hat, and a mean smirk. Not to mention that he has a robotic leg. You won't find the word "steampunk" anywhere in this marketing campaign, but I call Steampun...
News: UK Chalet Used to Be a Mortuary
This ex-mortuary would make a fantastic setting for a steampunk short film or photoshoot, if the crew could avoid any ghosts that might be in the area.
News: Writing Is a Lost Art, but Not with This Steampunk Pen
Hardly anyone writes by hand anymore, but I would consider starting again if I had this pen.
News: New Bioshock Game Goes Steampunk in a Big Way
The trailer for the new Bioshock game, Bioshock Infinite, takes the series away from its dieselpunk roots and into the realm of steampunk.
News: Steampunk Comes to Children's Literature as Steamduck
Emilie Bush is about to release her second children's book, Steamduck Learns to Fly. With art like this, it has to be pretty steampunk! Maybe if the book is successful, I can one day buy my very own steamduck for my bathtub!
News: Ingenious Chain Clock Sinks Its Teeth into Steampunk
This clock is amazing, and I think I really need one. I wonder how hard it would be to just make one. It doesn't look that difficult in concept, at least. Might be tricky to get the timing right, though. Designed by Andreas Dober, this clock will only cost you a measly $2,338.
News: Get Ready for Steampunk Halloween with Steampunkin
I saw this on the internet the other day, and I thought it was great. I think I remember someone making a steampunk pumpkin sculpture a few years ago, but I really loved this one! It was made by Dolli's Rust Factory, and it's just the thing to get me in the mood for Halloween!
News: Beautiful Custom Steampunk Guitar
I've seen some pretty ugly steampunked guitars in my day, but this isn't one of them. This one's about as beautiful as they get. French company Wild Customs made this Gibson LesPaul into a steampunk masterpiece.
News: Botanical Robots Coming Soon to a Shelf Near You
I wish these robots were real, but alas, they're simply the brainchild of Barry McWilliams, an artist who wants to make a book about them. His Kickstarter for only $5,000 is now fully funded, so the book will be coming soon. There's still a lot of time left in the fundraiser, so consider visiting and contributing anyway!
News: "Steamdrunks" Cocktail Book for Steampunks Now for Free!
I just saw that the book Steamdrunks, containing 101 steampunk cocktails and mixed drinks, is on sale for... free! Provided that you have a Kindle.
News: The Top 10 Steampunk Music Videos
"Jef with one F" from the Houston Press compiled a list of the 10 best steampunk songs, but it's really a collection of the best steampunk music videos. There are some amazing videos in the collection, such as this one, "Brass Goggles" by Steam-Powered Giraffe. It's not the best-looking, but it's a great performance.
News: Was Edison Sexy? Hollywood Thinks So
The show doesn't have a name yet, but a TV show following a "sexy" Thomas Edison is developed by NBC. Edison is best known for being the inventor of the light bulb, but is the subject of much controversy in the Steampunk world due to his less-than-savory business practices and poor treatment of contemporary Nikola Tesla. Would you watch a TV show about a hip, sexy Edison? I would, but I wouldn't like it.
News: Steampunk Lara Croft Cosplay from Tomb Raider
Even most non-video gamers know who Lara Croft is, thanks to Angelina Jolie. The movies were pretty awful, but even I'd go see the next one if it looked like this: The photos are from LJinto. And the character design is from Tess Fowler.
The Anachronist: A Crowd-Funded Steampunk Film About Time Travel
I guess it's steampunk film night, because there's another film out there in the works, though this one is trying to raise money via Kickstarter. The promotional animation that they have up on their kickstarter page is pretty awesome, and from what the director had to say, it sounds like it would be a really cool film. Go over there and check it out, and if you like to contribute to the indie scene, give them some money!
News: Upcoming Steampunk Horror Film, the Mechanical Grave
We could use some more cool steampunk films, and this one looks like it has pretty high production values for an independent thing. So far as I'm concerned we can use more steampunk horror, too. I love that stuff.
News: Hands-Free Steampunk Cell Phone Bracer
Need your hands free, but still want to use your cell phone? Tormented Artifacts has the solution for you, with their Communication Bracer. It's a custom-made leather bracer which fits standard smart phones and covers them with an easy-to-open leather flap so that you don't have to ruin the illusion of your steampunk outfit but still have your phone in easy reach.
News: Amazing Steampunk Claw Glove
This claw glove by Curiomira, called "Von Richt's Mechanical Glove" is really, really impressive. In addition to the amazing craftsmanship, it also has cool moving parts that make it look mesmerizing in action.