Saturday Steam 5/5/12

This week one of my favorite artists, Doktor A, released photos of a gorgeous new toy prototype:

Her name is Bella, and the toys are due to be painted in gold and teal (see the mock up here). However, Doktor A also mentioned on FB that, "There is a plan for an all white version with Matte and Gloss areas and a random splatter of blood red." AWESOME.


And while I'm at it, check out my new favorite piece by the good Doktor:

It's called The Candy Factory, and it has sooo many drool-worthy details. The little glass bottles in the back! The two tiny mini-bots operating the hand cranks! THE CANDY! Click here to see the rest of the photos - they're well worth it.

And speaking of eye candy, check out the rare 1895 Ford typewriter featured over on Boing Boing:

Not quite as ornate as those ball typewriters, perhaps, but still impressive.


After a while, a lot of steampunk jewelry can start to look the same, but I'm really liking the shapes and chain draping on these necklaces:

Plus, with a shop name like Spanky Spangler Steampunk Creations, you know it has to be good.

(These two have already sold, but there are similar designs in the Spanky Etsy shop which range in price from about $33 to $48 - not bad!)



Just when you thought you'd seen everything anyone could *possibly* make with old watch parts, someone like Dmitry Khristenko goes and makes a mini motorcycle with 'em:

Almost everything you see here came from an upcycled wristwatch - even the seat is an old leather band!

This one even has a cute little hatch back:

Epbot reader Tahlia P. sent these images in via e-mail, and when I tracked them down to Khristenko's DevianArt page (where there are dozens more), I got another pleasant surprise.  Check out what Dmitry's making from watch bits now:

STEAM GRIFFIN!

He also made the most insanely complex and gloriously steampunk radio you will ever see:

Seriously, this thing has so many moving parts and switch-operated lights and built-in music boxes and spinning gears that the accompanying video showing them all off is TEN MINUTES LONG. Gaze in wonder, ye steamheads! GAZE! IN WONDER!!



Reader Kendra B. sent in John's favorite find this week: a bronze statue that's nearly three feet long called "Catfish Lily:"

By Nano Lopez

Granted, it's not hugely steampunk, but there IS a gear, so we're going with it. For John's sake. Besides, the embellishments have a neat found-object look to them that reminds me of our bird Schnappsie:

(More on Schnappsie here.)

Since one of our cats (my cat) is named Lily, and the statue has all those lovely teal and orange accents PLUS a giant gear, John has become thoroughly smitten with "Catfish Lily." So much so that he went hunting online for a price. Which is $7,800. So I told John he could just use that picture up there as a desktop image. o.0

And finally, here's the best steampunk Leia cosplay I've seen:

By Flickr user CaptainSparrow

Now THAT's a princess. Love it!

Oh, and remember that steampunk Portal gun from last week? Well, I heard from Duncan, the creator, who sent in a couple more photos of himself & the gun. Hit the link to see them at the bottom of the post!