Victorian secrets

My partner recently confessed that he loves the kind of antique furniture with secret compartments, and so do I. Apart from the obvious use of the hidden cavities (secreting illicit love letters, or precious jewels), there is the opportunity to imagine all sorts of mischief that could arise from having access to one of these drawers. Of course, the ultimate secret compartment is the Bat Cave, or Thunderbird Island, but it's much more realistic to dream of owning a Georgian escritoire or cabinet.

Visualising

The weather has turned colder here in Sydney, so I've been thinking about making a pair of fingerless gloves to keep my hands warm while I type on my computer. I like the look of the wrist warmers in the two pictures I stuck into my visual journal (far left), but I want gloves that will cover my hands as well so I will add a thumbhole and a bit of extra length under the frill.

I've decided to knit the wrist warmers in 2 ply wool so they'll be light and lacy, and I knitted up a test swatch (above right) to see how many stitches I'll need to make each glove. Now I'm off to cast on, and take some photos as I go to share with my you. If you'd like to make a pair for yourself, I'll give you a link to buy the pattern from my Etsy store when I've finished writing it.

Our array of angry virtues

I recently read H. G. Wells' The Sleeper Awakes. Have you read it? I have enjoyed several of Wells's other novels but this one struck me as being even more prescient than usual. His description of the box with moving pictures (when the Sleeper first wakes) is especially interesting, considering that the science of moving pictures was still in its infancy and television itself was a good 30 or 40 years from being invented. He was also concerned about how the improvement in technology and lifestyle would affect the human psyche. Here's a quote:

"There is a lot left for me to understand," said Graham after a pause. "Yet I see the logic of it all. Our array of angry virtues and sour restraints was the consequence of danger and insecurity. The Stoic, the Puritan, even in my time, were vanishing types. In the old days man was armed against Pain, now he is eager for Pleasure. There lies the difference. Civilisation has driven pain and danger so far off—for well-to-do people. And only well-to-do people matter now. I have been asleep two hundred years."

If you've never read The Sleeper Awakes, I highly recommend it. I picked up my gorgeous cloth-bound copy at a secondhand bookstore, but you can also download it for free from Project Gutenberg.

Friday fashion parade

Loking for some steampunk-style inspiration led me to the wonderful illustrations of Brian Kesinger. His Tea Girls are so sassy and sexy! Take a look at his gallery to get some ideas of your own.

Op shopping

A recent trip to my local opportunity shop netted a few good finds for future steampunk-style craft projects. A wooden cane, begging to be steampunked; a couple of leather belts that will make useful straps (or belts); and a wooden clock that, once deflowered, will be a perfect addition to steampunk decor. My favourite find was the vintage atlas: a hardcover book with pages large enough to get my imagination working in all sorts of ways. Keep an eye on this blog for craft project ideas featuring these and other op shop finds in the near future!

Ecotech

Sustainable bamboo is used to make this stylish wireless keyboard and mouse. The woodlike texture of the bamboo keyboard gives it an air of originality: it's not quite steampunk style, but it's a step closer than plastic. At least until you get around to buying or making a steampunk computer. 

Pure Bamboo has a range of techy accessories as well as fashion items, all environmentally friendly.

Urban explorer's kit bag

 

The Urban Explorer's Kit Bag is complete. Made of faux suede fabric with a cotton ticking lining, the bag is approximately 40 cm (16 in) tall with a base diameter of 21 cm (8¼ in). There is one internal pocket that's just the right size for a smartphone, while a draw-cord closure and a cotton shoulder strap to make it easy to carry. 

You can make this bag for yourself: the pattern and instructions are available from my Etsy store for $5.00 (no shipping costs: online delivery). For readers of this blog only, you can get a free copy of the pattern by signing up to the Steampunk Style newsletter in the panel at right. The newsletter will let you know when other steampunk-style patterns are available, and will not be used for any other marketing.

If you like the Urban Explorer's Kit Bag, please visit again soon to see what interesting steampunk style projects I'll be making next.