Showing posts with label goth. Show all posts

Steampunk-Goth DIY supplies on the cheap

Still on my Steampunk meets Goth jewellery creating theme of last week, which you can read about here, I decided to look around the house, the grocery store, and the hardware store to see what could be used to create original Steampunk-Goth pieces without costing a heap of cash, and without being mass produced jewellery components.

'Found items' from the house

To start with, anyone who knows me knows that I am into technology and work daily with computers, so it won't be a surprise to know I have quite a stash of old memory cards, old phones, wires and assorted computer bits and pieces including circuit boards lying around the house. These have been piled together and are ready for me to create with. Not only is this recycling it is also a cheap supply of jewellery components, as otherwise all these bits would have ended up in landfill!

Hardware Store

Oh my I have found Aladdin's cave! Here for purchase I find cheap copper wire, washers, nuts and bolts, soft metal tubing, industrial strength glue, and all manner of things that I can turn to good use for minimal cost!

My favourite find is these elbow shaped copper capillary joins that were in the plumbing section. (they are small and will be good to thread necklaces through as a kind of pendant bail)

Grocery Store

At the grocery store where I was purchasing potatoes to go with the salmon I am cooking for my husband tonight, I found these beer bottle caps. They are an antique gold tone, were super cheap for a massive bag, and I can think of heaps of ways I can use them to make jewellery!

Very happy with my stash, I can't wait to see what I can create with it! Stay tuned to future blog posts to see my creations.

What bargain finds do you have for your jewellery making?

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About Me: I work full time, I am also studying for a therapist qualification in Naturopathy specialising in Herbalism, I have a small craft 'business', I am co-admin of an auction page on facebook to help other small hobby businesses, i maintain my own 'store' facebook page, I blog at least once a week and I maintain a facebook page created to support small home businesses and hobby sellers

Steampunk musings

I just watched the last ever episode of WAREHOUSE 13, the steampunk, sci fi, fantasy, crime solving, adventure series from America. I was most vexed when I found out the show was no longer going to be made.

As well as the entertaining plots, the humourous dialogue, and the quasi historical artefacts, I really liked the steam punk feel of the show. The modern technology meets scrolls and filigree of Victorian bronze art... love it!

Steampunk is basically a fantasy sub culture of an alternate industrial revolution, where Victoriana with its flounces and fantasy art meets technology.

Two Steampunk artists and makers of jewellery I admire are Sassy Steampunk and Mad Scientist Designs. I own several of Sassy Steampunk's creations and have just ordered a steampunk bracelet cuff from Mad Scientist Designs.

Both these talented ladies own etsy stores and sell not only their one of a kind steampunk creations but steampunk supplies to DIY steampunk accessories!

Anyway I started thinking about steampunk jewellery offered on ebay, and how some of it seems to lack the grand flourishes of the style, seems to be not really understanding the origins of the art form and seems really rather cobbled together rubbish, although it features many a fuse or transistor. So I have been working on my own pieces.

I think I may venture more into creating steampunk designs as I am really enjoying the geeky creativity it inspires!

Below are some of the pendants I have made, they are a bit Goth meets Streampunk, and not solely steampunk.

Steampunk owl pendant

Steampunk absinthe faery pendant

Steampunk-Goth cameo pendant

Have you seen my Steampunk Meets Goth Pinterest board?

Follow Eliza's board SteamPunk Meets Goth on Pinterest.

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Blogs to follow

I enjoy reading blogs its like having a huge amount of free magazines and autobiographies to read. I learn, laugh, cry, along with the blogger.

Some of my favourite blogs at the moment are as follows:

Minerva Levinston: a digital artist. using a variety of media combined with digital edits to create some amazing images. She has free downloadables for people to print and use in their art journals and scrapbooks. Like me she is participating in the Documented Life Project, and that is where i discovered her blog. Like me she loves her coffee!! A very creative person with an interesting blog, please follow her blog you won't regret it.

This is CorpGoth: I really enjoy this blog as this lady works and is a Goth, like me she is in the big bad world of professional work places, and can find a happy medium between her self expression and her job. She posts some great pix of her fashion and she provides a glimpse into her life. Fun and interesting read.

Confessions of an Australian Goth: This lady blogs about her fashion style, her pets, her life. She is another great creative person who shows the world that us Goths are creative, good people!

More Nail Polish: this blogger lives in Canberra, she has the most amazing finger nails I have ever seen! She blogs about nail polish (obviously) and she does the most artistic manicures that have to be seen to be believed! She also reviews nail polish and publishes DIY so you can also try out the manicure styles she uses. I find her blog posts informative and entertaining, and the manicures are amazing!

Deep Midnight Perfume OIls: this lovely talented lady creates the most divine fragrances and sells them on etsy. She has a blog where she interviews other artists, helps to promote the work of others, and also talks about her perfume inspiration.

Do you have favourite blogs I should read? Please let me know by putting the links in the comments!

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ALPHABET BLOG CHALLENGE: L is for Lace, ribbon, fabric!

Today i am writing about ideas to use up one's craft scraps. I have the week off work for the holiday period, and we are sorting the house out, that includes my study of art and cra supplies! While sorting stuff out i noticed a huge box full of tiny scraps of ribbon, lace, and bits of fabric. Just about to throw the lot away, i had a thought, why not use these scraps!!

Firstly i did a stock take of what i had, from the mess in the box, i divided it firstly into colours, then subdivided them into type. The colours were mainly red, black, green, and purple and after the sorting I realised there was quite a lot of usable lace and ribbon there.

What did i make?

(I will post pix another time)

ROSE HAIRCLIP With some scraps of red velvet ribbon i fashioned a fabric rose, i attached some green satin fabric, cut into leaves, to its base, and adorned it with black lace. I then hot glued the rose i had made onto a hair clip!

LAVENDER SACHETS I had scraps of fabric netting, i cut them into neat circles, added some scoops of dried lavender, and gathered the edges up, and tied the lot up with lace and ribbon! Shoved in the drawers of my dressing table they look decorative, smell lovelyl keeping the contents of the drawers fresh, and keep insects at bay!!

HAIR BOWS with matching lace and ribbon i formed bows, sewed them so they didnt undo, and then attached them to snag free hair ties.

LACEY SOCKS i sewed lace edging to brighten up some of my socks, and added little ribbon bows to the lace!

Ok i could rave on and on here, but the point is, before you throw stuff away have a look at it, work out what is there, and use it! Use, reusue, upcycle and recycle!!!

What do you do with your crafting scraps? I'd love to hear your ideas! Please feel free to add your comments and share your ideas!

Posted with Blogsy

Alphabet Challenge: Happily Handmade Handcrafts

Up to H in my alphabet challenge blogs, and today's post is about Happily Handmade items, beautiful things made by clever artists.

Beaded Webs

There is an amazing artisan creating as Beaded Webs, who makes the most delciate and decorative wire and bead creations! Based in Queensland Australia, she works from home and sells from Facebook.

Starting off with wire sculpting and hand beaded web shapes, she has since branched out (excuse the pun) into tree of life shapes, as well as owls, bats, and cars. Her gorgeous bead and wire art is created in a variety of sizes such as large hanging decorations, pendant or keyring sized and medium sized beaded decorations.

I have purchased a purple, as well as a red and black beaded web from her and they are gorgeous! I also have two gorgeous bat beaded decorations that she made to order for me!

Beautifully made, and unique items, her online store is worth a look, and why not buy yourself something beautiful from her today!

Below are some pictures of her great pieces

Im sick, did i catch a computer bug???

Hi dear Batlings

It is Saturday afternoon, i am writing this missive from bed, while draped in bedding (and a small dog), and sneezing repeatedly, my throat is swollen and feels like i have been swallowing coals, and i hurt all over. Flu? Headcold? Computer virus????

Ok yes i do know that computer viruses arent going to make me sneeze, but follow my logic for a minute... If you dare...

i have spent the last three days at a conference about cyber crime, computing, IT security, malware, viruses, software bugs... There were many many people there ... Some were coughing and / or sneezing.. And there were late nights of geeky hilarity...

a bunch of humans shoved together for a few days is bound to mean a sharing of ideas, jokes, ?.. and the inevitable head cold virus....

To sum up... I was at a conference that in part spoke of computer viruses, and i have come home with a nasty cold... Therefore i attest that i have succumbed to a computer virus.. And it is making me sneeze.

And in othere news... I will blog more later about some arty projects im working on, plus stay tuned to my blog about the Egyptian mummy exhibition i attended last weekend.

In the meantime could someone pass me a tissue...? Aaaaaccchhhhhoooooooooo

Goth N Gorgeous Team Flier with DISCOUNT coupon codes!

A few of the goth n gorgeous etsy team have wprked together to create a flier to advertise their etsy stores, the images may be downloaded and printed if you wish to see them in hard copy!
they are designed to be printed double sided and then folded in a trifold style.

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

My recent purchases: check them out!

Hi my little Bat-lings,

sorry for my slackness in regards to writing anything the last few weeks. Work has been most busy, and while that is guarranteed to keep me out of mischief, it also chases away the muse of creativity.

Today I am writing about a few of the purchases that I have made of late from fellow etsy sellers. I encourage others to drop by their etsy shops and pick up a few things for yourselves or as gifts for others!

I have just ordered customised drop beads and some absolutely AMAZING lampwork bones from M1dnight Dreary. I am very excited about these, and will be eager to see them when they arrive, as I have plans to make some jewellery for myself from them! Have a look at her store. you will love what she has there. very very talented lady!

I have purchased three times from the lovely Ruth at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scarletrabbit She is a very creative, intelligent, kind person and her talent is amazing. I recommend her store for anyone looking for beautful quality hand made crochet accessories. I love my choker that I bought from her so much I wear it many times in a week, the same with the wristlets... They are only NOT worn on the days i wash them!
	I am also a repeat customer at Ghostgap's store on etsy, you can visit it by clicking this link http://www.etsy.com/shop/ghostgap Julia is such a lovely person, and she is so clever! She hand sews the most delightful trinket boxes, hair accessories and ornaments, The little bat trinket box I purchased from her is used all the time, and I have recently ordered another from her as I like it so much.
I am totally addicted to the gorgeous linden blossom scented faerie balm from Phoenix Botanicals ... thanks for that Irina!! I have ordered a few times already in the last few months, I am scared they will run out .. and then i will have to wait for a LONG time until I can buy some again! This delicately scented balm has so many uses, I use it as a lip balm before or instead of lipstick, i use it to soften cuticles, i rub it into the ends of my hair as a quick unfriz fix between shampoos! this is a beautiful balm, do yourself a favour and grab some!
	I am also a regular at the delightful Cat's gorgeous etsy shop where she creates and makes her own perfumes. Deep Midnight Perfumes is the name of her etsy store. She is happy to help you choose a scent that will suit you, and offers small sample packs at a very tiny price so you can get an idea of which perfumes you prefer so you know which ones to get next time. There WILL be a next time, once you have tried her perfumes you will never want to use any others! I love in particular the Samhain night; Children of the Night, Esmeralda, Druids of Awen, and Bats in the Belfry.. those are my faves.. but she creates so many delightful fragrances that I have as yet to try them all... I WILL be trying them all by the way.. as they are all lovely, and never disappoint!
I HAVE to show you this purchase my fiends! I have never owned a piece of 'steampunk' jewellery before, but this ring in Sassysteampunk's etsy store really appealed to me... Kim is great, and she makes the most intricate amazing pieces .. industrial revolution turned chic! No Kim, I am not turning steam punk... but this is a gorgeous ring and it had a lot of compliments when I wore it to work! Please check out her etsy store, you do not have to be steampunk to want the great things she makes and sells, I am proof of that!!

PLEASE do not forget to check out M1dnightDreary this girl is so very very talented. you will be amazed at her lampwork

Feel free to add comments and tell me about some of your recent purchases!
Thanks for tuning in guys.

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

Old and Uncool

Dear Batlings,

I am tired, not sleeping much at night, and feel really yuk. I in fact feel ancient, uncool, boring, unattractive, and like an unwanted heap of mushy peas on a plate. Which would be fine if you like mushy peas, but as it happens i abhor them!

i feel very old and dusty and hideously revolting as my birth day looms closer. Chronology does not usually bother me, however at the moment it is causing me a lot of self doubt and depressive thoughts.

I find a lot of humans to be:

too wild for me,
too loud,
too obnoxious,
too disloyal,
bitchy and unrestrained in nastiness
fast to take offence
full of resentment,
unable to take pleasure in the happiness of others
unable to love in purity and with genuine affection,
too out for themselves.

I am a tired, disillusioned Goth, that only wants my pets, love, kindness and nice people in my life from this day forward.

Addenda:

a friend on etsy shared this link with me, it is inspiring and good and all things that is right, please have a read http://www.lordtonymackenzie.com/desiderata.html

More from the Apothecary of empressbat

Dear Batlings,

I have become obsessed with tiny glass bottles, cork stoppers, and creating olde worlde apothecary labels. (I hope you liked my Antique version of ‘Old World’.. I aim to please)

Yesterday I bottled tiny satin bats to form my bottled bats essence of friendship bottles, today i have bottled a small brass key..the key of Fidelis, elixir of loyalty, and also I have bottled a tiny plastic spider, Bottled Spider Tincture of Happiness…

Maybe I need to go back to work??

I started cleaning our coffee table today, I found a bottle of glitter I had misplaced,… hmmmm glitter, resin, and ..some trinket, would look great in an apothecary jar…

Back to bottling found objects, I will check in again later.

In the meantime fiends, don’t be strangers, just be strange!

And in today’s news: bottled bats

Hi Fiends.
I am on leave this week, pottering around the house, husband is at work, pets are hanging out with me, and I am making stuff. Necklaces, clothes, artwork…
My latest fun project is making bottled bats!
Not as gruesome as it sounds my Batlings I assure you. I happen to like bats, in fact there is a colony of Pteropus alecto living across from our house.
No my dear Fiends, I am in fact embedding tiny fabric bats into glitter filled resin, and setting them inside tiny bottles!

Am I insane? … probably
Are the bottled bats cute? Indeed they are!

As yet I am not intending to sell my Apothecary bottled bats, as I have made them with the sole intention of giving them to the humans who are important to me, as special gifts in appreciation of their friendship.

Due to the mess inherent with using casting resin, glitter, glue, and tiny objects, I have managed to glue a bat to my forehead, get glitter on my husband’s shirt that I was ironing , and I fear I may have spilled resin on the table… but let us not cry over spilled resin, and hurry instead to wipe it up before it sets!!

empressbats special bottled bats apothecary

Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

Favourite Goth etsy stores (part 3)

Dear Fiends, here we come to part three in my series, 'favourite gothic etsy stores'. Please note that each of these store owners are part of the Goth n Gorgeous etsy team that caters for creative like minded individuals in the virtual etsy community.

Scarlet Rabbit

	Just look at these beautiful hand crochet designs made so brilliantly by Ruth. What a talented lady! I recently purchased from her and found her to be a really lovely person: she is talented, kind, and a delight to communicate with. Please look at her etsy store and buy yourself something from her elegant collection.

Sassysteampunk

	Yes i know..I am gothically inclined not steampunkilly.., but as we have said before dear Batlings, we do not abide stereotyping or discrimination in this blog! Just have a look at the great things Kim has made, and you will understand why she is included in this post!

LadyNocturna

	Prisca is another talented maker of gorgeous crochet items. She specialises in making Amigurimi toys, some of which are Goth! I have purchased one of her creations from her, a cute cactus character that will make a lovely edition to my desk at work! You need to have a look at her store and she also takes commissions through her Facebook page.

Favourite gothic etsy stores (part two)

The beauty of etsy is that one can shop from the comfort of ones nice ergo desk chair, and check out so many wonderful items hand crafted by talented people. Today for part two of my fave etsy shops review, I am choosing a few members from the goth n gorgeous team (*), not all of them specialise in gothic items, but their handicrafts are beautiful and will be a lovely addition to any Goth's home, jewellery box or wardrobe.

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(*) I created a team on etsy called goth n gorgeous, and we have really great active, talented members on board. I am the 'captain' of the team, and have appointed some cool etsians as leaders to help support and motivate the team. The leaders in the goth n gorgeous team have really funky shops please have a look at them: there is Jynxx; ghostgap, Lady Nocturna,deepmidnightbathery and UlZaorith.


.-"-.     .-"-.     .-"-.     .-"-.     .-"-.     .-"-.

ChicSomethings

The owner of this store makes elegant handcrafted accessories, sashes, shoe clips and hair clips to name a few. Although not goth her shop certainly can cater ably to the needs of us darkling bats... I personally have been checking the items she has that come in purple, black, or red... Please have a look at her etsy shop, you will be delighted at what she has on sale.

tragischefledermaus
German for Tragic Bat .. love it... this shop, Domus des Atrum Bella, has the most divinely hand painted coffin trinket boxes. The artist is friendly and happy to custom design one just for you!
I have recently been in conversation with her as I want a custom painted coffin trinket box from her store, she is so helpful and has the most amazing ideas. Please go to her etsy shop and have a look for yourself! what a perfect gift idea for the Batling in your life.

MadScientistsDesigns
Specialising in Steampunk jewellery and found objects, this seler makes amazing jewellery. Dont think its just for steampunks either (we do not like discrimination on this blog my batling friends), these designs are beautiful hand crafted artefacts that are made with care.

Yes my hair is purple

I have been me for as long as I can remember, My parents have nobody to blame but themselves when they allowed me at the formative years of my life to watch the original 'Addams Family' series. Even at 2 years old I thought their house was cool , i loved the carnivorous plant Cleopatra, and want to be Morticia when I grew up.

As I am in my cough 40s cough, I can safely say I am not growing out of this goth stuff any time soon...

I dye my hair black, with a purple fringe, lately I have black hair with an iridescent green fringe, I have many ear piercings, and a nose piercing, I tend to wear a lot of black, I really love animals, and kind people call me eccentric, lets not talk about the impolite specimens of humanity who have been known to hurl unprovoked insults at me as it is far to hurtful to talk about.

Of course, with my eccentricities, lace gloves and parasol, you may be wondering if I am in fact gainfully employed. Yes dear readers, I have a full time job, I am paid nicely for what I do thank you, and I enjoy it. I work in an internal fraud prevention field in computer forensics, and I am good at what I do, remain respectful to others, and I also am careful to not inadvertently insult stakeholders or colleagues by wearing or accessorising in a manner that would be unprofessional or inappropriate.

How do I do that and yet not sell out? Did I hear you snarl in my direction??

Well ask nicely and I shall tell you!

At work, I often wear plain black tshirts, black skirts (with lace, or in velvet, with ribbon etc), dark opaque tights, on frivolous days I may even wear fishnet tights to work, ... and I have good strong, reliable, Doc Marten boots. My hair is very long so I tie it up in pigtails or plaits, or on carefree days i have it loose and tangly and swirly!! I do wear chokers to work, but the ones I wear to work do not have spikes, will not take the eye out of my colleagues, and are usually velvet. I will wear lace fingerless gloves to work, and if it is very sunny I will take my parasol. In other words I 'downplay' my normal attire, in order to dress appropriately and professionally for my job, but I do not sell out.

Yes you can be a goth in the workplace.

You need to ascertain what dress codes apply in your job, and stylise yourself for work accordingly, even if you have a strict uniform, you can still wear a cool bat hairclip, or maybe some nice black tights and boots . Please do not be arrogant about your attire, and understand that in some instances your 10 inch spiked heels may in fact constitute a heal hazard at work, so save them for the weekends!

I would be interested to hear how others of my ilk manage to juggle being corporate wiht being goth. Please feel free to comment below!/

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

Just Discovered Artist Trading cards (ACEO/ATS)

I have just started doing quick 'art' pieces on thick cartridge cardstock that is 2.5" * 3.5", similar to the size of collectable trading cards. They are called ACEO or ATC.

ACEO = Art Cards Editions and Originals also known as Artist trading cards or ATCs are collectable once off piece of art works that began in the tradition of business cards, but with a personal, artistic and most of all UNIQUE twist.

Because they are the size of other standard trading cards, most will fit in trading card sleeves. They are meant to be unique and are not a mass produced product.

I will experiment with different media, I have just completed an acrylic paint ACEO of my zombie cat character, and will be working on other themes, images, and media as i experiment with ACEO.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4808983_collect-miniature-art-_aceo_.html

Freda the Fruitbat ACEO

Halftail the Cat ACEO

Greenwich the Zombie cat ACEO

Resin and how it sets

I use resin in some of the items i make, casting resin usually as it is strong, stays clear, and has a lovely finish to it. This type of resin will set eventually on its own...think 10 months or so in sunlight and air.... however to speed the process up one uses a catalyst. In this case i used a small amount of MEK peroxide to accelerate the process of heating and setting of the resin.

If I had ever been in any doubt about how hot the resin gets as it sets, I can assure you all, that subsequent to spilling a large blob of mixed resin on my hand... the heat generated is extreme and is fast to get to maximum heat.... resin in its liquid state is also highly corrosive... just as well i was the only human in the house at the time.. as i *may* have screamed like a bratty two year old, with the pain of the chemical burn on my hand....
even as it was burning me.. the first aid certified part of me was yelling in my head...'rinse with water rinse with water..quick' .. oh please do you really think i listen to myself????

After al that.. here is a pic of a necklace i made... it is a portrait of a character i have created called Greenwich the zombie cat.. set in resin topped with a glass cabochon and fixed to a satin green cord.

Why do weekends go faster than the working week?

Don't get me wrong, most of the time I enjoy my job, I work with computers and data a lot, and that is just right for me. On weekends I spend a lot of time designing and creating things, which I have a feeling I enjoy far more than my real job....

Weekends go super fast.. I am hectically drawing designs and working out what resources I need to realise my ideas into ..things... the weekend zooms past while I am engrossed in creativity.. and then suddenly its Monday morning.. and my husband yells out ' hey get up are you going to work' .. as he is already clothed and almost out the door to get to work..

If only I could put independently wealthy and could spend my days being creative.....

see my latest item, a bat gothic type messenger bag, on etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80573281/halloween-gothic-messenger-bag-with-bat

Also a nifty reusable notepad cover with mini notepad included
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80690181/halloween-bat-gothic-notebook-cover

welcome to my Blog

Years ago, when the www was kind of new and people were still in awe of this new fangled internet thing, I had started a web journal. I soon lost interest in it and went back to reading, playing with my pets, playing music, and making stuff.

This weekend I started to sell my hand made stuff on etsy, (/www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ) and it was then that I noticed people writing about all sorts of things blogging about their handicrafts, writing about their pets, sharing pictures, recipes etc....and whether what they say interests others or not, i suppose it is kind of cathartic to rave online to an anonymous audience. I figured I will try my little gothic paws at web logs.. or blogs once again... technology has improved so much since I first tried a web journal.. so why not give it a go!

Pages

'Found items' from the house

Hardware Store

Grocery Store

Beaded Webs