My first dilemma
Expressing my personality with my new venture into jewelry making. Sounds obvious but I had a little difficulty deciding what kind of jewelry I wanted to make.
I haven’t made any in 5 years and things have changed. Silver is sky high!! Has anyone noticed? A lot of jewelry makers on Etsy & Artfire have. What I paid $7.00 wholesale 5 years ago is now $21.00.
What’s Steampunk?
I am a lover of the Victorian era and Art Nouveau so I was drawn to Steampunk at once. What’s Steampunk jewelry, you may ask? I didn’t know either but my 26 year old son told me all about it. It seems there’s a whole sub-genre thriving without my knowledge about a science fiction fantasy alternate reality dealing with steam.
This culture is based upon the premise that the steam engines remained premiere beyond the turn of the century and continued to evolve and dominate the 20th century. Think H. G. Wells and Jules Verne technology. This different world of futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them developed with steam energy taking center stage.
I guess you’re wondering what does this have to do with jewelry?
Well, Steampunk jewelry is based on this new surreal reality with brass & copper as its main metals of choice. Why? Because of steam engines. I watch a movie with my son and all the machines where made out of gears, pipes, tubes & fretwork that turned, cranked and looked very reminiscent of the Victorian era. And I fell in love all over again with the Victorians!
Then I went to Hobby Lobby and saw jewelry findings that looked very much like Victorian filigree. Like the gingerbread trim that the Victorians used to decorate their houses, the Art Nouveau swirls and curlicues in their jewelry and furniture and the lavish ornate details in their lace and clothing. I could not believe it.
I have found my voice for my new jewelry! It will be my personal interpretation of Steampunk.
I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to enjoy working with wonderful components that have been influenced from my favorite time period. I am having a blast melding my love of the Victorian era with my love of glass lampwork beads and creating jewelry pieces that are very special to my heart.
I’ll give you peeks at my jewelry as I create it!
Now for a little eye candy for Valentine’s Day!
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Patsy, I love these hearts! And I can’t wait to see where you go with your steampunk endeavour. I posted your bead soup yesterday! I hope you like it. :-)
Patsy, I love these hearts! And I can’t wait to see where you go with your steampunk endeavour. I posted your bead soup yesterday! I hope you like it. :-)