Creative Streak

EDIT: This choker is SOLD!

While I wait for the next batch of lanyard supplies to arrive, I am experimenting more with non-commissioned work. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc. Unfortunately, as I was taking pictures this morning my camera battery went mysteriously from fully charged to fully empty. D'oh! I snapped a few shots of this necklace before the battery gave out; I hope to capture the rest tonight or tomorrow.



European 4-in-1 in jeweler's brass and stainless steel. The clasp in the back is a brass-colored toggle, black beads throughout the choker, and the leaf pendant is glass. I found that leaf in a craft store ages ago, and it has been sitting in wait for the perfect design until a few days ago. I wanted something to match its size but still feel delicate, hence the small-gauge 4-in-1. It fits very close to the neck to mimic Victorian lace.

As I said, this piece was not a commission. It needs a good home! The price is $80. If you're interested, email me at jules at knittedsteel dot net and we can discuss the transfer of shiny rocks.

If I don't sell it before mid-May, the choker will be making an appearance at the upcoming Abney Park concert at Heaven Nightclub.

~P.S. I took a lint roller to the model bust. These things collect dust fast!

Inlay in the works

With all this talk of Steampunk and excitement of Steam-Con coming up in the fall, I've been getting a lot of ideas. One of them is another guitar strap, inspired by Abney Park's awesome crew and their beautiful instruments. I've had a few patterns come to mind so I whipped up the most basic one on some graph paper from Mailleworks (Side note - this is one of the most invaluable tools I have come across in the past few years. I used it for TwoTone's guitar strap and the Penny Arcade shirts). It is based on argyle, with the colors being created with different metals instead of anodized aluminum. The paint job is rough; it's just a concept after all.



Yellowish brown = nickel silver; brown = bronze; and grey = stainless steel. All three are, of course, exchangeable for different metals, which I might decide to do before I order materials. Still, I'd love to do another guitar strap and I'm in the mood for argyle!

Pic-Heavy Update!

I mailed in my SteamCon vendor application, and now all I can do is wait, and show off as much as I possibly can. This post focuses on the jewelry I submitted for the steampunk fashion show my friend Barret organized. I mainly used nickel silver, copper, brass, stainless steel, and some brass.

One note: I have noticed that a LOT of steampunk fashion revolves around clockwork, gears, widgets, gizmos, and old machine parts. I am avoiding that, for the most part. My goal is to bring more maille into steampunk, and for a simple reason. It is an old technology, an old fashion, brought into the here-and-now. It can be functional (need a strap for your goggles that won't break?) or fashionable. It is completely hand made, oozes creativity, and can be worn/used by any class of person. If maille isn't steampunk, then I have completely misunderstood this scene.

First up is this lovely. Stainless Steel necklace with findings from a local craft store. Sold to the lovely lady Sugar.


Next are a few earring samples. On the left is a stepping-stone pattern, on the right a byzantine drop holding some findings.


I know I just previously stated that I would be avoiding stuff like this, but hey. I was curious. And I wanted something dangly.


One of my favorites, Euro 4-in-1 on the bias in copper and nickel silver. I will be having more fun with this variant for sure!


Another favorite, this is an alligator-back bracelet I made for my friend Chris. Nickel Silver and Jeweler's Brass, it is broad and feels heavy but not cumbersome. He has been wearing it nonstop for a few months now, and I think the aging on the metals makes it look even better.


More to come! I have not yet ordered the next batch of lanyard materials due to nasty flu and ComiCon, but there is plenty of time yet before PAX. Cheers!