Wayward Dreams

2008-10-01T08:08:00.001-07:00

One thing I've wanted to see since I started selling back in April is to see the end result actually being worn and enjoyed. Just in the last week, I've started to get responses back for that wish.

This is a message I received from the buyer of the Submariner goggles:

I thought you might like to see these photos of your goggles at the Dances of Vice Festival II last month. :) They were quite a hit, I got lots of appreciative comments on them.

Hooray, your goggles on MTV. ;)http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1595808&pid=3142489

These pictures are from a great photographer we met at the event, Steven Rosen. (http://stevenrosenphotography.com/)

They came out so well, I ordered prints of several of his photographs.http://www.karstenrutledge.com/pics/MontaukGoggles1.jpg

http://www.karstenrutledge.com/pics/MontaukGoggles2.jpg

Also if you go here: http://www.dancesofvice.com/gallery.html on the first row of pictures, 4th picture.

Regards

Here's the MTV photo in case you can't pull it up:

How fabulous do they both look? I'm coveting that gown.

The other photo came from a custom job I did. To preface this, she sent me this sketch so I would know exactly what she wanted. The end result is on the right.

And here she is wearing them. She said she might take more pictures later, so I may be updating.

I'm hoping to get enough client photos to make a section on my webpage dedicated to it, so if you happen to be reading this and have something by me in your closet or drawer, I'd love it if you scheduled a photo session!

2008-09-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted any of my work here in a whil.e I've gotten into masks lately. They're all leather, with a steampunk sort of vibe. Screws, springs, dials, clocks, chains, vents, oh my!

2008-09-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

My sister's photography from Eastern State Penn. It's a mix of carefully lined shots and thrusting your hand through an open grill and snapping a picture to see what's around the corner.

I'll be back to write in commentary in a bit.

2008-09-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

Some people celebrate Labor Day with hot dogs and beer. Being the type of person I am, it was celebrated with something of a momento mori trip to Philadelphia.

We started off at the glorious Mütter Museum, which is an offshoot of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. If you've never heard of it, it's a collection of examples of medical oddities-bones and dried parts, photographs and wax models. Most of it is a throw back to days when collecting skulls was a gentlemanly hobby, and obtaining medical samples smacked more of grave robbing than anything else. For example, they had a copy of the Irish Giant, Charles Byrne's, death mask and made mention of John Hunter obtaining his body for dissection after death. They didn't go into the details (this actually, is a less lurid description than some I've read, which had Charles actually hunted and stalked prior to dying by anatomists hell-bent on being the first there and calling "dibs" on the poor guy's bones)

The museum doesn't allow pictures, so forgive me for borrowing some from online to give a general idea. It seems most others have snuck pictures, so the quality I'm finding is questionable, at best. Almost the whole place is outfitted with hundred year old cabinets with brass pulls and warped glass. The two newer exhibits seem out of place and just don't hold your interest in comparison. Photography and germs? Give me some good old fashioned tumors in jars.

Ah, and you'll be so inundated with bits and pieces of previously living things. A few semesters of biology/anatomy/physiology will do you well here, as the amount of information they give you varies greatly from display to display. One shelf will have a lengthy write up on corrugated plastic that outlines everything from the biography of the patient to the prognosis to the treatment. The next shelf will just have some withered thing only annotated with a faded scrap of paper and one or two Latin words inscribed by some long dead hand. You either pass over those displays, or crane your neck wondering what is it? Where did it come from? Jesus, have they found a cure for that yet?

Actually, after a while, you become a little numb to the ailments you see. Unlike the Bodies exhibit, where the focus is on anatomy and the human condition as a whole, this museum is more about the limits of what can go wrong. When you turn a corner from an exhibit featuring horribly deformed figures and see a wax limb with a commonplace ailment like, say, arthritis, it's almost a shock. (Or, alternatively, you feel like the wax form is unduly complaining compared to the plight of it's neighbors). The fact that you're staring at a two headed baby in a jar and it's almost par for the day is unnerving. I left feeling strangely healthy. Yes, stuff is wrong with me, but it's not that bad, and at least it doesn't show.

I've read up on most of the major exhibits--the soap lady, the conjoined twins display, the giant colon (more giant than expected), etc, but I still found a lot of little things to intrigue me. I loved the skull collection. You could look at each one and tell the difference between it and the face next to it. The death and religion of each was posted, along with sometimes hysterical brief observations ("short skull, small face"). There was a small historical forensic exhibit at the entrance, and they had two entire doctors offices set up. I decided, hygienic or no, I would respect a doctor behind a mahogany desk long before I would one behind a melamine counter.

The best part is the other guests-no matter what you pigeon hole the average guest of the Mutter as being, you're wrong. There were austere-looking old academics and trendy hipsters, there were students and couples, there were even whole families bringing along the kiddies. (Mommy, what's that?) Some looked nauseous, some looked bored, some were interested. One woman kept breaking into tears. I guarantee you couldn't get this crowd in the same room otherwise.

Apparently, this sort of museum was historically popular with Victorian gentlemen, and their visits had the reaction of sparking a hypochondriac reaction. (Remember, this is the age when common knowledge stated syphilis could be cured by sex with a virgin. Probably the wax sculptures of horrible facial scarring that stated otherwise sent the poor men into fits in their too tight waistcoats) There actually used to be doctors on hand to check you out afterwards, to give you a clean bill of health from all the horrors they had just willingly toured. Anymore, you sort of check off from a list all the diseases you saw that can now be easily cured, and feel relieved at the lengths we've made. Then, you think of the small percentage of people who actually have access to those lengths, and the horror sort of re dawns.

Afterwards, we headed to the Eastern State Pennitentiary, but I'll save that (and the fabulous accompanying photos) for another post.

Wow, someone noticed me

2008-08-07T12:02:00.001-07:00

Despite my being terribly quiet lately, I was featured over at another blog, Miss Malaprop.
Check it out http://www.missmalaprop.com/2008/08/taking-flight/

Well, here's a problem.

2008-07-24T10:36:00.001-07:00

I had seen myself at this point having my website up, running and everything fully realised.

I'm sort of mad at myself for not making this a reality. I have the layout of the website, mostly finished merchandise, but mostly here's my problem.

The move has been problematic and these are pictures of my new bedroom and bathroom.

It's a bit drafty, as you can tell. Things are behind schedule thanks to a plumber who could care less about us, but dad and I are working hard as I can.

Of course, this means that my time is spent laying tile and ripping walls apart rather than sewing and leatherworking, which is bad for my business.

Why goggles

2008-06-22T14:41:00.001-07:00

I do make other things, although it may not seem that way now, perusing my site and gallery. I'm just focusing on them now, hoarding back other items to spring on the world at the right moment, when they last expect it.
So why on earth did I start off with goggles as my primary focus? There is some logic in my madness (albeit some madness in my logic).
When I sort of discovered steampunk for the first time, it was wonderful. There's nothing like finding out that disparate interests and focuses are actually crystallized into a bizarre subculture which not only has a name, but members who don't think you are insane for loving clockworks and corsets. It's a good little community for me, and when you find something like this, you look for that icon to hone in on.
I'll admit. I only have the vaguest idea why that icon has become goggles for steampunkers-aerialists keeping bugs out of their lashes and mad scientists aside, it's sort of a bizarre token. But a pair of goggles shows you're "steampunk" better than any other item. Personally, I went in a week's time from barely ever thinking about goggles, to desperately needing a pair to have a happy life.
But there were so few places that had decent pairs! I wasn't about to spraypaint plastic. If goggles are indeed the hallmark of a steampunk, having cheap, bad goggles shows that you're just a bad steampunker. I needed the real deal--leather, brass.
It took me almost a month to make my first two pairs. (One went to an online friend.) Goggles are sort of a microcosm of costuming-you can put personality into them and give the idea of a character in a small space. I loved making them, and started selling them.

2008-06-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

Made the front page of etsy for the first time, which is fabulous. Sadly, I lack a screenshot, but that's life.

More importantly, I bought waywarddreams.com My motives are equally so that no one else takes it as it is wanting a webspace. I want to whip together something to toss up on the site to hold it, so that it isn't barren, and I'll work on a more useful page.

Materials and findings

2008-06-13T08:52:00.001-07:00

I seem to be getting a lot of questions about where I get my materials for my goggles--not here, as I'm getting no traffic on my neglected blog, but I'm getting emails and hits over on my deviantart page, on brass goggles and through my etsy. I figure it may be wise to just answer in one fell swoop here, rather than retyping an answer.
I will say one thing: I have spent a lot of time specing out sources and will continue to do so. If I'm a little oblique on one or two points, it's because I did a lot of legwork and choose to play some cards close to my vest.
Leather:
My leather comes from two main sources. I shop at Tandy, which has stores across the US, as well as a website, http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/ I've found the Tandy close to Harrisburg to be fairly impersonal and difficult to shop, but the one in the Lehigh Valley to be much better shopping if more poorly stocked in actual leather.
I also shop at a fabric store near Harrisburg called PA Fabric Outlet, which sells hides with defects for a slight discount. It's thanks to this that I can keep my prices lower, and I'm just careful to cut around any discoloration, holes, etc in the leather.
Buckles, rings, hardware, etc
I love PA Fabric Outlet for this as well, although their stock is sometimes touch and go. It's one of the few places where you can buy just one D ring. I find Tandy to be overpriced, unless you are buying in a large bulk. I've bought a bulk online as well from Ebay, but that site in general makes me wary because I've gotten burned on a few transactions (very common in the crafts section)
Hobby shops occasionally have rings, buckles and connectors sitting around, although I avoid chain hobby stores. Privately owned stores are much better for bizarre selection--I make us stop when we pass anything on road trips.
I also make a point to stop at small mom and pop hardware stores (the grimier and older looking the better) as they tend to have strange brass bits with unknown purpose lying around in cardboard boxes. At a flea market, I found some brass triangles that were far too lightweight to be horse ties. In other words, some of the more interesting pieces are just a matter of keeping your eyes open.
The ultimate idea though is that it's possible make almost anything out of brass yourself--my dad is a genius for figuring things out. He has a jig worked out for the eye piece rings that fit my lenses.
Decorations
A combination of flea markets, online, and prying things off of other broken old things.
Lenses
I debated originally making lenses from glasses, but opted against it for one reason. Goggles spend a heck of a lot of time dangling from people's necks and I worried a lot about them bumping against things and cracking. Because of this, I use acryllic for the lenses, which I cut myself.

All in all, I spend hours of legwork before a piece even starts to be constructed, it makes each of my pieces unique.

Just a pipe dream...

2008-06-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

The latest acquisition to the antique/artifact collection is a doozy.

Turn of the century solid ivory opium pipe. It's hard to photograph properly, but the silver end pieces are gorgeous, and the whole thing has line carvings covering it. It's obviously been used. There's... residue.

I want to have photo shoots at some point. There will be no end to my props.

2008-05-15T18:52:00.001-07:00

I recently joined the SteamTeam over at Etsy. An entire team dedicated to selling and promoting Steampunk items. Fantabulous!
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title&search_query=steamteam

2008-05-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

I sold EVERYTHING in my shop.
EVERYthing
everyTHING
I have an empty shop, and, with no digital camera, no way to fill it up.So, it means that I'm taking a shop break, and focusing on making things and working on doing some packing for my impending move.When I come back, I want a nice full shop with lots of fabulousness.

The week of steampunk?

2008-05-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

Early this week, I grabbed my first treasury on etsy-a treasury is a compilation of other seller's work that you admire, and they are terribly difficult to obtain. I dedicated it to steampunk, of course, and ended up being featured on the front page of the site, which is HUGE. You can snag a peek at the page over at TotusMel's (one of the artists I featured) page:http://http://totusmel.blogspot.com/2008/05/thats-what-i-get-for-sleeping.html
So hurrah, but in my internet travels, I happen to see a few other steampunk themed front pages. Hm, my little gray cells go, mayhaps it wasn't that I selected a fabulous collection of items and arranged them aesthetically, perhaps it is that I had chosen a theme that they had already decided to feature.
But the exposure of steampunk seemed increasing as well, according to this: http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/bg-forum/index.php?topic=8702.0 its seriously spiking in interest.
And finally.... this.
Ladies and gentlemen, steampunk is in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/fashion/08PUNK.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
So, how do I feel about it?
Give me time, I'm digesting the issue.

2008-04-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

New goggles with a side "telescope". All leather and brass, as always. The lenses are amber, the telescope has a clear domed lens. Millimeter sized rivets across the sides.

Available: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11387247

Adventurer goggles

2008-04-27T12:05:00.001-07:00

A new pair of basic goggles. Drab olive green and distressed burgandy, with all brass fittings. The lenses are dark gray. Available, as always in my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11337109

Two new pieces!

2008-04-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Borrowed a camera again, so that my poor little etsy shop doesn't sit empty.

This pair was sitting around for a little while, partially finished, so I finally get to share. Stitching on the side in contrast black, millimeter rivets, clear lenses.

Here's what my straps look like, if anyone wonders.
Monoggle--my first experiment into adding fun bits and pieces onto the sides. I want to create more of a cybernetic sort of feel. The side viewer has a red lens, the main lens is green. The straps are decorated with domed spots.

2008-03-29T15:59:00.001-07:00

Goggles goggles...

Actually, I love this pair quite a bit.

There's two types of leather, a smooth, almost burgandy warm brown and a textured expresso color. The sides are both decorated and fixed together with rivets and accented with brass spots. Two square fixtures attach the wide straps, which are subtlely accented with branded lines. The back closes with a brass buckle and brass eyelets. The eye edges are soft for comfort and the nosepiece flexes for a better fit.

Eyelet goggles.

2008-03-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Playing with a few new ideas here. Each side has three brass eyelets which are accented with two alternating lines of my signature millimeter eyelets and rivets. The eyepiece itself is fixed with four protruding brass screws which give it an interesting industrial, almost nautical look. The lenses are clear and there is an extra long nosepiece. SOLD

Monoggle

2008-03-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

My first piece online. This monoggle is two toned leather, all brass fittings, highlighted with two large brass spots, tiny millimeter sized eyelets, and a thick leather strap. The edges are soft to conform to face shape, and the side brass fixtures swivel to fit a variety of head shapes.