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Steampunk Charms

Launch gallery slideshow

Group:Steampunk Dandies
Swap Coordinator:KatarinaNavane (contact)
Swap categories: Jewelry  Accessories  Art 
Number of people in swap:11
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Rating requirement:4.90
Last day to signup/drop:September 29, 2010
Date items must be sent by:October 29, 2010
Number of swap partners:5
Description:

Back in March @tiaragoth hosted a public version of this one which I had a lot of fun with (even though I got flaked...twice...oh well)--I have her permission to do this one, and will be using a little of her swap description.

For this swap you will be making one steampunk charm for each of your five partners. That way by the end of it everyone will have a variety of charms made by other people for their charm bracelet (or whatever else they want to use them for.)

Anything goes as long as the charms incorporate the steampunk theme and are durable enough to wear on a bracelet. The charms can be made from scratch using whatever you like, be it metal, beads, watch parts and gears, clay, felt, shrink plastic, fimo, wood etc. Or, if you prefer, you can alter existing items such as bottle caps, scrabble tiles, dominoes, poker chips, chipboard shapes, pendants, and vintage lockets by embellishing with the appropriate imagery and anything else you fancy. As far as size goes, I'd say as long as it's bigger than 1/2 inch it's fine. Don't forget to put a jump ring (or similar) on your charm! Spend time on these and make something really great that you would like to receive.

I shouldn't have to define steampunk for you guys, right? But I will provide one small caveat--it's not just about the gears! Gears are great, but just involving gears doesn't necessarily make something steampunk (and a gear with a jump ring does not a charm make!) Just something to keep in mind when you're making these. You have a full month for this, (longer if you sign up early) so you have plenty of time to do a really good job.

Discussion

Ereshkigal 09/12/2010 #

I can make "eye beads" and other types of lampwork glass beads. What types of beads would qualify as steampunk?

KatarinaNavane 09/14/2010 #

Good question! It'd be hard to make a single bead that was distinctly definable as steampunk, but if I were you I'd start by looking into glasswork actually made in the victorian era and the styles of Victorian jewelry. In this case thinking about patterns inspired by clockwork or other mechanical designs might be a good idea.

It's up to you of course but I can't help but consider what I would do (I used to do lampwork but don't have the setup for it anymore sadly). I would probably start with a black bead and use a stringer of that goldstone glittery-glass to form patterns inspired by the ornamentation on the movement of an elgin watch.
Man I wish I still had a lampwork setup, that would be so much fun!

breccamerie 09/23/2010 #

Ereshkigal, I would use the lampwork beads not as focal points in your charms but maybe as a means to frame something else. Also there is a way to do 'petals' in glass by making a basic disc bead and then cutting the glass into petals. You might be able to produce a gear like bead using that method. You might also consider bottles in glass if you produce those. Maybe adding a little metal tag with it that might denote something steampunk like. I also do glass beads and think getting a charm with your work would be awesome!

KatarinaNavane 10/18/2010 #

Note: I already emailed everyone about this but just in case, as cafebrulot has been fully suspended, everyone who was supposed to send to her will be sending to her partners. Everyone should have the necessary addresses. If you were supposed to receive from cafebrulot, please be sure to thank the person who you will be receiving from as you will not be able to give them a proper rating. I apologies for any inconvenience, but this seemed to be the best solution.

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