Livejournal user Bob_basset created this beautiful, if slightly intimidating, mask out of leather and brass.

..I suppose, even gimps are getting into the steampunk. I can't help but re-imagine that scene from pulp fiction..

Everyone has been sending me Telectroscope links! It's been well covered in the blogosphere so I wasn't going to mention it here but Datamancer just sent me a link to a Wall Street Journal video by Andy Jordan, the fellow who profiled Doc a while back. Enjoy!

The jewelry made by Flickr user The Justified Sinner does not, in fact, come with a painful jab to the arm; but is extremely beautiful. I would love to adorn myself in his creations- the rust and polish are SP's version of denim and lace.

Seen here is 'The Engineer' "A ring and pendant set made from old steel rule and engineer's socket." (the socket can be swapped back and forth).

That particular one is only my favorite by teensy weensy bit- My other favorite is this one; made from a rusted bike chain link and set with 'stones' made from bicycle reflectors. Though, to be honest, I want to hoard all  his rusty objects as if they were shiny.

My buddy Paul Cesewski (and former shop-mate/shipyardian) built this rail-car that tickles all my maker-buttons: made from recycled parts, can go fast, utilizes an obscure form of locomotion, has a good possibility of injury,  and serves no readily logical purpose other than to have a friken' great time.

This video is of him and cohorts riding said mobile on probably the funnest bit of abandoned railway around: the tracks look reminiscent of  'scary' rides designed to look dangerous, decrepit, and flimsy. But, you know, real. I especially love the part where the tracks are a good 3 feet off the ground. Unsupported.

I've been booked for the first ever California Steampunk Convention in Sunnyvale, California - October 31 through November 2! 

I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing but there is sufficient time to put together a really bitch'n presentation and/or demo!  I'll also be participating in a discussion panel or two.

In addition, some of The Steampunk Workshop's bestest friends will be there, and by that I mean Ann & Jeff VanderMeer the editors of Steampunk as well as those roguishly appealing pirates: Abney Park!

Discounted tickets are on sale now until June 15 for $50, they will be $60 thereafter.

Abney Park posing aboard the Neverwas Haul at Maker Faire 2008

My friend David dropped me a note a couple of days ago along with this photo of a telephone aboard a WW II era warship.  The phone is absolutely gorgeous! I particularly like the the anchor and rope motif in the brass escutcheon.

David goes on to write:

Check out this lovely old telephone from the USS Salem, CA139, noticed it on our sleepover on the ship. It has some lovely brass work on it, a little steampunky, don't you think ?

I suspect it was made on a custom contract for the Navy. The ship completed at the tail end of the war in 1945, and had many firsts, including air conditioning and computerized fire control. This was the first ship to have automated 8 inch guns,

. . .

Liam Mcnamara built The Clockworks for the Burning Man festival waaay back in 2005. A 3 story tall all wooden, working, click-tocking time-keepin' clocktower, and then burned it to the ground at the end of the week. Yes, even the clockwork gears were CNC routed out of wood. 

I'm not entirely sure what I am looking at here, but the 'Ordinator' by Flickr user Imajilon is a pretty sexy bit of workmanship. It's like some weird steampunk/psychedilic milkshake. I want to pull the levers and run my hands over the grill; expecting electrical shocks and vision quests.