Steampunk Emporium Book Review and Giveaway

Contest is closed.  The winner is (taking into account, several repeat comments)

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Kim Redden who said:

I have always loved trinkets and gadgets, adore buttons of all sizes and shapes, and all types of watches and clocks. The little gimmicky do-dads on things just make me buy them. To be able to put these items together in jewelry creations just blows me away. With some guidance and ideas some truly fantastical pieces could be created! Your give-away is an inspiration! Thank you!

Kim, I'll be contacting you for your address to get you your book. Congrats everyone.

 

Back in December I was contacted by Interweave/F+W Media, On Sale Now about 3 books I was wanting to review.  Nicole Miller and then Tommy Semosh e-mailed me and sent me the book Steampunk Emporium by Jema "Emilly Ladybird' Hewitt.  Miss Emilly Ladybird, Adventuress, is Jema's steampunk alter ego.  She travels the world searching out artifacts for her employers, Dickens and Rivett.  She lives among the rolling hills of Derbyshire in the United Kingdom with her husband.
I've been interested in Steampunk Jewelry for a while, but wasn't quite sure what all it involved and how to make it.  But this book has been very interesting.  The intro on the front cover says "Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Curios".  Although I'm not really into Science Fiction (which is what I would describe this book as) it was a very interesting read.  Jema Hewitt has written this book as 'Miss Emilly Ladybird'.  You will follow 'Miss Emilly' in her harrowing antics as she records her adventures with intergalactic space pirates, undersea voyagers and Jurassic explorers.  As she encounters each of these, she will make jewelry to dazzle you from 'keys, devices, jewels, etc.' all given to her or found by her on her travels.  She uses a wide variety of gems, cogs, lace, suede, polymer clay, resin, bezels, etc. to design wonderful Steampunk jewelry.  There is sure to be something in here to catch your eye.  Two of my favorites are "Clockwork Princess's Chatelaine" and the "Cog Button Choker", both very unique pieces.  In the back she has an appendix of "Useful Items and Practical Methodology" where she describes different jewelry techniques, how to take a watch apart, how to use/make polymer clay, tools, findings, etc.  If you really love Steampunk or are just wanting to get into Steampunk Jewelry, you'll find this book a great read.

Because of a problem with my Post Office (they marked the books as delivered and then put them in a bin where no-one noticed them for about 2 weeks, and without leaving me a notice to come pick them up), F+W Media sent me a second set of books.  So one reader will receive the extra copy of this book as a gift.  Leave a comment her telling me what interests you about Steampunk.  Extra chances for following my blog, 'Liking' my facebook page, KayzKreationzGlassKreationz, or hearting my Etsy shop.  Leave a separate comment for each one. Giveaway will end Friday, Feb. 22nd at midnight.

It is available for purchase here at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or North Light.

(The book above was provided by F+W Media for review. The author of this blog has not received any other payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.) 

Toast of the Town-Michael's Blog Hop

I'm a little late, but here goes. Recently Erin Prais-Hintz worked together with Michael's, the hobby store to celebrate Jewelry month and created her Toast of the Town necklace. It was gorgeous. Talk about blingy and fun.  So she decided to have a little blog hop. 3 people won a set of beads from Erin and the rest of us were encouraged to play along.  While I wasn't one of the 3 that won beads, I loved one of the color palettes Erin had picked out for the beads for the winners.  So I decided to make my own Toast of the Town necklace with that red and black set.  However, my Michael's didn't have all the beads Erin had picked out, so I went out on my own to add more beads. At first I wasn't sure I liked the added beads I'd picked, but the more I looked at it, I really love it.  My next problem was, this blog hop came right on thee heels of my Kalmbach soup that had to be done by the same day and then I ended up having to go out of town, so I didn't get my Toast of the Town necklace post up by last Friday.  However, here it is.  I hope you like my palette and what I did with it.  I couldn't find a toggle clasp I really liked, so I found this great pendant that fit right in with my color palette/beads and made my own Toggle bar to go with it. And instead of cutting off the ring to attach it with, I made a dangle to hang from it. I may change it later, because I'm not sure it hangs like I'd like, but for now I really like it.  This necklace can be worn several different ways. You can keep it doubled like it is, you can twist those strands or you can separate it and wear it long with the toggle/pendant off to the side.  I'll probably wear it shorter, but you never know. I may be daring and wear it long once in a while, too.  Thanks for letting me play along, Erin. And be sure to check out her blog, Treasures Found to see the rest of the participants.  You'll have to scroll down to the post on the 2nd, but it's well worth it.
Be sure to check out my shop, KayzKreationz for more Wire-wrapped, beaded Jewelry, Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home and Garden.

 

I used Natural Shell, Ruby Bamboo Coral spacer beads, Ruby Glass bicones, Jet Millefiori Lentil glass beads, and Hematite chips.