Weapon of mass distraction

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Well - actually I call her Bertha (following on from Desdemona and Lucrecia).

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But it is certainly a rather distracting piece.

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A work in progress, probably my slowest build ever. I think I started this one last year. So far Bertha is four foot long - and I have more to add yet.

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In other news - today I forged a few leaves and a couple of other bits up at Arthurs Creek as part of the open gardens scheme. Not satisifed with the forge exposure of the morning, I came home and fired up my portable forge and tried (and failed) at forge welding, so I then went on to start the tool holder for my anvil stump. Best part of that job was firing up the 60 year old bench drill to countersink a few holes in some steel - it is one smooth old drill press!

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Exhibition News

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Things are hotting up in the Antipodes...

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Inspired by the success of Art Donovan's expertly executed Steampunk exhibition in Oxford, I am now gathering sufficient local momentum to attempt an exhibition in Melbourne. I can see opportunities arising with the Arts festivals held in September and October each year, I think a Steampunk art exhibition would fit well with either the Melbourne International Arts Festival or the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

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Challenges abound (venue, funding, insurance, promotion, curation, etc, etc) but I know that there is a vast talent pool of Antipodean Steampunk Adventurers ready to pit their resources and make a Melbourne exhibition a reality.

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Meanwhile - here is a picture of my goggles in Oxford, courtesy of Art Donovan's Steampunk @ Oxford blogsite.

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Workshop workings one

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Good evening viewers,

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Today I spent some quality time with my tools. I am still establishing my new workshop here in Mount Cooper, but things are progressing at a rapid rate of knots. I have installed the wall benches, the mandatory pegboard for tools, and roughed in the powerpoints for extra power (more power - I need more power Igor!!!) The photo below is the workshop so far...

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The stack of timber file drawers will be coming inside into my study once I have a base to put them on. The old green bench drill wearing my workshop fedora on a rather rakish angle is my latest purchase, a 1920's champion brand bench drill, all cast iron and pulley wheels. The blacksmithing gear is off to the left, but the forge is out of shot.

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Yet to come is my old woodwork bench I built some years ago and is currently residing in dads shed. Luckily he wants the space back so I get my old bench back. Finally, some extra lighting (lights! I need more lights igor) and I am up and running.

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Then wait and see what comes out of the new Mount Cooper workshop of the maduncle.

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Mwyahahaha

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Last summer - this summer

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I am not going to go on about this other than to say -
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I was there.
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It was hell.
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I will continue to do what I can to keep our Victorian communities safe over summer in my role with Country Fire Authority.
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Please go to the link below and watch the advertisement.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSPTOWv2yTE

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New product

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Just a quick note to let people know that Desdemona is now in my Etsy store.

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Lucrecia will be there soon too, all I need to do is replace the graphics in the dial.

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Then it is time to take on Bertha, get it finally finished and add the backpack.

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Bargain

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Well the house move went okay, the workshop is almost ready for creating in (just need a bench drill) and my study is only needing a bookcase. So to raise some funds for new house stuff - I am having a sale. I have listed the Communicator PC on eBay for a paltry $500 (less than it is on Etsy) to see if anyone will give this beast a good home. If you click across to the link below you will find the ad.

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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330368935911&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

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More soon - including completed rayguns for the etsy store and works in progress.

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Gallery #2

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Synchronisity.

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I found the perfect pair of phoropters for modding whilst in Adelaide last Christmas. I returned home and sourced a pair of tea strainers, some coloured lenses and magnifiers via Etsy, an LED lamp from a $2 shop and raided my box of small parts and produced the 'inspectacles'.

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These little specs are now famous for being on my head in Rolling Stone magazine, and are now in Oxford as part of the global steampunk exhibition.

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And do you think I imagined all this would occur when I first found the phoropters in Adelaide?

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I love the way life gives you these unexpected quirky twists and turns.

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