The Altered Alice: Time -White Rabbit Clock-

CHAPTER 4 Challenge:
TIME

Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'
`If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you wouldn't talk about wasting IT. It's HIM.'
`I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.
`Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. `I dare say you never even spoke to Time!'
`Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to beat time when I learn music.'
`Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand beating.'
-- Chapter 7, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Time marches on so it's time for a new challege, and the challenge is to make something that represents TIME! Take your time, you have until May 27 at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4:00) to show us YOUR timely creation!
There are so many ways to represent time - you could use a clock or a watch, hourglass, calendar. . . take some TIME to think about it and then be sure you submit on TIME because TIME flies!
Ok, I think I have it out of my system. . . or is that my clockworks?
The sponsor this month is Fresh Brewed Designs.

*******************

I decided to re-FUR-b *wink* a slightly broken clock.
The gold plastic frame around the outside had cracked after a plop-drop off the wall when it was battery changing time. Still ticks well but looked terrible.

I unscrewed everything that could be unscrewed; removed the frame, glass and very-very carefully the hands. Also removed the brass clock face with the roman numerals that was on it. Waste-not-want-not! I'm *SURE* it will get used for something steampunk-y.

The broken frame was glued from the back then painted several layer of Alice-Blue. Next layer: Lumiere Pearl White Metallic paint, watered down, a dab of blue added and Sea Sponged over. Lastly 2 coats of clear acrylic spray. Ya know just in case it falls again. *cringe* Either way the crack in now totally covered!

The inside was a bit more fussy work:
Pattern Paper circle cut and the edges inked. Cut it small like the original clock face so the wall shows through from the back.
All the clip-art playing card 'numbers' were hand cut then outlined in Sharpie for definition. I love how it worked out with the Red Queen at the top.
The White Rabbit 'parts' were mounted on Cereal Box Board before being cut out. Jig-Saw creations from one image printed 3 times.
The 'arms' are larger sections of the 'jacket' topped with the 'cuff' then cut to be more 'sleeve' shaped.
The assembled White Rabbit arms were glued right over the original Clock Arms.

Everything was carefully re-assembled with a bit of bending and tweaking to make sure all the arms move as they should. I had to take the battery out and position the arms to get a good picture.

Now it's back up and ticking away on the Studio wall.
I think it makes a great addition in here!

Order of the Opus Gluei #101: Get Steamy!

Been having a bit of an extended 'art vacation' since getting back from our Honeymoon Trip to the Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition (CNSE).
Before the trip I just whirrring away creating... figured it was time for a break. This Steampunk Birdhouse is the 1st thing I've made in May.
Quite surprised I made it this long without getting messy! ;O)
*cough cough* In the Studio anyway, the gardens are looking lovely though.
I recently stumbled on a 'new to me' Challenge Blog
Order of the Opus Gluei
and HAD to do this one:
Challenge #101 - Get Steamy

Steampunk is an art form that is influencing art, writing, and other aspects of popular culture. It embodies fantasy and sci-fi aspects with roots in the late Victorian era (late 19th century). Some of the more common art aspects are gears, brass and copper contraptions, goggles, intricate looking devices,
and so on.
Some of you might remember an old television series - the Wild Wild West, in which the actors portrayed government agents in the employ of President Ulysses Grant and they were able to do amazing things from their seemingly mundane railroad car (which was secretly tricked out) - to me, that's kind of the idea of steampunk. A wink at what is possible scientifically and entering into the realm of the fantastic.
Almost a quaint sort of technology that seemed limitless.
Those seeking some more highbrow examples can look to the works of H.G. Wells (The Time Machine) and Jules Verne (the Nautilus submarine, for a start).
So, hopefully you are getting the gears in your brain humming and clicking with all that steampunk can embody and can turn that into a bit of art to share amongst us.
We want you to GET STEAMY
*********************************

I made a Steampunk Birdhouse with Clockwork Bird in residence.

I started with a wood house I got at the 2nd handstore, spray painted it silver (car paint) in between rain showers here.
Then dry brushing and adding sh-tuff: lots & lots of sh-tuff!

Roof:
Bell from inside an old rotary dial phone handset on the tippy top with a clock gear tip.

1st Side/Front:
More watch & clock bits'n'pieces.
'Home' sign from Pressed Petals Monday Metal.
'Screw' is a brad.
Lightbulb is a burned out turning light from our Van.
Square 'studs' are metal stickers.



Lil'Clockwork Birdie:
Pulled apart, spray painted (gold and bronze) dry brushed and reassembled.
Wind-Up Key is a Blue Moon Charm.




2nd Side:
Phone, clock and other parts.
'Screws' and Disc are brads.
Butterflies are de-golded scrap metal from Cohen & Cohen (local salvage HEAVEN!).


3rd Side:
Painted over in Bronze, layered with Little Yellow Bicycle 'lacey cardstock' gears, then everything drybrushed.
'Screw' Brads.


4th Side:
Copper screen (metal salvage) layered with a prima flower 'vine'.
Brass leaves are also de-golded scrap metal salvage from Cohen & Cohen.
One sided Key from 7 Gypsies and Key Hole from Keepsake Craft, 'screw' brads.
Micheal's pearl stickers, bunched strip sliced apart.


5th Side:
Painted over in Bronze, layered with Little Yellow Bicycle 'lacey cardstock' gears, then drybrushed. Another de-golded butterfly and part from inside the old rotary dial phone.
'Screw' brad.


6th Side:
De-golded butterfly, metal dragonfly, 'screw' brad on the roof.
White Rose charm, brad disc, more of the sliced up Micheal's pearl sticker strip, Steel Magnolia from imaginisce, de-golded flowers, bit more of the copper screen, some springs and leaves punched from an embossed metal sheet torn off an old planter.

CNSE Recovery...

We may be back from the Honeymoon but my body is still on vacation...
It thinks I'm too old to be up that late, having that much fun!
Sarah Systems are just not coming back on line as I expected. My ongoing medical condition is causing some medium amount of pain and there is a need to just take it easy and let my body catch-up with my bravado.
It will be at least another day or 2 before I can find my way back into the Studio.

Suffering from Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition (CNSE) overload.
Wouldn't change it for the world though!

Blogger is not being super co-operative either...
Anyone else having issues with the 'read all blogs' function?
I checked the Blogger Bug Site and it was reported yesterday that several blogs are finky and 'they're looking into it'. In the mean time I can't access/read the list of the 250+ Blogs I follow.
OH! But I can 'follow' THEM for an update... uhhh... yeah. In other words if I can see the post saying they fixed it, (ie. see it all again anyway) it's fixed. Gotcha! Thanks Guys.
No commenting or make my 'homework' list. *pout* I'm hoping that this posts OK though I saw they are also having issues with multi-picture posts, which this most certainly will be.
Can You See Me Now???? ;O)
If you can't I'm not surprised since I can't see you!

I will only post a 'few' pictures in hopes that the post goes through OK.
Between 2 people, each with a camera and 4 days away... we took a looooooot of pictures.
I'm sure you will see many more Scrapbooked in the future.
The rest are HERE on Flickr.
There is also a Flickr Group for CNSE HERE for anyone to post pictures of this FANTASTIC Weekend Event.
*********************************
The True Highlight of the Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition (CNSE) for us was to actually MEET Professor Elemental and see him perform Live, several times. It was wonderful... he was always around, just wandering about to different Events, kinda like a friendly CNSE Spirit, spreading good cheer and laughter in his wake. Splendid!

We arrived laaaaate Thursday (early Friday really) and fell straight into bed. The wind was terrible the whole way up, we thought the van was going to fly off the road. Greg was really having to 'drive' the whole way. Scary with all the Big Trucks Tail Whipping I tell ya. Funny watching a Smart Car though... it looked like a remote control car being driven by a child or a kite... just needing a rope on the back with bows and a string. Glad we weren't in one of those! We stopped at a rest-stop along the St. Laurence to get some pictures of the White Caps in the water and a HUGE tree the wind had felled.
Friday Morning we were up fairly early so we went to explore.
I dressed in what I refer to as 'Steampunk Lite'. I'd already fussed with my hair being up 2 hours before Greg (strange bed, strange sounds, light sleeper). I have a lot of hair but find in damn near impossible to do anything with on my own. I can't see! Compounded by the loss of my glasses if I don't want them wrapped right into whatever I'm trying to do to pin it up. lol I did managed to muck a twist with a mess in the back so I pulled the Decor off my Bowler and pinned it over the messy bit. Might be time for a hair cut.

When we got back we both got ready for the Opening at 3PM. I didn't do much other than get dressed and pin my hair the rest of the way up.
All Ready to fight Evil Vampire Scum!
Gun for shooting stakes, extra stakes, bloody hammer, flask of Holy Water, Map Case and my always present Doctors Bag. Greg wasn't up to pictures. :O( boo!

This was Saturday Morning... we um... overslept *cough, cough* Did I mention this was our Honeymoon Trip? ;O) We decided to dress for Professor Elemental's Mad Tea Party so we wouldn't miss stuff beforehand. meh... good plan but a snap head-ache hit me so we napped a bit to. (YES we slept!) Sleeping in the Hat was interesting... so many pins and hairspray I didn't dare mess with it! So tired it really wasn't a huge problem.
This outfit is missing the gloves though, I have velvet lace up fingerless gloves... 1 got left behind and I didn't want to do a Victorian Micheal Jackson. I think I may add some long lace to the sleeves at some stage... pondering...
Greg is in FireFly mode, minus his Brown Coat which got left behind in the final rush. He has great boots which he put on later for the Tea. rowr...

After the Tea we went back up so I could get de-corsetted, still wasn't feeling 100% and Greg could lose the boots again, tad snug. I changed into my 'Boffer with Bowler' Dr's garbing. Goggles, Suit and Dr's Bag, of course. Much easier to move around in minus the long trailing skirt on the Tea Outfit.

Last day was a bit more laid back... true Canadian Steampunk!
I revealed my Bunny Hat... it's warm, fuzzy and even has a tail. Heavier Make-up and some engine 'grease' streaks, weapons back on... ready to shoot. Last Day had Greg finally making his way over to the Games Room for some Boy-Fun. He spent the larger portion of the day playing Dystopian Wars, which looked like fun. Me thinks the lad will need a Rule Book and some Boats for his upcoming Birthday! By the time he decided he might like to buy some there the last box was gone. Too busy fighting a Figgin' Frigate that aaaaalmost took down his Battleship in the end. Though I'm not a big gamer myself I love being around a game so I hung around. :O)Had a table set-up in the Art & Artefact Display.
The pieces that came back from 187 Gallery: The Penny Dreadful Art Show went up with us to CNSE and a few handfuls of Small Art (Postcards, 4X4's, Tags and Greeting Cards).
I like this picture because you can actually see the train attached to the dress... pretty but a PITA to walk in and not catch in every closing door! lol I could babble on forever... it was such a FULL FULL weekend.
Music, Shows, Victorian Seance, Panel Discussions, Fabulous Food, my 1st trip to Toronto, Shopping, Friends, Costumes and Characters... oh my!
But I will leave it at that and pray that Blogger is running up to snuff soon so I can get back to the job of Creating. :O)
~Sarah~

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? 100!!!

Time for WOYWW #100 over at Stamping Ground. 100... wow!

Oh it's the usual cat-astr-a-frak... ;O)
BUT for once I have NOTHING being made.
Spent from last Thursday on, away on Our Honeymoon at the 1st Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition (CNSE)!

Took pictures anyways... for the 'log'.

The Horribly Messy Full Desk:
There's still a lot of the Steampunk-ery supplies out from last minute fix-ups of the sh-tuff I brought to the Art & Artefact Display and our Costumes. To the left are the Programs and some other paper snippets for Scrapbooking, one of the 2 cameras we took (LOTS of pictures: 600+ between 2 of us each with a camera), and my 'homework' list of projects I needed to get done last week. Today I will be posting pictures to Flickr and getting this weeks list ready.
Tea, Tea, Tea... and eventually Coffee.

This bracelet is one of my Treasures from the weekend:
Greg bought it for me, I'm well lurved. Dragonflies played heavily in our wedding so it's perfect, all silver, quite real... and much, much more stunning IRL. Surprisingly light though.
Oh and my much, much loved Bunny Reading a Book Pocket Watch. SO glad it arrived in time for CNSE!

The dreaded LIST:
4 things still to wrap up from last week... then on to see how far behind I am after taking time to recover on Monday/Tuesday. *cringe* This won't be pretty! But it was sooooooooooooo worth it!

Scrap Our Stash May Flowers Challenge ~DT Project~

I managed to find a flower, woot!
I was all pumped to try this challenge but realized quite quickly...
I have very, very few flowers in my Stash.
I have 4 boys, we Steampunk and I'm NOT a girly-girl... so I barely, if ever, get the opportunity (or think) to use them.
Now gears, tools and other rusty things... those I got! lol
But here goes, I made a 2 page LO for my (recent) 36th Birthday.
Paper is all The Paper Company.
Inked with Stampin' Up! spots.
Bling from the $ store, sliced and separated over the 2 pages.
36 was cut with the SLICE (think pink).
Re-used Birthday Card, Front & Inside.
...and my 1 lone flower from Prima.

Double Page:

Left Side:
Right Side:
Simply the BEST Birthday Card I've ever seen...
SO true... and thus so funny!
Journaling:

SEE... it's a Flower! lol

ARTastic May Design Team Page

Alas, all good things must come to an end.
May will be my last month as a Design Team Member with ARTastic.
********************************
Mays Inspiration will come from the painting
Mother and Sarah Admiring the Baby - Mary Cassatt
(Below DT Project)

Diva Demand for an extra 6 bonus points try and
work the following into your layout.:
1. Single Photo of a mother, grandma, child etc....holding a baby = 1pt
2. Lace somewhere on the page = 2pts
3. Something orange = 3pts
**********
I dug deep and found these 2 pictures of Thomas (less than 6 months old) and his 'Aunt' Jenny. Jenny was being bad... as aunts tend to be *wink* and let Thomas play with an empty (ish) Coffee Cup. Like he EVER needed the extra caffeine!? lol

Paper and Lace are unknown
Inks and Markers are Stampin' Up!
'Biscuit' Journal Block was cut with a SLICE.
Stamps are Close to My Heart and Stampin' Up!
Coffee Cup and Doily are both Real.

I sliced a chunk out of a Coffee Cup and attached it (still curved) with a Glue Gun.
Hand cut the 'bite' out of the biscuit and added 'crumbs'.