Steampunk Family

Documenting one family’s path to steampunk – projects, rants and stories galore.

Flash and Glitz

By Fearless Fabricator on Monday, March 1st, 2010

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the Camera case project

P.P. von Hedwig with Camera on Marscon '10 adventure

Some projects happen out of practicality, for example the need for a power supply with which to etch brass and copper.  Others, come from the desire to make a cool piece of art, like the steampunk burlesque fans. Still others come from the desire for original and swank jank , as in decoder dials and Madam von Hedwig’s pouches.  This project was motivated out of a mix of being too jaded by my digital SRL camera to use an Instamatic and being too vain to ruin fine steampunk outfits with gear so clearly of the wrong technology.

Flight to Saigon

By Madame vonHedwig on Saturday, February 27th, 2010

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In which our distraught parents race for help, and Madame and Chef reach an understanding.

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Only the Schöneluft had the fuel stores and engine power for a run from the Himalyas across southeast Asia to the French capital of Vietnam. She could fly nearly 80 miles an hour under the right conditions, but those conditions had not been met in years. The more children they acquired, the more comforts the von Hedwigs had deemed desirable, and the slower the great airship had become.

The Search is On

By Madame vonHedwig on Saturday, February 20th, 2010

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In which, although the circumstances are dark indeed, a beacon of hope shines from afar.

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Madame took off the moment her husband was on board. Although she was agitated, her flying was steady, and they soon arrived at the mouth of the tunnel that had swallowed their children. There was no place to land. They anchored, to a stalactite above them and a stalagmite below. Herr von Hedwig rappelled down to the site, bathed in the Schmetterling’s searchlight.

In the Field

By Madame vonHedwig on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

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Here is my new utility belt in action, in the Peruvian jungle.

Hera von Hedwig, Botanist

Breadcrumbs

By Madame vonHedwig on Friday, February 12th, 2010

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In which the Fearless Fabricator and his intrepid wife find disturbing evidence.

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Herr and Madame vonHedwig made their way from the mad scientist’s underground lair, trudging toward the surface. They were tired, and mired in thought, but alert for any sign of Montesanto or yeti.

A distant throbbing broke the silence of the cave. Exchanging concerned and puzzled looks, they hurried toward the sound. Suddenly, bright white light flashed against the tunnel wall ahead of them as the throb became a roar. They ran pell mell toward the fading sound, skittering to a halt at the mouth of the volcanic tube they had discovered on their way in. The engine sound that had shattered the underground silence was only a muttering far below them.

Cases for ATX power supplies.

By Fearless Fabricator on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

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aka

Swanking your jank

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Working hard in the lab, the corset post and exploring the world with the family have distracted me from posting the project I have completed.  While I don’t apologize for my priorities, I do make an apology to those who have been checking in.

Not only did I finish the case for the ATX Power supply for myself, but I built a second for a good friend who is a fabulous tinker himself.

Marscon

By Madame vonHedwig on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

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Photos from our adventures at Marscon 2010 are up here. We had a lovely time!

Brocade Smoking Cap

By Madame vonHedwig on Saturday, February 6th, 2010

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This past Yule I made vonHedwig a smoking cap to match one of his smoking jackets. Here’s how I did it.

fabric – I started with 1/2 yard and had loads left over

stiff fabric – I just used a sheet of stiff felt

needle, thread, pins, and scissors

tassel – try the upholstery area of the fabric store. I couldn’t find a tassel significant enough for my husband, so I made my own.

To make your own tassel: yarn, piece of cardboard 2″ wide and as long as you want the tassel to be

Fighting the Yeti

By Madame vonHedwig on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

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In which violence ensues.

The Man and the Beast by iAes

The Man and the Beast by iAes

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While Adolphus steered them towards the cave, Claire confronted Annabelle in hissing whispers, pointing, horrified, at Mirabelle, who had her hands deep in the fur of the yeti’s neck.

“It’s going to EAT her!”

“It’ll be sorry if it does.” Annabelle would not take her eyes off the Yeti, even to argue. Her mouth was set in a grim line.

“We’ve got to stop her!”

“Don’t make any sudden moves! You’ll get her eaten for sure.”

Fighting the Count

By Madame vonHedwig on Saturday, January 16th, 2010

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In which Adolphus argues, Mirabelle takes a risk, and Bettina enters the fray.

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Bettina fretted. All her older siblings were actively engaged in fighting the mustache man, while she watched. Adolphus struggled to control the ship, Claire had built a trebuchet, and the twins and Gerhardt were trying to remove the mysterious moss from the neck of the yeti. The youngest vonHedwig cast about her for something, anything she could do to help. What could be of use that the other children had discarded?