Mr. Prof designer home

Jenbug has another steampunk home craft. She's embroidered curtains with gears. I assume this is based on Tinkergirl's cog embroidery how-to.

I like the combination of rough, natural fabric and the rusty color of the cogs.

In the comments to the Steampunk Toothbrush holder, Jenbug mentions that she has actually made some of these. A convenient link to her livejournal, and we see pictures of 2!:





I like how she expands on the whole "toothbrush holder" idea into a full blown "bathroom caddy", complete with q-tip holder and floss.

Jen says:
I bought the wooden base from the AC Moore completely plain and unpainted. I stained the wood Golden Oak, painted the outside in titanium gold, then decoupaged the red border with small red squares I cut from paper.

I affixed the test tubes with brass conduit purchased from Skycraft, the glass Qtip holder with copper hanger strap, and the floss with plain old copper wire. The test tubes aren't glued down, they're easily slid in and out from the top. Their rim is what holds them in, and they can easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. Unfortunately the power drill didn't properly fit throught the conduit so I just screwed everything down by hand, except where the hanger strap's connected.

I had the idea to put metallic green beads in the bottoms of the test tubes to create a vivid contrast and for drainage of toothbrush slime, but didn't do it because there was just so much red happening. I tried to decoupage green on the glass jar (which entered my house full of Allessi-brand sundried tomatoes) to create a counterpoint to the red accents and support the green, but I just don't care for how it came out.

Well done, Miss Jenbug.

For more details, go read the full description.

Over on the steamfashion group at livejournal, someone pointed out this lovely craft project:



The how-to is on Instructables.

Today I bring you another question from a reader. Shannon asks about something we all deal with, but we may all deal with it in slightly (or sometimes dramatically) different ways:

I would like to know people's view of brandism. I think I made that word up, but what I mean is I want to know to what extent do we allow our children to have certain brands (i.e. Disney characters, Nick Jr. characters, etc.) My parents went to Disney World and sent a LOT of Disney stuffed animals, dishes, toys and such. I want to know if I should continue to allow my daughters to play with certain toys just because they are a certain brand. Further explaining my situation, my oldest daughter loves princesses and the most common princess characters are, of course, Disney. I'm o.k. with her liking princesses because she is a princess - her Creator is the King. I also really like what Dora the Explorer teaches my kids, but is it o.k. to allow these "brands" into my home...or a better question might be, what is allowing this brand into my home teaching my children? ~Shannon

Interesting question, I think- so what say you, readers? What advice would you give to this mom with young children trying to determine how to deal with all the characters and brand names in her home? How do you deal with it?

Some related questions you might consider when you give your answer: Are there characters/brand names you have banned from your home? If so, why? Are there characters/brand names you allow? If so, why? How do you deal with the overwhelming marketing aimed at young children? Do you deal with gifts differently than things you yourself purchase for your children?

So come out with it! Let's hear your thoughts on this interesting question!


*** Remember that if you have a question for the readers that you'd like to have featured in the "ADVICE & ANSWERS" column, you can click here & follow these instructions. This feature depends on YOU, so send in your questions! ***

After many months of reading the blogs of all my favs, I decided to give it a whirl myself. When I finally got the formatting figured out (with help I must add) the next dilemma was what to blog about the first time out of the gate. It's fitting I guess to introduce the shop to my readers (assuming of course there are some) so here goes. Sweet Pea was born in February 2006 after spending 4 and 1/2 years as a dealer in another shop. I decided to try it on my own and never looked back. Now I have moved to a bigger location about 20 minutes away and opened my door in June here at the new place. I know, I must be nuts to take such a leap in the dead of summer but is there ever a good time to move your store? So I have survived the first few months and now I am waiting on the masses in search of great antiques and really unique fall and Halloween decor!! Keep your fingers crossed for me out there. If you're ever in the Sanford, FL area stop by and have a look! I'd love to meet you! Please have a look at the pictures of the shop and the seasonal offerings.

The Martha Stewart Halloween Special Issue (I know, I know -- I read these things so you don't have to....) has instructions for creating these elegant paper window curtains (along with a template).

I like this idea -- do it in a Victorian wallpaper or wrapping paper (maybe glue it to cardboard first) and you'd have a very inexpensive and very unique window covering.

So you think your home is too modern to be steampunk -- no molding, no wood floors? (I know I often do...) How can you get that steampunk vibe when you're not starting with a Victorian house? Well, sure a Victorian infrastructure would help, but as this photo set by Mr. Sam Watters shows us, *any* room can become steampunk -- even a generic institutional dorm room.

Sam says:

I wanted my room this year to take on a victorian/steampunk feel this year, and began to acquire various elements at flea markets and antique fairs. I was planning on a victorian filigree wall stencil, but the administration is cracking down on painting this year. The solution came in the form of some decorative, pre-stained moulding strips and a nice fabric for kind of a framed wallpaper effect.

I like the "necessity breeds invention" solution of framing Victorian fabric. It's a great way to get the rich feel of a Victorian home -- all molding and ornate wallpaper -- without it costing too much (or overwhelming a small room). The "zoning" of his room into a study, a cafe, and a bedroom is also quite clever.

There are 4 more pictures in the flickr photo set.

Now, I have to throw in a few of my ideas into the mix.


First, the part of the room with the bed in it, with it's great gold framed portrait, would make a great "parlor." With the addition of a couple of bolsters -- a long one across the length, one on the foot, one at the head, and a nice comforter (preferably red!) -- you'd have a day bed worthy of esteemed guests. (Links are to Target, but I've seen plenty of small pillows and comforters at thrift shops and stores like Ross that would suit a student's budget. Or make a duvet cover with the same fabric that is framed.)

Second, I'd like to see more "young scientist" influence. Victorian by itself is lovely, but I think steampunk is both broader (encompassing art deco and art nouveau) and more specific (focusing on science, technology and fantasy). Mr Watter may not need a pair of goggles hanging on a hook, or have a babbage engine in the corner, but a brass weather station would be a nice touch. Or he could expand on the explorer theme he's started with the maps and globe and add in an airship -- a model or a poster (print your own) -- and a compass (or raygun!). And don't forget a clock! How could it be steampunk without a clock? How about making one out of bike gears?

Thank you Mr Watters, for sharing. (Even if you didn't ask for the brainstorming.... please take no offense at my suggestions, I think your room is lovely as it is.)

(and thank you, Tinkergirl, for sending Sam this way)