Who you callin’ Steam Punk?

Hi everyone!  I’m Anna, Beadaholique’s first (and favorite, in my opinion,) employee.   I’ve watched this company grow from a shoebox of headpins and jump rings into the vibrant warehouse it is today.  I am a reluctant beader, not because I don’t love jewelry but because I have 5 thumbs on each hand.  The delicate intricacies of peyote stitch, wire looping, and beads smaller than 4mm are completely lost on me.
At the same time, it’s hard not to be inspired by all the goodies around me.  I write all the descriptions, so I get my hands on everything and not a day goes by when I don’t put aside a little goodie bag to buy for myself.  I’m attracted to bolder, larger beads.  I love the blown glass, the faceted briolettes, and especially all the chunky metal findings.  I will admit that I browse jewelry and craft sites for inspiration, and one term that keeps coming up when I explore a design I like is “steampunk”.
Despite this aggressive sounding moniker, steampunk is a style that incorporates the simpler times of the Victorian era with the excitement of industrial design.  As with most fringe movements, there is no one accepted definition of what steampunk is.  You know it when you see it, and it’s not for everyone.  It’s design with a dichotomy of looking to the past for futuristic ideas. Here is an example I found on Etsy:
But how do I take this big idea and scale it down to my own tastes and skill level?  I was able to pin down what I liked the most about the steampunk pieces I have seen on other sites:  the combining of several small items into a mixed media piece that is completely unique.  To get a real steampunk look, lots of metals can be mixed, preferably with antiqued finishes.  When we first got in the plated pewter frames, I didn’t want to put a simple photo inside, I wanted to get a few tiny watch gears, some small, flatter bali beads, and some black fabric.  Layering the items in steps gave the Art Gel time to set, making it look like everything was under glass.  Another idea I had was to take one of our antiqued chains in a longer length and hang several small metal items from some of the links.  I’m not talking delicate fairy charms here, I’m talking old bent brass screws, a small magnifying glass, small nuts and bolts, and even a heart made of stiffened black lace.
Today I’m wearing a cute necklace I made from amethysts and moonstone with a sweet flower pendant.  I’m not always in the dark, steampunk mood, but it’s a style that keeps me inspired, so I continue to embrace it.