Y’all!My online shop is open NOW!! I have prints of some of my most popular pieces available as a special Black Friday sale this weekend- 25% off AND free shipping in the US! New products will be coming soon, including tshirts and enamel pins, so go ahead and favorite the shop for those notifications too!
I was pleasantly surprised how many people asked me to bring this back! I love Emily Dickinson’s poetry and the TV series was so much fun. Now I have more available for purchase at my Etsy.
I have a batch of Tristan Thorn customs available! Get one now at my Etsy.
Thanks to @spasticcustoms for their help getting some pieces for these. Go give them a follow! And, of course, thank you @neil-gaiman for writing some of my favorite stories.
Happy Friday! Just in case you need a reminder to never rush but stay safe instead, our new car coasters are here for it. We know that we personally do need to be reminded to relax and not feel constantly rushed or anxious on a daily basis. We hope you all have a relaxing and cozy first weekend of Fall. — D & K . . . #chillpill #chillvibes #caraccessories #kawaiiart #kawaiiaesthetic #cuteart #rainbow #carcoasters #cuteillustration #etsyshop #etsyfinds #cutecar #peachyapricot https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNvXN5FK_5/?utm_medium=tumblr
I don’t know where I got the idea for a dirigible cicada miniature model but here we are. Falling asleep with my YouTube queue probably with videos on the recent 17 year cicada cycle followed by the use of airships during WW1 must have blended together in my subconscious. I enjoyed creating the last insect - the custom bee - I had to do another but this was too large for a piece of jewellery.
So I worked on each separate section, hoping it would all fit together in the end. That’s always the scary part - will the wings fit on the body? Will the scale of everything maintain the illusion of an actual, albeit fantastical, airship once joined? Unlike very clever model scene makers I don’t work with a scale ruler. As I don’t fabricate or cast metal there is no real point - I’ll still have to adjust a part in my collection to fit.
I started with the wings - they bring everything together and set the scale. Like the last piece - the body is a brass screw electrical terminal. The abdomen has two main parts - the high copper piece with a grill and a lower section made from a cut out earing drop I filled in with resin. The wings are also filled with resin and a very light dusting of green and gold mica.
I’ve been making miniature nebulas lately so that is where the glass “hot air balloon” came from. It is fitted with a vintage brass bead cap, chains, tiny brass drops and internal details. While I was searching for pieces I came across the hand blown green glass bead with a swirl pattern. I had to incorporate it but it was difficult to do so. Adding a piece to one side of a symmetrical design alters the way it hangs. The swirl on the bead is matched with the black swirled disk hanging under the balloon.
She has wrapped wire legs with metal crimps, two brass and steel “propellers” affixed to the front, one large rear flag and bunting on the secondary “balloon” tether. Everything attached is done so using screws and very rarely, glue. I have no idea how many separate components I used but it would be well over 100. I’ve been working on and off for a week - probably about 40 hours not including the time sourcing parts, taking photos and writing this. The rigging was a nightmare. The chain at the back, connected to a “U” shape piece is the ship’s anchor.
A friend who is a genius wood worker turned some gorgeous wood bases for me. I think it’s Jarrah. It has four brass legs on the bottom. The hanging mechanism consists of a filigree disk, a vintage brass corrugated bead and assortment of brass rods, copper and brass tubing and beads. The top section pulls out so it can be packed for shipping.
One final surprise. I left a hole in the body for a tiny green LED light. It is difficult to use - turning on by pushing the light into a battery. But it could be used on special occasions to show her off. The battery type is a bit exotic but available online.
I’m thinking about entering her in a local art competition before putting her up for sale. I hope you like her.
I had a client recently ask me to make a steampunk mechanical bee for her and gave me a photo of a tattoo for reference. This is the result. The wings were a problem as I wanted them light. I ended up cutting down two brass pendant bases and filling them with UV resin. They then had to be sanded back to the brass and finally polished. I was aiming on transparent but the frosting works. Her body is an old brass electrical terminal cut to fit. Her wire legs are threaded through the body for security. The crimps are for effect and to stop the feet scratching if worn as a pendant.
She also contains an assortment of gears, pinions, screws, bolts, rivets, an electrical probe is her “stinger” and her wire antenna do rotate. I hope the client likes her but if not I’ll try again. I’ve already had interest so she will sell either way.
Tomorrow (April 11th) is National Pet Day in the US, so my pet portrait painted magnets are 20% off. Here’s Keen’s magnet and reference photo as examples.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve posted! In that year Tumblr has changed a lot, and in that year I’ve made some progress with my Gàidhlig studies (slowly and not nearly as much as I would like, but that’s because I’m a working perfectionist), my mom got a new puppy, I made some great art and I opened a new Etsy shop.
These are pics of some listings at my shop. I have a hodgepodge of Celtic carvings, pet portraits and still lifes that are sometimes kind of eccentric, like the skull Santa. So if that’s your thing or things, feel free to take a look!
For those unaware starting tomorrow April 11th 2022 until April 18th Lem0ns Creates will be joining 5000+ other Etsy sellers and striking by putting our store on vacation mode for the week. We will be back on the 19th!
