Pipedreamer Alley

Mechanical Victorian Terminator Arm

This prosthetic limb takes me back to a little film from my youth called “The Terminator”. But this is, in fact, a creation from the late 1800s. The joints are articulated at the elbow, wrist, and fingers and activated by springs. It almost makes one wish for a crippling war injury to be able to [...]

Mini Pigeon Cam, 1910

Victorian gadgetry was just as cool (if not cooler!) than it is now. Check out the pigeon cam patented by Dr. Julius Neubronner. These cameras were set on timers and could take aerial photos while the birds were in flight. The photographs were turned to postcards for purchase by eager spectators. Thinking beyond mere audience [...]

The Book Sculptures of Tim Baker

Steampunk love and book love collide in these novel creations by prop artist Tim Baker. These are inventions of his own mind, created as props for a long term project of his – a stop motion animated graphic novel. The design and execution have taken hundreds of hours, and there are still two books left [...]

Tiny But Spacious 24-In-1 “Transformer” Apartment

Try to imagine living in a home with 24 rooms. Now try to imagine those 24 rooms taking up only 330 square feet of real estate. Not only is it possible, it’s been done. They say that necessity breeds invention, and it was necessity that drove architect Gary Chang to redesign his tiny family home [...]

Micro Apartment Living

I’ve always preferred small, cozy spaces. Small spaces are fun and secret, like the tree fort you had when you were a kid. Check out what this “big kid” engineer designed for himself in only 182 square feet. Now this may be far to little space for most people, but Steve Sauer proves how efficient [...]

Steampunk Sky Pirate Cosplay

Just when I thought I was losing much of my adoration of the genre, I’m reminded there are still some great things left to love. Behold, steampunk cosplay at it’s finest. This is certainly great at a glance, but it grows on you the longer you gaze… via frijoleluna

9 Inspiring Rustic French Kitchens

While France isn’t really my travel destination of choice, there is something awe inspiring about the incredible and amazing kitchens that the French cook in. Cooking can be fine and dining can be elegant, but there is something still raw and primal about the preparation and consumption of food. Most inspiring is the rustic quality [...]

The Architect’s Brother

At last, my Victorian steampunk fantasies realized in photography!  Take a moment to view and marvel at this traveling exhibit under the name of “The Architect’s Brother” by artists Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison. Harvesting clouds from the sky, mending cracks in the earth, jetting off into space on a rudimentary rocket, and tending to a [...]

Headbanding How To for Bookbinding

I had intended to write a tutorial on headbanding for bookbinding for quite some time, but I can see now there is no need. Instruction of this kind had been very hard to find on the internet, but now there is a wealth of information available to keep you busy and plenty of photos to [...]

The Basic Binding of Books: A Tutorial (1 of 8)

In addition to your book making materials you will need: 1) A large working area (if you don’t have a large area, you will need to clean up well after each stage) 2) Both large and small binder clips (I use them gratuitously) 3) A waste paper basket close by 4) A stack of clean scrap [...]

Illustration

Machine, Me

Daydreaming

“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must also have freedom, sunshine, and a little flower.” – Kahlil Gibran

Vintage HAM-Radio Homebrew

Aside from the obvious awesomeness of Amateur HAM-Radio, is there anything more thrilling than the warm glow of vacuum tubes? I say no. I think the guys at Glowbug Times would agree.

Steampunk Watch of Ages

“What is time? What is now? This moment is but a foot in mid step, a hovering pause that passes, a thin slice of intangibility that rests upon the moments of history and upon which rest the moments of tomorrow. With the passage of time these moments break away from our fragile grasp and are [...]

DIY Steampunk Goggles

Because steampunk goggles still always get me excited… Here is a really neat Flickr photo set by member mikest showing his steampunk goggle DIY. Check it out here.

Hanging Pendant Globe Lamp

My Hanging Globe Lamp Globe Lamp Chandelier by Benoit Vieubled Old Globe Mobile by ZGallerie I’ve long wanted to hack an old world globe desk lamp into a hanging pendant (top image), easy enough to do if you don’t mind your world turning upside down (literally). Artist Benoit Vieubled, however, took this idea one step [...]

Double Decker Days

Double Decker Days is a blog by Crystal Thomas chronicling her biggest DIY to date – renovating a 1970′s double decker bus she bought on eBay into a tiny but unique vacation home. She is only a few weeks into the project, and I suspect there are many more weeks to go. I can’t wait [...]

22 Manly Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin

The MintyCam by Chris Keeney Portable mini hobo grill Games Chest by airship Watercolor set by Ninth Wave Designs Pocket tackle box Every time I run across the topic of hacking Altoid tins for unexpected novelty uses my heart catches in my throat a little. I’ve always loved little secret boxes holding personal treasures. The [...]

Handmade Steampunk Jewelry

OK, steampunk doesn’t get much more awesome than this. If we all started wearing jewelry and accessories such as these handmade pieces by 19 Moons the world would be a better and much more fashionable place indeed…