Gearing Up

I’d been putting this off until I had a more polished presentation to bring to the table, but the popularity of Victorientalism lately has given me cause to move ahead, good planning be damned.

Put simply, sky ninja are the natural enemies of that overpopulated scourge of the air, the sky pirate. It was only natural that ninja would evolve skyward just as pirates did.

The name sky ninja actually came about as a joke referring to Captain Jack Rose’s unhealthy attachment to the exotic but dangerous and far-flung colonies of the Mysterious East where he accompanied his parents for a several years of his misspent youth. He spent a few years there in the company of a pair of Imperial agents, eventually losing track of them when they disappeared to oppose the schemes of the Empress Dowager Cixi, and thereafter Jack insisted on bringing an Oriental flair to all things, whether it was really helpful or not.

In addition to the pieces he bought or assembled himself, he has commissioned a few pieces that he feels capture the spirit in which he was “trained”. He enjoys the use of weapons from throughout Asia, including Nipponese shuriken (a pair of which he commissioned from Alexandra of the White Peacock Trading Company shortly after they met) and an Indian talwar sword which was passed on to him from his father. He’s not necessarily much good with all these exotic weapons, mind you, but he tries.

Sky ninja is not so much an actual job (I’d imagine actual steampunk ninja would be more land-based unless they were engaged in specific warfare against their sky pirate enemies) as an expression of interest in Asia as filtered through the Victorian-colonial mentality.

It is important, when looking at Asia through steam-colored glasses, that we use the Western/British mentality toward Asians in the same way we do their mentality toward women and the lower classes: something to play with, parody, and subvert, but not something to seriously adopt. The stereotype of the exotic geisha or the silent warrior monk may be interesting to flesh out or turn inside out, but especially in writing, it’s essential to remember that cardboard cutouts are never interesting characters and stereotypical cutouts are less so.

(If you’re interested in making sure you don’t write stereotypes for your Asian characters, you may wish to read this discussion on LJ for a privilege check and a thread on the many interesting possibilities for non-Eurocentric stories.)

And remember, if you don’t see sky ninja stalking you from above, that just means they’re doing their job.

How did you get started making upcycled and steampunk jewelry?

My first steampunk article was a pair of round, black sunglasses decorated with silver 1920s watch parts. It was a visual prop for a story I was writing about a woman with a mechanical eye. That was about a year ago, and I didn’t know what steampunk was, nor was I making jewelry.
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Can you describe how you look at movements and gears and see jewelry?

Some pieces take longer than others. I’ve had watch plates sitting out in my work area for weeks until something just clicks. Often it’s simply a matter of setting another piece next it and something sparks. Other pieces immediately hint at possibilities. There can be a certain shape or curve or perhaps time has left a colorful patina. With older watch parts many time there is some kind of decorative etching or even inscriptions by the maker that beg to be highlighted.
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How long have you been making jewelry, and how did you start?

I began making basic jewelry as a teenager- dabbling in stringing and hemp weaving through high school. Through most of college, my focus moved away from jewelry making in my spare time. As a senior in college, I began making jewelry again, this time, multi-strand necklaces. I planned out the materials and created pieces inspired by various tales, from Hans Christian Andersen and The Brother’s Grimm. I posted them for sale on a forum I am a part of, and from there I discovered Etsy.com
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Since I really enjoyed doing my last interview, I asked my friend to recommend more talented crafters. I was impressed by TotusMel’s unique offerings on Etsy and approached her for an interview.

Tatting lace is not a craft I’ve seen much lately. How did you become interested in it?

I’ve been an avid knitter and crocheter since childhood, but I eventually bored of making scarves and blankets and I didn’t have time to do more elaborate projects with a toddler running about. I thought I would look for something new to try and discovered tatting. I first attempted shuttle tatting and after many a failed attempt I ran to the internet for help. I found needle tatting, taught myself in an evening and I was hooked.
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I recently wrote to steampunk artisan and good friend Alexandra Sforza of Heterodyne Designs and the White Peacock Trading Company, asking if she would indulge me in a brief interview for my site. She was happy to oblige.

What got you interested in steampunk as a whole?

I grew up around Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and loved movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth, Indiana Jones and Allan Quartermain. I was reading Jules Verne in third grade, and taking apart stuff around the house a year later, so it’s really been a life-long thing. I’ve been collecting skeleton keys since I can remember, and it’s one of those things that just, BAM, hit me one day- I think likely my first issue of Girl Genius is what pushed me over the edge, and here I am, years later, enjoying the madness!
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Some recent discussion on Steam Fashion on the subject of chatelaines interested me in further exploring the topic.

A chatelaine is an accessory commonly worn by women in the Victorian and earlier eras, often as a precursor to the purse. They began as the keyring worn by the householder’s wife in medieval times, and by the Victorian era the chatelaine most often consisted of a handful of small accessories attached by short chains to a pin or ring attached to a lady’s belt. A Victorian lady might be seen wearing a small pouch, a mirror, sewing accoutrements like a needle case or pin cushion.

I’m sure you are already thinking of ways to steam up a chatelaine! It’s really a very useful piece to carry in everyday life. Skeleton keys are both traditional and awesome-looking. Miniature screwdrivers and wrenches could join the more ladylike scissors, and a clear needle case might be replaced by a similar-looking small, clear container that contained any matter of useful substances. A Fisher space pen, while not cheap, would look quite at home as well. The specific tools carried can convey a lot about you, your hobbies, and what you feel you need at your side every day.

Incidentally, there is a precident for similar fashion in China:

Upper outer garments of women reached beyond the knees at the end of Guangxu reign. Some skirts were attached with 16 to 20 ribbons, with small silver bells tied at the end of every ribbon. Some gold or silver ornaments such as earpicks, toothpicks and small nippers were hung on the front part of garments.

The same “steamy” elements could be added to these beribboned skirts for those young ladies who seek adventure during the twilight of the Chinese empire.

In an earlier discussion on Steam Fashion, the idea of a Gentleman’s Chatelaine also came up. The one Sadeian Research produced for the community is very dashing as well as demonstrating that the chatelaine looks good and is practical for both genders.

The heart of any good fashion is in the details, and the chatelaines offer the opportunity for a fine range of beautiful and useful details that can really help bring a costume to life.

Goggles are, of course, the penultimate steampunk accessory. (The ultimate steampunk fashion accessories, in case you’re curious, are gears.) It’s become almost a joke, as all standards do, and yet a good pair of goggles is often the first thing someone new to the subculture looks for. There are many, many beautiful goggles out there - most of which are priced appropriately for the workmanship that’s gone into them. I love a pair of gorgeous, hand-crafted brass goggles as much as the next person, but many of us can’t afford goggles running $50, $100, or even more. People new to the subculture may not want to invest that much in their first accessory. (Or heck, we may just want some left over for boots…)

With that in mind, I’ve collected some links to a variety of interesting goggles available for under $20 - many run under $10. Not all of them are ready to go out of the box. A little paint or accessorizing will steam them up considerably, but any of them should do for a starter set.

If you don’t want to buy online, or you’re out for a bargain, check out your local antique shops. Vintage welding goggles in both the “goggle” and the “safety glasses” varieties can often be found for less than $10 and sometimes even come in their original packaging. I’ve gotten most of my goggles in this manner, but I know not everyone has access to well-stocked (and decently priced) antique shops. So on that note - on to the links!

1. US Forge Shaded Brazing Goggles
   These are a nice basic pair of goggles. If you want the standard, these will do you.
2. Fibre Metal Safety Goggles
   The green lenses on these goggles would add a great touch of color to an outfit.
3. Dust Goggles
   Not obviously steampunk, no, but some painted details would go a long way on these basically sleek goggles.
4. Red Baron Goggles
   Ideal for pilots, sky pirates, and various other sorts who find themselves in control of zeppelins and planes from time to time.
5. WWII Replica Motorcycle Goggles
   Again, excellent for the dashing sort of person who may have taken my advice in finding a bomber jacket.
6. Korean War Surplus Goggles
   Strictly speaking, a bit late, but these goggles are big and unwieldy looking, great for small people who want big props that make them look crazier, and perfect if you’re expecting large explosions.
7. Swiss Motorcycle Goggles
   Unlike most pairs, these actually fold up into a small tin when you’re not using them, and often are intended to tie in the back rather than have elastic. I have a pair I keep in my bag for emergencies. You know, goggle emergencies.
8. Multi-colored Lens Goggles
   Perfect for the mad scientist who wants goggles to match his most outlandish outfit. You may want to give these a quick coat of paint, too.
9. Welding Goggle with Flip-Up Lens
   This is a shape and style of goggle you don’t see very often, so if you want something eye-catching and unique, these square-lensed goggles might be the way to go.
10. When In Doubt, DIY.
    It is, in fact, possible to make your own goggles. If you look around, you’ll find lots of different ideas for parts, but which is best for you depends on how much time you want to put in and what sorts of parts you have lying around.

Know of any other great goggles that aren’t too expensive? I’d love to see them! Please drop a link in the comments.