My step-by-step video shows you how to make, in under 10 minutes and for under $10, the same kind of steampunk rings that others are selling on Etsy for $28-$55. I’ve been making similar rings since 2008, but I do not sell these rings on Etsy, so please don’t make the mistake of thinking I am selling these for $55. My $55 pieces tend to be more elaborate and take more time and unusual parts to create.

Most steampunk jewelry requires a great degree of time, skill and money (especially when trying to find and purchase antique parts), and thus it is more expensive than jewelry purchased in stores. But these rings are fun and easy, and need not cost much. They look great and make a nice gift.

When I am sitting at my work space, this is what I see on my left. On the far left, just out of view, are spools of wire and a postal scale, and several replicas of Shiloh’s necklace from “REPO! The Genetic Opera” which I hope to finish soon. In the picture itself are several pendants, magnets, clock parts, and other materials. In the top left corner you can see some of my little “shrine” of creativity, with crystal balls, a steampunk clock, gargoyle and other bits which are not used for jewelry but which make me feel happy.

After I took these pictures, I realized that my work space looks a lot like those I Spy kind of PC games such as the “Mystery Case Files” Ravenhurst or Madam Fate. This is not by design, it’s just the way I work. But it could explain why I enjoyed those games so much.

Below is a closeup of the “Resin Staging Area” shown at the bottom of the above pic. This is the area of my work space where I lay out all of the items which will require resin. You can also see several pendants and other things that are in progress.

And in the middle of the work space, we have my bottles of chain, tools, assorted bits, and a lovely picture from Bioshock 2…

Below you can see my trusty pliers, which were made in Germany and have been used to make jewelry for the past 10 years. I love the feel of them in my hand. And to the left is my little jeweler’s anvil. The ugly green pad muffles the sound and keeps everything from bouncing all around when I’m beating the dickens out of things like broken clocks or metal disks. You can also see the tape measure I have along the edge of the table. This is really handy.

Here’s a view of my bounty of gears, after taking apart some broken clocks from the flea market. The gears range in size up to about 1-1/2 inches across. Aren’t they gorgeous? I haven’t decided what I want to do with them. They would make wonderful pendants, just by themselves. I don’t want to get stupid and start gluing Swarovski crystals or octopi to them. I might just keep them to use if I ever get around to making a steampunk costume. I don’t know.

Here’s the right side of this space, not very exciting, but included for the sake of completion. Because I’m right-handed, I tend to keep things such as tools and cords on this side. There are trays of filigree and bezels stacked up there, some pictures from REPO!, and a can of bronze spray paint which I am going to use to steampunk mod a toy fortune-telling machine I bought at Target. I am taking pictures of that project as I go, and I will post that when it’s finished. Part of the problem with doing assemblage art, and not having a lot of free time, is that some of my projects drag on and on for months or even years, while I am trying to find, or design, all of the pieces. Right now, with the fortune-teller, I am trying to either find an old doll to replace the cheezy little plastic guy, or decide whether I want to make something out of Fimo. I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed it. Cheers.

A result of my foray into the creation of handmade silver rings. Fine silver – 99.9% pure silver, not the 92.9% of sterling. Winged heart, darkened with an application of antiquing solution. This is a handmade, one-of-a-kind item, created in my private studio with a butane torch, chasing hammer and mini-anvil.

The owner of this ring talks about new beginnings, synchronicity, and the meaning of jewelry in her blog post here.

I met, hung out with, pestered and enjoyed talking with several lovely people this week at the North American Science Fiction Convention. I’m not necessarily so sure they enjoyed talking to me, but I appreciate their indulgence. I met…

* Craig Cummings, the gentleman pictured above, left, creator of marvelous steampunk regalia and impromptu master of ceremonies at the Steampunk Fashion Show.

* John G. Hemry, author of the Stark’s War, Paul Sinclair and Lost Fleet series, and just the nicest, most unpretentious and genuine person. Thank you, Mr. Hemry, for being so gracious, open, and not making me feel like a peon.

* David J. Halperin, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the UNC-Chapel Hill and author of “Journal of a UFO Investigator” (coming in 2011). Another incredibly nice, very gracious individual, a true gentleman.

* Mary Robinette Kowal, author of “Shades of Milk and Honey,” VP of SFWA, and puppeteer. Yes, puppeteer! Plus, she gave away beautiful sandalwood fans to promote her book. I love the smell of sandalwood.

* Bull Spec editor Samuel Montgomery-Blinn, who is incredibly nice and knowledgeable about local sci-fi writers. Kindly check out his magazine. He works very hard on it, and uses Linux cuz it’s free, of course. Team Linux!

* Raleigh sci fi author Mark L. Van Name, author of “Children No More.” Proceeds from the book go to Falling Whistles: Campaign for Peace in the Congo. He is also a self-professed fan of Serenity. I’m hoping we can convince him to come to our next CSTS.

* Christiana Ellis, local podcaster extraordinaire who interviewed me in 2008 for my role in coordinating our local Can’t Stop the Serenity. Now she has a book out, “Nina Kimberly the Merciless,” and after talking to her about it, I can’t wait to read it!

* Sara M. Harvey, steampunk author and costumer, as well as a professional historian, fan of Serenity, and just an all-around delightful person.

* With an effervescence which borders on mania, Davey Beauchamp is an author, librarian, and editor of the book Writers for Relief, an anthology to benefit the victims of hurricane Katrina.

* Michael D’Ambrosio, the author of the Fractured Time trilogy and Space Frontiers series. I was in the “very good audience” mentioned in his blog, and I’m so saddened to hear he had to cut his con time short due to a death in the family.

* James Maxey, author of the Dragon Age fantasy series and the superhero novel Nobody Gets the Girl, and most excellent pirate.

* Chris Jackson, friendly and enthusiastic author, speaker and seafarer, whose spouse Anne was extremely sweet.

* Phil and Tim. I don’t recall their last names, but they know who they are. You guys are dynamite!

I also discovered John Claude Bemis‘ steampunk book for kids “The Nine Pound Hammer,” picked up several brilliant shirts by Off World Designs, bought a copy of Richard Dansky’s new book “Firefly Rain” (no relation to anything Browncoaty, it’s a paranormal thriller set in NC), and purchased some books from Orielis Quality Used Books from Chapel Hill.

I also saw a Klingon. Everything’s better with Klingons.

Last year, my short story “Wren & Wood: Oak Moon” won the 2009 Andrew Britton Short Story Competition.

“Oak Moon” is a fantasy story set in a re-imagined Dark Age period, where a raggedy wizard and his shillelagh-wielding beloved cling to the edge between civilized and wild, religion and magic, starvation and survival, by accepting dangerous and often preternatural employment.

If you’re interested in joining their adventures, here’s the story link (pdf file):

WREN AND WOOD: OAK MOON

Mention in Raleigh Metro Magazine (scroll down the page, or hunt for “Hilton”)

For those of you who didn’t already see my tweets and Facebook posts, I wanted to mention that the book “Steampunk Style Jewelry” by Jean Campbell was released earlier than expected. It is now available on Amazon for ordering in time for the holidays. I have a copy right here in front of me, and I can tell you it’s gorgeous.

Not only does it include three of my own original jewelry projects (the Horological Faery Gadget necklace shown above, as well as Gearrings and an Airship Captain’s Ring), but also several projects by other artists and a wealth of information about steampunk, including modding, movies, antique shopping, cosplay and more! This is the most amazing craft book I’ve ever seen. You want one.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15 * 11am-4pm

Location: TIR NA NOG IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT 218 South Blount St., Downtown Raleigh

I am coordinating this event for the Meetup group I started over a year ago. The Jewelry Art Show will be a gathering of local jewelry designers who will be selling handmade and one-of-a-kind adornment art straight from the heart, hands and soul of people living in the Triangle area of central North Carolina. Admission is free. You can click on the image to go to the event blog, where there are links to the participating artists.

For now, if you are a customer in CANADA or the UK, please email me before placing an order — there’s no international shipping option in my shopping cart. I hope to have that fixed soon. Thanks!

I’m in a book! Steampunk-Style Jewelry: A Maker’s Collection of Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Designs by Jean Campbell will feature some of my own original jewelry, including step-by-step how-to instructions explaining how they were made. Other artists who contributed to the book: Melanie Brooks, Andrew Thornton, Cynthia Deis, Jamie Hogsett, Jane Mormino, Margot Potter, Barbe Saint John, Annie Singer, Madelyn Smoak, Tracy Thomasson, and Jean Yates. It is available for pre-order from Amazon now, but I’m told that it won’t actually come out until January 2010. I can’t wait to see it!