Steampunk Train

Steampunk Train

When my kids were little, I was a big Dr. Who fan, mostly because my son was The World's Biggest Dr. Who fan.  Today, he can still tell ya what actor played Dr. Who in sequential order.  So, couple that with Douglas Adams and Hitchiker's Guide the Galaxy, Metropolis, Dark City, Boys from Brazil, Mad Max and Tank Girl---- who wouldn't be fascinated by trains and steampunk.  Heck, I even bought an espresso machine so I could produce hydrogen in my own kitchen.

So, I found this dinky sad broken little train in the junk store, and recycled it into a thing of art.  This steampunk train is about 11 inches long and has a cargo area for Things.  A 1980 RCA TV transistor circuitboard fits perfectly over 4/5ths of the top, if you wanted to use it for ink pens but only had 5 ink pens.  And as I was remaking it, I wondered if  Thomas the Tank Engine looked like this when he grew up.  This little assemblage will be available via Oklahoma Food Cooperative.  Check it out at http://www.oklahomafood.coop/ .

Steampunk Time Travelling Machine

Steampunk Time Travelling Machine

Habitat for Humanity hosts an annual bird house auction to raise money for building homes. The bird houses are decorated by area artists.  This year my donation is this fun Steampunk Time Travelling Machine, created from radio gauges and watch parts with glass tiles and brass or copper other bits.  It is edged in copper flashing.  My collaborator for this project was Gene Carter, who helped me drill and set the gauges.  If one were to go about creating a time travelling machine, what would be the essential parts?  Plenty of dials so as to calibrate the dates and measure the travel, plus interesting-looking whirlygigs that could move fast.  There are few moving parts to this little endeavour, but it does look strangely wonderfully gadgety.  It will be available at the Habitat auction in May in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  If you'd like to make an offer on purchasing it, call me at 918 797 5016 and I will relay your bid to the auction coordinators.

Nickel Silver and Brass Lightning Bolt Light Fixture

Art Deco Lightning Bolt Fixture

Eureka Springs was one of the earliest cities to get electricity, but by the 1920s electricity was common in many cities, although it had not yet come to rural Cherokee County, Oklahoma.  While in Eureka Springs, AR last weekend, I photographed this wonderful light fixture because I love the design elements.  It was $465 at an antique store by the Spring near 1881 Crescent Guest House, lovingly restored.