Rose Gold Obsession

I've come to realize that I have a slight obsession with rose gold.

It all started when I purchased the David Smallcombe Rose Gold small cuff. I always imagined RG to be more pink but on my skin tone it appears copperish. I'm currently loving this Michael Kors Rose Gold watch I received for Christmas. I was so torn between the RG & YG but I ultimately chose this one & I'm very happy with it.  

The RG packaging on YSL's Metallic Colorama Palette was too pretty to pass up. As far as nails go, Orly's Rage has been my favorite polish these past few months.

The highlighter appears more champagne than rose on the skin but nevertheless gorgeous.

What do you think of Rose Gold? 

Do you have any RG makeup recommendations?

♥ Nikki

Angara.com extends Special Offers on all jewelry products for Cyber Monday

Angara.com, online leaders in gemstone and diamond jewelry has introduced many special deals for Cyber Monday.

The offer will only be valid on Cyber Monday itself, that is November 29th, 2010.

• Get a gorgeous Amethyst pendant in silver worth $100.00 absolutely Free with every purchase of $249.00 or above.

• Also Get a uber stylish Silk Jewelry Bag free with every purchase of $249.00 or above at Angara.com.

Angara.com is an online jewelry retailer that deals in diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald and other gemstone jewelry. It also specializes in Customized Jewelry.

So, Get Set, Go Wild, Go Shopping!

Once again this special offer is only valid for one day, November 29th, 2010.

Technorati Tags: Cyber Monday offers,jewelry deals,cyber monday deals

Unique Steampunk Gift Ideas 2010

Egads! The holiday gift-giving season is again upon us, bringing trepidation to those who must ask themselves, "what am I going to buy for my steampunk friends/family?!"

Never fear!  Your beloved (well-liked?) DreamSteam has found some ideas for you to peruse.

Brute Force Studios has several choices for the hard-to-buy-for steampunk.  Handmade corsets, book covers, and leather and brass fans abound on their site.  (Clockwork brassiere, anyone?)

 In case you have not seen these yet, Harbor Freight carries charming, working brass transits and sundials/compasses almost all year long.  They cost between $10 and $26.  (I own both and have also given them as gifts.)

The steampunk handy-person might enjoy using a tool made in a different era.  Vintage tools are apparently becoming a big deal in a niche market catering to those who want the right tool for the job and to look stylish while doing it!  Vintage Tools has a wide selection of hand tools.

For the steamy fashionista,  Pyramid Collection has skirts, shirts, jackets, and hats with buckles and style galore at fairly reasonable prices.

Alternatively, if you wish to support individuals who make their own steampunk items by hand, do look to ArtFire or Etsy.  Both have thriving steampunk categories, and if you buy there, you will make an artist very happy! (Links are suggestions, do a 'steampunk' search to find other wonderful artists on the sites.)  Jewelry, journals, goggles, clothing, toys, gadgets, you name it -- all can be found there in a twinkle.  

Butterfly Gear Necklace from DreamSteam's ArtFire shop

This is just the beginning of the gift guide ideas.  I will add more as I find them.  Also check out the tag cloud on the right hand edge of this blog page for specific shopping topics that you may desire to see; many tags contain posts regarding and links to more excellent merchants that I have mentioned in the past (parasols, brooches, toys, jewelry, collectibles, clothing, and more).   Happy shopping!

Five Easy Pieces

 

These are easy pieces to wear, especially the bangle bracelets!  They are classic pieces with classic gemstones: above, gorgeous faceted rock crystal oval nuggets have a dash of colour added by the genuine ruby rondelles places between them and then again at the very ends of the bracelet's sterling silver sides (from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes). Below is a sterling silver bangle that is made with one of the favorite gemstones of customers, London Blue topazes.  These are gem-quality blue topazes that are finely faceted and complemented by Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver.

Below are bracelets for fire-lovers!The first is a fire agate bracelet and has a gorgeous focal stone with a beautiful pattern and faceting juxtaposed against exquisite lampwork beads in tan colours with turquoise flowers (2) and swirls of darker brown (1). The sterling includes a beaded toggle clasp, a swirled round, a reticulated round, a folded bead and sterling silver flower charm.  The bracelet below is a classic combination of sunstone, lapis and golden vermeil that gives a nod to the ancient while appearing very contemporary. Bali vermeil has the strength to stand with these two dominant gemstones.

Last, a purple and silver lampwork bracelet made with lampwork beads from a favorite lampwork bead artist.  Silver gleams in the lampwork and is picked up by two sizes of little flower charms that hang around the bracelet. It's a fun bracelet that can go casual or extremely dressy!

FREE SHIPPING WITH PURCHASES OVER 50.00; 1.95 UNDER 50.00 

Contest:  Dragonfly Beads is having a contest/drawing for some of her lovely lampwork beads.  Go to her blog at Dragonfly Lampworks to enter.

New Jewels

If you are a fan of pretty handmade jewelry...

Be sure to check out my new pieces at CocoBellaDesigns

♥ Nikki

Elegant Stamped Brass and Gear Earrings and Collections on ArtFire

I have two things to report in this post, both happy!  The first heralds some new jewelry, and the other has to do with the recognition my shop and pieces have received recently.

While trying a new technique for joining metal jewelry components together, I created these elegant earrings.  They include the detailed solid brass stampings, brass watch gears, amber Swarovski crystal beads, and 24 karat gold ear wires.  They are for sale on ArtFire. 

Among the features of the ArtFire site, there is one called "Collections."  People can choose their favorite items from the shops on AF.  (This is the same as "Treasuries" on Esty, but on ArtFire, artists may choose to be notified when their items have been included in one, which is very nice.)  Visitors may view and also vote on the collections; here are some of the collections which have featured my items in the last month or so:

ArtFire Collections Featuring Steampunk Jewelry by DreamSteam:

"The Fire Stalkers - Pick Your Favorite"
"firestalkers three", curated by BlueGreenandPink
"Earrings For Every Occasion", curated by CalliopeCreations
"Vanilla Tea", curated by Drunkenmimes

"Heavy Metal", curated by NightSkyJewelry

"FireStalkers Featured Artists ", curated by bitspeaces

 "PURE STEAMPUNK", curated by Fairy_Dust_Studios

"be happy", curated by perhapsturquoise

"Lady Firestalkers #2", curated by daizi55

It is interesting (and sometimes surprising) to see which of my items people have chosen to include in their collections.  When they choose the pieces of which I am most proud, it makes me feel great.  I am very grateful for the recognition.  

If you would like to see the collections that I have curated, you may go here; they will not all be steampunk in nature, but will represent the best of the subject matter I could find.

I hope you enjoy seeing what other people have selected from the AF site; if you like the collections (or my jewelry!) and wish to share via social media, the standard options of Facebook, Twitter, RSS, and more are available for easy clicking on the left side of the collection page.  Thank you! 

Twirl About Madly! Copper Spiral with Dangling Brass Watch Gear Steampunk Earrings

Copper Spiral and Brass Gear Earrings

     A kind customer once wrote that they liked my style because I made pieces that went beyond the "Gears! SQUEE!"  sentiment of most steampunk jewelry.  While I definitely do lapse into an odd state of bliss when I see exquisite watch parts, I do try to go beyond the usual when it comes to designing my pieces.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
     I think these work.  I made and sold (!) a similar pair years ago, and I wanted to perfect the techniques involved and even improve on the effect; the main difference is that the previous spiral earrings were not given a verdigris finish.  I happen to love how these turned out! They are the same length, despite the difference in the photograph; I wanted them to dangle as I took it, and I used the only decorative straight-ish thing I had as the hanger!
     Of course, these unique DreamSteam original design earrings are for sale on ArtFire.  I hope someone likes these enough to give them a home.  (They even come in a pretty red organza ribbon drawstring gift bag!)

These have now sold (thank you!).  Look for more to appear in my shop very soon!

You Hold the Key -- Victorian Lock and Key Copper Steampunk Necklace by DreamSteam

You Hold the Key... steampunk necklace for sale

 I love this piece.  In this steampunk inspired necklace, an antiqued Victorian style copper key dangles from a draped copper chain, ready to unlock the mysteries guarded by the exquisitely detailed miniature copper lock plate above.

The total chain length is an elegant 24" long. It has a matching copper toggle and ring clasp.

There are a pair of copper beads and some iridescent red glass beads along the chain as accents.

Inspiration / Story behind this Product:

Simple yet elegant. I was inspired by a necklace recently worn by the character Claudia on "Warehoue 13." The show is no stranger to steampunk, as among other touches the keyboard in their office was created by the master computer steampunker Jake von Slatt.

It is listed for sale on both Etsy and ArtFire.  Be on the lookout for a brass version of this necklace to be posted for sale soon!

Tesla Triumph -- Hammered Brass and Copper Wire Steampunk Bracelet

Tesla Triumph bracelet by DreamSteam - for sale on ArtFire

     Whenever I see coiled copper wire, I think of the inventions of Nikola Tesla.   I believe the piece itself was a triumph of my ever evolving jewelry making skills, hence the name for this steampunk inspired bracelet.  

     So how did this piece come to pass?  I wanted to make another truly steampunk bracelet from scratch.  So I obtained my sheet of brass, cut it into strips, hammered it on my anvil, bent it into shape, and then removed any sharp edges. The brass clock gear at the center of the "cabochon" is vintage. To hold all of the pieces together, I came up with a wire-wrapping technique that was both strong and complimentary to a steampunk design.

     The bracelet has been "aged" to give it a rustic look; you may see verdigris greens, glowing copper reds, and grungy steampunk browns among the colors that the metal has attained.  To get the gorgeous patina on the brass, I used the vinegar and salt technique as described in a previous blog post.   It turned out splendidly!  I could have let it get even more developed, but I liked it the way it was and lightly waxed the metal to preserve it.

      I put a lot of time, thought and effort into this piece, and I hope someone else decides that they like it as much as I do! It will never be re-created exactly, even if I try to make another, as clock gears differ greatly.

     This bracelet is for sale in my ArtFire studio here (more pictures posted there).  If you like it or know someone who might, please feel free to Tweet it from that page or otherwise pass it along.  Thank you!

Summer Daytime Look

Hey girls, sorry for my lack of posts, it's been a crazy but fun summer.

Hope everyone else is enjoying it!  So here is my everyday makeup look recently.  I'd say it's pretty bronzy but not over the top. To make this into a night time look I'd probably just add some chocolate brown shadow into the outer V and some false lashes.

Face

NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona

Make Up Forever Concealer Palette #1

Chanel Bronze Universel as contour

♥ MAC Stereo Rose MSF ♥ as blush & highlight

Eyes

(my new favorite combination)

Arena + Naked Lunch on lid

Texture in crease

Orb on brow bone

Feline kohl power

all by MAC

Lips

MAC Saint German + Jazzed lipsticks

Dab of Smile Dazzleglass

& the swatches...

Starting at the top left

Orb, Arena & Texture

Orb looks matte and ashy on my hand but it is a satin & has a very pretty sheen on.  I've been trying to avoid shimmer or sparkle by the brow bone.Arena is also a satin which gives the most subtle but beautiful glow to my eyelids.  I can't believe I've never tried this eyeshadow before! Everyone was right about Texture eyeshadow, it's just gorgeous. 

Top Right

Stereo Rose MSF-recently released from In the Groove collection. 

If you can still get your hands on this, get it!!! I am kicking myself for not purchasing another...it's THAT beautiful. 

Jazzed lipstick & Smile Dazzleglass

Jewels 

Lisa Taubes 42" gold-fill chain

Sterling Silver Compass necklace from Target

David Smallcombe cuffs

Garnet & shell beaded bracelets made by me!

I'm working on posting some makeup and nail polish hauls and I have a ton of outfit of the days to upload. Till then, thanks for reading!

xoxo Nikki

New Jewelry, Shoes & OOTD

I love my Lisa Taubes gold-fill necklace so much that I had to order another.  This time I chose the 5ft Sterling Silver.  I absolutely love it.  A few weeks prior I ordered the David Smallcombe bracelets; 1 large gold-fill, 1 small silver.  

Mixed Metals

All jewelry sold on Lorraine's blog.

David Smallcombe Cuffs

These cuffs are so incredibly comfortable you can sleep with them on.  They are also bendable so you can slightly adjust them to fit your wrist.  I will be ordering the other two (large silver & small gold) soon.

Half of an OOTD

Tank & Sweater- J. Crew

Fedora- Aldo

Sunnies- YSL

Sterling Silver & Gold-Fill Lisa Taubes chains

Since this is a non-makeup related post I thought I'd share some new shoes. I picked up both of these pairs from DSW on sale for about $35 each!!!!  I'm not really familiar with the brands but they are just my style & a great deal.

Just a reminder that my giveaway ends in 2 days if you haven't already entered!

Thanks for reading,

♥ Nikki