I love to see people's workspaces, probably because my workshop is just about my favorite place in the world to spend time. 

My workshop is in my garage, which is a common situation in the States. However, in the U.K. it's the garden shed that often houses the secret laboratories of British Steampunks. This is doubly exciting to me because I love tiny buildings nearly as much as I love workshops!

Clearly many people in the U.K. share my affliction for there is a website solely dedicated to documenting these architectural gems and today they are featuring the shed of one Outa Spaceman, who many will recognize from the Brass Goggles Forums.

What a lovely little place to spend the day constructing infernal machines!

The title says it all - these are just brilliant! (via - Steampunkpics )

From Wikipedia:

Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products. It is generally a reinvestment in the environment. "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." This process allows for the reduction of waste and use of virgin materials.

The term upcycling was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

It's a term that my photographer friend Libby Bulloff introduced me to and I hope to make "Upcycling:" a regular feature here at The Steampunk Workshop.  If you have a cool hack for "Upcycling:" send it to Upcycling@vonslatt.com.

We bought this thing in an uncharacteristic flurry of consumerism in preparation for a huge family Thanksgiving dinner.  But you know what?  The damn thing works quite well and is really handy for spot clean-ups which seem to be the only kind of cleanups we ever do these days.

We quickly discovered that the bottles of cleaner were not meant to be re-filled, they have a lock-ring on the cap like some milk bottles, only this ring doesn't break away when you try and twist off the cap.

I have legions of minions (both cybernetic and meatiform) so if you say 'steampunk' anywhere on the interwebs I'm liable to pop up in UR LJ or UR Flickr within hours.  Such was the case this morning when I discovered this marvellous machine built by banjo player Will Segerman for a musical group aptly named The Clockwork Quartet.

Will's Flickr stream is here (be sure to check out the Blunderbuss and Transparent Armour!) and if I were you I would sign up to the Clockwork Quartet's Facebook page. If these folks musicianship match Will's craftsmanship - they are going to be awesome indeed!

More pics after the cut!

TechnOccult inteviews wunderkammer artist AlexCF:

I guess it all started with this little box, called “The Vampire Legacy Case” about a 14th century aristocratic vampire, the last rites and possessions of this vampiric lord. I had the idea of creating an alternative past, creating characters and species with which to fabricate my own world in which all these things existed. So I started making, and the rest is history!

The Clockwork Hand by deviantart user Astalo is lovely in it's craftsmanship. It is, however, a strange cross between cyborg upgrade and flirtatious torture device- wear it for super strength or make someone else wear it, turn the crank, forcibly making the 'come hither' motion , over and over and over. 'Who, me?'- I would say, blushing- 'I do declare, I thought you would never ask..but oh, Mr. Wingspatersonton, however will you dance, tied to that chair?'

I want it.

Typography can be (and usually is) tremendous amount of stress. I, for one, tear my hair out every time I see the currently ubiquitous Bleeding Cowboys; another friend has a dysfunctional relationship with Papyrus- over and over he vows it's over- only to be found trysting at midnight, kerning.

That being said, I find Vtks Revolt , by Douglas Vitkauskas,a rather handsome little font; if oddly named.

Yes, that is the Steampunk Strat in the hands of Nathaniel Johnstone of Abney Park on stage at SteampoweredCon 2008.

Sigh.

I made her but I could not give her what she needed as I have not the musical talent.  I'm glad she found a good home and I expect we'll all be hearing great things from her in the future.

In fact, I understand she's already laid down some mad trackz on AP's newest album project.

See ya 'round Lady Strat!

[Thanks to Kathryn Hedges for the photo!]

The long awaited (release has been pushed back several times) cover art book for Fables has come out today. It compiles all the amazing and moving covers that James Jean has done for the series, issues 1-75.  The cherry on top that is really making me squeal with happiness- each and every one is accompanied by sketches and progress shots. Yoyza.

Every Wednesday since I've been traveling, I've searched out the local comic book purveyor to see if this book had come out, and the wait has been more than worth it. James Jean is a jewel of an artist- creepily beautiful, deadly sexy, and intriguingly surreal; his art knocks my socks off every time.

For some reason, Amazon has the release date as next week, but your comic book shop should have it now.

Kay writes:

I have often been inspired and impressed by your work. Here you can see one  of my lastest projects.  It's a original german steampunk keyboard. More pics you find at: www.flickr.com/photos/steamtux

There is nothing I like to hear more then that! and man-oh-man did he do a fine, fine job!  There are a couple more pics after the cut and more on Kay's Flickr including in process shots here!