This should have been posted well before Halloween, and for that I apologize.

Peter Montgomery wanted something special for a Halloween decoration for his home, and this year he outdid himself with a giant  ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth” Steampunk Drill. The drill bit alone is 11 1/2 feet long. The “spine” of the cylinder is 13 1/2 feet long, making the combined total length 25 feet through the longest axis. The cylinder is 7 feet in diameter.

More pics and videos at his Halloween Website

If you would like to help defray his expenses, please go to this Kickstarter page and become a backer. Better late than never.

Most humble apologies from your Blog-master. Sidelined due to some personal issues (medical), we were unable to give the blog the attention it was due.. To those who submitted material via email,  I’mn getting caught up!..

Look for regular posts to start up in the next day or two…

Thanks!

HAC

Mat Haydn writes

“Last year I finally fulfilled a long-held dream of mine to attack the annual Hallowe’en Zombie Walk (in Wellington, New Zealand) with a group of “zombie hunters” (wielding nerf guns and air cannons). To make it a bit more fun we dressed as Steampunk Zombie Hunters. The zombies weren’t in on it, but played along… we were slaughtered in under a minute

Here’s the video: http://vimeo.com/7373475

But this year it’s going to be different! With my friends we’ve set up an official  Website and we’re running a small pre-Hallowe’en game too. Should be fun and hopefully something your readers might enjoy or get involved in.”

James Richardson-Brown of The Artificers’ Club needs your help:

I have received news that a proposed book on steampunk art will be going ahead. Published one of the UK’s leading art publishers and edited by myself. I am now looking for artists of all types to grace the pages of this humble endeavour with your wonderous creations. Apply now…

If you’re a Steampunk maker-artist, and you want to be featured in a book on the subject, this is your chance! Being considered for inclusion requires membership in The Artificers’ Club, which appears to be free of charge, but application-based.

[hat tip: Herr Döktor from our Steampunk Forum]

Steamcon® [in Seattle, WA – Ed.] is expanding our convention’s vending opportunities this year with an Artists’ Alley, a place for Steampunk craftspersons to promote their current or upcoming wares.  The wares must be hand-crafted, and Steampunk relevant- in layman’s terms, Victorian or steam age science fiction/fantasy.  You know the drill.

We know that it can be difficult for smaller-scale artisans to afford or procure a full-blown vendor’s table at conventions, so this is a chance for the less mass-produced artists to get their work out there…  And a chance for the rest of us to purchase any number of wonderful steampunk creations.

Artists’ Alley Rules and Regulations 1.    All wares must be steampunk relevant.  (Victorian or steam age science fiction) 2.   One table per artist. 3.   No crafting at the table that is messy, smelly or potentially harmful to the hotel.  No glueing, welding, spraying, etc. 4.   Steamcon will not provide electricity or wifi to the tables. 5.   Steamcon does not provide security for the tables.  All wares must be removed at night. 6.   Steamcon will not provide storage of wares at night. 7.   An artist table will cost $40.00 for the weekend.  Artist must also have a membership to the con.  Staff rate of $30 is available if they don’t yet have one.  A second membership is available at the same rate.  No more than two may be purchased per artist.  Some artists might be panelists or staff and already have memberships. 8.   Hours of operation are Friday – noon – 6:00, Saturday – 10:00- 6:00 and Sunday – 10:00 – 4:00. Artists may sit the tables longer than this but must be at their tables during this time, unless doing a panel. 9.   Table size is 6′ x 30″.

If you wish to participate, please read and fill out the applicationHERE and e-mail it to artists_alley@steamcon.org as soon as you can.  Space is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.  Once accepted, you will be contacted by email and then you can send in your payment.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to shoot me a note at artists_alley@steamcon.org.

We hope to see you in November! -Claire Hummel Steamcon® II Artists’ Alley head

Irrational Games has announced Bioshock Inifinite,  the next installment in the Bioshock series.

Synopsis:

“BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter currently in development at Irrational Games, the studio behind the original BioShock (which sold over 4 million units worldwide). Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative and gameplay experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky.

Former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt has been sent to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned in Columbia since childhood. Booker develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.”

Picture from the launch party:

More info, trailers and pictures at: Bioshock Infinite

The League of Victorian Imagineersholding our second Steampunk Exhibition during 23 October thru 5 December 2010. Our first exhibition holds the record for number of visitors for the Forrester Gallery. If you visit our web site www.steampunknz.co.nz you can find all the details you need to enter an artwork into the selection process. We encourage everyone to investigate this process and present a piece. Sadly, we cannot pay for the freight of any selected or unselected artwork.

The late Fred Dibnah’s 1912 Aveling & Porter Ltd steam tractor fetched £240,000 at Cheffins Vintage Auction Sale on Saturday 24th July 2010, twice its pre-sale estimate. It was purchased by Michael Oliver, Chairman of Knutsford based manufacturer Oliver Valves and has assured that Fred’s beloved engine remains in the north-west. The engine which was last used to pull Fred’s coffin at his funeral in 2004 was lovingly restored over 27 years and featured in Fred’s last BBC TV series ‘Made in Britain’.

Bill King director of Cambridge based auctioneers said ‘whilst the price achieved for this engine far exceeded our pre- sale expectations, it is testament to Fred and his skill and knowledge of traditional engineering and of course his big personality that we received so much interest’. Michael Oliver has also offered to Fred’s son Jack to have the opportunity to drive the engine and it is intended that the engine appears at Steam Shows across the UK.

DragonCon to Premiere “The Steampunk Exhibition”! DragonCon 2010 is hosting the premiere of “The Steampunk Exhibition”, showcasing Steampunk’s most inventive and talented creators of gear, device modifications, guns, contraptions and more.  This is a unique Steampunk event at one of the country’s largest conventions and offers builders and craftsmen a rare opportunity to present their work and interact directly with an appreciative audience touring the Victorian-style exhibition. “The Steampunk Exhibition” will be presented in the Peachtree Ballroom at the “Wild, Wild Westin” Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, September 5, 2010 from 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST.

Interested Steampunk craftsmen, artisans and inventors are encouraged to inquire about exhibitor openings at dragonconsteampunk@gmail.com . Deadline to apply is August 28, 2010.

J.W Kinsey has put together  a collection of various drawings and digital paintings, custom woodworking projects, and handmade furniture and lighting fixtures that made over the last decade or so.

His website features Light Fixtures, boxes, Cryptexes, and other assorted goodies, well worth a look.

JW Kinsey’s Artifice Portal