Saturday Steam 6/8/13

Let's start with this week's most popular steamy snippet:

Awww yeeeeeah.

Now, I'm not saying the alcohol is what makes this handcrafted, wood-and-brass AT-AT by Colin Rhino so appealing, but I don't think I'm the only one imagining whistling the Imperial March to get it to deliver couch-side. JUST SAYING.

Seriously, though, would you LOOK at this detail??

Stunning. It really is fit for an emperor!

- I think I posted one of Andrea Masse-Tognetti's airship ornaments last Christmas, but Allison P. just linked me to this one, Andrea's third, and it's even more impressive than her first two!

Check out the tiny bead "lanterns", and the brass angel figurehead!

"Airship Three Hanging Sculpture," $255 by Merimask

While the hull may look like carved wood, it's actually sculpted leather. (The interior floor and cabin are balsa wood, though.) Some of you may recall that Andrea - better known as Merimask - is most famous for her leather masks, so these little ships are just a side hobby for her. I really hope she makes more, though; they're fantastic in every sense of the word.

- Some of you might recall many eons ago (ie about two years) when I reviewed the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and then linked to the astounding - and very real - automaton that inspired the book (and later the movie, Hugo.) The source I found for the automaton wasn't great, though, and the video of it in action was just so-so.

That's why I was delighted this week when my friend Steampunk Boba Fett posted a video feature CBS did on the Maillardet Automaton last year, plus a few other fascinating examples. I'm not sure how I missed this when they first released it, but better late than never, right? Check it out:

 
If this doesn't get you excited about history, lost knowledge, and old stuff in general, I'm not sure WHAT will. (I've come to love almost any kind of mechanical antiques: forget the doilies and glassware, and lead me to the old hardware, tools, and glorious, rusty "junk!" Ha!)

- This is going to sound pathetic, but John and I have never gotten into table top gaming mostly due to a lack of friends to play them with. (Pathetic, right?) However, if you're into complex strategy board games - and have friends who are, too -  you might be interested in the soon-to-be-released Planet Steam:

Per the maker's website: "In Planet Steam, two to five players take the roles of entrepreneurs, racing to assemble equipment, claim plots of land, extract resources, and accumulate riches."

It looks crazy complicated, but I love this slider-gauge "Resource Terminal" thingie:

There's a two-part strategy guide/review here, plus another picture of the full board, so check that out to learn more. (And thanks to Elizabeth E. for the tip!)

- And finally, Vivienne V. found this sweet octopus lamp by mixed-media artist Karl Dupere Richer:

It's made from found objects like garden hoses, Christmas ornaments, a candy dish, and a "suspended globe."

When I went to grab the link to Karl's site, I found he makes all KINDS of colorful, whimsical lamp creations:
 

Plus mechanical-assemblage faces like this:

Most of them are oddly endearing, like this guy:
 

 Head over to Richer's portfolio to see lots more. (Note that the site is in French, I believe, so you may want to have Chrome translate it for you.)

As always, please share your own steamy finds in the comments or over on the Epbot Facebook page - and have a happy Saturday, everyone! 

Week's Best 6/7/13

I'm sure you've all seen this by now, but just in case:

 PORTAL BEDROOM!!

Lauren, the girl responsible for this work of genius, actually has an entire blog dedicated to the  design process, and it's well worth a visit. So many fantastic details! (And isn't that Chell art gorgeous?)

Here it is with the lights off:

My favorite is Lauren's set of made-from-scratch infinity Portal mirrors:

DO WANT. Sounds like they were a pain and a half to make, but wow. Looks like they were worth it!


 For my fellow Ghostbuster geeks, check out the Ghostbusters ride that never was:

Hit that link and scroll about halfway down the page for tons of amazing photos, mock-ups, and art.

(via Ghostbusters Fans) 

Reminds me of the MIB ride at Universal, only spookier.

Oh, and a commenter mentioned this ride is very similar to Ghost Blasters, a ride that still exists in several amusement parks around the US and Canada. Any of you know it?


- Would you believe this gorgeous wolf sculpture is made entirely of pipe cleaners?

Yep, you read that right: Lauren Ryan makes her sculptures out of 100% chenille stems (aka pipe cleaners). I can't get over how perfect that face is!

I'm also partial to her Fennec Fox:

Head over to Lauren's blog, Chenille Stems, to see lots more. (And thanks to Miranda A. for the link!)

- Frank of Post Secret tweeted one of the most inspirational things I've seen all week: Duct Tape Surfing. It's kind of like what John did for our friend Ken, only way, WAY harder. Hehehe.

Confused? Just watch:

Pascale (the woman) is a paraplegic, and is the mother of one of Tyrone's friends. The two have a Facebook page where they post pics and links to interviews and such, since they're starting to get lots of media coverage now. You can also donate duct tape there!

And while we're talking feel-good stories, have you heard about the Brazilian hospital that re-themed its children's cancer treatments into "superhero formulas?"

Not only do the kids get these special cases for their IV treatments, they also get custom comics - officially licensed from Warner Brothers - that show each superhero getting the "super formula" treatment using those exact same cases:

Plus the entire children's cancer ward there (located at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center in São Paulo) has been themed into the Hall of Justice! Head over to NerdApproved to see more pictures and video of the ward. (And in related news: are you totally crying right now, or is that just me? GAH.)

- While we're talking superheros, Target is really pulling out all the stops with their new Avengers line. Check out this fun LED Thor hammer night light:

It's battery powered, so you just stick it to the wall - easy-peasy. There's also a Hulk fist version and this Captain America shield:

SO COOL. $26.99 at Target's website, or I'm sure you can find them in local stores, too.

And finally, I've had several of you ask me before if I "Disney Bound." I never have, but after seeing this roundup of 39 examples over on BuzzFeed, I am seriously tempted! In a nutshell, Disney Bounding is like the world's most subtle form of cosplay: you dress in everyday clothes that still manage to evoke your favorite Disney character. Here are a few examples:

 

Daisy & Donald!
(I'm in love with Daisy's tights and shoes. IN LOVE, I say!)

The Disney Bound Tumblr mostly posts outfit inspirations, but there are also plenty of pics like these, with Bounders sending in photos of themselves - often with the characters they're dressed as! In fact, I met a reader out at DHS last week wearing the most PERFECT Perry-the-Platypus outfit. Here's Elizabeth (check out her orange converse!) with her sisters Taylor (as Phineas) and Kelsey (as Ferb):

 So fun!

Hope these made you smile! Have a great weekend, everyone!