Etsy Tuesday: Steampunk

Today's Etsy Tuesday is a look into incredible steampunk jewelry. It was inspired by the first necklace in this list:

$28.00 USD

This is a pendant by one of my favorite steampunk jewelry-makers on Etsy--Friston Ho'okano, who runs the shop DesignsByFriston. I love the jewel eyes, and the watch parts on the stomach. Overall, it's a beautiful piece.

$59.99 USD

The store DesignsBloom, run by Byrdldy, has jewelry which is a fabulous mixture of insect and steampunk--something I didn't realize I enjoyed until I saw its first pieces. This is my favorite, though there are pendants based on butterflies, snails, and other creepy-crawlies which really shouldn't be this pretty.

$55.00 USD

Speaking of things that shouldn't be this pretty (or adorable), I love this little crab necklace made by CosmicFirely, who runs a shop of the same name. One of the reasons I like it so much is that it's in silver--a metal I prefer to gold and brass, which characterizes steampunk. I think the silver makes it look more all-purpose, while still keeping it steampunky.

$38.00 USD

While some people may not think that hot air balloons are steampunk, I do--and certainly when crafted like the pendent above, and placed in that setting. I also love the green and purple balloon in contrast to the brass metal. Very pretty, and sold in the store TrashAndTrinkets run by Gypsy Trading Company.

$35.00 USD

The final piece on this list is a pendant made of watch parts. My favotire part of it is how tiny and detailed it is--the whole pendant is about as tall as a quarter. It's a beautiful little piece, and appropriate for all situations. It's made by Daria, who runs the shop Cultural Diversion.

Escapism

My computer has been refusing to connect to the internet for a while now. I just finally convinced it to connect when I hook it to an ethernet cord, so I was able to come here and update my blog (which I have been wanting to do for a few days now). In the time since I last updated, I saw The Dark Knight Rises as part of AMC's Trilogy experience (I will write up a review once I see it a second time), made significant progress on my first DIY tutorial, cleaned the house for some guests that are coming this weekend, and planned my combined graduation party with my brother (which is on Saturday). Along with working almost-full time this week, I have been busy.

Being busy usually leads to me being stressed. Combining this with some of the horrors that have been in the news lately--plus the death of a good friend's father--I've been driven towards escapism. Here is a list of my favorite escapist movies and tv shows. I also polled some of my friends for more ideas (unfortunately, they were pretty much the same shows I already had listed). What are your favorite things to watch when you just want to take a break from the real world?

4) Firefly/Serenity

Image from firefly.wikia.com

The only thing that makes this a poor escapist TV show is that there are not nearly enough episodes. When I want to "escape" with Buffy, I can be "gone" for weeks. With Firefly, it's a just a few days--even if you throw in Serenity. The longevity of the show's passionate cult following is testament enough to how immersible the world universe Joss Whedon created. The characters are equally hilarious and heartwarming (despite being on the wrong side of the law), and what's not to love about a space western?


3) Doctor Who: The David Tennant Years

Image from herocomplex.latimes.com

David Tennant is widely held to be one of the greatest Doctors, usually only contending with Tom Baker for the top spot. While Doctor Who presents an excellent look at the universe through the adventures of everyone's favorite Time Lord, the fact that the show is as old as my parents shows how well it is able to suck in its audience. I could happily watch Doctor Who forever--it's more like the real world gets in the way of me watching Doctor Who than it is that Doctor Who takes me away from the real world...as sad as that may sound (but I'm okay with it.)


2) Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Seasons 1-3

Image from www.wikipedia.com

Buffy is something that I have always loved, and always turn to. Joss Whedon's creation takes itself seriously, while still having fun with itself--this is especially true in the first three seasons. Except for the Angel  storyline in Season 2, the problems are serious enough to draw you in and thrill you but manage not to be depressing.

1) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Image from www.rottentomatoes.com

LotR has always been an escape for me, since I first read the books at the age of ten. A good thing about reading the books at that age was that I learned more and more with each re-reading. The reason I chose the first Lord of the Rings movie as my escapist movie of choice is that this movie, more than the others, is able to draw you in to a new world. As the first movie, it introduces you to Middle-earth in a way that transports the watcher into this other world. The other movies do not do this, as they are sequels--to appreciate them, you have to let The Fellowship of the Ring bring you into Middle-earth.

Etsy Tuesday: Star Trek

I know it's almost Wednesday (and it is Wednesday for some of you), but here is today's trip around etsy.com. Coming off the news from yesterday about Urban's maybe-slip-up, here's some handmade Trek gear for your home and yourself.

Coasters
Jason Barfield of the shop jb2designs has several excellent sets of Star Trek coasters, along with many other geeky goodness themed coasters. Here are my two favorites:

Star Trek Drink Order Mini-set. Clever and cute! ($10.00)

And also:

Star Trek Ships of the Fleet 6 Coaster Set (16.00)

I'm moving into a new apartment next month--maybe I should buy a few sets (and, in my opinion, so should everyone else! The shop also carries coasters based off of Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter--among other things.)

Poster
Andrew Heath's shop AndrewHeath sells minimalist geeky posters. This would look great in my bedroom, and I'm eyeing a Ghostbusters one for my boyfriend.

Star Trek-inspired Print (18x24 $20.00)

Pillow

For the first time ever, I'm posting something I already own--this Star Trek pillow. I lusted after it and received it as a gift for my last birthday. I love it! It's insanely comfortable, snuggly, and an excellent conversation piece. It's made sold in the shopYellowBugBoutique for $35.00.

Wine Glasses

Etching glassware is something I've always wanted to try but never quite got around to--which is why I am extremely tempted to buy these wine glasses ($25.00). They are etched with the four different Star Trek badge insignias--Medical, Command, Science and Engineering. Not only are they excellently geeky, but they would hep you identify your glass when you have guests over! They're sold at the shop desolationallie by Alyson Trent. They also come in regular glasses.

Necklace

I really enjoy this Enterprise necklace, made out of laser cut acrylic. You can specify what color you want the charm painted and what type of chain you want it on--which I think is awesome. Even more aweosme is the price--a mere $8.50, which means I could buy several of the necklaces from HoraEffect, run by Lara Mogensen. In fact, that's what I am going to do with my next paycheck. 

That's it for today! I'm working on some crafts of my own that I may post later, along with my first DIY how-to. Tune in later!

AWOL and Movie News

I've been gone for a while. Between Master's Exams, graduating, moving, starting a summer job, and going to Las Vegas for my cousin's bridal shower, I've been extremely busy.

However, today there were two news points which prompted me to write: 1) a potential leak regarding Benedict Cumberbatch's role in the new Star Trek movie, and 2) casting for The Wolverine.

Star Trek 2

The internet is a buzz with the news that Karl Urban (Bones) may have leaked the identity of the Star Trek villain in J.J. Abrams's new Star Trek movie, saying that "[Cumberbatch's] Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary." For those who are not familiar with the original Trek series, Mitchell is a former Academy friend of Kirk who gains god-like powers which kind of go to his head, forcing Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise to maroon him and, ultimately, take more effective actions to stop his path of destruction.

What makes this interesting is that Robert Orci had said Mitchell wouldn't be appearing in the new movie. Of course, he had said the same about characters in Michael Bay's second Transformer's movie. So who's right--Urban or Orci? Is Urban stringing us along? I think it's possible, since I doubt someone as successful as he would forget his contract stipulations and leak something his bosses obviously want to be kept secret.

Still, I think that Cumberbatch would make a much better Mitchell than Khan, so I hope this is good information.

The Wolverine

Hollywood has done something strange here, which I think should be briefly commented on--they've actually cast Japanese actors for The Wolverine. Hollywood too often whitewashes it major features (see The Last Airbender, for an excellent example). Even if it doesn't whitewash, it will cast Asian characters indiscriminately. I'm happy to see the studio trying to do things right, and honoring the source material.

Review: The Hunger Games

 Warning, mateys. Here be some spoilers.    
    Last night I went to the midnight showing of The Hunger Games. I was eager to see the film right away, but I was also apprehensive about going at midnight. The last few midnight showings I went to had a plethora of squealing girls--whenever the love-interests of choice would come on screen they would scream. I was ready to throw them into the arena. However, the midnight showing of The Hunger Games was filled with an almost reverent audience. It was amazing. The only time anyone made a noise was a few shrieks after a particularly startling moment. Apparently, fans of The Hunger Games are better than fans of a lot of other things.
     The film was an excellent adaptation of the events of the book. Most changes seemed like logical logistical choices, though there were a few things that I missed which could have been kept in. The first was when Katniss screams Peeta's name after the announcement that two tributes from the same district could win. It was such an open and almost vulnerable moment in the books. I wish that it had stayed, since it showed the beginning of what might be feelings for the other tribute. The second had to do with Katniss's stylist team--they were hilarious in the book, but barely featured in the movie. As a group, only one character utters one line. The third also had to do with Peeta and the scene in the cave. The movie does not have the lamb stew and--most importantly--it doesn't have Katniss drugging Peeta in order to get his medicine from the Feast. I thought that moment was essentially Katniss. She likes this kid--whether friendly or romantically, she doesn't know--but she knows what she needs to do and she's driven to do whatever she needs to in order to reach her goals.
     I liked most of the extra scenes they added. The use of StanleyTucci's Caeser Flickerman as a Hunger Games newscaster to fill in the narrative was a great idea, and Tucci was great in that role. I also liked seeing Haymitch consorting with the sponsors--but I didn't like his scene with Seneca Crane. I thought it was unnecessary and probably illegal in Panem. I also enjoyed the scenes of District 12 citizens watching the Games. It felt like it added a bit more emotion to the movie. What I didn't like was (warning again, SPOILERS) the scene of the riot in District 11 after Rue was killed. Wasn't the point of the first part of Catching Fire to show that Katniss needed to keep the districts from starting to riot? I thought at first that the man was supposed to be Rue's father and we were being treated to an emotional scene which would bring us further into the world. Not something where readers of the book balk and think "This is wrong!"
     It took me a while to put my finger on the biggest problem I had with the movie. It took a conversation with my mom to realize what it was--the movie is lacking some of the soul of the book. When I began the book, I knew Katniss ended up in the arena. I thought she was picked in the reaping because Collins had convinced me that there was no way Prim would be chosen. Katniss's willingness to volunteer in place of her sister, and the district's reaction to her sacrifice, was completely moving. It really wasn't so much in the movie. The action in the arena was engrossing, but it similarly didn't hold the same soul as the book did. It didn't show that Katniss was playing the game to survive--but also playing it according to her terms.

     I was pleased with the casting, though. There wasn't a single portrayal I did not enjoy--though I could have used a little more of Woody Harrelson's Haymitch. Haymitch is one of my favorite characters, and I wish he had a little more to do. I cannot imagine anyone other than Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, and Elizabeth Banks was an excellent Effie Trinket.
     The Hunger Games movie is a great adaptation. It's not as great as the book, but it's definitely worth the ticket-and-concession price. I would give it a 7/10.

Crafts

I've been working on some crafts lately, and I thought I would share.

The first is a Nightwing felt doll that I made. I have only two pictures--one of some of the pieces and one of the finished product. I'm in the process of making a Khal Drogo felt doll right now, using a different pattern since I wasn't excited about the way it turned out (as you can probably tell, I am explicitly referencing the neck area. Or lack of a neck area.)

I also hope you enjoy that brief glimpse of my TV on DVD collection.

The second project I've finished is a t-shirt alteration. I took a shirt I bought from the boys' section at Target, cut out the neck, replaced the back, and shaped it into a dolman. I was also looking fat here, so I added a belt.

 Here is the t-shirt in it's original form. With it's original sticker(ing?). It looks like a proper boys' t-shirt.

 Here is a side-view, taken to show the new back.

 Here is the front. I need to go back and cut the neck wider, I think.

And here is the t-shirt on a hanger over my door, so you can better see the cut.

And, because I keep bitching about this, here is the new cosbaby figurine I received in the mail today. I spent about $20 on this Nightwing, and was sorely disappointed when I opened the package. Not only it is incredibly small and not really worth the price, but it barely even looks like Nightwing. It looks like Batgirl dressed up like Nightwing--check out the long hair, the breast-like pectorals, and the fact that the bottom of his torso looks like a skirt. I much prefer the Pop! Vinyl figures, like my Thor figure pictured next to Nightwing (to better show the extent of my suffering).

Resistance is Futile

When I first saw this picture online, I thought it was just really awesome fan art.

In reality, it is a picture from a comic cross-over, titled Assimilation^2. Rumor at Huffington Post says that the comic will be released in May and I, personally, cannot wait. The comic features the crew of the Enterprise-D and (obviously) the Doctor and his companions, who are forced to team up when the Borg and the Cybermen collaborate on what is most likely an attempt to assimilate the universe.