Steampunk

^^ That's great! I'm glad you have someone who loves you and you love as well. I meant no disrespect. I was just being silly. :P I do have an Etsy store, but since I just started I don't really cater to anyone at the moment. I just make things that I think are appealing. You can check it out if you like. Just type in DreamShipSunny into the Etsy search bar and my store will pop up. In the future I'll have more items and begin to find my niche. Until then I'm just exploring what aspects of my work people like and what sells.

Oh! LOL!!! XD Well.. you've just asked the question half my friends ask me. I'm always serious and I tend to take things at face value. I can't help it, I've always been this way. It's a good thing for a Scientist, though~ :) You're funny~ :3 Vent away! I'm a good sounding wall~ ;) Besides, that was me for the past two months. Thank goodness for good friends! I'd have been screwed without them. T^T But now I've finally landed that big time job I've been trying to get since last Christmas and things are finally looking up in the dating arena, so I'm finally able to breathe a bit and relax. So vent all you need~ I'll gladly listen and maybe even be able to offer some advice. ^_^

XD Naughty! :P Ok. done. Seriousness now~ The thing with Steampunk is to use traditional materials: cotton, wool, leather, metal. So if you're going to make a Steampunk surgical mask, I'd go with some sort of breathable cotton in a natural earth-tone color; which off-white is a natural earth-tone color~ ;) Muslin might be the best material. It's cheap, lightweight, and one of the first kinds of fabric ever produced. If it were me? I would make the mask from a rich tan or light brown muslin, then edge it in a thin, soft leather of deep, dark brown or black, with stay ties of the same leather. Then I would add in elements of aged brass and copper in the form of gears and grommets. You said macabre, so maybe spikes would be better~ Spikes are more for the Industrial form of Steampunk than the subtle Western form that I prefer. :) Also, with the Industrial, you'd want to be a bit heavier on the metal accents than I would normally do for the items I make. I could make up one like that for you if you like~ Of course.. things are hectic at the moment so it'd be a project for the middle of next month.. but I could make one like I just described then post it to my Etsy page. If you like it, you can buy it~ If not, someone else may like it. :) At least it'll give you something to look at and take ideas from. ^^ Oh! One tip I should tell you about making your own costumes and accessories.. If you can find what it is you want to make in a cheap form (i.e. a used and beaten up piece of clothing from Goodwill, hand-me-downs, etc.), you can take it apart and use it as a pattern to make the one you want. So~ You could easily purchase a paper mask for dirt cheap then use it to make a pattern for the nice Steampunk one you wish to make. ;) Hope this helps! ^_^

I completely understand~ Necessities first, fun after. :) I'll make one up sometime and post it to my site. Maybe by then things will be better for you. I wish you all the best! I've been there. It's no fun. I remember days where I didn't get to eat at all unless I happened to find 50 cents on the ground while walking around campus. >_< Not good memories.. Anyway! I'm sure I can make something nice that won't break the bank at all for whenever you're ready for it~ ;)

I'm interested in steampunk and would love to do a cosplay one, given I get the funding :(, but i feel like I don't have the creativity to put it all together. Given ur earlier description I think I'm into western and Victorian steampunk styles.

It's alright! I'm certain you can put something together even with a modest budget. The best the to do is to check out images of the different styles and figure out what the essential elements of each style are. Make a list of the most common articles of clothing and accessories you see that you like. Then.. It's as simple as going to Goodwill or Salvation Army or any vintage consignment shop. Heck! I find vintage hats at Clair's and Icing's.. and especially Halloween stores then I just accessorize them to make them Steampunk. You'll be surprised at how much vintage style clothing ends up at Goodwill or Salvation Army, too~ ;) And it's cheap to get it there! The key to Steampunk is to make the style your own. Take me for example. As I've mentioned, I like a mix of Western and Victorian Steampunk. Western is very subtle with simple slacks, botton-down shirts, suspenders, vests, and country style hats with leather accents and nice boots. Victorian is more Aristocratic with lace, feathers, pomp, corsets, and fancy dresses. So when I do Steampunk..? I wear lace shirts, a nice corset or leather vest, leggings or slacks, a nice pair of leather boots, and a Steampunk style hat. You can turn ANY outfit into Steampunk with the simple addition of Steampunk accessories like leather straps or metal gears. Just do what is comfortable for you~^^ Take your time! No one will get upset or judge you. It's meant to be YOUR OWN~ ;)