Vintage Skeleton Key Steampunk chocker necklace leather and sterling silver. Steampunk jewelry by Arctida.

I love making Steampunk jewelry. Not because it is such a difference in making *regular* jewelry and Steampunk-themed one but because me and sis get to cosplay for the model shot. It is always so much fun to pick out the clothes, put on the make up and making the shots for Steampunk! So here is my latest one :)

I'm the photographer, jewelry designer, make up and etc and my little sister is the model. The ensemble was assembled by me and most of the parts are vintage clothing (except of the corset). The top hat being the oldest and dating back to 18th century Paris!

a little bit about the necklace - the focal part of this Steampunk choker is beautiful vintage Skeleton Key with a wonderful age patina and character that you just won't get from a reproduction key. I handcrafted the choker part from leather cord and sterling silver wire. The necklace fastens with a lobster clasp and extension chain.
 

Désirée - Vampire jewelry red necklace Ruby Garnet red Spinel in oxidized sterling silver. Handmade gothic costume cosplay jewellery by Arctida

Seems like today’s youth is obsessed with vampires; the movies, the TV-shows and the books! Anywhere you look there are VAMPIRES flashing their fangs at you :) And off course the premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, which makes me so excited because I’m a huge fan of vampires too!

So I decided to combine my two biggest interests - Jewelry design and Digital Art. A jewelry peace fitting for a hot and sexy vamp girl and off course a real vampire model :) So here is what I ended up with:

 

I had that classical vampire in mind when I made this: pale skin, red, blood-thirsty eyes, porcelain-white teeth, dark, red lips and a gothic feel in all. I used a model shot on a white background, and the rest is Photoshop. This is my first time making a photo-manipulation with a real model, so I hope you like it :)

The necklace symbolizes drops of blood running down the neck, right after being bitten by a vampire... Guess my model is going to turn into a night child now ;)

 

Key to my Heart asymmetric necklace - Vintage Retro Ornate Skeleton Key and Labradorite wire wrapped in oxidized blackened sterling silver - Steampunk Gothic Victorian chic style jewellery by Arctida

As many of you know, I’m a scientist at my day job which makes me a nerd or a geek whatever you prefer :) One of the hottest trends right now in geek culture is something known as steampunk. (Think of the works of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and more recently, books like The Difference Engine.)

Steampunk fashion romanticizes the Victorian age. The books tend to gloss over the low points of the last century and focus on the fun aspects (dirigibles, items made of shiny brass, goggles, explorer’s and top hats, skeleton keys, Egyptology and steam-driven machines).

Being a hand-maker and an amateur photographer I couldn’t stay away from Steampunk and just had to try making something myself :) So here is the result: Key to my Heart asymmetric necklace featuring a genuine vintage skeleton key attached to a handcrafted chain made of oxidized sterling silver and Labradorite rondelles.

 

My biggest accomplishment however is not the necklace but the costume shot of my model (my little sister) above. The ensemble was assembled by me and most of the parts are vintage clothing (except of the corset). The top hat being the oldest and dating back to 18th century Paris!

So the next step would be is gathering my courage and maybe attend the actual Steampunk convention! Who knows, right :)