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parts is parts
Mar. 14th, 2009 11:10 pmI spent most of today wandering through various retail establishments seeking the bits and bobbles which will become the Steampunk Glove of Something Or Other. To whit:
American Science and Surplus - several smallish glass bottles/vials of various shapes and stoppers to go with them, lengths of spring and plastic tubing, and some nifty little brass doohickeys that can screw on the ends of same. Also an elbow connector of some sort, a plastic magnifier on a neck cord (suitable for tarting up), some 24 gauge brass wire, hot glue sticks, paintbrushes, a pair of eyelet pliers, and a Compensator.
No I'm not sure what exactly a Compensator is or what it is supposed to Compensate for exactly. The only reason that I know that it is, in fact, a Compensator is because the sign on the side of the box said "Assorted Compensators $1.50 each". The people behind the counter didn't know what it was either, because I had to go and show them where I got it so that they knew how much to charge me for it.
(Clearly the people there are wise in the ways of fandom because when they asked me what I was going to do with it I chirped "Make a costume piece!" they simply nodded and went on counting up the rest of my order.)
The Compensator happens to consist of a round metal thing in the middle which is flat on the bottom and looks as if something should be screwed on to the top of it. There are two elbow bends coming off opposite sides which look as if they are meant to attach to some fort of tubing. My wrist happens to fit precisely between these elbows with about 1/2" to spare and the whole thing resting on the back of my wrist. Clearly this is meant to be some sort of control device! (hopefully an evil one..)
Then I headed off to my next stop. Due to my forgetting which Blue Line stop I meant to get off at, I ended up wandering a bit but happened upon a wonderful little resale shop that was clearing out their clothing selection at $2 each. Most people would see a rather tacky pair of baggy black suede pants - I saw several square feet of garment-weight lambskin that happens to be shaped rather like a pair of pants...for now at least.
Having located Fullerton Avenue (presumably in its usual location) I took the bus over to Elston and headed over to JoAnn Fabrics/Crafts/Miscellaneous Shit At 40% Off. There I acquired some enameled eyelets, various paints, brass purse clasps, 16 gauge copper wire and mini brads.
I'd forgotten just how much fun it is to wander through someplace, look at objects and irrespective of their actual function and try to imagine what they COULD be! Last time I went to IKEA in company they were rather upset with me. "Wendy, stop putting things on your head!". (For the record, that vase would make an awesome Dr. Seuss style hat, and those placemats totally looked like Japanese laquer armor....)
American Science and Surplus - several smallish glass bottles/vials of various shapes and stoppers to go with them, lengths of spring and plastic tubing, and some nifty little brass doohickeys that can screw on the ends of same. Also an elbow connector of some sort, a plastic magnifier on a neck cord (suitable for tarting up), some 24 gauge brass wire, hot glue sticks, paintbrushes, a pair of eyelet pliers, and a Compensator.
No I'm not sure what exactly a Compensator is or what it is supposed to Compensate for exactly. The only reason that I know that it is, in fact, a Compensator is because the sign on the side of the box said "Assorted Compensators $1.50 each". The people behind the counter didn't know what it was either, because I had to go and show them where I got it so that they knew how much to charge me for it.
(Clearly the people there are wise in the ways of fandom because when they asked me what I was going to do with it I chirped "Make a costume piece!" they simply nodded and went on counting up the rest of my order.)
The Compensator happens to consist of a round metal thing in the middle which is flat on the bottom and looks as if something should be screwed on to the top of it. There are two elbow bends coming off opposite sides which look as if they are meant to attach to some fort of tubing. My wrist happens to fit precisely between these elbows with about 1/2" to spare and the whole thing resting on the back of my wrist. Clearly this is meant to be some sort of control device! (hopefully an evil one..)
Then I headed off to my next stop. Due to my forgetting which Blue Line stop I meant to get off at, I ended up wandering a bit but happened upon a wonderful little resale shop that was clearing out their clothing selection at $2 each. Most people would see a rather tacky pair of baggy black suede pants - I saw several square feet of garment-weight lambskin that happens to be shaped rather like a pair of pants...for now at least.
Having located Fullerton Avenue (presumably in its usual location) I took the bus over to Elston and headed over to JoAnn Fabrics/Crafts/Miscellaneous Shit At 40% Off. There I acquired some enameled eyelets, various paints, brass purse clasps, 16 gauge copper wire and mini brads.
I'd forgotten just how much fun it is to wander through someplace, look at objects and irrespective of their actual function and try to imagine what they COULD be! Last time I went to IKEA in company they were rather upset with me. "Wendy, stop putting things on your head!". (For the record, that vase would make an awesome Dr. Seuss style hat, and those placemats totally looked like Japanese laquer armor....)
