Jean Campbell (2)

There are three main aspects to this book - the projects, technical advice, and vignettes giving the reader a view into the world of steampunk culture. The vignettes are nice enough, but anyone with any familiarity with steampunk will find them fairly basic. The projects - in terms of the objects, that's a matter of taste. I have to admit that I'm not that fond of the filigree and charms variety of steampunk jewelry, and there's more of that in here than I'd like.

But the technical advice is excellent. The book includes discussion of materials - how to find and use them; tools and techniques; and safety cautions. The publishers have decided to forgo the steampunk aesthetic in their how-to illustrations, but the clarity of the information makes this an acceptable sacrifice. I have added it to my to-buy shelf for the technical skills information alone, as I'm not interested in any of the specific projects, but love the practical advice.… (more)