Super Bowl Update

Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back AT-AT Bookends
• Amazing high-quality bookends from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
• The Imperial AT-AT Walker has been rendered and sculpted beautifully.
• Measures over 8 3/4-inches tall

Bring home the terrifying metal behemoths of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Cast in high-quality polystone and then hand-painted, each set of Star Wars AT-AT Bookends is numbered and comes complete with a matching limited edition certificate of authenticity. Whether they're holding up an assortment of media or on display proudly by themselves, these collectible bookends are sure to add enjoyment to any home or office.



above: Stills of the Imperial AT-AT Walkers in Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

First seen on screen at the Battle of Hoth, the feared AT-AT is the primary assault vehicle of the Galactic Empire for large-scale ground warfare. Tasked with destroying the Rebel's shield generator, the Imperial AT-AT Walkers completed their objective with ruthless efficiency, laying waste to many Rebel soldiers, vehicles, and installations in the process.

Coming in June 2013
Pre-Order now here and they'll deliver in June 2013 (estimated date / subject to change).
Price: $224.99

Looking for Star Wars themed gifts for the holidays?  Here's a link to literally hundreds of items from slippers and robes to board games and piggy banks. Star wars collectibles, plush, miniatures, barware and co-branded items from Hasbro, Lego, Angry Birds and more:

Tons of Star Wars Stuff

Mattel has been getting better and better with the likenesses of their celebrity dolls. The latest to join the adult collector stable of Barbie Dolls, are two soon to be released Elizabeth Taylor Dolls. Both the Violet Eyes Barbie Doll and the White Diamonds Barbie Doll have faces whose sketches were approved by the legendary actress before her death.






Both 11.5" dolls bear little red ribbons on their shoulders to signify Elizabeth's dedication to fighting HIV and AIDS. Although, oddly enough, none of the proceeds go to support the fight against HIV /AIDs, which they should. That aside, the dolls were designed by Robert Best and are wearing Silkstone fashions designed especially for them.

Elizabeth Taylor Violet Eyes Barbie Doll:


The 11.5" tall doll wears a timeless satin dress with matching opera gloves and pumps, rhinestone brooch, bracelet and earrings. Also includes sunglasses and a mini “perfume” bottle. A tiny red ribbon near her shoulder represents her commitment to battling HIV/AIDS.





Due to ship next month, you can pre-order the Violet Eyes Barbie doll here


Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds Barbie Doll:


The 11.5" doll models a lovely white dress, inspired by costumes worn by the actress during Hollywood’s Golden Age. An exquisite jewelry suite, starlet accoutrements, and a mini “perfume bottle” are the wonderful accessories.




Due out on September 15th, you can pre-order the Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds doll here.

If you're a fan of Elizabeth Taylor's, you may enjoy a special post I wrote in honor of her passing which includes wonderful photos of the violet-eyed beauty by some of the world's greatest photographers, her men and her jewelry.

Her Men, Her Movies, Her Diamonds, Her Photos. The Legacy Of Elizabeth Taylor.

above: Steampunk Airship snow globe by Camryn Forrest designs

Two of my favorite things have been combined by artist Camryn Forrest. The Steampunk genre and the Snow Globe (or water globe or snowdome). Her intricate little shakeable sculptures combine elements associated with the Victorian age of machinery along with copper, silver or rich pewter glitter as the "snow". The bases upon which the glass encased sculptures sit vary in materials, from marble to woods, and are decorated with "Steampunk" styled embellishments.

Penny Farthing Bike:

Raygun:

Knight Moves:

Coil Tube:

Megaphone:

Tesla Coil:

Unwound:

Eiffel:

Tesla Mends A Broken Heart:


A single snowglobe can take Camryn from 6- 8 hours to build. She uses different metals, leather, wire, jewelry pieces, disassembled clocks, watches, toys and found items as well as original clay and wood sculptures. She is careful to use recycled and re-purposed materials or objects as frequently as she can.


above: In some cases, Camryn creates what she needs. For instance, the piece, "Shoes Your Weapon" contains a a tiny Victorian ladies boot (shown above) that Camryn crafted and turned into a cannon.

A special piece for the Sacramento Steampunk Society:


Rough Sailing:

Circular Logic:

Make a Little Money:

Always:

Dragonfly:

Why The Freebird Sings (front and back):


Lost Time:

Indecision:

Shoes Your Weapon:

Good Intentions:

Suspended In Time:

Tesla Coil:

Not A Level Playing Field:

Dead Line:

Uncharted Skies:


Camryn describes her motivation behind these intricate and beautiful little sculptures:

"All my life I have been fascinated with miniatures, from dollhouses to tiny souvenir buildings, to the worlds within snowglobes. At many art galleries and shows, I wondered why I never saw snowglobes presented as art, and I began to experiment with making tiny sculptures to place inside globes. In addition, with the rich metallics, brass, leather and wood of my designs, “snow” did not seem right, so the floating glitter in this liquid is copper, gold, silver, and rich pewter in tone, glimmering as it sinks and swirls slowly."

A technical note: Camryn Forrest Designs consists of two people: an artist with crazy ideas and a snowglobe engineer with technical expertise. None of the snowglobes and waterglobes shown would exist without the efforts of both.



Once a sculpture is enclosed in both liquid and glass, there are challenges to photographing them and keeping them in focus through distortion, although all the detail is sharp and apparent when you hold one in person.

If you are interesting in purchasing or commissioning one of these little beauties, contact Camryn through her website. Or visit her etsy store, which she just opened!



Camryn Forrest Designs