Image By Mr XPK
Wow, what a ride this has been!
What started out as the tiniest of ideas has flourished into an amazing month of connections and information. A mere ten weeks ago, I would never have guessed at the involvement and response from so many people.
In 27 days and through nearly 130 official blog posts (and quite a few blogs from the general community), all of us have been around the world and back. It was a whirlwind tour through many people, groups, and countries, and I really hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did. There are new books to be read, blogs to follow, groups to join, and of course, people to meet. Steampunk, and our community, is made of so much AWESOME!
Image by Araceli Rodriguez
I also hope that each of you made the most of the opportunity to meet at least one new person, learn one new thing, and enjoy so many wonderful pictures! Some people have already mentioned that they have new projects starting, collaborating with people they have met throughout this month.
Please post your experiences in the comments below – I would love to hear how this month was for you. What was your most interesting experience? What are you looking forward to next from someone or some group?
There are some key people I want to thank for their extra effort in bringing this idea to life and helped me personally with it these last several weeks.
Paulo Ramirez and Araceli Rodriguez from El Investigador
Josue’ Ramos – MundoSteampunk.Net
Jose Alfaya and Irene Lopez – Decimononic
Marcus Rauchfuss – Traveler’s Steampunk Blog
Lady Smoke from Argentina
Also, a big round of applause for Andreas Dresen who posted an amazing (and perhaps insane) 22 blogs this month! Thank you, Andreas, for all of the great interviews and information which you shared with the community.
And a huge thank you to all of you – contributors, readers, sharers and spreaders of links – for supporting this project and the global steampunk community. We all have so much to gain from each other, and I greatly appreciate every one of you for helping to make this possible.
Image by Ray Deen
While this event for 2014 has now drawn to a close, the ideas and goals behind it remain and are something we should still embrace everyday until next we meet – in 2015!
Yes, plans are already moving along so you have 11 months to prepare for
Steampunk Hands Around the World 2015
Our Playground, Our Classroom, Our Workshop
See you there, and see you sooner!
Airship Ambassador 
Thankyou so much, Kevin, for being the candle that lit so many creative boilers and thanks to those you’ve named above for being the extra fuel!
One of the highlights for me was having my first ever web magazine article, alongside my brother Matt of ArcaneArmoury. We are both very grateful – I’d love a physical copy of El Investigador as it is quite a work of art in itself!
Being included in interviews by MundoSteampunk and Beyond Victoriana also really made my month – thankyou kindly.
But the real treasure of this month has been how a small idea of mine that grew out of a few jewellery pieces that I made for my shop, with inspiration from my LRP hobby background, caught the attention of Heyk Al Khemeti of France. He befriended me on Facebook and together, we have co-authored a story blog, ‘Tales of the Navigatrix’ http://thenavigatrixatetsy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/tales-of-navigatrix-part-1.html?m=1
It isn’t just the birth of a story though…this is bigger! We offer a new character type, that of the Aether Nomad, to Steampunks everywhere who would like to create a fictitious, non-western, tribal steampunk character. A character for whom art blends with science, mystery and logic are dancing partners. I have already been contacted by people from the Netherlands and the UK who are keen to be involved.
On top of this, I’ve invited a few friends and admired creatrixes from Etsy to take the idea and run with it, so there is now the potential for costume, pyrographic art, leatherwork and even, hopefully, some Aether Nomad art dolls.
Heyk and I are setting up a private Facebook group for those who would like to join the tribe. Just ask if you’d like an invitation.
I must mention Suna Dasi from Steampunk India – though we’ve not yet met in person, she’s been a real inspiration and I feel that this event has strengthened that friendship.
Finally, big hugs all round for everyone who has helped me, personally – a work from home mum who is creating a business from her passion – by sharing The Navigatrix’s links.
I wonder what Matt and I will have to share with you all next year?!
Kevin,
I cannot begin to thank you enough for all you’ve done to make “Hands” happen. It’s been an incredible month, and I got to “meet” so many steampunks from all over.
This has been such a great experience, and I look forward to being a part of it again in 2015.
Thank you so much Paulo! Irene and I can only feel honored for having the opportunity to collaborate with you once more.
¡Muchas gracias amigos de El Investigador! 🙂
[Oops, that was not the complete comment U_u]
Many thanks Josué, Marcus, and all friends involved!
This has been an amazing experience and we look forward to making it even better in 2015. And let me say that we owe it to you, Kevin 🙂
Sadly, I was late to party on this and sincerely regret it. But I truly hope to be a part of the experience next year where hopefully I’ll have a better blog presence myself?
Could you tell me where is the best source in keeping in touch and updated?