The Mechanic
We got a chance to reuse the photo booth for Rob and Sarah’s wedding on 8.18.18
Easiest way to get the images into people hands is making this gallery.
The Mechanic
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always collected things. Rocks, Sea shells, Napkins, Comic books, and even domain names. At one point I owned over 150 domains, some just for fun, others reminders of stories I need to still write. One late night I heard the phrase “naked eye” and it made me wonder, if an eye can be naked, then it also could be clothed. I checked and no one had yet registered the domain “clothedeye” and thus was born this site.
The domain remained dormant for years before I discovered steampunk. On an early date with the woman who would become my wife, I attended a steampunk event in Detroit. I knew very little about it but the aesthetic immediately appealed to me and I threw myself into making an outfit, to impress her.
I turned my basement kitchen into a work area and began crafting goggles like a mad man. The first pair sold within a few days of listing them and I was off. 
Every item at Clothed Eye is 100% unique and hand crafted by me. I wanted to make eccentric and outlandish items that would stand out among the amazing assortment of steampunk items that I was now in contact with. My basement workshop quickly became overrun with raw materials for crafting, all kinds of various goggles for bases, gears, chains, leather and more. Since that first pair I have gone on to sell internationally, a couple bought three pairs to use in their wedding, and have been featured in a book, The Art of Gothic 
Steampunk for me has become a great outlet for my creative energies. The incredible broadness of what you can make is immensely satisfying as a maker. Our wedding was steampunk themed and I designed/planned almost every aspect of it, from the apothecary jar center pieces to a photo booth that used a telegraph key as the button. I crafted a wrist communicator device that was used for reference in the steampunk comic “Westward” as well as supplying goggles.
My next planned projects are a few guns which is something I haven’t tried yet. I’m looking forward to getting back to crafting and always enjoy seeing what other brilliant people continue to come up with.
The Mechanic
We have been remodeling our kitchen, so my steampunk activity has been nonexistent. We did put a porthole in the kitchen wall where a window was, so that kinda counts right? Just letting anyone that visits know we are still alive and around. Once the basement gets cleared out, again, I hope to get back to some crafting. I have parts to create some guns that I’m looking forward to creating.
The Mechanic
Very cool Steampunk Animated Short: “Mr Hublot” based on Stephane Halleux’s Universe. For some reason this reminds me of our Pitbull/Mastiff mix. Apparently it won an oscar? Go Steampunk go!
The Mechanic
The site is currently experiencing some technical difficulties with checkout. Please visit my shop on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/ClothedEye and use coupon code “ERROR” for 10% off while we get things fixed over here.
The Mechanic
As of January 2nd, 2013 I am engaged to the most amazing, fun, beautiful and intelligent woman I have ever met. Our second date was at District VII in Detroit, and really got me full into this crazy thing we call Steampunk.
While I don’t want a full on over-themed steampunk wedding, I think some elements will undoubtedly make it in.
The Mechanic
My everyday carry items as of December 2012.
Survival Straps paracord bracelet. Spyderco Dragonfly G10 Knife, 4Sevens Mini ML-X Flashlight, Swiss+Tech UKCSB-1 Utili-Key, Key Chain with carabiner, iPhone 5, leather chain wallet.
Nothing really steampunk, just utility.
The Mechanic
It’s rather small.
The Mechanic
When you find yourself busiest, if often the time you seek for self reflection. I am overdue on a project that I really want to do, but cannot seem to find the inspiration to complete it.
Doing things for others, as is the tattoo artists way, can become a frustrating path.
By no means is my art as restricted as that of a tattoo artist, but I am in appreciation of their pain tonight.
My extra offerings are outside of my 9-5, and I do them because I need them.
I need to glue my fingers together while trying to hold tiny gears still.
I need to slice into those same fingers with an X-Acto knife because I need to know I am still real.
Conversely I need to be creating other peoples imaginations using my daily skills and this I am finding almost impossible to do.
I was asked to create an animation for someone I love deeply, yet I cannot find the time to make it.
Until I began making these goggles, I really never considered myself an artist. What am I saying, I still don’t. I make these things because I need to. I make these things because my fingers need to feel that brief resistance to the blade.
Always I do my best to make sure everyone I have a commitment to is satisfied. Sometimes life gets in the way.
For this I am sorry.
I have no idea what I am alive for. What my purpose here is. I really don’t. I enjoy the shit out of squirrels running across the street. Their body wave will always make me smile. Many things I should be doing, not enjoying, but I cannot focus.
Goggle making is very close to motorcycle riding to me. When I start a pair of steampunk goggles, that is my focus, and the rest of the world fades away. When I ride my motorcycle there is only the thought of staying alive. Goggles is not quite that pure of thought, but it comes close. This is why I do it.
This is why I love you.
This is why I thank you.
Steam on.
The Mechanic
This might be less entertaining if you have not seen their stupidly fun life show.
But these german techno gurus know how to have fun as well as engage the social media, even in RL! WOOT WOOT!
STRAFTANZ RULES