A personal project from a few years ago, I had just joined the steampunk community online. Risnae came about as a roleplay character in a chat room. I'd had a basic idea of her background, but after leaving the RP room the gears were turning (no pun intended) and her story really blossomed.

This was a test to see how well I could create grunged metal surfacing from scratch. I'm fairly pleased with the effort. This will become the interface for the book once it is finished. 

Risnae's story is a series of journal entries. Currently a work in progress, the end result will be published on CreateSpace.

The navigation was the most fun of the entire project. I love old metal and that greenish patina you get. A big fan of vintage typewriters, I couldn't resist. The letters are mostly random.

I love museums and had to do an old label that looked like it came from an exhibit. The coffee stain was from the visual of a night guard in some dusty, dank museum basement, sipping on a cold coffee, reading a newspaper.

Long story short, during the course of my time in the steampunk chat room, we got on the topic of squirrels. I'd mentioned that I loved Red Squirrels and it was mentioned that they were being herded by the other native grey squirrels in England into Scotland.

 

We, of course, all spun off into Braveheart schtick (red squirrels in tartan kilts with wee Claymores) and I came up with the 401.5st (note the and half) Steampunk Squirrel Paratrooper Brigade. My husband fluent in Classical Latin, I couldn't help but have him translate "Hold on to Your Nuts" for the logo. 

This is what happens when I am bored. 

Updates on the book and my process will be posted to my site at http://www.renmeleon.com I am enjoying the project and what it is becoming.

I am available for commissions for hand-lettering and texture design.