Finally...the Instructable to address the very common problem of quill and ink storage for Steampunky Katamari fans!

Okay, perhaps not so common, but if you make one of these for a person to whom this is an issue, you are pretty much guaranteed a pretty awesome thank you note on old-timey parchment in a wax-sealed envelope.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Materials

Wooden sphere 3" diameter
1/4" Paduck 7" x 4 1/2"
1/4" Purple heartwood 6 1/2" x 4"
Various Metallic Clay
Thin sheets of metal (brass, aluminum)
Random clockwork pieces (gears)
Jewelry eye pins
2" Wood Screw
Wood Glue
Crazy Glue
Shellac
tack cloth/Microcloth
1/2" marble
Vise (Large)
Paintbrush
Pliers
Clamps
Screwdriver
Drill with countersink bit
Dremel with tiny bit (diameter to match gears)
Quill and Inkwell (or pen or your choosing)

Optional Decorations

Beads
Copper wire
Thread
Vise (Small - more like one for electronics to hold small clay pieces)

Step 2: Base

The base is a logical place to start. It is just gluing the heartwood and paduck to have a bit of a raised platform. Center the smaller piece carefully before clamping. Allow to dry for a few hours.

Step 3: Shellac

You'll need to drill out a hole for the quill and one for the screw to affix the ball to the base.
Drill pen and bottom hole in the wooden ball. Mark one on the bottom and a hole (1/8") for the pen (1/4").

Sand and wipe with tack cloth, or otherwise remove all dust.

Prepare shellac and set ball up on a dowel so you can cover the most surface.
Give the Katamari 3 -5 coats, allowing time to dry in between each.

Step 4: Ends

This was my solution to making even 'nubs' for the Katamari...

I made a mold with clay and a small marble. Baked the clay as directed.
Cut thin metal circles and pressed them into the mold
Filled in with more clay
Removed piece from the mold and bake whole piece (clay and metal)

Make 12 in total

Step 5: Attach Ends

Use crazy glue to affix ends around ball - one on each and and two circles of five, evenly distributed. Make sure to leave some room around the two holes drilled out in Step 3.

Step 6: Attach to Base

On the bottom of the base, make a mark 1/3 in lengthwise and centered width wise. Use countersink bit to drill at that mark through the base.

Attach katamari to the base with the wood screw.

Step 7: Gears/Clockwork

It wouldn't be steampunk without gears!

Use your drill or Dremel with a tiny bit that corresponds to your gears. Drill tiny holes around the Katamari...it is hard to have too many. Dab a bit of glue on the post and press gear/clockwork pieces into place.

Step 8: Victrola

There is no end to what can be found rolled into this Katamari. The next steps contain a few detailed examples.

To make a victrola...

Press tiny black ball of clay onto brown clay cube
Flatten gold ball and attach to straight piece
Form horn out of thin circle of gold clay
Place victrola body in vice
Use crazy glue to affix arm and horn
If making super small, tweezers make be necessary

Step 9: Balloon

Even balloons can't escape this Katamari...

Roll a 1/2" ball of the gold clay
Roll out two thin strands of silver clay
Press onto ball and roll out until silver is incorporated
Wrap thread around ball 5 times
Remove thread carefully
Roll out brown clay ball for basket, hollowing out the middle
Bake both pieces
Once baked and cooled, re-wrap thread into existing grooves and tie off, forming a large knot
Glue knot into basket
Drill small hole into back of the balloon and glue in a head pin
Drill corresponding hole into Katamari
Attach to Katamari by the pin