Thank you everyone! If anyone has an ideas on how to make her better or things to watch out for or definitely, let me know
As a gnome, you have a monopoly on the Bind Elemental feat from the Eberron Campaign Setting book. Details for using the feat to create airships are found in the Explorer's Handbook. Ask the GM about questing for a Khyber dragonshard of sufficient size to help reduce the cost.
Declare the ship to be your stronghold, and take the Landlord feat at level 9 (Stronghold Builder's Guidebook) to provide copious amounts of money to spend on the creation of the ship and upgrades for it (ballistae, spell turrets, crew, etc.)
The Artificer's Handbook found here has everything you need to know. The most important piece of advice in the book, IMO, is the distribution of ability scores. Intelligence is your most important stat, not Charisma as the Eberron Campaign Setting claims. Charisma governs only Use Magic Device, which determines how easily you can create magic items and is easily boosted with skill boosters. Intelligence governs everything else about the class including your Infusions.