fanciful devices: Before I Go

A Stone Is Nobody's

A man ambushed a stone. Caught it.
Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the rest of his life.

His mother asked why.

He said, because it's held captive, because it is captured.

Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old. The stone is only sleeping.

But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.

A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.

Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me, he said.

Which is true, because you have always been to me as the stone is to you, she said.

Russell Edson

FAQs

1. Are you a Southeast Asian dancing girl from the 1800s?

No, sorry to disappoint. My avatar and banner images are from an ancient book I found in the depths of my grandmother's cabinets. More on that here.

2. How do you make everything look so old?

First, you need a good oxidizer to brush on every bit of metal you can reach. I'll tell you all about it here.

Then there's this wax. I first mentioned it here. You'll have to scroll down a lot.

3. How can you be so productive?

I'm insanely obsessed and I have no offspring. I do nothing else- I don't have a day job, I don't clean my house or cook, I spend all day in pjs, often completely abandoning personal hygiene... I only interact with other humans when I walk my dog. And I like people! But I prefer dogs.

And I'm sloppy- but I make that sloppiness work for me.

4. Any tips you'd like to share?

No! Except for these 16 posts about techniques and this one about how to find your aesthetic.

5. Would you be offended if I took some inspiration from your designs?

Well, I'd be happier if you outright copied them.

No really, imitation is how we learn. I have enough ideas to go around. And even if I don't- please. No one's going to do this obsessively enough to threaten my business. (Probably.) I learned by copying others and I've seen others copy me as a step toward developing their own voice. So feel free. (I'd love if you tossed me a link in my comments, so I can feel like a proud momma.)

6. What do you look like?

Why, what have you heard? Really? Wow.

2/17/10

Before I Go

Apparently, I simply can't stop. Not even 2 days before I leave the continent.

My new realization is that I'd been having a knee jerk reaction against pretty-ness. And recently, I had some pretty items sell. So I decided, what's so wrong about pearls, rhinestones and lace, anyways?

Since I'm such a grungy grunger, these pieces still have an interesting dark edge, though, no?

I could make a ton more earrings. They're easy and can be very rewarding. But I get all wrapped up w/my bigger inspirations, mostly necklaces.

I've had these soldered together crystals forever. From an old chandelier a work friend gave me in a big duffle bag out of the blue. Score. I finally added some text behind the glass and connected then to the hooks w/tiny rhinestone pins.

And some scans.

Here's another "pretty"- a flower, millinery, rhinestone girl-a-thon. And yet, I don't mind it. I also have my latest glovette. Whites! Dirty whites, my latest mini obsession. Layers of paper-thin linens, cottons embroideries and appliques.

These little dangles are from some ancient millinery Sparrow sent me- so simple and pretty! Also a big ol' honkin' cuff. Sparrow sent me the mini bulb, the strip of snakeskin, the doilies and gold embroidered trim. The scan makes no sense. In real life it's really rich, w/lots of depth. Soon enough, real pictures.

Other side of glove.
OK, I see very white and very dark items lose lots of detail in the scan.
But I have no time to take real pictures. I'm running around like a madlady.
I'm trying to prepare lesson plans for my 2 weeks in Uruguay. I've managed to get a flat tire (mom's car) and not notice until the tire was in bits. I almost poisoned myself using a very toxic cleaner in the tub only meant for the toiled bowl. The melting sponge and burning flesh should've tipped me off. The searing lung pain and dizziness, too. Ended up sleeping at mom's, all my windows open to the snow to try to air out the fumes. And I keep getting collection agency letters for something I paid. I feel like I don't know where the next blow is coming from. And folks will be angry at me for my carelessness, but I have no way of knowing what I'm being careless about til after whatever it is happens.
Oh, I also told my class there's no school tomorrow, Wednesday. Um, guess what? There is. I thought, since there was a big field trip planned.... Then my boss... and I'm all like... and but then it's all...
Shitballs.

3 comments:

Penelope said...: The cuff! The cuff!!! Oh my GOD. How is it that I can send you all these bits like mine, and you make this amaaaaaazing cuff that's just like something I've always wanted to make..? Your constant awesome keeps me striving for more.

The snakeskin is from an Edwardian purse...the dangly earring things are from a 1930s bridal bouquet I found in the thrift. I think the bride who's it was would be please to see them re-used.; 2/17/10, 8:00 AM
fanciful devices said...: oh, you silly thing! did you like my comment on your blog where I took credit for you awesomeness? did you see how many comments that post of yours got? i'm so jealous.; 2/17/10, 3:10 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: OMG you've done it again.....; 2/18/10, 1:33 AM