fanciful devices: The odd and the beautiful

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.

4/17/10

The odd and the beautiful

TUX and TABBY -- Contemporary Folk Art Doll

PHOEBES FLOWER 4 Row Asymetrical Necklace with Vintage Pearls and Light Colorado Topaz Swarovski Crystals in Antiqued Brass

Dances Of Vice Valentines Day Mask-Sweetheart by Kathe Knitch

Hazel Glass Eye Silver Wire Wrap Ring ANY size

JESS a mini monster with heart vampire voodoo doll key fob made with recycled materials

BOGO FOR HALF SALE - Black Dahlia - Earrings

A SLIGHT CAMERA TRICK Mixed Media Digital Art Print 16 X 19.2 FREE SHIPPING

Business Man-mixed media print on wood panel

PDF KNITTING PATTERN - lace knitted scarf victorian style I - cashmere/silk

Beauty is the Beginning of Terror. Dirty Boutonniere Brooch.

Doll House no 324 (with man) - Original Mixed Media Assemblage

My friend venus soberanes made this lovely treasury in Treasury East, which is soon to take over the world. And includes my Dirty Boutonniere Brooch.

3 comments:

Sunny Haralson said...: I have a two heaed cat doll at my house-I have been obsessed with them since I saw this news piece when I was pregnant about this kitty that was born with two faces. It really freaked me out. Then someone stole it from the people who owned it and no one ever found it. Look up Two faced kitty -I bet you can find it. I love this post.; 4/18/10, 10:39 AM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: You can also see a movie about Finn at www.stephanielee.typepad.com
She is the reason I became a jewelry maker....I adore her work!
(I adore yours too Fanci!)
I have a link to your blog on my lonely blogsite...mine needs more time than I currently have. ah. maybe soon....
I am enjoying yours though!; 4/18/10, 11:20 PM
fanciful devices said...: awwww- comments! Sometimes I think I post too often for comments to get a chance to get commented...; 4/22/10, 12:18 AM