fanciful devices: things i cant post in shop b/c my hands hurt too much

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.

5/2/10

things i cant post in shop b/c my hands hurt too much

my carpal tunnel is back w/a vengence. they say i wont be able to get injections again. now the option is surgery after whitch i wouldnt have full mobility or wouldnt be able to do the motions that hurt my hands. which is everything. including wiping my ass after a poop. so right now i'm in shock. and my left hand hurts just from taking these pix and clicking around to edit them.

i'd describe some of these, but, y'know. soul-destroying pain.

here are all my 5 pictures of each thing, ready for etsy. but all the typing is too painful.

ok, this is a bit funny. i soooo wanted to make smthng despite pain so i 'made' this:

which is basically a pendant on a strip of rag. i'd already ripped, dyed and waxed it before. ok, so it isn't SO un-artful- i did have to mess w/the fabric. its from an old bandage wrap

i also have a ton of unfinished things. and even more things still coming. kill me now.

in the tart tin, earrings waiting for assembly.

i was even gonna make a necklace with that clip. it was gnna have strips of rags clipped on, exchangeable. strands of beads and bits.

this ring needs all this gluey gunk removed.

sorry 4 th writing. left hand hurting, too.

and this neclace centerpiece really killed my hands.

hubs sez he's gnna get me a 'crafter monkey'.

wonder how long it'd take to learn to do this w my feet?

5 comments:

Penelope said...: ohhhhhhhhhh- I wish there was something I could do! I get all antsy if I can't help people. Especially people like you who NEED to be able to use their hands. Maybe you might need to take a break for a month, I know it hurts, just...move things around on the worktable. Ah listen to me talking like you can just not make things for a month- PFFFT. I'll give money if monkeys are expensive. Why is it monkeys and not monkies. Stupid language.

I neeeeeed that solder wrapped crystal. You know I'm stealing that idea, if I ever get around to soldering.; 5/3/10, 12:35 AM
Jo Archer said...: Sorry you are suffering, but if it's any consolation, I had carpal tunnel surgery last year on my left hand. Yes it's painful and no you can't go to the loo easily, or put your bra on, but it is worth it.

Once I'd recovered from the surgery, all the pain and numbness disappeared and I have no problems at all now. It's definitely worth thing about.

Love your new things; the fabric necklace is gorgeous.; 5/3/10, 3:03 AM
AuntieAnnie said...: Okay - I have had carpal tunnel surbery in both hands - my hands are now much better. If you aren't doing Physical therapy for your hands please start - this is like calisthetics for your hands. Also - I wear contact lens, and needed a way to get them in my eyes after surgery - so I did dry runs of everything (including poop) I needed to do after surgery and did them with my hand immobilized in an ace bandage. My husband kindly offerred to help with some things - namely putting my bra on me....Good luck.; 5/3/10, 7:36 AM
TesoriTrovati said...: I am so very sorry to hear of your pain. Such beauty you make. I love the binder clip and the idea you have. And the crafter monkey might be a good idea... you could get into selling them to people who just need more help too! I am thinking of you and hoping that you can find an end to your pain so you can start creating again. Enjoy the day! Erin; 5/3/10, 9:33 AM
fanciful devices said...: aw! thanks guys! just resting my hand for a day has helped a lot.; 5/3/10, 9:33 PM