fanciful devices: Showcase

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.

6/10/10

Showcase

The Brethren of Purity. Vintage Jonquil Rhinestone and Antique Button Earrings.

Sales have been lackluster.

Comet. Vintage Glass Drop on Gold Filled Hoop.

I lowered some prices and got me a spot in the Jewelry Earrings Showcase for today. Let's see how it goes. It took me a while to decide which one should be the first listing. My earrings that folks like sold fast, of course, but earrings was the only showcase available. Tomorrow, though, I'm in necklaces.

The House of Wisdom. Reclaimed Tin Blade Earrings.

Royal Marys. Antique Gold Medal Earrings.

The Winged Energy of Delight. Antique Chandelier and Textile Earrings.

Poppet Magik 3. Milagro and Rhinestone Earrings.

Elephants of Digboi. Asymmetrical Earrings.

Wrath of Heaven. Pyrite and Gold Religious Medal Earrings.

The First Asylum. Button Pearl and Linen Earrings.

Flowering Sugar Drops. Vintage Millinery for the Ear.

White. Religious Medal and Opalecent Drop Earrings.

5 comments:

Jo Archer said...: Hi Marina, my fabulous little choker arrived today and I absolutely love it. The thoughtful packaging was almost as exciting as what was inside! That's why I buy handmade.

If you get back on FB and accept your friend adds I can post a photo of me wearing it.; 6/10/10, 12:30 PM
fanciful devices said...: i cant remember my passwork for fb. i suck. i'm a mess.
but i'm so glad you liked it!; 6/10/10, 2:38 PM
Jo Archer said...: Perhaps for the best, they don't call it Crackbook for nothing!
Here's a link to my Flickr, you can see it on there anyway.

www.flickr.com/photos/38063576@N02/; 6/10/10, 4:27 PM
fanciful devices said...: OMG are you cute! you might consider disconnecting that extra chain. Unless you like it. It was handmade by a Uruguayan street hippie/punk, btw.
when i get home i'll figure out how to post that here! i wish all my patrons sent pictures.; 6/10/10, 7:02 PM
Jo Archer said...: No I love the chain hanging down. I like it's origins too. It's just perfect.; 6/11/10, 2:39 AM