fanciful devices: stuff stuffy stuff

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.

7/26/10

stuff stuffy stuff

The glorious Raida Disbrow of Havana Beads sent me a self-addressed envelope for ephemera. Quite unexpectedly, she included a set of gorgeous lamp-work beads and a note that read "I'm sure you'll make something beautiful with these." Fair enough, but did you think I'd do so mere hours after receiving them? (OK, the 'beautiful' is for the viewer to decide...)
Thank you Raida, you blew me away.

I have to insist, though, that this giveaway is not a sneaky way for me to get free stuff! It is the best, laziest, way I could think to get rid of massive amounts of beautiful things.
I've already sent a big ol' pack to Stregata, and I'm just waiting for more envelopes to arrive.

Oh, I also got a note from the legendary Opulent Oddities saying that she's been inspired by Sparrow and me (!) to use fiber in her work:

Doesn't that wool look like something the sea dredged up? While the color looks just like hay...
In any case... The Master has be come the Mastee! No, wait, the Student has become the Studied! ... The Master has become the Baiter!.... Something like that.
And when I told her what an inspiration she'd been to my even starting to make jewelry she up and told me she was sending me a box of antique goodies. What is up w/you gorgeous people?

OK, treasury time:

Vespa! ... I've always wanted one... by alibli

coasters for scooter lovers - sweet ride - choose your color

vintage scooter olive green 3 to 18 months

Vintage Vespa Scooter Calligram Calligraphy Art Print by Joni James on Etsy

Vespa Scooter Graphic Print Alternative Apparel Girls Cap Sleeve Vintage Soft Navy T-Shirt in S, M, L, XL

Vespa , Antiqued Brass Plated Charm Pendant Necklace

Little Blue Vespa - 4x4 fine art photo print

Thank you Sparrow, for telling me to put "vespa" in the tags/title.

4 comments:

Raida said...: OMG I knew you would make something beautiful with those beads but this necklace takes my breath away! Thanks so much for posting it for everyone to enjoy. Raida; 7/26/10, 6:06 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: Lucky girl!and I LOVE the creation! OMG. GORGEOUS.; 7/26/10, 6:12 PM
fanciful devices said...: raida, i just dont know what to say. i tell ya, though, w/really beautiful basic elements, making stuff sure is a whole lot faster. i didnt have to sand 'em/cap 'em/paint 'em/wax 'em/oxidize 'em/grunge 'em or anything...; 7/26/10, 9:24 PM
stregata said...: Lucky you! Those beads are so beautiful - and you made them into something awesome!
Thanks so much for sending me some stuff - I will be stalking the postman in anticipation!!!!; 7/26/10, 11:27 PM