fanciful devices: Fickle, Pickle, Nickel, Tickle

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.

9/11/10

Fickle, Pickle, Nickel, Tickle

Got some stuff from missficklemedia.
This is me getting my pack in the mail yesterday.

It's beyond awesome. I could use her stuff in everything and never have to sweat again.

Enameled Headpins in Your Choice of Color - Set of 10

Saffron Yellow - Forged Copper Swirl Clasp with Link

It's like a time = money thing. Saffron Yellow Links - Patinated Copper Findings

Ghost White Patina Textured Copper Chain - Large Link

If you buy more expensive, artisan elements, you won't have to put in as much time to make the entire thing look interesting.
Verdigris Mini Discs - Patinated Copper Findings

Verdigris Mini Discs - Patinated Copper Findings

But if you use only super high-end art bits, it might not look very "you".
Water and Wood Beads - Patinated Copper Beads

Ocean Blue Rectangle - Patinated Copper Pendant

However, if you make everything from scratch, you'll never finish.
Saffron Patina Textured Copper Chain - Large Link

Gotta find the happy medium. I usually do that by altering vintage and inexpensive bits.
Verdigris Ovals - Patina Brass Links

Ember Rectangles - Patinated Copper Charms

Right now I'm indulging. Is this how rappers feel when they drink Cristal?

4 comments:

Unknown said...: Nice...bead (finding) envy is setting in. :)

~ Laura (Moags); 9/11/10, 3:21 AM
Spirited Earth said...: gorgeousness,and of course you are correct about the quandary..still i don't think there is any reason to worry the work will not look like you..
what are the chances of that. ;); 9/11/10, 6:44 AM
Lisa said...: looks like you've found the happy medium! very cool findings.; 9/11/10, 7:56 AM
Unknown said...: I like to flit here and there; altering, forging from raw stock and using other artisans work. Each time I create in one I feel inspired in another area.

At the current moment, I am thoroughly sick of jewelry and I want to move out to the woods and build hut structures and cover them with moss.
I don't know what that's about....; 9/13/10, 8:58 PM