fanciful devices: Finally!

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

Finally!

Listed some new things. But it seems I'm permanently stuck in the phase of prep for everything- I work everyday but only have 2 things to show for it? Well, I think I'll have a solder piece tomorrow. Damn my job! (Shakes fist passionately.)
Mitsuoko in Vienna. Antique Currency and Fiber Necklace.

Mitsuoko in Vienna.

OK, I'm head-over-heels for this cord. It's a handkerchief I still somehow had from a High School boyfriend (!!!???). He was from Russia where they actually use handkerchiefs. Anywhoo, I dyed it and wrapped it around a 'leatherette' belt from a dress of my sister's that's been in my closet for 3 years. Then I just stitched away. Couldn't believe the results. It was so easy!

The piece of currency (from my WWII stash I've talked about) is actually under an acrylic block that is used for clear stamps. Am I clever? (Or just cheap?) I intended to use it forever. I love when I finally do something I've wanted to do forever. I've also had, forever, a length of brass stamping that you buy by the foot. I used that to shape the frame. Killed my hands- that stuff is rock-hard. But it worked, no? The back is from a tin compact. Very thin, just to keep the bill in place. The black chain is missficklemedia, mistress of supplies. Just a tiny piece, though it looks so substantial. I bent a big link of hers into a hook for the closure. Oh, the cage bead is also mfm. Added a couple clay Indian beads. And some toe jam.

Handmade Clay Beads From India - Half Pound

Is it redundant to add this many pictures to these blog posts? I feel like the 1st picture barely shows off the cord, so I added more, but I know some blogs that show 19 different angles of each jump ring can be a lot much.

Spirit Photography.

These bugle beads came in my Opulent Oddities surprise box of goodness. They were on a trim that didn't quite work as-was, and I didn't feel guilty about cutting off the bugles b/c they were already falling off.
Seriously didn't think I'd find a use for them. I never use bugle beads. But sure enough! The nuggety-nugs are from Indonesia- ooooooo. (And thats ooooo as in "you" not ooooo as in "know" or ooooo as in "book." Yup, still an English teacher after all.)
I made the twirly findings for an entirely different purpose, then ended up w/these, which aren't 100% my usual style.
Ever have creative ADD? Where you start something and it turns into 5 other projects and then you undo a necklace or 2 you'd been working on for weeks and at the end you just have a mess of junk all over the place and barely anything to show for it? That was me all week. Supply overload. It short circuits my brains. Restraint is so hard w/so many crazy deals on etsy. Like the pile of Indian beads above for $5. I daub a little black paint on them and they're delish. I have a strand I'm adding to the solder fossils maybe I'll be able to show by tomorrow. This post is looking wordy. Why do I feel the need to explain where every last thing is from?

6 comments:

stregata said...: The focal is fantastic! Have you tryed annealing the brass trim to make it more maleable?; 9/11/10, 11:52 PM
Malin de Koning said...: Love the handcerchief cord! Super nice! I feel very inspired to try something similar. Sewing is fun. And nice to incorporate in your jewellery too. I like the earrings too. White triangular beads from yuki or dragonbead? I have those in many colours. Oh i am so inspired now! Want to create. But we are off to friends for the day. Well that will be very nice too.; 9/12/10, 4:54 AM
fanciful devices said...: well, the one time i tried annealing copper it practically turned into paper, so no, it hadn't occurred to me. Though now that you say it, I really should have!
Malin- I love that! You saw my stuff and it makes you wanna make stuff! Thats how I feel after seeing only the most wonderful thing ever! I got those beads from yuki. sparrow's been using some of hers, too recently. they are UH.MAY.ZING. Oh, I hate having to do anything else when I'm inspired- makes me nuts.
(and thank you guys for commenting♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥); 9/12/10, 10:22 AM
riv said...: Just wanted to say THANK YOU for posting this when you did--I was wracking my brain for a way to attach metal rings to the end of the silk cord I'd made, and the method of folding it over and sewing it hadn't even occurred to me until I saw your necklace. I hope you don't mind me taking the liberty of incorporating the technique into my necklace for an upcoming show I'm doing :); 9/13/10, 1:25 PM
Unknown said...: Your cord is pure fabulousness.

I totally got those same beads! I thought I might alter them too, but they are kinda cool as they are.; 9/13/10, 9:01 PM
Unknown said...: Oh, and...
Do you have a torch? Like a butane torch? Cause if you heat the brass until it glows orange, then pickle it and clean it with a brass brush, you can bend and shape it so much easier.

(There. That's annealing in 30 words or less.); 9/13/10, 9:04 PM