fanciful devices: thangs

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.

10/19/10

thangs

Finally got some post-ready pictures.

Yesterday I was working on my 1st tutorial ever, and it was a mess.

It was for missficklemedia's e-book I'm waiting with baited breath to see if they suck ass or will be at all acceptable.

Meanwhile I should be getting ready for work.

So I'm actually brushing my teeth while I blog.

One handed typing.

ridiculous.

Note: This stuff's up in the store now. And missfickle loved my pictures!!!)

8 comments:

Pretty Things said...: Brushing your teeth? Hoot! Hilarious. And talented!

Speaking of talented -- wow. Amazed at your awesome design talent. LOVE what I see!; 10/19/10, 5:51 PM
~Debi said...: Good luck on the tutorial! Lovely new items :); 10/19/10, 9:55 PM
Unknown said...: Love. This.
And your project! Although it is not for an ebook! It is for an actual pull-off-the-shelf-be-inspired-by-big-beautiful-pictures type of book!
I am so glad you are willing to share a how-to of your amazing style! Thank you!; 10/19/10, 10:47 PM
TesoriTrovati said...: And even suck ass is something. You learn from your suck ass moments, right? Because if you didn't that would just SUCK ASS.

Just sayin'.

;-)

Enjoy the day!
Erin; 10/19/10, 11:29 PM
stregata said...: LOL! Love the poppy verse necklace!
One handed typing - I do it sometimes, when my kitties insist on lying on my arm, while I am on the computer... ridiculous! LOL; 10/19/10, 11:54 PM
fanciful devices said...: wait- where did i get ebook then?
wait- wow a real book!
and thanks guys for the comments. its so lovely to hear from you all, and such positive feedback. - they're up in the shop now. i've been encouraged to raise prices, just a warning.; 10/20/10, 12:43 AM
romantic decay said...: Congrats for you and Missfickle!; 10/20/10, 8:22 AM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: LOVE LOVE LOVE the new pins...always loved the Dirty Boutonnières. Hope they will make a comeback too...you are a talented lady and I love wearing your work. (lots of love in this comment eh?)
ah well. You are loved!; 10/20/10, 2:55 PM