fanciful devices: Weekend Makings

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.

10/31/10

Weekend Makings

Look what 2 uninterrupted days can produce. AND 2 semi-finished necklaces and a tutorial! Oh, happy day.

The Sky a Great Dome.

The Net of Eternity.

Some Victorian Tribals.
The Curve from Reach to Loss. Victorian Tribal Earrings.

The Curve from Reach to Loss.

Blue Bloods 3.

Blue Blood. Glass and Millinery on Sterling Silver.

Blue Blood.
My inability to get my anniversary tattoo led me to some blue and red lust.
Blue Bloods 2. Millinery Flowers on Sterling Silver.

Blue Bloods 2.
And I'm still messing with the PS Elements.
Also, apparently I was featured in the etsy newsletter? Here I was all proud at how my anniversary sale was getting me so much action! Turns out it wasn't that at all. Also, on my announcement, I said to type in 'happy birthday' to get free shipping-- and no one did!!! Goes to show how much announcements get read. Lord knows I don't read 'em!
But yeah, I sold a butt-load. See what exposure does for you, damn.
Still haven't seen said newsletter, cuz I don't get it. If you do, send me a link or something.

3 comments:

~Debi said...: Yep, I saw your necklace in the newsletter, then saw it sold! Congrats!

And congrats on the productive weekend! :); 10/31/10, 6:59 PM
stregata said...: Congratulations on being featured in the newsletter! So deserved.
"The Sky a Great Dome" is just magnificent - I love the combination of beads and elements!!!; 11/1/10, 1:19 AM
Spirited Earth said...: congratulations on the feature in the newsletter..glad it got some attention to your wonderful work; 11/1/10, 7:31 AM