fanciful devices

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.

Baby hippos. My new weak spot.

Hiya buds. I'm thinking of wrapping up the ephemera giveaway. I still have quite a bit, but it's no longer avalanching on my head when I'm trying to make stuff. Mostly, I'm sick of seeing that announcement on my sidebar... Of course, if you want some, just convo me through etsy. You don't even have to become a follower! Cuz I can't believe I got so many now. Followers. Thank you all, so much. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Also feels great to share the bits and pieces w/others who I know will appreciate it.

I will be offering the ephemera to be included in any purchases just because it's super easy to include in a package. Imna go change my shop announcement.
Then to bed since it's 3am and I'm starting to feel like this guy.
<--
Which, by the way, it's only since I've been keeping a blog that I've developed this whole pms/cute animal thing. Which has led me to actually keep vague track/awareness of my cycles. Which in turn has made me realize for the first time in my life that I seem to have, like, 20 cycles a month. Sucks! Thought I'd share that revelation.

7 comments:

stregata said...: Honestly, you don't have cute animals on your blog THAT often.
Cute little hippos.
And that wrinkly guy, with his tongue sticking out like a piece of cooked ham, nap attack in the middle of snacking - LOL! He is cute - but you are much cuter!; 12/6/10, 11:58 AM
fanciful devices said...: you just made me laugh!
I hope I'm not really cuter, cuz that would just be weird.; 12/6/10, 5:48 PM
~Debi said...: Awwwwwwwwww the baby hippos are so precious! They are smaller than I would have thought they would be.

I totally forgot about the ephemera you were giving away when I placed my order with you. I thought about asking you for some, ran to check and you had shipped my necklace already. I am happy for you that it's not falling on your head anymore though. LOL; 12/6/10, 9:35 PM
fanciful devices said...: hey, i can totally send you some. i just made a pack for someone and I really do have more than enough to share.
wait, so, you bough something from me? its been such a blur recently....; 12/8/10, 12:49 AM
~Debi said...: lol yeah, I won the gift certificate and bought "It has no end and no beginning." I love it! Oh, I bought it under DesignsByDebi, not ProlificAdornments- on October 22nd.; 12/8/10, 4:24 PM
fanciful devices said...: yeah, i looked it up and remembered. I'm slow and easily confused....; 12/8/10, 4:52 PM
Pretty Things said...: OMG. How is it I've never seen a baby hippo until now????; 12/10/10, 5:09 PM