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.

1/15/11

Eternity.

If My Spirit be Bound. Heavy Cast Brass Fabric Buttons and Chain.

If My Spirit be Bound.
The Will of the Air. Ivory Victorian Tribal Choker.

The Will of the Air.
The Will of the Air. Ivory Victorian Tribal Choker.

So here's a question. Should I simplify my blog? Like, remove one of my columns? I know it's super busy, it's never gonna be 'clean', but... I could post really big pictures if I only had one column. This is Lorelei's fault!
The Will of the Air. Ivory Victorian Tribal Choker.

What Internal Sun.
What Internal Sun. Found Poetry and Spectacles.

The Moon Landing.

I still have this one to post.
<----
But I'm tired! Imna go drink some coffee or something. Didn't sleep til 6 am this morning. What is up, inner clock?
Can anyone say something that'll magically motivate me to clean and organize my studio?

6 comments:

Doreen said...: Hmmmm...can't help you with your studio. Mine always looks like I've been in there throwing things.
I have to tell you that your jewelry makes me SWOON! I love these new pieces. You have a real creative gift!
Big pictures are good. The only thing is, if you change your mind down the road and want to go back to three columns, all your blogger pics in the "extra large" size will no longer fit. You would have to go back and change the picture size of all your posts.; 1/15/11, 7:09 PM
Beadbug said...: I don't have any magic words but if I lived close I would come help. I am very good at organizing peoples work areas.; 1/15/11, 8:31 PM
Unknown said...: Hoarders came by. saw my place & said they couldn't help, so I sent them your way!!!; 1/15/11, 8:42 PM
Anonymous said...: I need someone with the magic words too! I like the new pieces. I recognize that black fabric piece with the floral studs! I thought it looked liked "you" when I sent it. I like your blog the way it is, with the random pictures on the sides, like all the pretty jellyfish that just recently appeared.; 1/15/11, 10:11 PM
~Debi said...: I really like the 3 columns. I think you should keep it the way it is now.

I went to sleep at 5am. I beat you! I've always been messed up that way. I think the world should change to my schedule. lol; 1/15/11, 11:10 PM
stregata said...: I noticed that you were up late and wondered when do you sleep?
It is your blog - do whatever suits you best - but I like it just as it is.
And I am totally awed by your new necklaces - exquisite beauty!!!; 1/16/11, 1:10 AM