fanciful devices: OMFG!

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.

1/30/11

OMFG!

OKOK, 1st lemme get some bidness out the way. I made this:

Letter to My Sweetheart.

And these are filigree with antique bandages sealed on them:

Mummy.

Ok. But most importantly, yesterday I received a huge box from Jennifer Valentine aka SacredCake. So lets get right to it.

I've already started oxidizing everything. There's tons! Look at that tiny pocket watch. It's on a scrap pf leather she sent. And she made me those ear wires herself- look at those paddles!!!! I just wanna look at them for a while... They are little works of art as is.

The bigger doll is held together by this ancient cellophane tape. It has this gorgeous black 'cap' that makes it look Asian. Look at the tiny curved brass piece- looks like a purse handle. And copper cross? And ball locket?

I've already started bending this big square into a cuff.

Theeeengs! And little crystals for earrings.

An extremely crusty tintype and some rusty mesh.

Perfect little bee specimen which I've been needing.

I've started oxidizing this huge wing, the sweetheart brooch piece- a twin of whom is already in the above necklace.

Even that little bowl came in the box.

Can you see the tiny doll arm? The half-earth?

Can you even stand it?

This is a clip- for curtains? And all kinds of goodies.

Check out the little brass flower. She sent tons and I've already used them all on a set of 7 necklaces I'm making for my cousins and cousin's girlfriends for when we go to Uruguay.

Is this the maddest thing you've ever seen? It's a necklace!

Also, it all came in a gorgeous box with glittered letters FD for fancifuldevices on front and red velvet on the inner top. With really too many bits to show them all.

Among it all were also this lovely zine and old encyclopedia volume.

Is it me or are all these pictures begging to be used in pendants?

The book is in lovely shape and some might say it's a shame to take it apart.

But if the god of antiques didn't want me to mess with it, s/he wouldn't have let it end up in my hands!

You can click on the pictures to see them big.

And you should, they're gorgeous.

Look up! The planet Mercury and a Slow Loris, one of the cutest, strangest creatures on earth.

I actually took a lot more pictures, but I was trying to edit it down.

See the Kingfisher eating a fish below? I thought it was a bird with husks and a trunk!

The planet Jupiter!

Am I the luckiest girl in the world?

9 comments:

Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: OMG! You got that FAST!
I'm so happy you liked your goodies. I can hardly wait to see what you make with that humongous wing!
The paddle earwires I made so you could drill a hole through the flat part...
I just love seeing what you make with things I send. You have such vision....Everything you create has a soul.
xox; 1/30/11, 6:05 PM
Regina said...: Wow! I can see why you are so excited... Love that red crystal necklace, everything else I am imagining the fanciful things you would make with them! Sounds like you will have fun. Enjoy!; 1/30/11, 6:42 PM
TesoriTrovati said...: Great stuff! Can't wait to see what wonders you create!
Enjoy the day.
Erin; 1/30/11, 7:24 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Those mummy earrings are creepy and so cool!; 1/30/11, 9:36 PM
Penelope said...: So much awesome!!

Man you're going to be drowning in supplies when my box gets to you as well- I love seeing what you come up with, I wouldn't know what to do with half of that stuff. I think I'd have to just hang the red crystal necklace up somewhere, it's such a glorious object.

The clip is a glove clip, btw. From the 50s-60s, they were supposed to hang from your bag and keep your gloves safe.; 1/30/11, 10:15 PM
stregata said...: A treasure trove of decidedly delightful inspiration! OMG, it makes me dizzy just to think of all the wonderful pieces you are going to make with all this.
C'mon - hurry!; 1/30/11, 11:49 PM
Mary Harding said...: What a feast. And another to come when you make all the beauties with them. Thanks so much for sharing.; 1/31/11, 4:27 AM
Courtney Breul said...: What a treasure feast! I can't wait to see what you create! Have a great time playing.; 1/31/11, 7:57 AM
~Debi said...: WoWoWoWoW! That's some awesome treasure. I am so jealous!

The Sweetheart Necklace is gorgeous. Love love love; 1/31/11, 4:43 PM