fanciful devices: Hands, again

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.

2/27/11

Hands, again

I'm re-working this blue bracelet into a necklace for a buyer who requested it.

Those of you who've followed this blog for a while will remember my Carpal Tunnel issues. They're back, which is why no posts recently. I've had to rest my hands, and those little hand warmers are a life saver. I actually have an appointment w/my surgeon to take care of this once and for all, thank God. But I'm gonna call on Monday to try to move it up since I can't wait 'til May 10th completely incapacitated. It's making me crazy not to be able to make with so many amazing things in the works. So instead I just wade through etsy and start wanting to buy things even though I got the huge box from opulent Oddities, I'm getting one from Sparrow, and I'm going to Uruguay in April.

Here is a little tooth in moss. The little cup it's in is topped by an old optical lens, the glass of which I've grunged and scratched up a bit.

Turned upside down you can see the cup is cut from a mini tart tin.

I was able to finish and photograph these fancy little earrings. The scotties, from jansjewels.com are plastic buttons I cut the shanks off of. Not very tribal...

Any ideas what I could name them? And what interesting things I could write in the description?

7 comments:

~Debi said...: Reading the wiki, I think of words such as "the diehard," Splinter II and territorial.... they are also called Aberdeens... I know you are awesome at findings cool names for your pieces. They are perched atop as if protecting the "jewels" below them. I dunno, lol.; 2/27/11, 6:50 PM
~Debi said...: Oh and sorry that your carpal tunnel is hindering your creating :( I hope your surgeon will do a good job of fixin ya up!; 2/27/11, 6:51 PM
Anonymous said...: try using castor oil.you need to apply it every few hours.took mine completely away.; 2/27/11, 10:37 PM
stregata said...: Sorry about the carpal tunnel - ouch! The scottie earrings - Highland Defenders of the Royal Scots Crown Jewels??? You are much better at that sort of thing than I am.
Hope you find some relief from the pain soon.; 2/27/11, 11:49 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Fanciful,

I hope you are able to move up your appointment with the surgeon and wish you all the best. Those Scottie earrings are adorable!; 2/28/11, 1:03 AM
richelle said...: Good luck with your surgery. years ago, I waited so long to get mine done, trying all manner of remedies and whatnot, that it had to be done on an emergency basis. I had both hands done at the same time and it was instant relief and has lasted. Best decision ever.

I have those same Scotties and made some dog show ribbon earrings with them!; 2/28/11, 2:10 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: LOVE the Scotties....my mom collects 'em...mostly because I keep sending them....
You know I am always thinking of you...and I hope your hands will heal very very soon.
I know how hard it is not to be able to do what you want, when you want....
much love, dear.
xoxox; 3/1/11, 12:09 AM