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.

3/1/11

I've taken all I can stand and I can't stands no more! So I got in there and made today. Yes, physical pain is bad, but so is psychological pain. OK, psychological discomfort. So, again, ignore the nighttime lighting and lets have a look-see.

Here's a drop from Opulent Oddities.

Some dangles and an old cuff I flattened from her, worn out faux pearls from SacredCake which I goldified. Even a tiny bullion applique from fancylinda. (And yeah, re your comment fancylinda, it's sorta like the story about the guy who ammasses a giant library then breaks his glasses- except also his eyes hurt so much he couldn't sleep and he couldn't get new glasses 'til May 10th and reading was his livelihood and also the more he waited for his new glasses, the more books he amassed -on line during the hours he wasn't sleeping- growing his reading project further, which made him feel panicky. Ahem. Yeah.) Oh the beaded plastic circle is from Opulent Oddities, as well. I rubbed it with gold alcohol ink, too.

Zoom out- it's a piece I'm working on for CorvidDelights. I got so many etsy friends! So yeah, the whole focal is from my giant box from Opulent Oddi ties.

Here, asymmetrical earrings made w/one button from SacredCake, one brass arabesque from jensjewels, glued on piece of MOP- a tiny button with the shank clipped off to match the glorious large button. Then glass drops, Indonesian ceramic rounds for a touch of tribal and long copper ear wires. Stir and bake at 430 for 40 min.

I mean, I seem to be telling y'all every ingredient...

Here's this guy still in the works.

Here's some wacky color partially inspired by the crazy grandma vibe I've been getting from a new etsy friend, lilyofthevally. These are also Op. Od. gift bits, topped with some Ghana glass beads from Soul of Somanya, which you can find in their etsy and also here. Wonderful fair trade beads. They were a gift, too! From the wonderful ShesSoWeird, who also got me the cotton pearls and bought her first item from me in June of '09. Which in internet time is eons ago.

Anywho, what do I mean by crazy grandma vibe? well:
reserved for my bud AFTERNOON TEA shabby rose necklace lilac vintage crochet teapot teacup hummingbird ooak one of a kind spring garden fresh

reserved for my bud AFTERNOON TEA shabby rose necklace lilac vintage crochet teapot teacup hummingbird ooak one of a kind spring garden fresh

here

FRILLS shabby old pink flower earrings recycled reclaimed assemblage ooak one of a kind

here

FETCHING aged charm earrings vintage drops tulips sequin balls filigree ooak one of a kind shabby chic assemblage altered

These are possibly my favorites. I'm digging all the plastic pastels. Makes me wanna get this:
Three Vintage Teapot Window Shade Pulls

Though for my own sanity I'm stopping myself.
Oh, SacredCake got in on the crazy grandma, too:

Right here.

3 comments:

stregata said...: I am just loving the (un)matching earrings!!!; 3/1/11, 1:50 AM
Spirited Earth said...: earrings love em..
necklace gorgous.
hope your are able to get your wrist pain free soon.; 3/1/11, 8:02 AM
Flotsam Tide said...: Crazy grandma rocks! I love my necklace, have the silliest grin on my face. xoxo!; 3/1/11, 11:21 AM