fanciful devices: From Before Stuff

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.

4/17/11

From Before Stuff

Before I left for the big U, I made some stuff. So here it is.
When the child was a child. Victorian Tribal with Blue Spheres.

When the child was a child.

When the child was a child. Victorian Tribal with Blue Spheres.

When Stars Explode.

When Stars Explode. Oversized Gemstone Nuggets.

Hey check it- I decoupaged my mannequin. No more shiny grey plastic. I don't know if she's done...

Haecceity. Delicate Victorian Tribal Choker.

Haecceity.
The bone game piece and military wings I actually got it last time I went you-know-where but hadn't used it yet. Seems wrong, hu? I mean, to go back for more when I still had some left...)

Haecceity. Delicate Victorian Tribal Choker.

So that's what I did all Saturday- got paper and glue all over myself and took all these pictures.

I Dream About It. Bracelet.

I Dream About It. the owl is Spirited Earth. The clasp is an enameled head pin by missficklemedia.
Nonce. Victorian Tribal Neckwear.

Nonce.

The Fourth.
The Fourth. Victorian Tribal Assemblage Wristwear.

This focal piece is the Uruguayan shield with wings. I think before I left I wanted to use up any bits from the previous visit so that I didn't feel like I was cheating somehow.

When He Wastes The Plain. Oversized Milagro.

When He Wastes The Plain.
When He Wastes The Plain. Oversized Milagro.

Again, the lock is from Uy. The big ass milagro I mae myself of course, using embossing sheet metal.

Chain of Being. Pyrite in Quartz in Tart Tin.

Chain of Being. Chain of Being. Pyrite in Quartz in Tart Tin.

Still haven't started making with my new theeengs. Damnit. Chain of Being. Pyrite in Quartz in Tart Tin.

I've stopped increasing the contrast on my pictures. What do you think? Yes? No?
Oh and I just realized my little sister commented on a post here! Whu? Hu? (I knew something was up when a commenter addressed me as 'Mar'.) Worlds collide! So I had to go back and quickly scan for anything incriminating... which makes no sense at all. Like, would I be putting up nekkid pictures of myself here? Though I did here on the convos end some thumbs up on the cleavage I was I was rocking unawares in that pink tank top.... My little sister read my blog! Awwww! The last thing she said about my work was hilarious- "So you're really going with the 'old' thing, hu?"
Hi Carmela!!!

2 comments:

stregata said...: Gosh - I'm not done drooling over your haul porn and you'r already putting up other stuff to drool over... the stress!
Besides - I just got back from the flea market myself...
Love the new look on your mannequin - much better in my humble opinion.; 4/17/11, 9:54 AM
Linda said...: The new mannequin is very nice. You should name her!; 4/18/11, 3:29 PM