fanciful devices: Grubby Fingers

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.

War Madrigals.

I don't really have anything new to say for myself since last post. My hand hasn't let me make anything and it's driving me nuts. On the plus side- my one-handed typing is getting awesome! But really, the actual good news is I'm having my next operation March 13. Next and final I should say.

Joy Transcending Trance.

I also think I know why my camera has been taking these blurry pics. I know- you're gonna say they're not that blurry. But I just spent my blood, sweat and tears to photoshop them back to acceptable. And they're barely, barely acceptable at that. Where was I?

The Fraudulent Twin.

So I think either my hubs or I (but, come on, it was him) put one of our grubby fingers on the lens. Cuz it totally looks like the whole 'vaseline lens' thing they used to do in the olden days. Of yore. Doesn't it look like that? Aren't I a smart smarty pants for figuring that out?

Synesthesia.

And though I'd much rather just retake the pictures, turns out it's a pain in the ass to do with just one hand. Along with everything else under the sun.
Rudimentary Aesthetics. Adjustable Choker with Semiprecious Stones.

Rudimentary Aesthetics. Adjustable Choker with Semiprecious Stones.

Rudimentary Aesthetics.

I'm wondering if it's possible to sell anything with these crap pictures. I guess we'll see.

9 comments:

Penelope said...: I don't think they're that crap! Especially since you're practically drumming for Def Leppard right now.

And yay for surgery!; 5/21/11, 10:37 AM
Penelope said...: Oh and I meant to say I'm having a heart attack at how simple your new things are lately, and still they are so freakin awesome.; 5/21/11, 10:38 AM
Marin said...: Does your camera have a macro mode? Try playing with the white balance?
The pieces are gorgeous! I love the sooty look goin on.; 5/21/11, 10:51 AM
Flotsam Tide said...: All these pieces are just beautiful I love those tiny jet earrings, and Rudimentary Aesthetics, the contrast in components is wonderful. You constantly amaze me.; 5/21/11, 11:30 AM
Anonymous said...: March 13? I hope that is a typo. You need your hand back long before then, so you can make lots and lots more beautiful jewelry!; 5/21/11, 12:37 PM
Numinosity said...: I couldn't do what you do with one hand. I have to be careful not to. do the same craft more than two days inn a row or I pay with pain but. not to the. degree that you are enduring. How frustrating. I hope that the surgery repairs and cures this setback.
Expect a package from m me soon!
xoxo Kim; 5/21/11, 2:47 PM
fanciful devices said...: um. MAY 13th. not a typo so much as my own psyche existing quite outside of time.
cuz im mysterious that way.; 5/22/11, 9:25 AM
fanciful devices said...: Damn. JUNE. I mean JUNE.
did i mention im using pain meds?; 5/22/11, 9:30 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh, June is MUCH better than next March! I hope your hand feels better soon.; 5/22/11, 4:40 PM