fanciful devices: Came.

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.

6/25/11

Came.

I mean "came" like, "the coming attractions mentioned in the last post have arrived" not like "I ca-..." Ok. I'mna stop. My dad reads this sometimes.

Pamphagous.
(Note: these were scraps left over from making the big ol' arabesque tin earrings below. The shapes sorta chose themselves, though I did trim them down some.)

These 2 sets of earrings above are made of a tea tin sent to me by SalvageBeautyDesign before my trip to Uruguay. I actually blogged what she sent me with this picture:

I used the 2 side pieces she sent- here you see only one. Which means I still have that top!

I know you're jealous.

The Titanomachy.
I had a smaller pair similar to these and someone asked for another pair.

The Titanomachy. RESERVED for cassa1.

Alabandical.
This pipe compass was actually given to me by my father in law. He found it in his junk drawer, I mean. It wasn't like a gift for me to keep. That would be rude.

Montivagant.
A burrow from Uruguay. The copper pipe it's hanging on is from the recent surprise mail haul of 2 posts before and I already found a use!

Divinipotent.
And this is from the surprise mail haul before that. Or certain elements:t the black jet with weave carving, smaller white with weave carving, faceted white, teacup and charlotte.

I'm kinda super proud of the toggle. I connected a MOP stick that I think was from the mail haul SacredCake or Opulent Oddities sent. It is slightly loose so that it can move along the thinner middle part and hooks to the hammered copper link. Isn't it neat? It's making me so happy.

The Helots of Sparta.
The curved jasper was also from that haul before last. I know! I didn't think I'd incorporate them so soon. Also, missficklemedia sent me those mustard hoops. I'm so blessed.
And only 2 more classes before I'm free. Is there a name for a panic attack when it's not from fear but from happy anticipation? A freak out?

6 comments:

Spirited Earth said...: i crazy love those last 2 pieces..especially the necklace with the doll head; 6/25/11, 8:17 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Yipee! I love those huge tin hoops... grinning huge over here. Thanks for posting the pictures of the tins before hand, that is cool to see. Something about that little burro, too adorable. I like how you are using all these big beads..; 6/25/11, 9:57 PM
Penelope said...: Those first earrings are amazing!!!! I love how you cut it on an angle so the picture wasn't so obvious- that would never have occurred to me.

D'you know- even in my times of 'I hate jewelry I never want to see another bead ever again' I come to your blog and you make me want to fly to my desk and tinker with shit for hours. Everything you do in an inspiration. Even stuff I'm not keen on inspires me because I start thinking of how I'd change it so I would. Though it's pretty rare for me to not like something of yours.

Two more classes!!! I believe that feeling is called euphoria. Or rapture?; 6/26/11, 12:04 AM
La Fileuse said...: Wow ! You still have pieces of the tin ? Does that mean that you can make more of these stunning earrings ? I'm looking forward to it. Great job ! ^^; 6/26/11, 4:25 AM
Marin said...: And just like that, they were sold. :( I'm with Sparrow, the inspiration is endless! Beautiful work, as always.; 6/26/11, 8:36 AM
~Debi said...: I third the inspiration your blog provides! I don't know about the others, but I still wanna be Fanci when I grow up! Love the burro, the doll head and cup and the pipe pieces.

Congrats on being a full time artist soon! Yay!; 6/26/11, 8:32 PM