fanciful devices: Wait, one more.

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.

6/11/11

Wait, one more.

Now I really am done til after the operation. Really. Mr. Lefty is on strike. Negotiations with the trade unions have stalled.

The Titanomachy.
I've also lowered some prices and it's already netted me a few sales from non-regulars. By far most my sales are to regulars. Looks like rolling my finished products in cocaine was a good decision after all.
(And to answer your query Stregata, I wore the cuff yesterday to try out how strong the bone was. It's the magic of e6000- I banged it around, put on and removed my jacket several times, and went about my day without even the slightest hint of loosening or tiniest sound of glue cracking. Also, the bone is a lot stronger and smaller than it looks, it doesn't seem to get hooked on anything and the bronze ring keeping it in place is rock hard. Your concerns are legitimate, I do want to make things that last forever. )

4 comments:

Regina said...: This is so striking, love it!; 6/11/11, 7:00 PM
stregata said...: Thank you for taking the time to 'test drive' the cuff. Glad to know your magic is durable.
The new earrings are incredible - love the subtle flash of colour.
Again, wishing you the best for your surgery.; 6/11/11, 11:34 PM
Pretty Things said...: GASP. Amazing.; 6/12/11, 5:09 PM
Penelope said...: Oh GOD I love how gloriously wonky and knackered these look!

Rolling things in cocaine- I DED FROM LOLZ.; 6/13/11, 3:07 AM