fanciful devices: Heat Advisory.

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.

7/17/11

Heat Advisory.

There's a heat advisory in Chicago today- watch out for that awful heat! There's also a pet advisory- watch out for those awful pets!

Barathrum.
More head pins from Numinosity Beads. So fun and simple.

Speaking of Numinosity, check it: I sent her this doodle:

And the very next day she sent me these images:

And then I died.

It's been a long time since I did a before and after. So here goes.
I thought these were too much: A Cloud of Raindrops. Found Poetry and Chandelier Crystals.

A Cloud of Raindrops. Found Poetry and Chandelier Crystals.

So I changed them to this:

A Cloud of Raindrops.
Cuter?

I had some weird light to wrestle with today, photographically speaking. Did add some drama, though.

Thus Solemnly Declared. Reliquary with Found Poetry.

Thus Solemnly Declared. Reliquary with Found Poetry.

Thus Solemnly Declared.
It took me forever to oxidize these damn reliquary whatever you call them. But just made them into simple choker type things. Simple for me.

Thus Solemnly Declared. Reliquary with Found Poetry.

Set a Fire.
Ditto. Lampwork by radiantmind. Who is awesome. Who else makes such tiny lampwork?

Set a Fire. Reliquary with Found Poetry.

Almacantar.
This applique drop was given to me ages ago by Opulent Oddities. Goes perfectly w/the cut steel shank which God knows where I got. Proly a gift. So as you can see, it's all about the little raggedy chokers lately. I'll go back to some dramatic double-wraps but I have all these bits that call out for smaller presentations.

Almacantar.

Thanks for all your awesome comments, guys. That's good to know Stregata! You're in Europe, you must know all this stuff. And Jenny- you gave me so much good bits, if I had more time and less supplies, I'd use it all. Eventually I will. I hadn't even thought of that, Sparrow, mudlarking there!
And now I gotta wrap up some packages. I could swear I just woke up...

5 comments:

Numinosity said...: Cool to see them up in the big lights of your blog page so to speak. I've got more on the table ready for some glass. I just love how you put them to use...so honored..tehe
I'm so glad your hand has healed and you're treating us to so much delectableness. I love it all.
xoxo Kim; 7/17/11, 10:40 PM
Numinosity said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/17/11, 10:40 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: i think i already favorited all of these....but that last one? Imma DIE. LOVE it.
and YOU!; 7/18/11, 10:30 PM
~Debi said...: I like the change you made in the earrings!; 7/19/11, 2:52 PM
betweenreader said...: Ai-yi-yi! Love those Buddhist amulets! They come from temples, are called tsa-tsa (Tibetan name), and actually, usually, are more like reliquaries, since they are formed of a paste containing holy things, such as ashes of a lama, or offerings, and are made as part of a spiritual practice. Will send you a link to a source for westerners on this stuff, which may give you some names to use. You rock, even when it's too hot. Get out the feather fan and the tinkling glass of sweet iced tea with mint. xoxo, P.; 7/20/11, 12:32 PM