fanciful devices

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.

7/19/11

Hello my beaches!
There is an extremely important futbol game on between Uruguay and ... Peru? And from downstairs I can hear my husband and dad yelling or grunting at near misses.

The Years.
At which my dog runs down and starts barking at them. He also doesn't permit any Wii playing in his house. So much for animals being wise and aware of stuff.

My hubs said these earrings were very colorful for me. He said they didn't look like something I'd make! Ha!

Greifs. Buddhist Reliquary...
I think lots of things I make don't look like things I'd make. And the whole 'branding' thing? I dunno. It shouldn't hobble us, should it?

It is so nasty hot out today. And tomorrow is supposed to feel like 110 degrees. I don't know what they mean by 'feel like' but I'm never leaving the house again.

Oracle. Buddhist Reliquary...
I want to do some soldering but that involves opening a window and that's not happening.

I cooked today. Coconut curry, my favorite. Veggies and rice with coconut curry. Not a meat person.

Never Forget. Buddhist Reliquary.

Never Forget.
I felt like turning on the burner was a crime against our AC.

Never Forget. Buddhist Reliquary.

Notice how totally lazy my item names have become? I am without literary inspiration. If any of you have any ideas, I'd be very grateful.

9 comments:

Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: Your names are always great! I would gave named "the Years", "the Lolipop Escapades" or something completely dorky like that...your names are fine and always creative...unlike mine.
Wanna trade brains?; 7/19/11, 10:19 PM
Marin said...: Okay, seriously now, HOW on Earth do you get so much done?! Do you ever sleep? I can't keep up. Teach me...; 7/19/11, 10:38 PM
stregata said...: The buddhist reliquaries are just killing me - sooooo gorgeous!
Want to trade weather? - we are having a high (laugh - or rather cry) of 14°C today...
And I think your dog is very wise and aware - I mean, grown men yelling at the television - just because they all do it, does that make it smart?; 7/20/11, 12:12 AM
Jenna said...: When I feel really stuck for names, I think of a character who would wear my jewelry, then think of a name for a story. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it will jostle the inspiration machinery inside my head into action. Sometimes I'll just name the piece after a feeling or setting it invokes in me. If I'm really stuck I'll start reading myths or fairy stories to see if it helps me to find a good name, or I'll look up latin terms for the materials I've used. . .but I always love the names you come up with.; 7/20/11, 1:32 AM
Penelope said...: i can recommend Angela Carter's work for evocative imagery, I read one in Uni (they were depressing so I stopped but I know you don't mind that sort of thing). Also I've never enough good things to say about Dickens, especially if you watch the TV adaptations instead of reading the books. I recommend the recent Little Dorrit production (cause again, you can deal with depressing stuff) and the 2007 tv series of Oliver Twist.

And yeah branding is a terrible corset to be laced up in, that's why you're so fantastic, because you have a style that comes through whatever you make. Those earrings are totally something you'd do!; 7/20/11, 4:05 AM
Spirited Earth said...: branding is boring.there is a rhythm to your work that is recoginzable..
those so called colorful earrings are stunning..unpredictable
but my love are your aged white pieces..that last one is too wonderful.; 7/20/11, 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm with little brown sparrow, Angela Carter is so evocative. Also John Donne's poems - he was writing about women having the right to enjoy sex back in the 16th century and he later became a leading light in the catholic church...interesting guy, amazing poetry; 7/20/11, 3:08 PM
Tina said...: I must wholeheartedly second watching the recent Little Dorrit.; 7/20/11, 6:30 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: uuuummmmm hey. I am a blog reader and I buy your stuff...and I am currently completely smitten with "Never Forget" and well,every. single. bracelet, earring, ring and necklace you have made. Who knew you'd make such a kick ass gorgeous bracelet out of that huge wing?! only you my dear....only you.
xoxox; 7/22/11, 12:29 AM