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.

8/25/11

So these guys are up:

Land of the Lords of Brightness.

The Omega Point.

Days of Ill Omen.
Remember I showed you a sneak peek of this one? It's done and up.

Look at all that primordial stuff! I needed it after those bracelets seared the surface of my eyeballs off with the phosphorescence.
And because I still like it, you have to look at another picture of it:
Days of Ill Omen.

Oh. Also, my friend/buyer Susan M has offered her services in pricing after being a dealer in high-end art for 93 years or something. OK, she didn't tell me how many. So but then if you think the bracelets are too expensive you can blame her. I'm still nice and want you to have all my stuff for free.

Also, I put up this one partially in exchange for a plug and sidebar ad. Check it out. CUSTOM for AdoredBefore.

What else? I'm sleepy and grumpy so I think it's time for the pims. That's my new cool slang for PMS. You think it'll catch on?

6 comments:

Michelle York said...: You are such an artist! This is the first site I go on to get my daily inspiration. I could never do what you do but I admire you so much..I wish you well! (I know about wanting to give away for free..); 8/26/11, 9:26 AM
In the Light of the Moon said...: Dont be grumpy..well then again if you create like this when your grumpy..by all means.Hugs,Cat; 8/26/11, 11:26 AM
dd said...: I love how grungy and earthy and native and primitive (but not in the f'ed up americana way) 'Ill Omen is. Its awesome.

pims will catch on. deff.; 8/26/11, 1:48 PM
betweenreader said...: Does this mean you are pimmy?; 8/26/11, 9:48 PM
Cillaw said...: Wow, You got the perfect color. Now I want to check out your store!
Cilla; 8/27/11, 9:36 AM
Dale said...: This is so very fantastic. Just discovered your blog through the shadow box challenge, and am quickly becoming obsessed with your wire wrapping style. LOVE IT! Great stuff here.; 8/27/11, 10:23 PM