fanciful devices: Theeeeengs.

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.

8/15/11

Theeeeengs.

Thanks, all. I changed my passwords. Hadn't changed my email password since I 1st got email, what? 16 years ago? Whoa, I'm old.
Oh! I keep forgetting, my birthday is tomorrow- the medium-sized Three Seven. For my birthday I want days to last longer than 24 hours...

Poseidon. RESERVED for kimhafey

Poseidon. Funiculus.

I Hooked a Berry to a Thread. How We Came to Be.

Got these guys up. Didn't get new pictures of the necklace with the frozen charlotte from yesterday. Why do I keep thinking I can do so much so fast? Why do I put this pressure on myself? But we all feel it- the websicles is like a crazy treadmill that makes us try to go faster and faster. I don't know why.

Oh, I realized sometimes I put up pictures of amazing things people send me unbidden but then other times I don't. It mostly has to do with how many supplies I happen to be drowning in at the time, and how busy I am. So don't be offended. Here's some more recent gifts.

I went over to TeapotsandTelephones to get these crazy awesome eyes and little stars but fancylinda went and included all this other goodness. Square coins! Glass headpins, shank button gorgeousness, bullion applique, coin bracelet, heavy filigree, MOP buttons...

And even this wonderful domino. I was arranging it here with these bad-ass spike nails which were given to me by readbetweenlines, considering a little doll... And yes, I know I was just going on about not doing stuff that's been done, and this has been done. But I dunno. I might have more to add to the topic. And dolls/effigies are too cute. Anything miniature just does it for me...

She also sent this square shank button and these gorgeous leaf links.

Here's a bunch of goodies sent to me by Denise Herrera from... Egypt? I popped out the original cabs and am trying out different things.

What else?

I think I fixed this but I can't tell if it's any good. I'm thinking it's just 'meh'. I guess I need to give it a couple days to decide.

And I'm almost done with this:

The idea of a cluster focal was totally stolen from Sparrow. And here's another shot just cuz I luuuuv it.

11 comments:

stregata said...: That domino is fantastic - I love the idea of a doll...; 8/15/11, 11:39 PM
Penelope said...: I hate when you steal ideas from me, cause you make them better.; 8/16/11, 3:19 AM
Lorelei Eurto said...: i hope you have a wonderful birthday!! Welcome to the 37 club! :); 8/16/11, 5:42 AM
Spirited Earth said...: HappY BirThdAy!!!!!
what a lovely load of loot you've gotten..
on that horseshoe necklace..my eye keeps going first to the lovely assorted colored back beads..not the focal..it's not Meh though.
and i bet when it's being worn it all falls into place.; 8/16/11, 6:39 AM
Numinosity said...: I can see why everyone wants to send you stuff. It's your genius way of combining the components that is astounding.

A Happy Birthday to you... wishing you supply overload or something like it.

I would just love to have a peek at your stash. Then again it probably disappears so quickly at the pace you are producing!

xoxo Kim; 8/16/11, 8:50 AM
Michelle York said...: Happy Birthday..May you live long & prosper! Keep the creativity coming..; 8/16/11, 9:00 AM
shibui said...: Happy Birthday To You!

I think that maybe what you are missing in the horseshoe necklace is that the focal leaf on the bottom is too lightweight for the rest of the piece. Do you have a metal disk or something you could add to that part to make it look heavier?

Just saying ... just a thought.

Have a good day.

Shibui; 8/16/11, 11:40 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday to You!!!; 8/16/11, 1:27 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Happy Birthday fanci!!!!

My world became so much more interesting and enriched because you are here.

Much love now and always,
Kim; 8/16/11, 2:29 PM
Jackie said...: Happy Birthday to ya! Wishing you the very best!! Love your new pieces!
...Jackie; 8/16/11, 2:41 PM
Unknown said...: First visit to your blog - luv it! Happy Birthday.
Desiree Malan
Earthbutter Studio
South Africa; 7/13/12, 4:39 PM