fanciful devices: soguesswhat?

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.

9/18/11

soguesswhat?

Previews that's what!

I had these beads that looked like this, but most of them were clear with gold accents:

I dipped them in UTEE and now look:

Oh and my bathroom is now the prettiest room in my house. (Note the toilet handle doesn't match.)

I can finally pee in style!

6 comments:

Penelope said...: Shower curtain? Towels? Pictures? Ornaments? Flowers? Need colour! Can't believe I just said that. I like the oldey style features and those awesome lamps over the mirror. I recommend getting some Moroccan shit to luxe it up. Sparrow has spoken.

I like the bleachy colours on that one with the hand on it!; 9/18/11, 9:31 PM
richelle said...: I have those same white and silver beads. You made them look positively larval--I may try (copy) the utee dip.; 9/18/11, 10:52 PM
Dale said...: ooo... those tin can bracelets are so lovely! I just love the scratchy texture. Fantastic job!!]; 9/19/11, 3:16 AM
Michelle York said...: You are such a funny girl! 'pee in style!' indeed..That put a smile on my face. Every day when I look at what you're doing I am amazed at how your mind sees. Fascinating!; 9/19/11, 9:18 AM
Spirited Earth said...: love the bathroom redo ..i'm surprised you don't get out the patina solution and go after that toilet handle. ;-); 9/23/11, 3:14 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: OK sooooooooooooooo, you are going to give the hand (with the necklace attached of course) BACK to me?
HOW INCREDIBLY GENEROUS!
oh, and nice bathroom....peeing in style has its advantages I imagine...

xoxox (Love to you Fanci); 9/23/11, 11:28 PM