fanciful devices: A Crapload of Stuff.

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.

10/1/11

A Crapload of Stuff.

Semibarbarous Zone. Vintage Tribal Assemblage Earrings

Semibarbarous Zone.

I Am Withdrawing. Rustic Gypsy Assemblage Earrings

I Am Withdrawing.

What Are You Looking For. Vintage Rustic Choker.

What Are You Looking For.

The Usurped Verse. Rustic Mini Book Assemblage Necklace.

The Usurped Verse.

The Usurped Verse. Rustic Mini Book Assemblage Necklace.

Alpine.

Alpine 2.

The Esthetic Event. Vintage Gypsy Assemblage Earrings

The Esthetic Event.

Comet. Rustic Gypsy Victorian Tribal Assemblage Earrings

Comet.

Ashurbanipal.

Ashurbanipal. Rustic Gypsy Religious Medal Assemblage Earrings

Though my own place be in hell.

All Creatures are Immortal.

All Creatures are Immortal. Vintage Tribal Shoulder Duster Earrings.

I am the Fire.

I am the Fire. Vintage Tribal Shoulder Duster Earrings.

Organs of Divinity. Vintage Oversized Lightweight Dangles with Frosting Tips.

Organs of Divinity.
It's suddenly freezing cold up in this bitch and my hands hurt form photo editing and listing all day. So I'll write something interesting another day. Now I need to snuggle in bed with my big fat book I was telling you guys about.

6 comments:

Penelope said...: A crap load indeed!!

I love that those last earrings are made of two things and they both came in my last parcel! You're a jewelry makin' machine! In a good, passionate handmade way, not a factory automatic way.; 10/1/11, 10:44 PM
Heidi Post said...: Holy cow this is an awesome crapload! Love it all!!; 10/2/11, 12:17 AM
Spirited Earth said...: gorgeous crap load of marvelous stuff..love it.; 10/2/11, 9:08 AM
Michelle York said...: Effin' Genius!!; 10/2/11, 9:14 AM
Pretty Things said...: I'm loving everything, particularly the books and the rhinestone circle -- would love to own a circle similar to that!; 10/2/11, 3:22 PM
Anonymous said...: Loving the piping tips, hate to say but in the uk it's scorching...it's Hotober.; 10/2/11, 5:35 PM