fanciful devices: More Earrings.

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.

10/6/11

More Earrings.

Here's some earrings. They go on your ears.

Despair of Flesh. Cookie Tin Assemblage Hoops with Critrine Gemstone Briolettes.

Despair of Flesh.

A Patient Labyrinth of Lines. Pyrite and Antique Puffy Sequin Hoop Earrings.

These are all golden and monochromatic.

A Patient Labyrinth of Lines.

You Have Awakened. Pink, Yellow and Blue Gemstone Dangles.

These are crazy colorful.

You Have Awakened. Pink, Yellow and Blue Gemstone Dangles.

You Have Awakened.

Beauty Unbearable. Gypsy Assemblage Earrings with Yellow Gemstones.

These have more stillpointworks beauties. I ordered a bunch more. Look at the gemstones! They have splotches of rust that got on them when I was oxidizing the mires. I kinda liked them, though, so I left them.

Beauty Unbearable. Gypsy Assemblage Earrings with Yellow Gemstones.

Beauty Unbearable.

The Blue Dream of Sky. Ceramic Artisan Beads and Recycled Tin Bracelet.

Another something with the cookie tin lid I got from Uruguay ages ago. It was actually the first time I went- of the 3 times I've gone since starting this blog. Wait... I think they're from the 1st... Actually, the 1st time was just before starting the blog. OK, it so doesn't matter. So I saw this tin lid in my aunts junk drawer and took it. Great story, hu? My point was just that it was, like, 4 years ago and even then when I saw it the idea of turning it into a cuff flashed into my head and it's been til now that I haven't done anything with it.
OMG that pointless paragraph took, like, 2 years out of my life. Ok, maybe just 10 minutes but I'll never get them back, damn you!

The Blue Dream of Sky. Ceramic Artisan Beads and Recycled Tin Bracelet.

The Blue Dream of Sky.

Have you seen what some of my best etsy bitches have been making?
Found Object Assemblage Necklace

From readbetweenlines, this crazy thing has a tiny face peeking out of the pod, and the back plate swings!

rainmaker - assemblage earrings - long bohemain style - vintage chain - shell charms

rainmaker - assemblage earrings - long bohemain style - vintage chain - shell charms

And some glorious earrings from a newly colorful Sparrow.

Insignia - peruvian opal earrings - hammered metal drops - bohemian elegance

sketchbook - bohemian earrings - retro style - reclaimed metal - painted vintage tin

OK, so look at these and get inspired!

5 comments:

betweenreader said...: O gawd I hev made the Big Time! Thanks, Marina!; 10/6/11, 6:27 PM
Numinosity said...: All so amazing! I'm gonna go make some headpins now and just absorb all of this fine inspiration and see what comes out.
xoxo Kim
PS, in case you haven't heard, I've got real internet now!!! My life has changed, woohooooo!!!!
I can put my theeengs in my shops and everything!!!; 10/6/11, 6:51 PM
Juliette said...: love love LOVE!; 10/6/11, 6:57 PM
Penelope said...: Aw lookit you! Showin' me stuff like that. I am SO IN LOVE with those beaded hoops; we're in synch lately- making the same stuff and it's all about earrings, and I have some beaded hoops goin' on the desk too.; 10/6/11, 7:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Loving the pink and yellow combo, pops in a great way. Love readbetweenthelines, just seen her incredible ghost doll. And sparrow of course...yeah for colour rush; 10/7/11, 1:58 AM