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.

3/18/12

This is how I feel while making a tute:

This is how I feel after getting the PDF site to work and then selling a ton of them:

Even though a handful of you had issues with the PDF hosting site... or are still having issues. That part is stressful. Maybe I'll find a better site next time or something...

Yesterday I got the best comment ever. Jackie was stressing because all the tutes I'd listed the previous night had sold out and Happyfallout said:
Jackie, you'll have to wait until Fanci gets up!
I crack! I totally lost it I crack so hard. You gals really do know me! My buddies understand that it's noon in Chicago and I'm just not awake yet. AND that as soon as I wake up I'm right back at the computer again... hee hee. Man that was too awesome.

Alice asked: Do you make your own bangles or start with ready made ones and embellish them?
Your question is addressed in the tute. And the answer is both, though mostly I make them.

Also, everyone: YOU GOTTA CLICK "APPLY COUPON CODE" IN YOUR ETSY SHOPPING CART! It's right under where it says "How will you pay." Just telling it to me the code in the notes to seller doesn't work because then paypal charges me if I try to give you the refund manually. On etsy its automatic.

I realize the word "manually" makes no sense in that sentence since we're talking about the virtual world...
OK, now for what's making me squeee and wiggle-jig in my chair. A blogee from Finland, inkku, sent me a picture of bangles she made for her 12-year-old girl! Who loves them!

Needless to say, they look nothing like mine. I feel like these are my grandkids. Cuz the bangles were my babies, the tute was my... baby's... reproductive system... and these are my baby's reproductive system's babies. Yup. I really went with that metaphor, hu?
Anyways, you guys are awesome and you make my life redonk.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...: The toot is brill and I gotta admit that when I compared how I made mine pre toot and after I made them using your expertise...I face palmed!; 3/18/12, 1:51 PM
Lela said...: toots!

can't wait to take a look at this.

funny photos/vid to explain your emotions. :D

And the bangles from inkku are loverly. Not surprising her daughter loves them.; 3/18/12, 2:25 PM
Jackie said...: I did finally calm down, but it wasn't easy. Then I couldn't get it to work, nother melt down and in a stressed state I wrote to fanci two or three times. I need to be on chill pills. Life is good now that I have my bangle tute!

Thanks fanci, it's as amazing as can be!!!! <--- I'm sorry, I had to do (ex points).; 3/18/12, 3:00 PM
neshuma said...: That Collie got a kitten toot for reals. [The Waterhand household kitties do this sort of thing with gusto.] And you deserve massively warm public fuzzy for the exceptulent product.

Now, of course, we crave elaboration of the fanciferous metal treatment processes, particularly where mixed metals are involved. Even those of us who play with chemicals would love to know what and how much you do when. Because your work truly rocks.; 3/18/12, 4:03 PM
Beatnheart said...: I’ve been banging all day.; 3/18/12, 6:46 PM
Beatnheart said...: bangling all day....bangling ...making bangles.; 3/18/12, 6:47 PM
Lela said...: beatnheart! Ha! :D

love the tute, marina. well done!; 3/18/12, 7:30 PM
betweenreader said...: I just got a coupla handfuls of bangles from Value Village at 1.99 for a set of five. Next they get ye olde Jax treatment! Way to go Marina's kidz!; 3/18/12, 7:48 PM
Juliette said...: Beatnheart, you crack me up!

The tute is wonderful, and has given me lots of inspiration.

Got any ideas for inspired moving techniques? Ugh.

You guys are keeping me sane, I tell you!; 3/18/12, 11:24 PM
alteredarcheology said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/19/12, 7:37 AM
alteredarcheology said...: Dudes. Seriously, I can't stop making these things. Marinas brilliant mind has come up with a perfect excercise for destashing your hoards, building your jewelry chops and meditating all at the same time. Bravo!! And btw, be sure to check out Etsy for filler bangles. I purchased a total of 100 (2orders) for $16.00 (including s/h) here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78488584/bangle-bracelet-beauties-50-pieces; 3/19/12, 7:46 AM
Petra Carpreau said...: Well done on getting this finished after having to occupy such an uncomfortable head space in the making of it!
I do wish i could get to see bloggy pictures again, it would add to the experience no end!! My new computer just doesn't seem to like them.
Ha ha, beatnheart - I do hope you're not too chafed!!; 3/20/12, 11:45 AM