fanciful devices: Everyday I fall in love again

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.

7/7/12

Everyday I fall in love again

Guess what? I spent the last 2 days doing nothing jewelry related! I'm sorta proud or something. Yesterday, I decorated. See, Robert and I finally gave into the reality that the computer room is indeed my room since I sleep here and I'm here every minute I'm not in my studio.

Yes, my hubs and I have separate bedrooms! I don't understand how anyone sleeps with anyone else on a regular basis. It boggles my mind. Between different sleeping schedules, me having to get up and pee 10x per night and his loud breathing waking me up (it's not snoring, but my hearing becomes superhuman when I'm trying to sleep)....

So he not only moved his dresser to what used to be a guest room but is really his room, he also took down his heavy metal/horror movie posters- yuck.

So check it: I've had all these special paper odds and ends forever and I stuck them on to big maps as my own DIY posters. Above you see some Uruguayan gauchos I found in a 1980 issue of National Geographic! Also some cholos I thought were hilarious...

I also have pages from an old journal of mine and this col-lection of art made on old post-cards from eyefun.

These are the humble beginnings of my ... um.... metaphysical wall. OK, the star chart thing is scrapbooking paper! I know!

There was this Ikea frame with a cardboard insert that ages ago I made this sorta drawing you can still see there peeking through- the dude's faces? Over them is the Uruguayan shield of arms or whatever you call it from a very old children's book. A vintage lithograph from Uruguay, a page from the National Geographic of a group of Hmong warriors which up close is amazing and... some scrapbooking paper! A Picasso postcard I bought in, like, college... And a row of blue and red journal pages.

Threshold of the Infinite. Rustic Cosmic Gypsy Assemblage Necklace with Geode.

OK, so, I used to adore my sold section because it was a 'past works' gallery for me. Now it's just page upon page of my little tute icon. Anybojangles, I've actually got my ass into some pinning, and I'mna set up my past work 'gallery' there.

Tribal long hoops with labradorite gemstones and ethnic bronze axe heads.

Teach the People. Crystal Quartz Points and Kuchi Tribal Belly Dance Charms.

Saddle Gems. Metaphysical Tribal Assemblage Necklace.

The Vagabond. Victorian Tribal Cowbell with gemstone rondelles.

Cradle and Abyss. Pods. Rustic Tribal Dangles with Art Beads.

The One Who Deserves Your Love. Rustic Victorian Gypsy Hoops with Bottle Caps.

Dwizzen. Rustic Driftwood with Gold-Dipped Pyrite Long Dangles.

Crepuscle. Rustic Gypsy Druzy and Ceramic Art Bead Earrings.

The Motion of the Galaxies. Rustic Rhinestone Assemblage Bracelet with Antique Charm, Coin, Pyrite.

Dark Flow. Oversized art beads chunky rustic assemblage choker.

Haven't got tons up yet, but... Man, another online thing to eat up my youth.
So what did the title of this post mean? Beauty, ladies. On my walls, in my studio, online, in the faces of my niece and neph, the trees, the music that fills the room...

9 comments:

Alice said...: My husband snores very loud but does not to sleep in another room, nor does he want me to move. I rarely get a good night's sleep and neither does he because of my elbowing him, and he even snores so loud he wakes himself up several times a night.

How fun that you have your own studio now and can decorate as you please!

An Yay for Pinterest! I just followed you.; 7/7/12, 4:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Woohoo! Pinterest! I'm following you now. You'll find a bunch of your past work also in my "My Favorite Etsy Jewelry" board.; 7/7/12, 5:58 PM
Louise said...: Go the separate bedrooms. That's exactly what I'd do if I actually lived with someone - ;) I've heard of married couples actually living on the same property but in two different houses. That would probably suit me even better! I love your gallery of work - just wonderful!; 7/7/12, 7:21 PM
Jackie said...: I snore and he snores...we each snore in separate bedrooms...works well for us. We both get the sleep we need. :)

I'm following your Pinterest too, love it!!; 7/7/12, 8:15 PM
stregata said...: I love your artwork!!!!
Exclamation MARK!; 7/8/12, 1:38 AM
Patty said...: I could look at those walls a long time. And separate bedrooms yes, we
long ago took our own house parts and when we are together it's very nice. One's own room is not optional.; 7/8/12, 8:11 AM
Gardanne said...: I thought I was a freak. My husband and I do the same thing, we too have completely different sleeping schedules and he likes to sleep with the TV on all night.
Thanks for the therapy, you are a full service blog.; 7/8/12, 10:53 AM
Skye said...: I mentioned you in my blog. If you're bored, please pop over and give it a read ;) http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca/2012/07/kreativ.html; 7/8/12, 5:22 PM
JenHoney said...: HEY! Up in that top photo there are 4 drawings on blue paper that (I think) are by a guy whose name I've been trying to remember all week. Can you help me out with that? Matt something? Maybe? He sent me a sketchbook once, which we were supposed to collaborate in, but instead I lost it for 10 years and just found it a few days ago. I'd like to pick that project up again....if only I knew the dude's name or had any clue how to get in touch with him.; 7/8/12, 9:37 PM