fanciful devices: Winner and 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.

I actually picked randomly this time, I have proof:

Sure it's no three entire movies of a squirrel with peanuts and a whole thing, but congrats beadybaby! Convo me your address.
Anywhachamacallit, these guys are up.
The Music of the Spheres. Rustic Gypsy bronze dangles.

The Music of the Spheres. Rustic Gypsy bronze dangles.

The Music of the Spheres.

Eternitarian. Asymmetrical Tribal Gypsy Earrings with Citrine.

Eternitarian.

Hypatia. Rustic Gypsy Tribal Victorian Assemblage Hoops.

Hypatia.

Escape from the Eternal Round. Chunky Rustic Assemblage Bracelet.

Escape from the Eternal Round.

And now so are these:
Bringing Forth the Fire. Rustic Tribal Gypsy Choker with Gold Leaf.

Bringing Forth the Fire.

Remember these beads? I went simpler in design and used a leather cord to keep them from flipping.

Enigmas That Surround. Tribal Gypsy Assemblage Bangle Stack.

Enigmas That Surround.

Guess what? Two new bangle stacks!
Enigmas That Surround II. Tribal Gypsy Assemblage Bangle Stack.

Enigmas That Surround II.
High time someone around here destashed some beads!
But my favorite of all....
Spohia and the Gnostics. White Patina Cuff with stamping over cowhide, etched salvaged tin and mirror buttons.

Spohia and the Gnostics. White Patina Cuff with stamping over cowhide, etched salvaged tin and mirror buttons.

Spohia and the Gnostics.
Check it! White patina babeeee! I had to have a lightbulb moment when I realized that the rub-n-buff dissolves in mineral oil (baby oil) to get the tin part right, and learn to only use a teeeeny bit of mineral oil at that.... but yeah. Things never age white, so who knows what it's supposed to look like but hey. It's ghostly and the white gives it a feminine Idon'tknowwhat, as the French say. Touch of the ol' chicky shab...

11 comments:

Jackie said...: Those bangles are so fab and Hypatia also did it for me. Wow, always so creative, I love your pieces.; 7/18/12, 8:02 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: That white patina cuff is my favorite too... swooning over here. Just beautiful, my eyes are dancing.; 7/18/12, 9:24 PM
Lela said...: The patterns on the cuff are gorgeous & the white really sets them off.; 7/18/12, 9:47 PM
Beatnheart said...: Geez Louise the master at work... Always something new exciting and creative comes out of your workshop.; 7/18/12, 10:15 PM
Anvil Artifacts said...: yummy bracelets. the white is very nice. fresh and old at the same time, and full of character.
congrats beadybaby!; 7/18/12, 10:59 PM
Rosie Moceri said...: I was wondering when we'd see some more of your bangle sets. Love them!; 7/19/12, 2:56 AM
Petra Carpreau said...: Ha ha haa - you love heeem, and you want heem, but that squirrel is all mine!!!! ha haaaa.
But you got the better giveaway prizes, so hey! Congrats beadybaby!
Great new stuff! Wow, are those ear extravaganzas as heavy as they look?? Those bangle stacks look pretty mega well!!
Wow, the white looks amazing on the cuff detailing. What a clever sausage!; 7/19/12, 10:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Miss Fanciful, I love your work, I've been watching it for a while shabby and intelligent and homeless amd found and shone up but not too much like a cleaned up alcoholic or a cleaned up world has a peep to say. I see you have nice handwriting, would you ever consider writing some of your intelligent buff words on plain paper preserving them under resin, a nice clear resin, and affixing them (as a pendant) with some grungy chain a few baubles, oh not too much (just a very plain sad world pendant, nicks and dents), I'm a guy and I crave some of your stuff. Oops. Eric From Canada; 7/19/12, 8:10 PM
Tribalis said...: Beautiful new pieces Fanci!
Congratulations to the winner!; 7/20/12, 2:28 PM
martinisfor2 said...: Congrats to beady baby!

I love the new designs. The earrings are gorgeous and the amazing look of the white patina on that bracelet....yummy.; 7/20/12, 3:43 PM
shelly said...: I love all of it... the art and the writing.; 7/27/12, 6:52 PM