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.

7/4/12

A zoetrope animation using paper discs mounted on bicycle wheels by Katy Beveridge as part of her 3rd year dissertation project at CSM in London. Found via new fave.

Let's look at some pretties!

I'll list these but for now I'm lazy...

And we have guests for the 4th, so.

And they all just got here and I'm starving because I was too lazy or zoned to stop and eat...

One of hubs buds has a new gf so I'mna go down and meet her.

Even put make up on for the occasion! And a bra!

So check out all the pendants.

What else?.

Can't think, too hungry

10 comments:

Alice said...: Cool video. I'm so glad you took the time to post your fabulous creations for us to oggle--despite being so hungry and all.; 7/4/12, 9:49 PM
stregata said...: There are some absolutely crazy fabulous pieces in this array... well done!; 7/4/12, 11:59 PM
Anonymous said...: really loving the pendants, especially the swan and pen nib, my kind of bits and bobs; 7/5/12, 1:34 AM
darlene said...: love me some pen nibs! all looking beauty my dear. i've seen that vid before but had forgotten about it. way cool! thanks for sharing. <3; 7/5/12, 8:04 AM
Penelope said...: A bra!?! HOMG. You sure this isn't a wedding?

Your pendants are freakn fab, as usual, like little chatelaines.; 7/5/12, 11:17 AM
Flotsam Tide said...: Really enjoying the warm rich tones of all these pendants, such lovely things and those old folding scissors remind me of my Grandma. She would sew using the cheap bright silver ones from China but always had a pair on hand. I am loving these new pendant combinations... beautifully done as always.; 7/5/12, 1:06 PM
Juliette said...: Love the pendants, have fun dressing up! xoxo; 7/5/12, 1:58 PM
Anvil Artifacts said...: Hahaha a bra AND makeup?! Whoa........

Adore these pendants! So much fabulous hanging off of each of them. The little iron and teapot and swan and......all the wonderful goodies! You've combined the elements to completion, perfectly again.; 7/5/12, 2:54 PM
Numinosity said...: Is there any end to your amazing supply stash? We know there is no end to your genius ways of combining things, that is apparent. My pieces are so happy to be snuggled in with all that fine company. The nail piece looks superb in that piece and it look like my intention for how they can be used has reached its zenith in your work. huzzah!; 7/6/12, 11:56 AM
alteredarcheology said...: When I look at the pendants they make me all giddy, how fun to think us minions can collab with you now!!
I picked up my copy of Jewelry Affaire and lemme say, what you wrote was a perfect expression of how you work, who you are and why you do what you do. The necklace is pretty but your words went far beyond. Who else would mention Buddha in that mag!?! I think while we were wearing our crazy little goth outfits we also each had our heads buried in the same Alan Watts book, lol; 7/6/12, 12:52 PM