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.

8/12/12

I forgot to show y'all this!
May She Guide You. Antique Gold Sacred Heart Medal in Gold Leaf Shrine Pendant.

May She Guide You.
It reads "May She Guide You." If you know some Spanish, you might think it says "That She Guide You." You'd be wrong. If you know very little Spanish but are a wise-ass, you'll say that it reads "What She Guide You." But then I'd just shoot you a look of disdain and not even justify it with a correction.

Background is from the central panel of The Garden of Delights by Hieronymus Bosch.

Oh and it sold. So... oh well.

7 comments:

Louise said...: The cat is crrrreeeeepy!!!! Eeeew. Where do you find such things?

Your pieces are just wonderful but I can't keep my eyes of those rolling cats eyes! Of course it sold! I see your sales are through the roof, wonderful stuff! :)

Do you have a cat that you can show the computer cat to? (so nasty...); 8/12/12, 3:06 AM
Flotsam Tide said...: "G" says is that a real cat? Or is it photoshopped? Thanks for posting about the pretty...squeeee!; 8/12/12, 3:38 AM
owlparty said...: That's a Scottish Fold. The ears always look like that in this breed. Cute, not creepy...but I suppose cuteness is in the eyes of the beholder.; 8/12/12, 1:52 PM
Beatnheart said...: that is a beautiful thing that you made...lucky and fast at the draw recipient..; 8/12/12, 3:34 PM
Rosie Moceri said...: *Love!* I'm a shrine freak!; 8/13/12, 9:33 AM
Lela said...: My daughter teaches Spanish & just 'loves' how I say "muy bien" --- Mooey Bwen. :D

So whatever your shrine says, it's excelente!; 8/14/12, 8:42 PM
Lela said...: OH..and those cat eyes are freaky!; 8/14/12, 8:43 PM